Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones vs SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones vs SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless compared — specs, features, and which one to buy for your setup. See the full breakdown on CreatorConfig.
The Ruling
Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones or SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless? Get the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless.
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless wins Low-End Reach, High-End Reach and Power. It is the pricier of the two at $349.99, so the Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones stays the pick if $150.99 matters more than those specs.
At a Glance
Where each one actually leads
Every axis is scored out of 10 from the catalog specs below. The scores are relative to the products on this page, so a 10 means “best of these”, not “perfect”, and two identical columns mean the catalog genuinely cannot separate them. Axes the catalog holds no figure for on both sides are left off entirely rather than guessed at.
| Category | Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones | SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless |
|---|---|---|
| Low-End Reach | 8.5/10 | 10/10 |
| High-End Reach | 8.1/10 | 10/10 |
| Isolation | 10/10 | 10/10 |
| Power | 9.1/10 | 10/10 |
| Value | 10/10 | 5.7/10 |
The Split
What each one wins
Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones
Listening solution for creator monitoring, gaming, editing, and long-session comfort.
It gives up frequency response and battery life to the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. It is the cheaper of the two, by $150.99.
Leads on
- Nothing on the spec sheet goes this one’s way.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless
Premium wireless gaming headset with active noise cancellation and base station chat/game mix controls.
On paper the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless takes frequency response (10Hz-40kHz) and battery life (22 hours, +2hours). It concedes nothing measurable on the sheet. That costs $150.99 more than the Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones.
Leads on
-
Frequency Response10Hz-40kHz20Hz-20kHz
Wider frequency response reproduces more of the audio spectrum for accurate monitoring.
-
Battery Life +2hours22 hours20 hours
Longer battery life means fewer mid-session charges on a wireless set.
Where they’re identical
These 5 specs are the same on both of them, so none of it is part of the decision.
- Operating System windows, macos
- Fit Over-ear
- Enclosure Closed-back
- Active Noise Cancelling Yes
- Wireless Yes
The Record
14 specs, grouped by area
A group is won by whoever takes more of its rows outright. Specs the catalog cannot rank are shown but never decide a group.
Bottom Line
Who each one is for
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless is the pick on the specs the catalog holds, but “better on paper” and “right for you” are different questions. Each case below names what the product is actually good at and who that suits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones and SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless?
The largest gap is frequency response, where the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless leads — 10Hz-40kHz against 20Hz-20kHz. Across the catalog's specification sheet the two differ on 2 specs. They match on 5 specs, including operating system, fit and enclosure. Two headphones from Apple and SteelSeries, each taking a different approach to sound signature and comfort for long sessions.
Which is better for streaming, Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones or SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless?
Get the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless wins Low-End Reach, High-End Reach and Power. It is the pricier of the two at $349.99, so the Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones stays the pick if $150.99 matters more than those specs.
What do the Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones and SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless have in common?
Both share 5 specifications in the catalog, including operating system (windows, macos), fit (Over-ear), enclosure (Closed-back) and active noise cancelling (Yes), among others. None of those is a reason to pick one over the other.
Is the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless worth the extra $151 over the Apple AirPods Max Wireless Headphones?
The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless costs $349.99 against $199.00, a difference of $151. The premium buys frequency response (10Hz-40kHz) and battery life (22 hours). Whether that is worth it depends on which of those you would actually use.