SteelSeries might have just made the perfect wireless headphones for anybody who owns a Nintendo Switch. The company’s new Arctis 1 Wireless ($100) headset is unique because it comes with a wireless receiver that you plug into the Switch’s USB-C charging port, which then allows you to hear the game’s audio through the headphones. This might not seem like such a bigtime breakthrough as it’s 2019 and wireless audio feels like it should be ubiquitous, but, as all Nintendo Switch owners know, the lovable and versatile console doesn’t have built-in Bluetooth.
Up to this point, if you wanted to use wireless headphones with your Switch you could’ve bought almost any Bluetooth receiver dongle, pair it with your headphones, and plug it into the Switch’s headphone jack. The Arctis 1 Wireless headset is different because its dongle plugs into the USB-C charging port and uses a 2.4GHz wireless connection instead of Bluetooth, affording gamers less lag and quicker pairing. As far as other specs, the Arctis 1 Wireless is really just a wireless and more expensive version of the company’s wired Arctis 1 ($50) headset. It has the same high-performance speaker drivers, durable headband and detachable mic (which they’ll need if they play online games). Still, most gamers will probably not flinch at the extra $50 bump to cut the cord.
The SteelSeries Arctis 1 Wireless is only available in black.
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