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SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 vs Logitech G522: Mic Storage and USB Audio

Both models document a headset control for switching between gaming wireless and Bluetooth, and both show a microphone mute indicator. Choose Nova 5 if you want its mic to retract into the earcup; choose G522 if you want a detachable mic or USB wired audio and accept that USB disables LIGHTSPEED while connected. Neither choice implies a measured audio-quality winner.

Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-01

Source checked 2026-10-01 14:32 UTC

Products compared

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The buying question

Which headset better fits the way you switch devices and handle the microphone between gaming sessions?

Both headsets offer a headset-button switch between gaming wireless and Bluetooth, and both document a microphone mute indicator. Nova 5’s microphone retracts into the earcup; Logitech lists a detachable mic in the G522 package. G522 also adds USB wired audio, which disables LIGHTSPEED while connected.

Quick verdict

Choose SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless (model 61670, black) if

  • You want the Nova 5 microphone to slide into the earcup and remain attached when not in use.
  • You want to switch by button between the Nova 5 USB-C dongle’s 2.4 GHz mode and Bluetooth; the G522 also has a button switch between LIGHTSPEED and Bluetooth.
View SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless (model 61670, black) on AmazonPaid link
When the recommendation changes
  • A headset-button switch between gaming wireless and Bluetooth is documented on both models, so that need alone does not distinguish them. Choose by microphone storage preference or whether G522 USB wired audio is useful.
  • If measured microphone or game-audio performance is the deciding factor, this feature comparison cannot rank them; consult independent controlled tests for these exact models.

The differences that matter

Connection Modes And Platform Workflow

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless (model 61670, black)

Arctis Nova 5 has a headset QuickSwitch button for changing between the USB-C dongle’s 2.4 GHz connection and Bluetooth. Its guide lists PC, PlayStation 4/5, mobile, Nintendo Switch and Mac; standard Nova 5 model 61670 is not the Xbox-compatible 5X model.[1, 2]

Logitech G522 LIGHTSPEED (model 981-001491, black)

G522 has a headset button that switches between LIGHTSPEED wireless and Bluetooth, plus USB wired audio. Logitech says plugging into a PC or console changes to USB wired audio and disables LIGHTSPEED until unplugged.[3, 4]

What this changes: The headset-button switch between gaming wireless and Bluetooth is a shared function, though the gaming wireless connection is the Nova 5 dongle’s 2.4 GHz mode and the G522’s LIGHTSPEED mode. G522 adds USB wired audio, but USB replaces LIGHTSPEED while connected.[1, 3, 4]

The better fit depends on your priorities

Microphone Handling And Onboard Controls

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless (model 61670, black)

Nova 5 has a retractable ClearCast microphone that slides into the earcup and must be fully extended to work, plus an onboard mute button and microphone mute LED.[1]

Logitech G522 LIGHTSPEED (model 981-001491, black)

Logitech lists a detachable microphone in the G522 package. The headset has an onboard mic-mute button with a visible red state and a red boom-tip LED while muted. Blue VO!CE is available through G HUB; its 48 kHz specification does not establish comparative voice quality.[5, 3]

What this changes: Both models document onboard microphone muting and an indicator. Nova 5’s mic slides into the earcup while remaining attached; Logitech lists a detachable mic with the G522. Choose by whether you prefer attached retraction or removing the microphone. Published microphone specifications do not establish comparative voice quality.[1, 5, 3]

The better fit depends on your priorities

Best for your routine

Keep the microphone attached and slide it into the earcup when idle; use a headset button to switch between dongle gaming and Bluetooth

Best fit: SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless (model 61670, black)

Based on listed features, not comparative testing.

SteelSeries documents the retractable Nova 5 microphone; Logitech also documents a G522 detachable microphone, so this choice is about attached retraction versus removal. Both products offer a headset button to switch gaming wireless and Bluetooth.

View SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 Wireless (model 61670, black) on AmazonPaid link

Remove the G522 microphone for mic-free headset use, or use USB wired audio while accepting that it replaces LIGHTSPEED

Best fit: Logitech G522 LIGHTSPEED (model 981-001491, black)

Based on listed features, not comparative testing.

Logitech lists a detachable microphone for G522 and documents USB wired audio with LIGHTSPEED disabled while USB is connected.

View Logitech G522 LIGHTSPEED (model 981-001491, black) on AmazonPaid link

Value and trade-offs

One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.

Compare current exact-model offers and included accessories at checkout; pay any premium only for the connection or microphone-handling features you will use. No verified current offer pair or suitable price history was available for this comparison.

Price history is unavailable, so this comparison cannot recommend when to buy. Check exact model, color and current offer terms at checkout.

Limitations

  • No Pickoryx hands-on testing or controlled head-to-head audio, microphone, latency or reliability testing was performed; feature descriptions do not show which headset sounds or performs better.
  • The Nova 5 claims apply to standard model 61670, not Nova 5X. SteelSeries says Nova 5X is the Nova 5 version built for Xbox; verify G522 compatibility for the exact Xbox setup before purchase.
  • Logitech's product page advertises a 48 kHz microphone feature, but this specification alone does not establish voice quality or a comparative advantage.
  • No verified current price pairing or price history was used; prices and promotions can change.

Questions shoppers ask

Do both headsets switch between gaming wireless and Bluetooth with a headset button?

Yes. SteelSeries documents Nova 5 QuickSwitch between its 2.4 GHz dongle and Bluetooth; Logitech documents the G522 control switching between LIGHTSPEED and Bluetooth.

Is the G522 microphone detachable?

Yes. Logitech’s U.S. G522 product page lists a detachable microphone in the package. Nova 5 takes a different approach: its ClearCast mic retracts into the earcup and must be extended to use it.

Can the G522 use USB wired audio and LIGHTSPEED at the same time?

No. Logitech says connecting the G522 to a PC or console by USB switches it to wired USB audio and disables LIGHTSPEED while the cable is connected.

Methodology and sources

Compared the exact models’ documented gaming-wireless/Bluetooth controls, wired USB behavior, microphone storage/removal and mute indicators. Shared features are treated as shared, and published specifications are not treated as measured performance.

I checked official model guides and support instructions, then organized the documented connection and microphone controls into a buyer comparison.

View 5 sources
  1. 1.Arctis Nova 5 Wireless Product Information GuideSteelSeries · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 14:12 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Printed pp. 4–5 (PDF pp. 2–3): headset controls and mute LED; printed pp. 6–7 (PDF p. 3): dongle/Bluetooth connection steps; printed pp. 12–13 (PDF p. 6): retractable microphone use.: Exact standard Arctis Nova 5 guide. Its controls list includes QuickSwitch, a microphone mute button and mute LED. It documents switching between the USB-C dongle 2.4 GHz mode and Bluetooth, and says the ClearCast microphone slides out and cannot be used while retracted.
  2. 2.Nova 5 Connection Issues TroubleshootingSteelSeries Support · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-01 13:35 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Sections 2.4GHz Wireless Connection Issues, Bluetooth Connection Issues, and Nova 5X Model: Xbox Connection Issues, lines 21–27, 45–48, 64–86.: States Nova 5 uses USB-C wireless dongle for 2.4 GHz and supports Bluetooth; distinguishes Nova 5X, the only Nova 5 model built for Xbox, from Nova 5/Nova 5P which are not Xbox-compatible.
  3. 3.Quels sont les boutons du casque G522 LIGHTSPEED ?Logitech Support · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-01 14:12 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Official exact-model G522 controls article, mode-switching section and microphone mute section; accessed in French localization.: Logitech documents a headset button switching between Bluetooth and LIGHTSPEED; USB wired mode is selected when cabled and LIGHTSPEED cannot be used while USB remains connected. The mic mute control shows a visible red state and the boom-tip LED lights red when muted; Blue VO!CE is available in G HUB.
  4. 4.Audio is interrupted when I plug my G522 LIGHTSPEED headset into my PC or console via USB cableLogitech Support · Official support · Source checked 2026-10-01 13:35 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Support article paragraphs 48–49.: For G522 connected to a PC or console by USB, the headset prioritizes and reinitializes to wired USB audio; LIGHTSPEED cannot be used while USB wired mode is active.
  5. 5.G522 LIGHTSPEED Wireless Gaming HeadsetLogitech G · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-01 14:30 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Exact U.S. G522 product page, Black selected; expanded “What’s in the box” disclosure lists “Detachable Mic”; feature section describes 48 kHz voice and BLUE VO!CE.: Exact U.S. G522 LIGHTSPEED product page for 981-001491. The expanded “What’s in the box” section lists a detachable microphone. The feature section describes 48 kHz voice and BLUE VO!CE; those specifications are not comparative voice-quality evidence.

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