SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite vs Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX: Luxury Audio, Two Ways
At $599.99 and $699, the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite and Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX are the two most expensive headphones in this comparison, but they're built for entirely different audiences within the same premium price bracket.
The Nova Elite is SteelSeries' luxury gaming headset, combining a 100-hour battery with the brand's signature suspended ski-goggle-style headband for gaming comfort.
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The Beoplay HX is a lifestyle-focused ANC headphone built around premium leather and metal materials and B&O's distinctive sound tuning, offering 30 hours of battery life.
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Specification Comparison
Key Differences
The clearest difference is intended use: the Nova Elite is engineered around gaming-specific comfort for marathon sessions and a 100-hour battery to match, while the Beoplay HX is built as a design-forward daily listening and travel headphone with premium materials that a gaming headset typically doesn't prioritize. Battery life heavily favors SteelSeries — 100 hours versus 30 — reflecting gaming headsets' general focus on extended session length over the lifestyle segment's typical daily-charge assumption.
Pros & Cons
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite
Pros
- 100-hour battery life
- Gaming-specific comfort design
- Slightly lower price
Cons
- Aesthetic built for gaming, not everyday luxury wear
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX
Pros
- Premium leather and metal materials
- Distinctive B&O sound tuning and design prestige
Cons
- Much shorter 30-hour battery life
- Higher price
Which One Is Right For You?
- SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite: Best for gamers who want a premium, comfortable headset for extended sessions and don't need luxury materials.
- Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX: Best for buyers who want a design-forward daily headphone where materials and brand prestige matter as much as sound.
Conclusion
These aren't really competing products despite the similar price — one is a luxury gaming tool, the other a luxury lifestyle accessory, and the right choice depends entirely on which context the headphone will actually live in.
Summary
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite
Strengths
- Long battery life, gaming comfort
Weaknesses
- Not designed as an everyday lifestyle accessory
Bang & Olufsen Beoplay HX
Strengths
- Premium materials and design prestige
Weaknesses
- Much shorter battery life
Gamers should choose the Arctis Nova Elite; anyone buying primarily for design, materials, and everyday listening prestige should choose the Beoplay HX.