Visually, at first glance the V3 looks identical to a V2, then you start noticing a few things, the suspension bars are mounted differently, the headband is thinner and softer. It appears that there is a short (1.3m) hardlined cable with a 4 pole 3.5mm jack on the end which suited for mobile devices directly. This is a solution we have seen used on other premium headsets and is a step up from a 3m long hardlined cable, however it is a shame that it isn't removable, but certainly nothing to complain about.



We no longer have a mesh covering the sides of the headset as seen on the V2, instead we get a systematically perforated disc of plastic, this would be where you will find the illumination on the 'Prism' variants.



The metal rods used to hold the earcups together have a reinforced housing that is both durable and flexible. Visually it is much more pronounced than the V2, and gives a much more agile aesthetic.



Adding in the microphone mute switch into the earcup allows to do away with the inline remote. Many may enjoy using their inline remotes, however, inline remotes often become a weakpoint in headsets and only add another layer of volume control over that provided by other, more accessible options. By removing the inline remote, SteelSeries have steamlined user interaction and improved the durability of the product in one fell swoop.



The suspension design is flexible and lightweight and uses stronger cables over the V3.



The earcups now use memory foam which is covered by a very soft PU leather providing great comfort for your (legomen) ears. This will give better noise isolation, reducing noise leakage.



The microphone is said to be slightly improved, and is physically slimmer than the barrel found on the V2.



The headband is lightweight and soft, with a slightly firmer core. This will reduce the weight over the use of the solid leather strap found on the V2.