SteelSeries Releases Superb Gaming Earbuds – Meet The Arctis GameBuds

Many people prefer earbuds over headphones, but if you only looked at gaming-centric audio gear, that would be hard to believe. There are, frankly, too many over-ear gaming headsets to choose from, and it’s the exact opposite situation for wireless gaming earbuds. And the few releases from leading brands thus far have largely been disappointing or restricted in one way or another. But earbud enthusiasts now have a genuinely great option for all of their devices: SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds. The team behind multiple of the best wireless gaming headsets available today has built a wonderful pair of wireless earbuds that check all the boxes: performance, comfort, price, and compatibility.

Priced at $160, GameBuds connect wirelessly via a tiny 2.4GHz dongle or Bluetooth. Both connection types allow GameBuds to pair to all of your game consoles, PC, and Bluetooth-enabled devices. SteelSeries managed to squeeze its custom speaker drivers inside compact earbuds with active noise-canceling tech, all while maintaining the best-in-class comfort its known for with its over-ear Arctis Nova series. The Xbox version of the GameBuds can be viewed as the universal option, as it’ll work with PlayStation consoles, Switch, PC, mobile, etc. The PlayStation edition–you can choose from white or black colors–support all platforms except for Xbox.

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To come up with the ideal shape for its first gaming earbuds, SteelSeries scanned the ears of over 62,000 people. The aim was to create earbuds that are comfortable for all-day use while also offering a secure fit. GameBuds come with three different sets of silicone eartips. After placing the silicone tips in your ear canals, you lightly twist the earbud, which effectively locks it into place. As someone who often finds earbuds to be uncomfortable and prone to falling out, I’m thoroughly impressed with the design. They are lightweight, snug, and I’ve worn them all day for weeks now without any discomfort.

Audio and microphone performance are impressive, too. They sound similar, though not quite as good, as the pricier Arctis Nova 7, which is GameSpot’s pick for the best wireless gaming headset. Simply because of the form factor and larger speakers, gaming headsets always provide a more immersive audio experience than comparably priced earbuds. But the GameBuds offer the usual SteelSeries audio features, including 360-degree spatial audio and the PS5’s Tempest 3D audio tech. The built-in microphones work well, and I haven’t had to speak any louder than usual while making calls on iPhone.

SteelSeries says you can get up to 10 hours on a full charge, and the included charging case increases the total playback time to up to 40 hours before the case needs to be charged, too. These numbers vary depending on your connection type and listening mode; with all headsets, active noise cancellation depletes your battery faster than transparency mode. I have been able to get roughly five hours of continuous playback with noise-cancellation mode active. The charging case supports Qi wireless charging and USB-C charging (cable included). The latter is quick-charge enabled and replenishes three hours of juice from 15 minutes of charging.

Earlier this year, SteelSeries released the Arctis Nova 5, a new mid-range wireless gaming headset for consoles and PC. It launched alongside an exclusive mobile companion app for customizing your audio experience. It’s a handy app that features a bunch of game-specific audio presets created by SteelSeries. The GameBuds are the second SteelSeries product to support the app. Like most Bluetooth earbuds, the GameBuds have on-ear shortcuts as well. You can quickly switch between ANC and transparency modes, change devices by bouncing between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections, and pause playback. Instead of the usual touch sensors, the GameBuds have clickable buttons. If you’re used to touch sensors, this change may take some getting used to–it took me a few weeks to fully adjust–but it’s nice to not inadvertently toggle a setting from tapping for too long or not long enough.

The inclusion of both ANC and transparency modes is great for everyday use, especially since these can double as Bluetooth earbuds music and other audio outside of gaming. . The active noise cancellation works as well on the GameBuds as it does on the Arctis Nova Pro, which is SteelSeries’ only other audio product with ANC and one of the better examples of noise cancellation in the gaming space. The Nova Pro retails for $350, so this is certainly a nice perk for the $160 GameBuds.

In general, gaming-focused gear doesn’t offer the same caliber of ANC as premium, traditional headphones, such as Bose’s QuietComfort Ultra headphones or earbuds. I have found one exception on this front: Sony’s Inzone Buds for PC and PS5. The Inzone Buds utilize tech found in Sony’s XM5 earbuds, so the ANC is next-level compared to other gaming gear. Unfortunately, Inzone Buds only support Bluetooth LE, which is only offered with some newer Android phones. You can only connect the Inzone Buds to iPhone via the USB-C dongle, which means you’ll need an iPhone 15 or newer, or a Lightning-to-USB-C adapter for older models. At $200, the Inzone Buds are $40 more than GameBuds, and they don’t work with as many platforms (no Xbox support).

If you’re interested in grabbing a pair of GameBuds, it’s worth noting that Amazon is temporarily sold out of the universal model, but you can still place an order. As a reminder, this version is technically designed for Xbox, but you can use them for PS5, PS4, Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile, etc. Best Buy and SteelSeries also have the Xbox/Universal edition in stock. The PlayStation edition is available in white or black and works with all platforms except for Xbox. The PS5-matching white model is exclusive to PlayStation and is already sold out at Best Buy, but you can still snag a pair directly from SteelSeries. The black model for PlayStation is in stock at Best Buy and SteelSeries.

If you prefer over-ear headphones, Amazon has some nice deals on wireless gaming headsets in the SteelSeries Arctis Nova line.

• Arctis Nova 7P for PS5/PC (White) — $124 ($180)
• Arctis Nova 7 for PS5/PC (Black) — $151 ($180)
• Arctis Nova 7X Universal (Destiny) — $200 ($220)
• Arctis Nova Pro Universal (White) — $274 ($350)
• Arctis Nova Pro Universal (Black) — $273 ($350)
• Arctis Nova Pro for PS5/PC (White) — $272 ($350)
• Arctis Nova Pro for PS5/PC (Black) — $293 ($350)

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Source:Gamespot