SteelSeries, the manufacturer behind multiple of the best headsets for consoles and PC, is jumping into the nascent gaming earbuds market with the Arctis GameBuds. Slated for release on October 29, these wireless gaming earbuds sport a 2.4GHz wireless connection with a compact dongle as well as Bluetooth with compatible devices. With the GameBuds, SteelSeries has sandwiched its speaker drivers inside tiny in-ear buds with active noise-canceling tech. SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are available to preorder now for $160 at Best Buy.
Like the manufacturer’s range of wireless headsets, the Arctis GameBuds come in two different models: one geared toward Xbox and PC, and another for PlayStation and PC. The Xbox edition will work wirelessly with all platforms, including PlayStation consoles. The PS5 version supports all platforms except for Xbox. If you’re unfamiliar with this trend, Microsoft has a custom wireless protocol that prevents non-officially licensed gear from syncing with Xbox consoles. PlayStation, meanwhile, uses a conventional wireless protocol, which allows some “Xbox” wireless headsets and earbuds to connect to PlayStation devices.
Both models are available in an all-black design, but PlayStation users who want to match their earbuds to their PS5 console have the option of white GameBuds, too.
SteelSeries says you can get over 10 hours of battery life 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 will vary considerably depending on your connection type and listening mode; with all headsets, active noise cancellation always depletes your battery faster than transparency mode. 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.
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. I’m still in the early stages of testing the GameBuds, but as someone who often finds earbuds to be uncomfortable and prone to falling out, my initial impression of the design is positive. They are lightweight, snug, and I’ve worn them all day for a few days now without any discomfort.
I’ve been impressed with the audio and microphone performance so far, 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 didn’t need to speak any louder than usual while making calls on iPhone. I’ve only had the chance to briefly test the microphones while gaming on PS5, but I haven’t run into any issues yet.
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 will be the second SteelSeries product to support the app at launch. On-ear shortcuts can quickly switch between ANC and transparency modes, change devices by bouncing between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections, and pause playback. Instead of touch sensors for on-ear controls, the GameBuds have clickable buttons.
The inclusion of both ANC and transparency modes is great for everyday use. My early takeaway is that 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 found on 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).
New gaming headsets release seemingly every week, but there are very few wireless gaming earbuds for major manufacturers. The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds is the most versatile option yet in terms of platform support. As a reminder, the Xbox edition can be viewed as universal, while the PlayStation version will work with all of your devices except for Xbox. You can use the GameBuds on Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, Meta Quest headsets, and more. Since the GameBuds work with Meta Quest 3, you should have no problem using them with the newly announced Meta Quest 3S, which also releases in October.
If you prefer over-ear headphones, Amazon has some nice deals on wireless gaming headsets in the SteelSeries Arctis Nova line.
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