While many people favor earbuds over headphones, this preference doesn't hold true when it comes to gaming-centric audio gear. The market is flooded with over-ear gaming headsets, yet wireless gaming earbuds remain scarce. The few options available from top brands have often been underwhelming or limited in some way. However, earbud enthusiasts now have a standout choice for all their devices: the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds. Developed by the team behind some of the best wireless gaming headsets, these earbuds excel in performance, comfort, price, and compatibility.
Priced at $160, the GameBuds connect wirelessly via a 2.4GHz dongle or Bluetooth, allowing them to pair with all your game consoles, PC, and Bluetooth-enabled devices. SteelSeries has managed to incorporate its custom speaker drivers into compact earbuds with active noise-canceling technology, while maintaining the top-tier comfort known from their over-ear Arctis Nova series. To design the perfect shape for their first gaming earbuds, SteelSeries scanned the ears of over 62,000 people, aiming for all-day comfort and a secure fit. The GameBuds come with three sets of silicone eartips, and once inserted, a gentle twist locks them in place. As someone who often finds earbuds uncomfortable and prone to falling out, I'm impressed by their lightweight, snug design, which I've worn all day for weeks without discomfort.
Audio and microphone performance are also impressive. They sound similar to, though not quite as good as, the pricier Arctis Nova 7, which is GameSpot's top pick for wireless gaming headsets. Due to their form factor and larger speakers, gaming headsets generally offer a more immersive audio experience than comparably priced earbuds. However, the GameBuds include SteelSeries' usual audio features, such as 360-degree spatial audio and PS5's Tempest 3D audio tech. The built-in microphones work well, and I haven't had to raise my voice during calls on my iPhone.
SteelSeries claims up to 10 hours of battery life on a full charge, with the included charging case extending total playback time to up to 40 hours. These numbers vary depending on your connection type and listening mode; active noise cancellation drains the battery faster than transparency mode. I've managed about five hours of continuous playback with noise-cancellation active. The charging case supports Qi wireless charging and USB-C charging (cable included), with quick-charge capability that replenishes three hours of juice in just 15 minutes.
Earlier this year, SteelSeries released the Arctis Nova 5, a mid-range wireless gaming headset for consoles and PC, along with a mobile companion app for customizing your audio experience. The GameBuds are the second SteelSeries product to support this app. Like most Bluetooth earbuds, the GameBuds have on-ear shortcuts. You can switch between ANC and transparency modes, change devices by toggling between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections, and pause playback. Instead of touch sensors, the GameBuds feature clickable buttons, which took me a few weeks to adjust to but are preferable to inadvertently toggling settings.
The inclusion of both ANC and transparency modes is great for everyday use, making these earbuds versatile for music and other audio outside of gaming. The active noise cancellation on the GameBuds works as well as on the Arctis Nova Pro, SteelSeries' only other ANC-equipped audio product, which retails for $350. Gaming-focused gear generally doesn't match the ANC quality of premium traditional headphones, such as Bose's QuietComfort Ultra, but Sony's Inzone Buds for PC and PS5 are an exception. Unfortunately, the Inzone Buds only support Bluetooth LE, limiting compatibility to newer Android phones and requiring a USB-C dongle for iPhones. At $200, they cost $40 more than the GameBuds and lack Xbox support.
New gaming headsets seem to release weekly, but wireless gaming earbuds from major manufacturers are rare. The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are the most versatile option yet in terms of platform support. The Xbox edition is universal, while the PlayStation models work with all devices except Xbox. You can use the GameBuds on Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, Meta Quest headsets, including the newly released Meta Quest 3S.
If you're interested in the GameBuds, note that Amazon is temporarily out of stock of the universal model, but you can still place an order. The universal model is designed for Xbox but works with PS5, PS4, Switch, PC, Steam Deck, mobile, etc. Best Buy and SteelSeries have the Xbox edition in stock. The PlayStation edition is available in white or black, compatible with all platforms except Xbox. The PS5-matching white model is exclusive to PlayStation and sold out at Best Buy, but you can still purchase it directly from SteelSeries.
If you prefer over-ear headphones, Amazon has deals on wireless gaming headsets in the SteelSeries Arctis Nova line.
Source link: https://www.gamespot.com
