SteelSeries has introduced gaming earbuds compatible with PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and more. The Arctis GameBuds feature active noise cancellation, a wireless charging case, and a mobile app offering custom EQ settings tailored to various games.
The GameBuds have a design reminiscent of Jabra’s now-discontinued Elite earbuds, housed in a pill-shaped wireless charging case that provides up to 40 hours of total battery life. The case also includes a 2.4GHz USB-C dongle, which can be used with game consoles, PCs, or phones. For those without a USB-C port, a cable is included to convert the dongle to USB-A.
Each earbud features a single button: the left button toggles between transparency and noise cancellation modes, while the right button controls play/pause. You can also tap and hold the right earbud to raise the volume or the left one to lower it.
Switching between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless modes is a breeze, requiring just three taps and happening instantly. However, you cannot use Bluetooth and 2.4GHz simultaneously, meaning you can’t listen to music from your phone while hearing game audio from your PlayStation or Xbox. This is a bit disappointing, as other SteelSeries headsets, like the Nova Pro, support this feature.
The GameBuds come with a variety of silicone tips, allowing you to find the perfect fit for your ears and get the most out of the active noise cancellation (ANC) mode. They use four microphones to block out surrounding sounds, effectively reducing distractions when listening to music or playing loud games. However, they don’t perform as well as Apple’s AirPods Pro or Bose earbuds in terms of ANC. You’ll still hear some background noise, especially if your volume is low or if the game lacks heavy audio.
The audio quality is solid for $159.99, and the equalizer presets offer options like enhanced bass for music or a flat EQ for podcasts. There’s also a transparency mode, and you can adjust the ANC and transparency levels via the Arctis mobile app. This app is arguably the best feature of the GameBuds, as it includes popular gaming EQ presets that SteelSeries is known for. With presets for over 100 games, you can notice clear differences when switching between them. For example, the Valorant preset is optimized to help you hear footsteps more clearly, which can make all the difference in a competitive match.
The same presets are available on the SteelSeries GG desktop app, so if you use the GameBuds with a gaming PC, you can take full advantage of Sonar—SteelSeries’ advanced audio system for Windows. While I used to dislike SteelSeries’ mandatory use of Sonar, it has proven to be far superior to Windows’ native audio controls. It even features spatial audio and AI-driven noise cancellation for microphones, which helps eliminate background noise like a barking dog during a game or video call.
I’ve primarily been using the GameBuds with my PC, but they’re also easy to connect to an Xbox or PlayStation, as long as you have the correct version. All models are compatible with PlayStation, PCs, and consoles like the Switch. However, Xbox users will need the Xbox-specific version, which costs the same but includes an additional chip to comply with Microsoft’s security requirements, along with a slider button on the USB-C dongle for switching to Xbox compatibility. It’s a bit disappointing that the Xbox version is only available in black, while the white version looks quite appealing.
Setting up the GameBuds with my Xbox was effortless. Simply plug in the dongle, and the console recognizes the headset, assigning it to your profile just like any other headset. From there, you can adjust EQ settings, ANC, and more using the Arctis mobile app.
Both the mobile and desktop apps show battery life, which has closely matched the 10 hours advertised by SteelSeries. With ANC and the microphone regularly in use, I averaged about nine hours, but with those features turned off, it’s closer to 10 hours. It doesn’t seem to matter whether you’re using Bluetooth or 2.4GHz mode.
The charging case provides enough extra power to recharge the GameBuds about four times before needing to plug it into a USB-C charger. Plus, the case is Qi-wireless charging compatible, meaning I can use the same charger I use for my AirPods Pro.
The main issues I encountered while testing the GameBuds were related to video calls on my PC. Occasionally, the audio would distort to the point where the buds seemed to vibrate during calls when the other person’s microphone peaked too high. I was able to mitigate this by lowering the chat volume in the Sonar app. I also noticed that the 2.4GHz signal would drop in the same areas of my house where I experience similar issues with the Nova Pro Wireless headphones. This only happens when I move too far from the dongle.
One feature I wish the GameBuds had is the ability to quickly switch microphone inputs. I use a dedicated XLR microphone on my PC, but when I step away from my desk with the GameBuds in, it would be great to tap the side buttons and switch to the buds’ microphone. I’d also love to see the option to use Bluetooth and 2.4GHz modes simultaneously, so I’m hoping SteelSeries will continue to improve the GameBuds, as they have with other headsets. However, this shouldn’t be a reason to buy them with the expectation of future improvements.
If you’re after something less gaming-centric with superior sound quality and are willing to spend a bit more, there are other earbuds out there. But for $159.99, the GameBuds are a fantastic choice for PlayStation, Xbox, or PC gamers. They’re comfortable, sound great, and offer unique game presets that you won’t find on other earbuds.
