The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are their latest in-ear earbuds on offers targetted at gamers however these can be used as standalone earbuds and overall the results are quite impressive, having tested over 250 pairs of earbuds these sound better than expected as a whole and is a must for gamers
The design is a typical standard earbud and sit well in the ears feeling secure and will not fall out even if excercising, the case is your average size and will fit in any pocket there is a button on each side and is tactile which I prefer over touch based earbuds and these worked well with no false results there is a nice clicky sound to them and are accuate each time.
In the case you also get a dongle like most of their headsets giving you Low Latency Using 2.4GHz wireless instead of Bluetooth eliminates the “audio lag” that usually makes earbuds impossible for competitive shooters. Quick Switch: You can triple-tap the bud to instantly swap between your gaming console (2.4GHz) and your phone (Bluetooth 5.3).
There is a specific Xbox version (white/black) that includes a security chip for Microsoft consoles, but still works with everything else. The PlayStation version will not work on Xbox. I tested mine on the Nintendo Switch Xbox phone and PC
The sound profile is punchy and detailed and most importanly immersive but the Arctis Companion App offers more and gives you control over the earbuds while the sound is excellent the app turns things up a notch and I have notice things wehen gaming I would not hear on regular earbuds and it is joy to hear
You can load specific EQ profiles for games like Apex Legends, Call of Duty, or Elden Ring directly from your phone. These presets actually change the sound signature on the buds themselves, so the settings stay active even when you plug the dongle into a Switch or PS5. ANC is decent enough and overall you will be please also the mic quality is quite good given there is no boom arm like their headsets offer.
The controls also work well and they can be customised too you can see this in the video review down below and we go through the app
The GameBuds have a great battery life up to 10 Hours on a single session on a 2.4GHz connection (with ANC off).
A 15 minutes fast charge in the case gives you 3 hours of playtime and the case supports wireless charging, a premium touch often skipped by competitors and a preferrence of mine.
Overall if you want to hear more than regular earbuds when gaming these are what you need and they are also excellent at general use for music and movies and worth the punt.
Arctis App
Features
- QUICK-SWITCH WIRELESS – High-speed 2.4GHz wireless for Xbox, PC, PS5, and more, or switch to Bluetooth 5.3 for mobile –
- ACTIVE NOISE CANCELLATION — 4-mic hybrid ANC provides true gaming immersion; ability to switch transparency mode for awareness
- 100+ XBOX AUDIO PRESETS – Easy-to-use SteelSeries Arctis Companion App contains 100+ presets to boost critical sounds in game on your Xbox, PC, and more
- 360° SPATIAL AUDIO — Immersive sound puts you right in the action with directional awareness, enhanced by custom Neodymium Magnetic Drivers
- 10-HOUR BATTERY – Long battery satisfies marathon sessions, extendable with a Qi Charging Case with 3 extra charges for up to 40 hours total.