As a company known for creating some of the best gaming headsets on the market, SteelSeries has tipped their toes into wireless earbuds with the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds. With features like Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), customisable sound profiles, and both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless connectivity, the Arctis GameBuds are a promising tool in your gaming arsenal.
Design and comfort
The first thing you’ll notice about the Arctis GameBuds is their sleek, modern design. Unlike bulky gaming headsets, these earbuds are lightweight and compact, perfect for gaming on the go with a Nintendo Switch, mobile, or SteamDeck. They fit comfortably in your ears, and SteelSeries includes multiple ear tip sizes to ensure a snug fit.
The charging case is small and durable, with an IP55 rating, meaning it’s water and dust-resistant as well as ideal for travelling or outdoor use. The case also supports wireless charging, which is a handy feature for those who already use Qi-compatible devices.
One of the biggest selling points of the Arctis GameBuds is their dual connectivity: both 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth 5.3. This means you can use them with a variety of devices, from PS5 and PC to Xbox (with the included 2.4GHz USB-C dongle), and even mobile devices via Bluetooth for music or casual gaming. 2.4Ghz is going to give you a better quality for a gaming experience but Bluetooth is surprisingly crisp, compared to other SteelSeries headsets. Switching between devices is seamless, though the volume controls could take some getting used to. Fortunately, the controls can be remapped through the Arctis mobile app to better suit your preferences.
Battery life is an area where the GameBuds truly shine. The earbuds themselves provide up to 10 hours of gaming time on a single charge without ANC, and the charging case offers an additional 30 hours, giving you a total of 40 hours. That’s impressive, especially for wireless earbuds that are optimised for gaming. If you’re someone who tends to game for extended sessions, you’ll appreciate not having to worry about constantly recharging.
Charging is quick and convenient, thanks to the USB-C port and wireless charging capabilities. In just 15 minutes of charging, you can get around a couple of hours of use. I personally found this really useful compared to my old earbuds that would die halfway through my morning commute.
Sound quality and performance
When it comes to audio, the GameBuds impress in many ways. Powered by Neodymium Magnetic Drivers, these earbuds deliver clear and powerful sound with punchy bass. That is probably my largest complaint – these a bass heavy. While that makes them perfect for atmospheric, blockbuster games with cinematic sound, it doesn’t complement games like indies, narrative-focused walking sims, or music listening.
Helping with the equalising a bit, customisable sound profiles are available via the SteelSeries mobile app, giving access to over 100 game-specific presets. These presets are tuned to optimise audio for individual games, meaning you can instantly adjust the audio to suit your current title. You can debate how effective these are for each game as everyone has a different ear and sound is a subjective experience, I found playing around with this tool useful. I wasn’t super impressed with the music listening experience, switching to the Bright preset still felt very bassy and muddy. However, no major issues when gaming.
The soundstage is spacious enough to make you feel fully immersed in the game, and while it may not rival over-ear headphones like the Arctis Nova Pro in terms of spatial audio, it’s still more than sufficient for most casual gamers. They are backed by SteelSeries’ 3D Tempest Audio technology. This feature makes it easier to pinpoint specific sounds around you which is perfect for games that require spatial awareness.
The Active Noise Cancellation feature is the standout of the GameBuds. While not as powerful as the ANC found in high-end headphones like Sony’s WF-1000XM5, the ANC on the GameBuds is still impressive for earbuds of this size and price range. You can toggle between ANC, ambient sound, and off modes, depending on whether you want to block out distractions or stay alert to your surroundings. Transparency mode is a nice touch for moments when you need to hear your environment, like when you’re travelling or need to listen for notifications. This was the most differentiating feature for me, particularly during everyday use.
The Arctis GameBuds are perfect for those who want high-quality, immersive gaming audio without the bulk of traditional headsets. They excel in delivering rich, customisable sound and come with a variety of useful features, like ANC and game-specific presets, making them a fantastic all-around choice for both gaming and everyday use. They’re particularly ideal for mobile gamers, thanks to the Bluetooth support, but they perform equally well with consoles and PCs.
However, if you’re looking for the absolute best in spatial audio or if you’re someone who wants clean music listening, you might find the GameBuds lacking to some competitors. The GameBuds offer a more refined and boomy sound, which some might prefer, but others might feel it’s not sharp enough. If you are looking for a music listening device first, for $359 AUD you’ll probably get that elsewhere.
While they may not replace the top-tier gaming headsets, they’re a fantastic option for gamers looking for quality, comfort, and reliable performance.
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Omi Koulas
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