SteelSeries is launching $160 gaming earbuds for your Xbox, PlayStation, or PC
SteelSeries has launched new earbuds called Arctis GameBuds that are designed to work with Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, PCs, and mobile phones. Priced at $159.99, these earbuds feature active noise cancellation (ANC), Qi wireless charging, and the ability to quickly switch between mobile Bluetooth and gaming on a console or PC.
I’ve been testing them for a few days, and I’m impressed so far, though I’ll need more time for a full review.
The Arctis GameBuds have a design similar to many other earbuds, with different silicone tips to fit various ear sizes. SteelSeries has included a four-microphone ANC system to block out background noise during gaming, and there’s also a transparency mode if you need to hear what’s going on around you.
The GameBuds connect to an Xbox or PlayStation using a small USB-C dongle that offers 2.4GHz wireless connectivity. By triple-tapping a button on the earbuds, you can easily switch between Bluetooth 5.3 for mobile devices and the 2.4GHz wireless connection for consoles and PCs. The audio switches quickly between the two, but it doesn’t support playing audio from both Bluetooth and the 2.4GHz signal at the same time, unlike Sony’s Pulse Explore earbuds.
I was immediately impressed with the EQ settings in the mobile companion app. It offers over 100 audio presets for popular games like Call of Duty, Destiny 2, EA Sports FC 24, Fortnite, and Valorant. These presets are similar to the ones available in SteelSeries’ GG desktop app with Sonar, and they work really well, especially in games like Valorant where hearing every footstep is crucial.
The mobile app also lets you switch between ANC and transparency modes or adjust how much noise is blocked or let in. Both the mobile and desktop SteelSeries apps give you control over these settings and show the battery life of each earbud and the charging case.
The ANC on the GameBuds works well for blocking out background noise when you’re playing music or a loud game, but if the volume is low or the game has less sound, you might still hear some ambient noises.
SteelSeries claims the charging case provides 40 hours of battery life, with each charge lasting 10 hours and the case offering three extra charges. From my experience, the battery drains at around 10% per hour when using the 2.4GHz connection, so it seems like the battery life will be reliable. The case supports wireless Qi charging (not Qi2) and has a USB-C port at the back, which gives about three hours of playtime with just 15 minutes of fast charging.
While the GameBuds are compatible with both consoles and PC, there are separate models for Xbox and PlayStation. The PlayStation version only works on Sony consoles, PCs, and mobile, whereas the Xbox version is compatible with all platforms. The Xbox model has an additional chip to meet Microsoft’s security requirements and includes a slider to switch to Xbox mode. The white version is exclusive to PlayStation, while the black version is available for both Xbox and PlayStation.
SteelSeries is stepping into a competitive gaming earbud market, taking on brands like Sony, Razer, and Logitech. Priced at $159, the Arctis GameBuds are cheaper than Sony’s $199 PlayStation Pulse Explore, and they even include ANC, which Sony surprisingly left out of their Pulse Explore model. While Sony’s $199 InZone Buds come with ANC and an impressive 12-hour battery life, they don’t have the wireless charging case that SteelSeries offers.
Razer’s $149 Hammerhead HyperSpeed earbuds also feature ANC but only provide three hours of use per charge. Logitech’s $179 G Fits have a better battery life of seven hours but don’t include ANC. SteelSeries seems to have found a niche by offering low-latency earbuds with Bluetooth support, a mobile app, ANC, and a wireless charging case, all at a competitive price of $159.
The Arctis GameBuds are now available for preorder in black and white for $159.99 (€169.99), with a worldwide release set for October 29th.
