I’ve reviewed countless gaming headsets over the years, and while they’re excellent, sometimes you don’t want a bulky device smothering your head—especially when leaving the house. That’s where gaming earbuds come in, making portable gaming audio far more interesting. The new SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are designed for exactly this type of gamer who wants premium audio both at home and on the go. And guess what? They absolutely deliver! Though at a whopping $359.99, they’d better.
As you’d expect from SteelSeries, these GameBuds offer top-tier gaming audio and comfort, delivering excellent tuning, rich bass, and reliable connectivity. The cherry on top is the fan-favorite Arctis mobile app, which gives you access to over 150 audio presets for popular games. After spending a couple of weeks testing them across PC, PlayStation, and Asus ROG Ally, I can confidently say they’re making a compelling case for replacing traditional headsets. Almost.
Design and features
Right out of the box, these earbuds impress with their aesthetic appeal. Available in a sleek PlayStation white or a more subdued black, they feature a minimalist design with a matte finish that feels high-end. The compact size and modern look are a breath of fresh air in a world where gaming gear often leans toward the bulky and over-the-top. Build quality is equally impressive. The earbuds are made from durable plastic that feels anything but cheap, and each bud features a physical button for controls. They are also IP55 dust and water resistant certified so you can confidently use these to work out.
The fit is excellent — the buds sit securely in your ears and stay put. With multiple ear tip sizes included, finding the right fit is easy, though I do wish they came with foam tips as well. Nonetheless, comfort is up there with the best, and I had no issues wearing them for several hours. Whether I was gaming at my desk or taking a brisk walk to the train, they remained secure without causing any discomfort. SteelSeries clearly understands that gaming gear needs to be as functional as it is comfortable.
The case of the GameBuds is a delight too. With its slightly oblong shape, it’s a bit larger than the one on the Asus ROG Cetra Speednova, but there’s good reason for that. Not only does it house the GameBuds themselves, but it also includes a dedicated slot for the 2.4GHz USB-C dongle. I love this. I can’t tell you how many earbuds I’ve reviewed that don’t have anywhere to store their dongle, leading to the awkwardness of plugging them into the case’s charging port. Not so here — you can safely store your dongle without worrying about bending or losing it.
The dongle is quite compact, utilizing an L-shaped design that sits flush on your PlayStation 5. However, if you use a laptop or PC, the shape can be problematic—as I discovered with my MacBook Pro. The L-shape often covers adjacent ports or doesn’t fit in cramped rear I/O panels. Thankfully, there’s a USB-C to A adapter included for systems without Type-C ports.
The Arctis GameBuds come in three variants—PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. As with other SteelSeries headsets, the Xbox variant is your best bet since it’s the only one that works with all consoles. This practice of releasing different versions feels unnecessarily restrictive, and I wish manufacturers would simply offer one universal version.
The Bluetooth 5.3 support is excellent, with simple and reliable pairing. The connection remains stable even across rooms. Gaming performance is impressive, with negligible latency—even YouTube videos sync perfectly with the audio. One limitation is that you can’t use Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless simultaneously. The buds will automatically switch to your phone for incoming calls, but otherwise, you’ll need to manually toggle between modes by triple-pressing the buttons.
This pseudo-simultaneous connection does serve an important purpose: it lets you use the Arctis app on your phone to adjust audio settings in real time. This feature, first introduced with the Arctis Nova 5 headsets, is one of the GameBuds’ strongest selling points. More on that later.
Performance and gaming
Audio quality is the main attraction here, and SteelSeries doesn’t disappoint. The bass is punchy without overpowering the mids and highs, which are clear and well-balanced. The level of detail is impressive, whether I’m gaming, watching movies, or listening to music. In-game, these earbuds shine. Directional audio is on point, making it easy to pinpoint enemies in Call of Duty or appreciate the lush soundscapes of Diablo IV.
Compared to other earbuds in this price range, like the ROG Cetra’s, the Arctis GameBuds come out ahead in overall sound quality and immersion. I especially love that unlike the ROG Cetra, the GameBuds sound wonderful right out of the box with no need to fiddle with the soft. ware.
Things get even better thanks to the SteelSeries Arctis app’s extensive customisation options. The user-friendly interface lets you tweak EQ settings, create custom audio profiles for different games, and adjust ANC levels. The genre-specific presets are particularly useful—the FPS preset enhances directional sound cues, while the RPG preset emphasises ambient audio and dialogue. The Music presets add punch to hip-hop and orchestral tracks. These thoughtful touches elevate the overall experience.
Gaming performance is consistently excellent. Dialogue remains clear and natural, music feels rich and full, and sound effects are sharp without being harsh. The low-latency performance ensures competitive gamers won’t miss a beat, and I was genuinely surprised that the buds sound as good as any full-size headset.
It’s not all sunshine and roses though. Like most gaming earbuds, the Arctis GameBuds struggle with two common issues—mic quality and active noise canceling. The microphone is serviceable but unremarkable. This isn’t unique to gaming earbuds; even premium options like the Beyerdynamic Freebyrd have similar limitations. You can use it for party chat, but don’t expect stellar voice quality.
The Active Noise Cancellation is present but underwhelming. After testing the buds both indoors and during my commute, I’d rate them 2/10 compared to the Apple AirPods Pro Gen 2’s 8/10. The difference between ANC on and off is barely noticeable—it couldn’t even quiet my gaming PC’s fans, leading me to disable it to save battery. While seal quality affects ANC performance, the transparency mode performs better, amplifying ambient sounds clearly, though it lacks conversation awareness features.
Battery life is solid—expect around 10 hours with ANC off, extending to 40 hours with the charging case. That’s plenty for extended gaming sessions. The USB-C charging is quick and convenient, and Qi wireless charging adds flexibility. While designed for PlayStation, these buds work seamlessly with PC, smartphone, and even Nintendo Switch.
Verdict
Overall, the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are an impressive piece of gear and easily the best gaming earbuds available. They combine great audio quality, connectivity, and a comfortable fit into a sleek, portable package. There are a few drawbacks, like the lacklustre microphone and weak ANC compared to non-gaming earbuds in this price range.
For gamers who value portability without compromising performance, these earbuds are an excellent option. Whether you’re a PlayStation player or someone who likes to game across multiple platforms, the Arctis GameBuds deliver a level of quality that’s hard to match. While they’re not cheap, they’re worth it for the comfort, sound quality, and features they bring to the table.
Would I recommend them? Absolutely. If you’re ready to ditch the bulk of a headset but still want premium gaming audio, these are the earbuds for you.
Steelseries Australia kindly provided the Arctis GameBuds to PowerUp for the purpose of this review
