SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review: gaming earbud perfection, nearly

The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are one thing of a revelation. Whereas there are actually many choices accessible for these looking for a low-cost set of wi-fi earbuds, few additionally embrace a simple technique of connecting them to your gaming PC. That’s the place the two.4GHz wi-fi dongle with this in-ear headset comes into play. What’s extra, the nice consolation and sound of those earbuds, mixed with their 100+ game-specific sound profiles, makes them a very easy and decent-value different to a traditional gaming headset.

Razer could have overwhelmed SteelSeries to the punch for two.4GHz wi-fi earbuds, with its Hammerhead Professional Hyperspeed (assessment imminent), however the Arctis GameBuds just do sufficient to earn the crown of the most effective gaming earbuds on our greatest gaming headset information. The variations are delicate, although, so learn on to seek out out why the Arctis GameBuds are so good.

Specs

Options

The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are basically identical to Apple AirPods, or any variety of different absolutely wi-fi earbuds, with their capacity to ship wi-fi audio individually from every earbud whereas having a compact carry case that may recharge the earbuds a number of extra occasions.

They will join through Bluetooth to your cellphone, pill, laptop computer, or gaming PC with a Bluetooth adapter (usually, most Wi-Fi playing cards or the inbuilt Wi-Fi adapters on motherboards embrace Bluetooth now), however the actual key to those gaming earbuds for PC customers is their inclusion of a 2.4GHz wi-fi dongle too. The USB-C dongle, which comes with a USB-C to USB-A adapter, lets you join these earbuds to any PC, offering a low-latency audio connection that’s ultimate for gaming.

The earbuds every incorporate a single driver of unspecified measurement to ship its audio, whereas 4 little microphones permit the buds to offer voice comms together with energetic noise cancellation (ANC) and audio pass-through. The latter allows you to preserve the earbuds in your ears and nonetheless clearly hear what’s taking place exterior.

Every bud additionally has a button that allows you to play/pause/skip tracks, change between Bluetooth and a pair of.4GHz, management quantity, enter pairing mode, reply/finish a name, change between ANC and pass-through modes, or simply flip off the mics fully so the buds depend on the passive sound blocking of the eartips (the most effective setting for prolonging battery life). Every of those options is activated by some mixture of a single press, double press, triple press, press then maintain, or by holding down the button.

The buds can present ten hours of battery life per cost, with the case then offering three extra full prices, for 40 hours of complete on-the-go listening. These are significantly spectacular numbers, with Apple’s AirPods Professional solely delivering a complete of 30 hours, and simply six hours for every cost of the buds. The Razer Hammerhead Professional Hyperspeed additionally provides 40 hours however with 6.5 hours per bud. The GameBuds case can also be appropriate with Qi wi-fi charging.

Different inclusions within the field is a brief USB-C to USB-C charging cable and a field of small and enormous silicone eartips as options to the default medium-size ideas. The charging case itself features a USB-C charging port, and inside it has room to accommodate the USB-C dongle, although not the USB-C to USB-A adapter. Notably, the Hammerhead Professional Hyperspeed can’t retailer its wi-fi dongle.

The Arctis GameBuds can be found in three completely different configurations. There are black and white variations which are appropriate with PC and PlayStation, then solely a black model that’s appropriate with Xbox consoles.

Design and luxury

With this white PlayStation-compatible model we’re reviewing, we’ve got to confess the Arctis Gamebuds don’t instantly give off a very trendy vibe. The white case appears to be like and feels a bit plasticky, and the white earbuds equally lack the marginally cleaner, slicker look of Airpods. That mentioned, the shortage of a protruding stick, just like the one the Hammerhead Professional Hyperspeed and Airpods, means these earbuds do disguise away in your ears a little bit extra.

Furthermore, earbuds usually are arguably not essentially the most trendy equipment, and these are completely high-quality compared with different buds. Plus, they’re primarily meant for gaming use at residence, and as journey headphones second, so avenue style isn’t crucial standards.

Trying on the case a bit extra intently, it’s a sensible, compact unit that’s simply pocketable. That mentioned, it’s noticeably larger than the second-gen AirPods Professional case (under proper) and the Razer Hammerhead Professional Hyperspeed case (under middle). It’s round 50% thicker and barely wider than each. It’s additionally heavier than the Razer buds case, however truly a gram lighter than the AirPods Professional case.

As such, the SteelSeries buds don’t simply slip into the tiny further pocket you discover in denims, as is the case with the AirPods Professional, however they’re high-quality with some other small pocket and are typically tremendous transportable. Plus, that further bulk will get you the power to hold across the USB dongle, guaranteeing you by no means lose it (with out dropping your entire set of GameBuds, clearly).

The lid to the case feels a bit skinny and low cost, although. It’s additionally only a bit awkward to grip the case whereas additionally flipping the lid – a symptom of its horizontal reasonably than vertical structure, seemingly. Plus, the lid solely opens about 70% of the best way earlier than hitting a slight resistance that requires you to push the lid again the remainder of the best way. It’s a far cry from the snappy, magnet-assisted lid of AirPods or the Hammerhead Professional Hyperspeed. It’s not a deal breaker, however only a very slight irritation.

Equally, lifting out the earbuds isn’t fairly as easy as with AirPods Professional, nevertheless it’s easy sufficient – and much simpler than the Hammerhead Professional Hyperspeed – they usually snap again into place very cleanly because of their magnet help. In the meantime, the dongle makes use of a push match and is a bit more awkward to grip from the case, however you’re far much less prone to be frequently eradicating it when on the go, so it’s not a serious concern.

I discovered the match of the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds to be very good. They push fairly deeply into your ear canal, so if you happen to’re not a fan of that sensation then you definately gained’t get on with these buds. In distinction, AirPods Professional and the Hammerhead Professional Hyperspeed have their rubber ideas sitting so they only cowl the doorway to your ear canal, reasonably than pushing deeper into it.

Nevertheless, if you happen to don’t thoughts the deeper model of match, these slide into your ears simply, and, regardless of the cumbersome design of the earbuds, they settled into the form of my ear properly, making for a match that didn’t really feel like the load of the buds was pulling on the silicone ideas. The default medium ideas did the job for me, however you could have the 2 different sizes if wanted.

Match for earbuds is a really private issue, although, so whereas I really feel these are broadly a well-designed form, there’s solely a lot I can counsel they’ll swimsuit different wearers. Additionally, as a result of they do must be pushed into your ears considerably deep, there’s a transient second the place the buds are midway to being pushed in that it’s important to alter your grip, which could be a bit fiddly to keep away from urgent the buttons on the skin of the earbuds, however you get the grasp of it.

As soon as in, I discovered these earbuds remained comfy for an entire day’s listening. Crucially, if you happen to put on glasses these earbuds fully keep away from the problem of your glasses arms being pressed into the facet of your head and inflicting discomfort.

There may often be a second an hour or so into sporting them that they may really feel a contact tickly, so a fast rejig of the match was required, however then they may go nearly unnoticed for a lot of hours extra. They do require pushing again into your ears a little bit as soon as each hour or two, although. – to not the purpose the place they’re susceptible to falling out, however simply to enhance the seal and have them be a little bit extra comfortable, which makes a giant distinction to their bass response.

They really feel safer for exercising than AirPods Professional and the Hammerhead Professional Hyperspeed too, I wouldn’t wholeheartedly belief them for lengthy coaching classes. I used them on the gymnasium loads of occasions with out situation however for an extended run or journey, they’ll work free greater than a devoted set of sports activities earbuds.

Much less of a consolation situation, however a extra basic usability issue, is the wonderful design of the outer buttons on these earbuds. The entire flat outward-facing floor of the buds is a button that’s each very easy to achieve and to press – the button feels mild however outlined, so you realize for certain once you’ve pressed it.

Not solely are the buttons simple to press, however their multitude of features is intuitive and straightforward to carry out. It takes a short while to recollect each operate, and if you happen to very sometimes use sure options chances are you’ll discover you possibly can’t fairly bear in mind which mixture brings it up once you want it, however for essentially the most half, it’s surprisingly simple.

Software program and sound profiles

You may configure the GameBuds through each desktop and cellular apps, with the previous utilizing the SteelSeries GG software program, and the app merely known as SteelSeries Arctis Companion. Each apps offer you entry to many of the identical features, although solely the desktop app allows you to create customized EQ profiles. You may select the amount of as much as ten frequency bands, with the sections of the frequency vary handily labeled as sub bass, bass, low mids, and so forth.

Within the Audio part of the apps you possibly can change between 2.4GHz and Bluetooth modes, set an EQ, toggle noise management, change mic quantity, set a sidetone quantity (the quantity of your mic you possibly can hear), and allow a quantity limiter (as per EU rules).

In the meantime, within the Settings part, you may as well change how lengthy it would take earlier than the earbuds flip off when no audio is taking part in (from 1-90 minutes or by no means). At that time, the buds do fully flip off and must be returned to their case to come back again out of sleep mode, which is kind of irritating, so I discovered lengthening this turn-off time to at least one hour from the default of half-hour was helpful.

Different settings embrace a put on sense possibility that may robotically pause your music once you take away an earbud. You may as well change the button mapping, selecting what features will probably be triggered by a single press, double press, and so forth. It’s a complete checklist that makes it very easy to get the Arctis GameBuds arrange simply how you want.

The ultimate piece of the puzzle, earlier than we take a look at the general sound high quality, is the choice of pre-built sound profiles from which you’ll select. There are over 100 game-optimized EQs accessible, that are tweaked for components comparable to enhancing the readability of footsteps or different essential audio cues.

Such EQ settings aren’t a brand new function to gaming headsets however they do work significantly nicely for a set of earbuds that you just’re more likely to need to optimize for excellent music sound high quality when touring, however then tune to a selected sport once you’re taking part in. A devoted wired headset, however, can get away with being fully tuned for a sport always.

Microphone sound high quality

The mics on the GameBuds sound nice, so far as earbuds go. They do a very good job of clearly selecting up your voice and preserving an honest quantity of lower-end readability, all whereas decreasing the influence of some exterior noise.

Additionally they work nicely in transparency mode. As with all such modes, the tone tends to be a contact extra trebly in comparison with the true exterior sound, however you possibly can maintain a dialog and get a way of visitors round you with none apparent distortion. Your individual voice additionally doesn’t come by means of with too unusual a tone or delay.

The one slight situation is that moments in dialog the place you discuss over one another barely imply you merely can’t hear what the opposite individual says once you usually would be capable of. That is frequent with these modes, although.

Headphone sound high quality

The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds sound high quality is nice. The drivers do a stable job of reproducing a variety of sounds with none actually apparent coloring of the tone. Bass presence is robust when known as upon however not compelled, top-end element is obvious with out being shrill, and there’s loads of mid-range heat, making for a typically easy and satisfying hear. Whether or not listening to Fleetwood Mac, Kanye, or Amyl and Sniffers, these earbuds are as much as the duty.

For these acquainted with them, the Arctis GameBuds truly sound remarkably much like the AirPods Professional buds. In the meantime, the Hammerhead Hyperspeed buds as a substitute have a way more clearly emphasised bass response with much less mid-range presence.

That prowess at music interprets to video games and video too, with the default sound bringing a number of element and environment to no matter you throw at them. The sport-specific profiles are an fascinating addition too, although not all are as profitable as others.

The Counter-Strike 2 profile tuned by Faze does an awesome job of amping up the readability of footsteps and different key in-game noises. The result’s fairly shrill, with pointless bass significantly lowered, nevertheless it works as a gaming benefit. Conversely, the Apex Legends profile surprisingly bumps up the bass, which makes for a big-impact, enjoyable sound, nevertheless it’s not a alternative I’d make for tuning a aggressive sport like that, although in equity it does additionally crank up the treble for a bit of additional readability.

As for the noise canceling of those earbuds, it’s excellent. The passive noise discount from the silicone ideas is usually sufficient to simply take off the sting in a barely busy workplace, or when there’s a little bit of hustle and bustle exterior your window, however turning on the ANC helps significantly in louder environments.

I primarily examined these earbuds at my native gymnasium, which blasts a variety of loud music all through the entire constructing and the ANC did an awesome job of masking many of the din. The bass particularly is saved at bay, permitting the bass of what you’re listening to by means of to your ears.

Battery life

The SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds battery life is improbable. I discovered they frequently lasted an entire working day with out operating flat, simply residing as much as their ten hours per cost declare. I additionally discovered the claimed three hours of listening from quarter-hour of charging declare to be largely correct too.

Contemplating the scale of the case, it will have been good to get an excellent larger complete listening time than 40 hours nevertheless it’s nonetheless an honest total lifespan between prices. The battery life does cut back if you happen to use ANC however they nonetheless last more than most rivals.

Value

The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds value is $159.99, making these a fairly premium possibility so far as gaming headsets go. Nevertheless, this value matches the Razer Hammerhead Professional Hyperspeed and is in the identical ballpark as different wi-fi earbuds. As such, they provide first rate worth total.

Alternate options

Razer Hammerhead Professional Hyperspeed

With core specs similar to the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds, the Hammerhead Professional Hyperspeed provides a barely completely different match, case design, and sound profile. The match is extra like an AirPod, with its lengthy outer stalk and fewer deep-sitting eartips. Their sound has a stronger bass push too, all for basically the identical value because the GameBuds.

Verdict

The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds may not be the primary gaming earbuds, however they’re positively my favourite of the choices accessible proper now. Their mixture of nice sound high quality, glorious noise canceling, basic ease of use, long-term consolation, and lengthy battery life makes them a pleasure to make use of once you’re gaming at your desk and when you’re out and about.

There are a number of little irritations, such because the failure to activate after dropping into standby mode, and the marginally cheap-feeling plastic lid of the case. Plus, the general consolation and match of earbuds might be very subjective. Nevertheless, total these earbuds nonetheless supply an expertise I actually loved and one I can advocate at present pricing.

For those who’re nonetheless not satisfied by an in-ear headset alternative, learn our information on the most effective wi-fi gaming headsets for extra over-ear headset choices. Or, take a look at our checklist of the most effective pc audio system for some out-loud audio choices.