Headphones play a major part in a gamers’ life. For the longest time, headphones for gamers have been bulky and big. Now, there are headphones like the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds which are wireless and small. Sure, you could use Bluetooth earbuds of any kind, but the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds come with many different tunings for your favorite games. The company made these to deliver the best sound experience for some of the most popular games many gamers play today.
Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
I have to say. I’ve never gamed in an environment where I needed headphones, so these weren’t super useful to me while playing Xbox. But where I found the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds to be handy is while being used mobile. Playing the ASUS ROG Ally, Nintendo Switch, and my iPhone. Having the GameBuds for those instances was outstanding. So let’s get into the full review of the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds.
The Quick Take
Headphones, earphones, and earbuds have come a very long way over just the past few years. This is true especially for TWS earbuds. I remember when TWS technology first came out and how unreliable it was. I remember the first batches of earbuds having major connection issues, not only between the source and the earbuds, but also between the earbuds themselves. Now, that issue has been resolved, and TWS earbuds have become as reliable as any other Bluetooth device.
The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are very cool earbuds, as they have many different sound profiles for different popular games. I found these most convenient for playing the Nintendo Switch and the ROG ALLY. But you can use them on PC and Xbox if you like. Here’s what I liked and didn’t like about the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds.
- What I liked:
- Nice-looking design
- Brilliant fit and small
- Convenient for on the go gaming
- Easy to use and setup
- Many different sound profiles for different games
- Excellent sound, though ANC isn’t the best
- Great battery life
- What I didn’t like:
- Slightly pricey
- ANC isn’t the best, but it does okay
Overall, I don’t think the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds will replace a nice pair of gaming headphones. But I do think these are a great addition for gamers to have on the go. I found them nice to have when using handheld consoles and didn’t use them much for PC or Xbox. These are a little pricey, but I think the price is justified. The ANC could be a little better, but it works well enough.
Specifications
The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds have the following features and specifications:
- Arctis Companion App: iPhone (iOS 15.6+) & Android (Android 9+)
- Arctis Companion App – Support: Arctis Companion App – Support
- GG + Engine: Windows 8.1 and above, macOS 10.13 and above
- GG + Sonar Audio Software Suite: Windows 10 and above (required for ChatMix on PC)
- Neodymium Magnetic Drivers: Yes
- Headphone Frequency Response: 20–20,000 Hz
- 360° Spatial Audio: Supported (incl. Tempest 3D, Sonar Spatial)
- Microphone: Yes
- Active Noise Cancellation: Yes – 4 mic Hybrid
- Transparency Mode: Yes
- In-ear detection / sensor (auto-pause/play): Yes (WearSense auto-pause can be turned off)
- Quick Switch 2.4GHZ + Bluetooth: Yes
- 2.4GHz Gaming Wireless: Yes
- Bluetooth: 5.3
- Bluetooth Codec(s): SBC
- Battery Life (Buds): Up to 10 Hours per Charge (2.4GHz active, BT connected, ANC off, 100% volume)
- Battery Life (Case + buds): Up to 40 Hours (10H buds + 30H case)
- USB-C Fast Charge: 15 mins for 3 hours use
- Qi Wireless Charging (Case): Yes
- Charging Time (100%): 90 minutes
What’s In The Box
- SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds for Xbox
- USB-C Wireless Nano-Dongle
- Qi Wireless Charging Case
- USB-C to USB-A adapter
- USB-C Charging Cable (1 ft / 0.3m)
- Silicone Eartips: Small / Medium / Large
- Regulatory Information Booklet
- Product Weight: Buds 5.3g (each) Case 48.7g
Design
Considering the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are gaming focused, you might think there was some sort of crazy looking design. Perhaps with RGB lighting and wild colorways. But that’s not the case here, and I am grateful for that. These earbuds are as plain Jane as you can get.
The SteelSeries logo is on the lid of the charging case, and the case is slim and very pocketable. The Qi wireless charging logo is on the bottom and the USB-C charging port on the back. The lid and bottom portion of the case are nicely accented with a silver ring around it.
Opening the case reveals the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds and the dongle. The earbuds are very slim and compact, and I love how small they are. The SteelSeries logo is on the outside of each bud, as well as the dongle. The lid opens up to a position that makes it easy to get the buds out.
The tips of the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are slim, and the preinstalled ear tips fit perfectly in my ear with an excellent seal. These are some of the slimmest TWS earbuds I’ve used, and I love how slim they are. They don’t stick out of your ears like some others.
Overall, the design is one of the highlights of these earbuds. I love that SteelSeries didn’t go for a gaudy look but instead, kept it classy and simple.
Ease of Use
Setting these up is the same as you would with any other Bluetooth device. First you should charge them fully, then download the app, and when fully charged, just open the case up and the app and start setup. The app will walk you through setup and get Bluetooth going. This was for setting up on my iPhone, I used the included Wi-Fi dongle for Switch and ROG.
Setup is similar with the Wi-Fi dongle, and I would recommend using the Wi-Fi dongle with handheld gaming devices. Touch controls are simple taps, but I really only ever used volume, and you can adjust that on the device. Here is a quick overview of the controls you’ll have at your disposal.
| Input | Left earbud | Right earbud |
|---|---|---|
| Tap + hold | Decrease volume | Increase volume |
| Short hold | Microphone mute | Microphone mute |
| Tap | Cycle ANC modes | Answer incoming call |
| 2x tap | N/A | End call |
| 3x tap | Toggle Bluetooth/2.4 mode | Toggle Bluetooth/2.4 mode |
Overall, these are simple to use and setup. Since these are for gamers, I don’t think these will be an issue for any gamer to get going.
App
The app is the primary reason to get these earbuds and is probably why gamers are considering these earbuds. There are over 175 presets in the app, and you will likely find one for your favorite AAA game title. The Arctis companion app is available on iOS and Android, and there is a desktop app as well.
The desktop app has a bit more robust features with custom EQ options that the mobile app does not have. I tried a few of the presets out, and they do make a difference in what you hear in game. There are some tweaks done to enhance racing games and first-person shooters.
Overall, the app is excellent and if you don’t want to use an app, then I’d say you should just find another set of earbuds because you’ll be throwing out half the experience by not using it.
Sound
I used the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds primarily for music and content consumption on the flat EQ setting. Music sounds really nice on the flat EQ setting, and so do podcasts and YouTube. I do wish there was an EQ in the mobile app to tweak the sound, but the flat EQ was just fine.
The real reason to get the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds is the 175+ EQ settings for specific games. This does make a huge difference. I started using the flat EQ and then moved from one game EQ to another, and there were noticeable differences in dynamics and soundstaging.
The ANC capability isn’t perfect. There are other earbuds with better ANC. But these work well enough, and I think the game-centric EQs are where the value here lays. Overall, the sound quality is great on the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds and the ANC is acceptable.
Reception/Call Quality
Not much to say here. These work great for calls, and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi reception is excellent.
Battery Life
Battery life on the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds will vary wildly on each user. I really don’t think this can be measured with a great deal of accuracy, and your results may differ. I do think SteelSeries’s advertised 10 hours per charge and 40 hours with the case will be fairly accurate.
Price/Value
Prices for TWS earbuds have come down, a lot. The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds sit at a decent price, though a bit higher than we’d like. Still, I think the design, fit, and features are worth the price of admission. You could certainly find other TWS earbuds that are more expensive than these, but not as good. The only real flaw, and not really a flaw, is that the ANC could be better. But I am comparing this to headphones made for music purposes and other purposes. I think these earbuds are worth the price to gamers.
Wrap Up
Overall, I don’t think the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds will replace a nice pair of gaming headphones. But I do think these are a great addition for gamers to have on the go. I found them nice to have when using handheld consoles and didn’t use them much for PC or Xbox. These are a little pricey, but I think the price is justified. The ANC could be a little better, but it works well enough.
SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds
$160
Nailed it
- Nice-looking design
- Brilliant fit and small
- Convenient for on the go gaming
- Easy to use and setup
- Many different sound profiles for different games
- Excellent sound, though ANC isn’t the best
- Great battery life
Needs work
- Slightly pricey
- ANC isn’t the best, but it does okay
In some of our articles and especially in our reviews, you will find Amazon or other affiliate links. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. Any other purchases you make through these links often result in a small amount being earned for the site and/or our writers. Techaeris often covers brand press releases. Doing this does not constitute an endorsement of any product or service by Techaeris. We provide the press release information for our audience to be informed and make their own decision on a purchase or not. Only our reviews are an endorsement or lack thereof. For more information, you can read our full disclaimer.
