SteelSeries, a renowned brand in the gaming audio industry, has launched the Arctis GameBuds, a pioneering gaming earbud solution designed specifically for console and PC gamers. These innovative earbuds boast a unique combination of features, including low-latency Bluetooth connectivity, active noise cancellation, and console compatibility, all at an affordable price point of $159.99.The Arctis GameBuds are the first gaming earbuds to offer a seamless gaming experience across multiple platforms, including PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Unlike other gaming-focused earbuds on the market, SteelSeries' solution provides a wireless charging case, a mobile app with powerful per-game EQ settings, and active noise cancellation, making it an attractive option for gamers seeking a high-quality audio experience.In terms of design, the Arctis GameBuds bear a striking resemblance to Jabra's discontinued Elite line of earbuds, housed in a pill-shaped wireless charging case that can deliver up to 40 hours of battery life in total. The case also includes the 2.4GHz USB-C dongle that can be attached to a game console, PC, or phone. A cable inside the packaging allows users to convert the dongle into a USB-A port, catering to those without a USB-C port.Each earbud features a single button, with the left-hand-side button cycling through transparency and noise cancellation modes, while the right-hand button serves as a play/pause control. Users can also tap and hold the right earbud to increase the volume or tap and hold the left earbud to decrease it. Switching between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless modes is a seamless process, requiring only three taps on the side buttons. However, it's worth noting that users cannot utilize Bluetooth and 2.4GHz modes simultaneously, which may be a drawback for some gamers.The Arctis GameBuds come with a variety of silicone tips to ensure a comfortable fit and optimal noise cancellation. The earbuds employ four microphones to filter out distractions, providing a good job of blocking out ambient sounds when playing music or games. However, they fall short of Apple's AirPods Pro and Bose's noise cancellation capabilities.The audio quality of the Arctis GameBuds is commendable for the price, with equalizer presets allowing users to choose options with more bass or a flat EQ for podcasts. The transparency mode and adjustable ANC and transparency levels can be controlled through the Arctis mobile app, which is arguably the best part of the GameBuds. The app features gaming equalizer presets for over 100 games, making a noticeable difference in gaming performance. For instance, the Valorant preset is specifically tuned to enhance footsteps detection, giving gamers a competitive edge.The same presets are available on the SteelSeries GG desktop app, allowing users to take advantage of Sonar, SteelSeries' excellent audio system for Windows. Sonar offers spatial audio and AI-powered noise cancellation for microphones, making it a superior system for managing audio in Windows compared to Microsoft's native offering.The USB-C dongle enables seamless connectivity with PlayStation, Xbox, or PC, with Xbox users requiring a specific version of the GameBuds that includes an additional chip for Microsoft's security policies and a slider button on the USB-C dongle for Xbox compatibility. The Xbox version is available at the same price but only in black, whereas the white version is also available for other platforms.In terms of battery life, the Arctis GameBuds last around 10 hours, with the case providing enough extra battery life to charge the earbuds around four times before needing to be plugged into a USB-C charger. The case is also compatible with Qi wireless charging, making it convenient to top up the earbuds on the go.While the Arctis GameBuds are an impressive gaming solution, some minor issues were encountered during testing, including audio distortion during video calls on PC and occasional 2.4GHz signal breakup in certain areas of the house. However, these issues can be mitigated by adjusting chat volume in the Sonar app and maintaining a closer proximity to the dongle.Overall, the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds offer a unique and compelling gaming experience for console and PC gamers, providing a comfortable, great-sounding, and feature-rich solution at an affordable price point. While some users may find the lack of simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz mode usage a drawback, the GameBuds are an attractive option for those seeking a high-quality gaming audio experience.

The Arctis GameBuds are the first gaming earbuds to offer a seamless gaming experience across multiple platforms, including PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Unlike other gaming-focused earbuds on the market, SteelSeries' solution provides a wireless charging case, a mobile app with powerful per-game EQ settings, and active noise cancellation, making it an attractive option for gamers seeking a high-quality audio experience.

In terms of design, the Arctis GameBuds bear a striking resemblance to Jabra's discontinued Elite line of earbuds, housed in a pill-shaped wireless charging case that can deliver up to 40 hours of battery life in total. The case also includes the 2.4GHz USB-C dongle that can be attached to a game console, PC, or phone. A cable inside the packaging allows users to convert the dongle into a USB-A port, catering to those without a USB-C port.

Each earbud features a single button, with the left-hand-side button cycling through transparency and noise cancellation modes, while the right-hand button serves as a play/pause control. Users can also tap and hold the right earbud to increase the volume or tap and hold the left earbud to decrease it. Switching between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless modes is a seamless process, requiring only three taps on the side buttons. However, it's worth noting that users cannot utilize Bluetooth and 2.4GHz modes simultaneously, which may be a drawback for some gamers.

The Arctis GameBuds come with a variety of silicone tips to ensure a comfortable fit and optimal noise cancellation. The earbuds employ four microphones to filter out distractions, providing a good job of blocking out ambient sounds when playing music or games. However, they fall short of Apple's AirPods Pro and Bose's noise cancellation capabilities.

The audio quality of the Arctis GameBuds is commendable for the price, with equalizer presets allowing users to choose options with more bass or a flat EQ for podcasts. The transparency mode and adjustable ANC and transparency levels can be controlled through the Arctis mobile app, which is arguably the best part of the GameBuds. The app features gaming equalizer presets for over 100 games, making a noticeable difference in gaming performance. For instance, the Valorant preset is specifically tuned to enhance footsteps detection, giving gamers a competitive edge.

The same presets are available on the SteelSeries GG desktop app, allowing users to take advantage of Sonar, SteelSeries' excellent audio system for Windows. Sonar offers spatial audio and AI-powered noise cancellation for microphones, making it a superior system for managing audio in Windows compared to Microsoft's native offering.

The USB-C dongle enables seamless connectivity with PlayStation, Xbox, or PC, with Xbox users requiring a specific version of the GameBuds that includes an additional chip for Microsoft's security policies and a slider button on the USB-C dongle for Xbox compatibility. The Xbox version is available at the same price but only in black, whereas the white version is also available for other platforms.

In terms of battery life, the Arctis GameBuds last around 10 hours, with the case providing enough extra battery life to charge the earbuds around four times before needing to be plugged into a USB-C charger. The case is also compatible with Qi wireless charging, making it convenient to top up the earbuds on the go.

While the Arctis GameBuds are an impressive gaming solution, some minor issues were encountered during testing, including audio distortion during video calls on PC and occasional 2.4GHz signal breakup in certain areas of the house. However, these issues can be mitigated by adjusting chat volume in the Sonar app and maintaining a closer proximity to the dongle.

Overall, the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds offer a unique and compelling gaming experience for console and PC gamers, providing a comfortable, great-sounding, and feature-rich solution at an affordable price point. While some users may find the lack of simultaneous Bluetooth and 2.4GHz mode usage a drawback, the GameBuds are an attractive option for those seeking a high-quality gaming audio experience.