Review: Arctis GameBuds are close to the ideal daily driver for gamers

Ever since I reviewed the Turtle Beach Ear Force PX5, I had a vision of my perfect gaming headset. It would have many of the same features of that pioneering device but in a form factor that works fine outside the living room. I could wear it on a run and then take it with me to the office. When I return home, this headset could handle games such as “Dragon Age: The Veilguard” with no problems.

Essentially, my ideal gaming headset has the tech to specialize in gaming while having the versatility to be a daily driver. With the Arctis Gamebuds, SteelSeries hits a near bull’s-eye. The company takes the form factor that Apple popularized with the AirPods and tailors it for the gaming space.

AN EASY-TO-CARRY PACKAGE

The device is light with the package including carrying case coming in at 59.5 grams while the earbuds are 11 grams. The carrying case is bulkier than its peers because it also carries the USB-C dongle inside while the earbuds fit snugly and comfortably in the ear. I’ve run with them and they don’t fall out. The IP55 protection means that sweat won’t be a problem, but don’t expect them to survive a dip in the pool.

Like many of its peers at this price point, the Arctis GameBuds have active noise cancellation and a transparency mode. Both work fantastically. The ANC blocks outside noise and isolates players with the sound, making it perfect to listen to music while focusing on computer work. That same feature improves immersion in horror games and online gaming.

The transparency mode was just as good, and it’s consistent. When I was out on a run, I could hear cars and other hazards around me. At home, the transparency mode allowed me to pick out my toddler crying from a baby monitor while playing through a “Call of Duty” match. The device lets the right type of sounds come through.

BIG SOUND FROM A TINY PACKAGE

When it comes the sound quality, the Arctis GameBuds were surprisingly great for the smaller form factor. Compared to the HyperX Cloud Mix Buds 2, the sound was much richer and bigger. The device created a better seal around my ears so that I could appreciate the Neodymum Magnetic Drivers’ output.

The bass won’t overwhelm users, but it still punches through in moments while the device does a decent job with the mids. It handles the highs really well, allowing users to appreciate the details like the clinking of glasses.

The sound separation feels good. It replicates 3D audio well enough that players can pinpoint the general direction of gunfire. What’s notable though is how the GameBuds have an immediacy surging through its sound. When casually listening to music, the audio feels as though it’s a few feet away from you instead of being distant. When playing games, the audio maintains that same proximity and intensity. Again, it just serves to improve the immersion of whatever I listened to music, games or movies.

When it comes to the microphone, my voice comes through fine on phone calls and in multiplayer though it can sound a bit distant. The device has the option to modify the sidetone so that you don’t sound too loud to teammates or a friend.

BATTERY LIFE AND A SECRET WEAPON

With as much use as I got from the Arctis GameBuds, I was surprised with the battery life. It nearly lives up to the 10 hour battery life per charge. That means it can last the work day or a marathon gaming session with a bit left over. Best of all, being earbuds, the comfort is second to none. You can wear them for hours without discomfort. The carrying case offers 30 more hours of charge and it can be charged via USB-C cable or through Qi wireless charging.

All of this would create a solid device that’s better than its rivals, but what puts the Arctis GameBuds over the top is the software and the quality-of-life features. First off, these earbuds have physical buttons. That makes switching between the 2.4 Ghz and Bluetooth sources easy. Players just tap quickly three times. If they want to switch between ANC and transparency, they just tap left earbud, It even has volume controls. Did I mention that the buttons are responsive?

The device also has in-ear prompts so users know when they’re switching between different modes, but if they want to dive deeper into the options, the Arctis GameBuds connects with the SteelSeries Arctis Companion app on iOS and Android devices. This is a major strength of the peripheral. The app offers players robust but easy-to-use options.

Using the app, they can switch between the low-latency USB-C dongle or Bluetooth connections. Unfortunately, users can’t use both at the same time, so there’s no smartphone music while fragging people in competitive shooters. They can modify the intensity of the transparency and ANC mode. Those are fine and good, but the biggest selling point is the presets. The Arctis Companion app boasts more than 100 audio presets for music and games. Players can pick profiles for titles such as “Alan Wake 2” or competitive titles such as “Call of Duty” to accentuate footsteps for a competitive advantage. It’s easy to search for what players want and load it up onto the headset.

The details show that SteelSeries left no stone unturned when it comes to developing gaming earbuds that are as close to perfect as possible. The Arctis GameBuds feel like they’re a step above the competition at the price point while also being a daily driver that has value beyond the controller.

Arctis GameBuds

Four stars out of four

Price: $159.99

Manufacturer: SteelSeries