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SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds in case in hand
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SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review: Gaming buds that do it all

Level up your audio game without switching loadouts.
By

Published onNovember 4, 2024

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8
Arctis GameBuds
The bottom line
The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds blend console gaming and daily use into a compelling all-in-one solution, offering solid sound quality with plenty of EQ presets at a competitive price.
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Arctis GameBuds

The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds blend console gaming and daily use into a compelling all-in-one solution, offering solid sound quality with plenty of EQ presets at a competitive price.
Product release date
October 29, 2024
Price
$159.99
Dimensions
52.32 × 70.10 × 30.23 mm
Weight
62 g
Model Number
61707
Waterproof
IP55
What we like
Good ANC
Good sound
Plenty of gaming EQ presets
Comfortable
What we don't like
SBC only
No custom EQ on mobile (PC only)
8
SoundGuys Rating
Rating Metric
Our Rating
User Rating
Isolation / Attenuation
6.9
-
0.0
Active Noise Cancelling
7.8
-
0.0
Durability / Build Quality
8.5
-
0.0
Value
8.5
-
0.0
Design
7.5
-
0.0
Connectivity
6.5
-
0.0
Portability
9.0
-
0.0
Battery Life
7.5
-
0.0
Feature
9.2
-
0.0
Comfort
8.0
-
0.0
MDAQS rating
Learn more
Timbre
4.8
Distortion
3.3
Immersiveness
4.1
Overall
4.6

Gamers know all too well that leading consoles like the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X mean leaving your trusty Bluetooth earbuds behind — the consoles simply don’t support them. The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds aims to solve this with a 2.4GHz wireless dongle for gaming while keeping Bluetooth for everything else. At $159, they undercut other premium wireless earbuds, offering active noise cancelation and the usual array of features you’d expect. More than that, the app comes packed with over 150 EQ presets to make the most of your favorite games. Could these be the all-in-one solution that eliminates the need for separate gaming and everyday pairs?

Editor’s note: this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.

About this SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds review: I tested the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds over a period of ten days. It was running firmware version 1.2.0, and the SteelSeries Arctis Companion app ran version 2.0.0. The company provided the unit for this review.

The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are, unsurprisingly, for those who want earbuds with active noise cancelation for gaming, whether that be at home or on the go with a handheld console. More than that, they are for those who want gaming earbuds that can suffice both in style an performance as everyday wireless earbuds for music listening or phone calls.

What’s it like to use the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds?

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds in hand
The triangular shape is very ergonomic.

My first impression of the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds is just how comfortable they are to wear. The style and shape of the earbuds remind me a lot of the Jabra Elite line, which is a good thing, with a smooth, triangular ergonomic shape that sits nicely in the ears. SteelSeries claims to have scanned over 62,000 ears to inform the design, and that research definitely seems to have paid off, at least for me. I could wear these earbuds for over two hours straight before feeling any discomfort.

The ear tips do sit a little deep inside the ear canals, which some people might not like, but it didn’t bother me. If you are used to wearing unsealed AirPods, this fit may feel a little invasive at first. On the bright side, if you can get used to it, it does help to ensure a good seal, and the earbuds come with multiple sizes of silicone tips to help get a secure fit. The GameBuds also have in-ear detection to automatically play or pause music when connected via Bluetooth, though this can be disabled if you prefer.

The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are super comfortable.

Normally, I prefer touch controls on my earbuds, but the tactile buttons here are well-implemented. The clicky buttons are shallow and don’t require a lot of force, which helps prevent the earbuds from being pushed further into your ear. Still, I found myself more often using the mobile app to adjust controls. Not only because of the potential to compromise the seal or cause discomfort, but because the audible chime and voice that tells you ANC is On and other status updates sound notably robotic and can be jarring.

The earbuds have a water resistance rating of IP55, which provides protection from dust, dirt, and water. This rating makes them suitable for long gaming sessions that break a sweat, light amounts of rain, or mild workouts, making them versatile enough for both gaming and general daily use.

How do you control the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds?

The Arctis Gamebuds have physical buttons on the face of the earbuds to facilitate controls. There are the usual taps and double taps to issue commands, as well as to quickly switch between your wireless connection method. You can see the default controls in the table below, but you can also adjust the command via the mobile app if you wish.

InputLeft earbudRight earbud
Input
Tap + hold
Left earbud
Decrease volume
Right earbud
Increase volume
Input
Short hold
Left earbud
Microphone mute
Right earbud
Microphone mute
Input
Tap
Left earbud
Cycle ANC modes
Right earbud
Answer incoming call
Input
2x tap
Left earbud
N/A
Right earbud
End call
Input
3x tap
Left earbud
Toggle Bluetooth/2.4 mode
Right earbud
Toggle Bluetooth/2.4 mode

Should you use the SteelSeries Arctis Companion app for the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds?

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds app
The app has over 100 game-specific EQ presets.

The app is a big reason to get these earbuds. Previously reserved for the Arctis Nova 5 headphones, the app, and the 175+ EQ presets it comes with are now available to the renamed Arctis Companion app. Yes, you read that right; there are over 175 game-specific EQ presets for a multitude of video game titles, as well as music and movie-specific ones like bass boost and clear dialogue tuning. I strongly suggest checking them out as you are likely to find your recent favorite video game supported by an EQ preset that might very well have been tuned by SteelSeries according to the recommendations of the game developers themselves, though not always.

There's a EQ preset for pretty much every AAA title.

Unfortunately, the mobile app does not have a customer equalizer. That is reserved for the desktop app on PC. However, you can also control other aspects of the earbuds via the mobile app, such as the connection mode, ANC, Transparency mod levels, and volume. You can also check the battery life of the case and earbuds.

How do you connect the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds?

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds with case
The USB-C dongle fits inside the charging case.

Because Bluetooth earbuds cannot connect to PS5 or Xbox, the Arctis Gamebuds include a 2.4GHz USB-C dongle in the charging case to connect to your console of choice wirelessly. In addition to PlayStation and Xbox, that includes the Switch, PC, Mobile, Meta Quest, and pretty much any other handheld/cloud gaming device.

The earbuds also use Bluetooth 5.3 with support for the SBC codec only. While you can’t use both connection methods simultaneously, you can switch between them with a triple tap of either earbud.

To put the Gamebuds in pairing mode:

  • Place both earbuds inside the case with the case lid open.
  • Hold the left or right earbud button down for 3 seconds.
  • Once the button is released, the buds will enter Bluetooth pairing mode, and the LEDs will begin blinking blue.
  • Look for the Arctis Gamebuds on your Bluetooth to complete the pairing process.

How long does the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds battery last?

In our testing, the Arctis Gamebuds lasted 8 hours and 32 minutes when connected to a PC using the 2.4 GHz connection. ANC was off, and the music was playing at medium volume.

That comes pretty close to SteelSeries’ claim of 10 hours, and you’d likely get more mileage when using the Bluetooth connection. The charging case provides three full charges for the earbuds, and I only had to charge the case once during my testing.

How well do the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds attenuate noise?

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The Arctis GameBuds do a great job of canceling noise. Our testing shows that with ANC on, they reduce low-frequency noise, such as the rumble of an airplane engine, by 25dB or more and high-frequency noise by over 40 dB. Overall, these gamebuds reduce the perceived loudness of external noise by around 78%, which is close to the 80% average we find in flagship noise canceling earbuds.

While gaming with these earbuds at the office, I couldn’t hear any noise from my coworkers’ keyboards, conversations, or the AC unit overhead. While riding the bus on my way to work, I could hear the occasional sounds of traffic but nothing so loud as to detract from my music listening.

The transparency mode here is good enough if you need to quickly hear someone talking to you without taking out your earbuds. I didn’t find any faults with it, but it didn’t do an amazing job of recreating the space around me. For that, it’s better to remove the earbuds altogether.

How do the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds sound?

The Arctis GameBuds deliver detailed gaming audio with excellent spatial awareness, though they can struggle with dialogue clarity and lack some low-end impact for bass-heavy content.

Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Scores (MDAQS)

The chart below shows how the sound of the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds was assessed by the Multi-Dimensional Audio Quality Score (MDAQS) algorithm from HEAD acoustics.

This chart shows the MDAQS results for the Steelseries Arctis Gamebuds in Default mode. The Timbre score is 4.8, The Distortion score is 3.3, the Immersiveness score is 4.1, and the Overall Score is 4.6).
Most people will enjoy the sound of these earbuds.

The Arctis Gamebuds received favorable results from MDAQS. Immersiveness is quite good for gaming as you’ll be able to pinpoint sounds around you, while the high Timbre scores bode well for general music listening. Most people will likely enjoy how these earbuds sound.

  • Timbre (MOS-T) represents how faithfully the headset reproduces the frequency spectrum and temporal resolution (timing information).
  • Distortion (MOS-D) represents non-linearities and added noise: higher scores mean cleaner reproduction.
  • Immersiveness (MOS-I) represents perceived source width and positioning: how well virtual sound sources are defined in three-dimensional space.

See here for an explanation of MDAQS, how it works, and how it was developed.

Reviewer’s notes

Editor’s note: this review uses a hover-enabled glossary to describe sound quality based on a consensus vocabulary. You can read about it here.

Objective Measurements

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The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds’ frequency response has a tuning that’s similar to a lot of gaming headsets I’ve tried, even if it deviates from our preference curve in a few areas. There’s quite a sub-bass roll-off below 50Hz, but otherwise, bass frequencies are prominent. The mids are a little more underemphasized than I would like to hear, with the subdued ear-gain bump at 3kHz in particular. That’s followed by a pronounced treble peak at 6-8kHz, reaching about 10dB above neutral. While potentially beneficial for localizing sounds in three-dimensional space, this treble peak could lead to significant listener fatigue during longer sessions.

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Yes, as you can see in the chart above, when ANC is off (yellow), there is less bass emphasis in the low end. The treble peak is also about 3dB lower, making for a more neutral leaning sound overall.

How good is the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds’s microphone?

closeup of steelseries gamebuds
The Arctis GameBuds are suitable for quick calls or gaming at home.

The microphone quality on the Arctis Gamebuds is just okay – not exceptional, but not terrible, either. Voices are intelligible even if some background noise makes its way through. As you can hear in the samples below, the mics struggle with noise rejection in office conditions. However, in my experience, I tried aggressively typing on my mechanical keyboard while wearing the earbuds, and my friend reported not being able to hear any noise. Additionally, as you can hear in the Reverberant space sample, while the mics have some level of isolation, they aren’t fully immune to room reflections, which is common in smaller, embedded mics on earbuds.

Arctis GameBuds microphone demo (Ideal conditions):

Arctis GameBuds microphone demo (Office conditions):

Arctis GameBuds microphone demo (Reverberant space):

Take a listen for yourself, and let us know what you think in our poll.

How does the microphone sound to you?

30 votes

Should you buy the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds?

A handsome young man holding the steelseries gamebuds
These earbuds are Adam-approved.

The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds make a compelling case at $159.99, especially for gamers seeking a versatile pair of earbuds that can handle both console gaming and daily use. Their strong ANC performance, comfortable fit, and extensive library of EQ presets make them a particularly attractive option for anyone tired of switching between gaming headsets and regular earbuds. The 2.4GHz wireless connection ensures compatibility with major consoles, while Bluetooth keeps you connected to your other devices.

A versatile do-it-all solution for gamers tired of switching between devices.

However, they’re not without their compromises. The lack of bass impact and occasional dialogue clarity issues might give pause to trained listeners or story-focused gamers. Still, given their competitive price point, solid battery life, and impressive noise cancelation that rivals more expensive earbuds, the Arctis GameBuds are an easy recommendation for gamers seeking a do-it-all solution. Just be prepared to experiment with those EQ presets to find your perfect sound.

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds
SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds
SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds
2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth • Strong ANC • Extensive EQ presets
MSRP: $159.99
Gaming earbuds with strong noise canceling and universal compatibility at a competitive price.
At $159.99, the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds delivers a compelling mix of gaming features and everyday practicality. While audio purists might notice some compromises, the combination of strong noise cancelation, versatile connectivity, and gamer-focused customization makes them an attractive option for those seeking a single pair of earbuds for all their gaming and daily needs.

What should you get instead of the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds?

Sony INZONE Buds held between PS5 controllers.
Chase Bernath / SoundGuys
The Sony Inzone Buds are a good pick if you don’t need Bluetooth.

The Sony INZONE Buds ($198 at Amazon) deliver excellent sound quality and strong ANC but are significantly less versatile. While they offer better battery life at nearly 12 hours compared to the GameBuds’ 8.5 hours, their lack of standard Bluetooth makes them strictly a PS5/PC solution. Consider these only if you’re exclusively gaming on PlayStation or PC and don’t need the GameBuds’ everyday versatility.

The PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds ($199 at Amazon) feature unique planar magnetic drivers and PlayStation’s proprietary wireless technology, but at a higher price point. While they offer impressive gaming audio clarity, they lack ANC (compared to the GameBuds’ strong noise cancelation) and have more limited EQ options that only work on PS5. The GameBuds are a better value unless you’re specifically looking for PlayStation-optimized audio.

The Razer Hammerhead Hyperspeed ($149.99 at Razer) is slightly lower priced and offers similar versatility with Bluetooth and USB-C dongle connectivity. While it provides decent ANC and a comfortable fit like the GameBuds, its sound quality and microphone performance aren’t quite as refined. However, it’s worth considering if you want to save a bit of money and don’t need the GameBuds’ extensive preset library.

Frequently asked questions about the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds

Yes, with an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance plus a secure fit, the GameBuds can handle workouts. However, since the ear tips sit quite deep in the ear canal, vigorous movement might require frequent readjustment.

Yes, the GameBuds can connect to a PC either via the 2.4GHz USB-C dongle or Bluetooth. The PC app also gives you access to customizable EQ settings not available on other platforms.

Yes, each earbud has built-in microphones that can be quickly muted using the physical buttons. The mics can be used for both gaming chat and phone calls when connected via Bluetooth.

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