0 
0 SteelSeries is often known for its headsets, and less known for their in-ear earbuds. Especially ones that aim to replicate the same sound that you would get from something like the Nova 3. That is where the Arctis Gamebuds come into play. Promising some pretty impressive specs to go along with a really good design. Do they stack up? That is a question I will aim to answer.
Hey There Game-Buddy!
Retailing at just shy of £160, these gamebuds aren’t cheap. Let’s hope that they justify that price as we head on to check out the…
Design Features
As soon as you open the box, you are greeted with the, in this case, black charging case. Emblazoned with the SteelSeries logo on the top, this snap-open case holds both the two earbuds and the USB-C dongle inside with up to 10 hours per charge, and a total of up to 40 hours with a fully charged case. The Arctis Gamebuds will be a great companion whether using them just on your computer at home, or even when on the move.
The charging case can either be plugged in using the included USB-C cable or even by using your own Qi wireless charger. Either way, you are going to get some fast charging, achieving 3 hours of playtime from a mere 15 minutes of charging.
I have used plenty of earbuds in my years, and these are incredibly comfortable. They fit into the ear awesomely! With three different-sized tips included, you can find the perfect fit for your ear. Even if, like me, you have different-sized ear holes. The overall size and shape of each earbud is the loving creation from scanning 62,000 different ears to find the perfect fit. Imagine being that one in 62,000, doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.
Sound Profile
Inside these little earbuds is a big heart, and by heart, I mean the specs that you can experience. Featuring some great Neodymium Magnetic drivers, capable of pumping out a frequency response of 20-20,000Hz, you are going to get sound that is similar to that of SteelSeries‘ over-ear headsets.
Included as well, via software though, is the ability to have 360-degree spatial audio. This is pretty impressive, especially when playing video games. The thing that lets the gamebuds down, though, is the microphone. Now it is absolutely fine for making a call while out and about. But when you want that clarity of voice whilst playing a game, they just come up slightly short. The Arctis Gamebuds do have active noise cancellation, though, and this works extremely well. They also have transparency mode, which it allows all the outside noises in, just to give you a bit more safety or if you need to listen out for train announcements.
To add a little oomph to your sound profile, download the mobile app and you can switch between presets at the touch of a button. With over 200 presets to choose from, you can get the right balance of sound regardless of connection. Honestly, it is really worth finding that perfect preset for how you like to listen to your sounds. In fairness, the flat option for the Arctis Gamebuds is perfect for the majority of occasions.
One of the best things about the Gamebuds is that they are compatible with anything that either has Bluetooth or has a USB-C port. PlayStation, check, Switch, check. It even solved my problem of wanting a comfortable set of earbuds for the Quest 3. Although the best sound will be achieved by using the 2.4GHz dongle, having the ability to quickly switch between the connection types is a godsend. Just triple-tap the earbud and you’ve switched. Nice and simple.
Final Thoughts
The Arctis Gamebuds are a nice refreshing take on the sound quality expected on an in-ear set of earbuds. The audio was warm and vibrant, being able to hear all the orchestral elements of a John Williams classic, but also feeling all the groove and flow of Pink Floyd. Having a great battery life for those long journeys as well as a quick charge rate is perfect. If you are in the market for some decent earbuds, then look no further.
The Arctis Gamebuds receive the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Disclaimer: A sample was received in order to write this review.
YouTube | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Discord | Podcast
About Author
