So, funny tale, I misplaced my earbuds during a Polaris RZR trip at the end of August. While there weren’t any that I’d be disappointed to lose, it instantly shifted my focus to replacing them. Little did I realize that an email from SteelSeries would transform my life. The Arctis GameBuds have arrived, and I’m shocked we haven’t received earbuds from the top headset manufacturer in the biz yet. After using these earbuds for a while, I’m amazed at how the SteelSeries team has managed to compress their sonic perfection into such little packages.
When you open the teeny tiny box (particularly in comparison to other SteelSeries gadgets), you’ll discover the Arctis GameBuds with USB-C dongle inside the oval charging case, a USB-C charging cable, a USB-C to A adapter, and silicone ear tips to assist you modify the fit. Everything here is very normal for earphones, even the extremely short USB-C cord. I don’t expect much, but it’s almost hilarious that this three-inch cable is still provided with earbuds nowadays. The USB-C to A converter is a pleasant addition to the packaging, allowing you to connect the GameBuds dongle to USB-A ports, which is an important feature that we will explore later.
The charging case for the GameBuds is aesthetically pleasant, with a symmetrical form that fits easily into your pocket. It’s slightly larger than other earbud cases, such as the Google Pixel buds or Apple Airpods, but still smaller than the JBL Quantum TWS. I haven’t had it phantom open while in my pocket, which has happened with other earbuds of mine and is inconvenient because they can connect to your phone and interfere with whatever you’re doing. The GameBuds fit nicely within, magnetically attached to the case, with the USB-C dongle sitting beside and securely kept in its well.
I chose the white PlayStation model for the GameBuds, and they stand out. The white earbuds bookended by black ear tips and the SteelSeries logo look terrific, adding visual appeal to their résumé. I like how the dot on the SteelSeries logo serves as an LED indication light, combining purpose and flair. Each GameBud also features a tactile button concealed beneath the logo; the team prefers touch controls, but they wanted consumers to be certain of their inputs.
These tactile buttons perform better than touch controls. It can feel similar to a fighting game in terms of knowing what combos do, but touch controls can be difficult to use. The button feels swift and responsive, and I rarely enter erroneous information if I know the exact combination. The only setting I’ve had issue with is getting Bluetooth pairing to start. This one can be a little tough because you have to insert them back into the charging case before holding one of the buttons down for a few seconds, but I was able to get it to work after a few tries.
One of these combinations enables the option to switch between Bluetooth and the 2.4GHz USB dongle. The Quick-Switch feature added to the Arctis Nova 5 is back, and it works just as well and as seamlessly with the GameBuds as it did before. Just like the Nova 5, you get a USB-C dongle and a USB converter to connect anywhere. This adapter, in my opinion, is vital because it expands the number of devices that may be used with it. Even still, you’ll have to carry it separately because it won’t fit in the case, which is unfortunate given how easily everything else carries. At any rate, the ability to use the GameBuds on my PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, Meta Quest 3, phone, and other devices is impressive adaptability.
When you take the GameBuds out of the case, they have a nice weight to them. They’re strong but light enough not to cause ear fatigue. Inserting them into my ears, I found the fit to be mostly comfortable, with only a few instances where I couldn’t quite get them right. I must have an unusual ear shape, because I occasionally struggle to locate comfortable earbuds. The GameBuds are the closest I’ve discovered thus far, plus with a new method taught to me by the SteelSeries crew, they stay in place better. When you insert your GameBuds, twist the right earbud counterclockwise and the left earbud clockwise to lift the ear tip into your ear, resulting in an excellent, snug fit. After extensive research, the design team worked hard to discover a decent form and insertion mechanism that is both pleasant and prevents you from forcing the earbud in too far.
Earbuds do not provide the same level of immersion as over-ear headsets, which block out all noise. SteelSeries wants to remove that stigma, and incorporating world-class active noise canceling to the GameBuds is their solution. One of the first things I noticed was that the ANC is not as strong as the one on the Nova Pro headset, but it is still quite nice. Where it really shines is in the transparency mode. I haven’t found a single set of earphones with a good transparency option, with the majority either unusable or making the music so quiet that turning it on is futile. The GameBuds turn up your surroundings rather than your volume, allowing me to speak with my wife while remaining immersed in whatever music I’m currently listening to. It’s an almost perfect execution.
SteelSeries frequently has so many features to explain that we don’t get to how it sounds quickly, but don’t worry, the GameBuds are no slouch in this regard. With their in-house premium chipset and 360° multidimensional audio, you scarcely notice the transition from headset to earbuds. I’ve used them for everything: watching YouTube and TV shows, listening to music, and playing video games, and the sound quality is precisely what I’ve come to expect from SteelSeries gear. For example, I played Call of Duty: Warzone with pals for five hours straight using only GameBuds. The audio depth may not be as good as the Nova Pros or 7s (though it’s close to the Nova 7s in my opinion), but I was mowing down my opponents with ease, reading sound cues, and scoring my final Warzone victory in the Modern Warfare III era with these earbuds. Most earbuds will put you at a significant disadvantage; not so with the GameBuds.
Since it was added to mobile, I haven’t stopped using it, and having this capability available with earphones is a game changer for me. Listening to music is more enjoyable now that I don’t have to reach for a full set of headphones and can instead use the “Music: Deep Bass” EQ setting from my pocket. It’s incredible that no matter where I go, I can instantly access 170+ EQ profiles, with implementations in all of the best games and even pro esports team tunings. Now that the team has this software, they can even include the Switch in the lineup, with the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom EQ. Is this overkill? Sure. Is it the greatest way to listen to audio, though? Absolutely. Playing The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom on vacation this week was fantastic with the “Movie: Immersion” EQ tuning, and it’ll probably be even better if a unique EQ for the game is released.
While the microphone on the GameBuds is adequate, it is not on par with the headset mics. I believe this is to be expected, especially without a microphone in front of your face. Nonetheless, all of my calls and communications with colleagues while playing various games were clear. If you record audio, you can hear the distance from the microphone, thus these are unlikely to replace your conventional headset or streaming mic anytime soon. However, they will absolutely suffice in a pinch.
To wrap up, let’s talk battery life. It works great, lasting ten hours on earbuds and forty hours on the charging case. I haven’t charged them at all, yet I’ve been using them routinely at home and on vacation for the past two weeks. As I generally say, if I don’t have to think about it, you did an excellent job. Another nice feature of the case is wireless QI charging, which, along with the USB-C port, makes it easier and faster to charge your earphones for the following week of gaming, music, and video.