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SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds Review: Turning Heads (and Ears)
For as long as I can remember, I’ve been firmly on Team Earbuds. It’s not that I have anything against headphones—earbuds just win for sheer convenience. That said, fate (or a sneaky thief) recently robbed me of my trusty Apple AirPods Pros, leaving me in the market for a replacement. Right on cue, SteelSeries slid into my inbox with an offer to review their new Arctis GameBuds. Considering how much I loved their Arctis Nova 7 Wireless, saying yes was a no-brainer. And let me tell you—I’m so glad I did. And I’m genuinely excited to tell you why
At first glance, the GameBuds seem deceptively familiar. Their AirPods-like design, housed in a compact black or white charging case, feels like a nod to the mainstream wireless earbud aesthetic. The case itself supports USB-C and Qi wireless charging, but the real surprise is inside: a tiny USB-C dongle that takes these earbuds from “everyday” to “game-ready.”
This dongle is the heart of what makes the GameBuds special. Most earbuds rely solely on Bluetooth, which, while fine for music or podcasts, introduces noticeable audio lag in gaming. SteelSeries solves this with a low-latency 2.4 GHz connection, the same tech powering many high-end gaming headsets. Plug the dongle into your device, and you’re treated to a seamless, lag-free audio experience.
The dongle is universally compatible with USB-C devices, sliding effortlessly into the ports of my PS5 and laptop, albeit, it does protrude more than the Arctis Nova 7’s dongle. However, Xbox users will need to opt for a separate Xbox-specific version of the GameBuds, including a mode-switching dongle. The catch? The Xbox variant is only available in black, whereas the standard model offers both black and white options. Functionally, though, they’re identical, so it’s a matter of colour preference.
Earbuds and I have a rocky history, mostly because of fit. As someone with smaller ears, I almost always have to swap to the smallest tips; otherwise, they either slip out mid-use or become a literal pain after an hour or two. But SteelSeries claims the GameBuds were designed using scans of tens of thousands of ears, which sounds like the kind of slick marketing speak I’d usually ignore—but surprisingly, they hit the nail on the head.
Once I switched to the smallest tips, these earbuds stayed in place through marathon gaming sessions, casual wear, and even workouts at the gym. No slipping, no discomfort, just a snug fit that felt so natural I often forgot they were even there. The soft, ergonomic design really does make a difference—I wore them for hours on end with no issues. And when I say hours, I mean hours. Between work and play, I’m at my desk about 90% of the day, and the longest stretch I had them in was a solid eight hours (with brief, ear-scratching breaks every hour or so).
On top of that, the sound isolation is another win for the GameBuds. They offer both Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and Transparency mode, toggled via a button on the left earbud. The ANC is solid—not the best in the industry, but effective enough to hush background noise like fans, general chatter on the train, or in my case, the constant meowing of my cat. Papa needs his peace. Transparency mode though, is where these buds shine. It’s so well-tuned that I would occasionally forget I had them in. To put it into perspective, one time I was in the gym and a buddy of mine turned up, not realising I had Transparency mode on, I had completely forgotten that I had them in as after I went rummaging through my pockets and bag to try and find them.
And then there’s the battery life, which is equally impressive. SteelSeries promises up to 10 hours on a single charge, with the case extending that to a whopping 40 hours. In real-world use, the earbuds lived up to those claims, even with ANC toggled on and off throughout the day. Between the earbuds and the case—which doubles as a wireless charging dock—I never once heard a low-battery warning, even during my longest gaming marathons.
What truly sets the Arctis GameBuds apart is their audio performance. These aren’t just wireless earbuds—they’re tailored for gamers. Through the SteelSeries Arctis app, users can access nearly 200 game-specific audio profiles, each tuned to enhance the most critical sounds in popular titles.
For example, while playing Overwatch 2, I activated the corresponding profile and immediately noticed the difference. Low-frequency sounds, like explosions, were subtly muted, allowing high-frequency cues—like Tracer’s footsteps or Reaper’s shotgun blasts—to shine through. In competitive games where sound cues can make or break a match, this level of precision is invaluable.
That said, the enhanced audio can sometimes be too good. In certain games, sharp sound effects became almost piercing, prompting me to lower the volume. Still, this level of clarity is a game-changer for anyone serious about competitive gaming.
The GameBuds also handle non-gaming audio remarkably well. Switching to Bluetooth mode, I used them for music, podcasts, and phone calls without any noticeable drop in quality. While the 2.4 GHz connection is the star of the show, having the flexibility to toggle between gaming and everyday use is a welcome bonus.
SteelSeries didn’t just focus on the big features—they nailed the little ones too. The compact charging case is travel-friendly, and the built-in dongle storage ensures you won’t misplace it. The earbuds themselves are durable yet lightweight, making them easy to wear for hours on end.
The only real downside? If you’re an Xbox gamer, the colour limitation on the Xbox-compatible version might be a letdown. And while the ANC won’t rival high-end noise-cancelling headphones, it’s more than adequate for most scenarios.
When fate (or that opportunistic thief) took my trusty AirPods Pros, I expected a long, frustrating search for their replacement. Instead, the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds landed in my lap and managed to not only fill that gap but redefine what I thought earbuds could do. Their combination of sleek design, gaming-ready performance, and all-day comfort has left me thoroughly impressed.
As someone who’s always championed the convenience of earbuds, these GameBuds feel like the perfect evolution of the format—bridging everyday use with gaming precision in a way that feels effortless. SteelSeries didn’t just make a replacement for my lost earbuds; they made something better.
If you’re on Team Earbuds like me and are looking for a pair that can seamlessly handle your daily grind and your gaming marathons, the Arctis GameBuds might just be the upgrade you didn’t know you needed.
Review unit was provided by SteelSeries’ local distributor.
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