This is a new era for SteelSeries with their first ever, SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds. Geared more towards gaming lifestyle and casual use, the new Arctis GameBuds don’t sacrifice in terms of sound quality and features. Some notable features include Active Noise Cancelation, dual mode wireless, multi-platform compatibility, and Qi Wireless charging. All of this packed into a tiny form factor built for comfort and performance.
DESIGN
For starters, SteelSeries didn’t try to get too crazy with the design. Instead, they went the route of building something modern looking, that is both stylish and functional. In terms of look, they remind me a bit of the Jabra Elite series of earbuds, where the entire earbud basically covers your ear canal and the opening. There isn’t a stem that comes out like you see with other earbuds.
Also, the Arctis GameBuds went with physical buttons instead. So the entire face of the earbud is an actual button you can press on both earbuds. I prefer this over touch controls because those are always so finicky and don’t always work as expected.
While the Arctis GameBuds do look a bit bulky, they are actually very comfortable in your ear, which I’m sure SteelSeries accounted for since these are to be worn by gamers, who normally game for hours and hours at a time.
Next, there’s a 2.4GHz dongle that is included, but requires a USB-C connection. SteelSeries does include an adaptor.
Lastly, the charging case is actually quite large, but that’s because they made space in the case to also hold the wireless dongle. Despite the size, it still fits in your pocket. The charging case can be charged via USB-C cable or by using a wireless Qi charger.
SPECS
The Arctis GameBuds are packed with a lot of the same features that you’d find on their Arctis Nova headsets.
- Active Noise Cancellation
- 2.4GHz Wireless + Bluetooth 5.3
- Neodymium Magnetic Drivers
- 360-degree Spatial Audio
- 10h Battery Life – 40h with Case
- Qi Charging Case
- Dedicated Mobile App
- 100+ Game Presets
- 4 Mic Hybrid
- Transparency Mode
- WearSense Technology
EXPERIENCE
The biggest thing I wanted to test with these is how well the spatial audio works. I’m used to using the Arctis Nova Pro headsets, and those are amazing, so how does the Arctis GameBuds stack up? Not too bad, actually. These things can get loud, but the audio never sounds distorted. There’s plenty of range in them, too, with crisp highs and surprisingly good bass.
I also tried this using the Dolby Atmos test video on Youtube and these sound amazing. It really does sound like there’s spatial audio, and it seems like I can hear separate channels as if I had multiple speakers around me. This is the type of performance I expect with a full-sized gaming headset but not earbuds. The Arctis GameBuds are truly impressive.
Aside from the audio, let’s talk about just how comfortable these are. I didn’t have to make any adjustments to the ear tips because the ones that came on them fit fine. But in case they don’t, they do include several other sizes in the box. Once in my ears, they felt great. The earbuds fit my ear hole just perfectly and didn’t hurt at all.
Lastly, I like the connectivity options you get. Basically for your PC or game console, plug in the 2.4GHz dongle. Then, connect to the Arctis GameBuds via Bluetooth on your phone. You can be connected to both, but you can only hear output from one at a time. Triple-tap the earbuds to switch between sources. You’ll also want to download the Arctis mobile app so you can choose gaming and audio presets and adjust various settings of your Arctis GameBuds.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I have to admit that I really wasn’t expecting the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds to be as good as they are. Usually, SteelSeries puts out great products, but I’ve tried other gaming earbuds in the past and was never really too impressed with them. The Arctis GameBuds are different and exceeded my expectations.
They sound great and are much more portable than typical headsets. I love the Qi wireless charging case and that the included 2.4GHz wireless dongle fits into it. I also really like the dual-mode connectivity and how easy it is to swap between the two.
With that said, if you want the convenience of earbuds but the performance of gaming headsets, SteelSeries has you covered with the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds.
SHOP LINK
Thank You for Visiting TheGamerWithKids
I love bringing you guys the latest and greatest reviews whether it be apps or gadgets, but hosting and maintaining a website doesn’t come cheap. If you would like to purchase any of the items mentioned on the site, please do so by clicking our links to Amazon first and then purchasing the items. This way, we get a small portion of the sale and this helps me run the website. Thanks!
This review is made possible by my affiliation with G Style Magazine. These items were sent to us by the company or its PR reps for review and evaluation. It is also featured on the G Style Magazine website which is a tech blog that focuses on the fashion aspect of tech. Please visit their site for more interesting reviews on all your favorite gadgets and gear.
The Gamer With Kids 