Gaming headsets · Ranked #3 of 12 · Best gaming earbuds

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds

89
Highly rated
Average of 7 professional reviews
7 of 7 recommend it · broad agreement
Where the 7 reviews landedRange 80–95

Exact average 89.3 · all scores printed by the outlets

SteelSeries Arctis GameBudsImage: SteelSeries

7 professional reviewers tested the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds, and 7 recommend it. Most praised: sound quality and comfort. Most common complaint: call quality.

Reviewed by TweakTown, WIRED, Trusted Reviews and 4 more

The catch: The microphone is only average, and dedicated headsets suit gaming better.

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What 7 critics said

Highest score first · all converted to 0–100
  1. 95
    TweakTownHands-on review

    Calls the buds the ones to beat for gaming audio, with rich sound, broad platform support and top software.

    Read TweakTown review
  2. 90
    WIREDHands-on review

    The reviewer is won over by these gaming earbuds, thanks to the low-latency dongle, secure comfortable fit and solid noise cancelling.

    Read WIRED review
  3. 90
    Trusted ReviewsHands-on review · 2025

    An excellent set of wireless gaming earbuds with comfortable fit, solid audio and wide compatibility at a reasonable price.

    Read Trusted Reviews review
  4. 90
    Club386Hands-on review · 2025

    Excellent sounding, comfortable gaming earbuds that work across PC, PS5 and handhelds, and also double as good everyday music buds.

    Read Club386 review
  5. 90
    Tom's GuideHands-on review · 2025

    Described as nearly flawless gaming earbuds, with great sound, comfort, broad compatibility and good battery life.

    Read Tom's Guide review
  6. 90
    TechRadarHands-on review · 2024

    A four-week test across PC, PS5 and mobile found these earbuds to be strong performers for gaming and everyday use, with broad compatibility and features.

    Read TechRadar review
  7. 80
    Windows CentralHands-on review · 2025

    Judged the best gaming earbuds for Xbox, PC and mobile, with good sound, ANC, apps and comfort for a fair price.

    Read Windows Central review

"Est." means the outlet printed no score, so we estimated one from its verdict and checked our estimates against ratings outlets print. How we check estimates

What critics praise most

Sound quality5 of 7
Comfort5 of 7
Battery life3 of 7

What critics dislike most

Call quality3 of 7

Other gaming headsets critics rate highly

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Top pick, narrowlySony Inzone H6 Air4 reviews · critics agree91
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro OmniImage: SteelSeries
Best multiplatform gaming headsetSteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Omni5 reviews · broad agreement90
SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro WirelessImage: SteelSeries
Most reviewed pickSteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless13 reviews · broad agreement88
SteelSeries Arctis Nova EliteImage: SteelSeries
Best premium gaming headsetSteelSeries Arctis Nova Elite7 reviews · broad agreement86

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Common questions

Is the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds worth it?

Most critics think so: 7 of 7 recommend it. The microphone is only average, and dedicated headsets suit gaming better.

Do critics agree about the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds?

Broad agreement: scores range from 80 (Windows Central) to 95 (TweakTown), a spread of 15 points across 7 reviews. Most reviewers land fairly close together.

What do critics dislike about the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds?

Call quality (3 of 7 reviews).

What is the best alternative to the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds?

The Sony Inzone H6 Air (critic score 91), top pick, narrowly.