As a longtime audiophile and tech enthusiast, I’ve had the pleasure of testing numerous audio accessories over the years, but the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds have truly impressed me with their exceptional sound quality, versatility, and portability.
SteelSeries has consistently enhanced their audio accessories over numerous years, transforming good items into even better ones, and great products into exceptional ones. The Arctis series, from the original Novas to the advanced Nova Pros, showcases this evolution, but SteelSeries hasn’t stopped there. They’ve recently introduced another innovative product, the Arctis GameBuds, which continue their tradition of improvement and quality. These earbuds not only deliver premium SteelSeries sound in a compact, portable design, but they also come equipped with numerous features that make them adaptable and user-friendly for extended periods.
What’s in the box?
The SteelSeries Arctis Earbuds packaging is about as light as anything I have ever seen out of them. The full kit includes the GameBuds, a 2.4GHz dongle with USB-C connector, a charging case, a USB-C to USB-C wire, a USB-C to USB-A plug adaptor, and large, medium, and small ear inserts for the buds. It, of course, comes with instructions, and you can grab the manual on SteelSeries’ website, but I couldn’t help but appreciate that there’s also a cheat sheet card of instructions for the most basic pairing and touch functions the GameBuds offer. Worth keeping on hand if you ever forget what does what. All of that comes at a price of $159.99 USD and it comes in white, black, PlayStation, and Xbox versions (both of which work with PCs).
In addition, I found it interesting that the USB-C connector on the 2.4GHz dongle isn’t centered, which is something I’ve encountered with past Arctis products. Having the connector in the middle made it challenging to fit into tight port areas. It’s commendable that this issue has been addressed by shifting the connector position slightly. However, I was hoping for a longer charger cable for the case, as it would make finding a power source more convenient.
Regarding the technology within GameBuds, they are utilizing SteelSeries’ most recent chipset, aiming to cram as much of their renowned audio strength into the tiniest device they’ve ever produced. These earbuds offer 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, with a quick-changing capability between the two connections. They also include Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes, both of which can be effortlessly switched. Lastly, these buds can last up to 10 hours on a single charge, but the case contains an extra 40 hours’ worth of battery life. The case can be conveniently charged using the included wire or a MagSafe-style contact charger.
How do they play?
These Arctis GameBuds could very well be among the best earbuds I’ve ever used when you factor in their price, performance, and abundance of features. On their own, they deliver a solid audio punch with strong bass, treble, highs, and lows. I found myself listening to music on Spotify while working most days, but during gaming sessions like those on Valve’s Deadlock or Bloober Team’s Silent Hill 2, I also appreciated their immersive sound capabilities.
These headphones allow me to clearly hear approaching enemies’ footsteps and their direction without any issues. I can also easily switch to music or use Bluetooth for calls or other functions on my phone. The integrated microphone in these works great at delivering clear voice chat. However, unlike the Arctis Nova Pros, you can’t use Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless connection simultaneously on these headphones. For now, switching back and forth is not a significant inconvenience.
The GameBuds provide a high level of comfort. Unlike other earbuds that often cause me discomfort after prolonged use due to ear pain, these are different. Even during extended gaming sessions, I hardly felt any discomfort, even when I was moving around a lot. I used the medium-sized ear tips and they stayed securely in place throughout. As promised by SteelSeries, these buds can handle an entire day of gaming, music, or other activities before needing to be recharged again, and they do so quickly.
The Arctis GameBuds are quite capable on their own, but they truly shine when used with the Arctis Companion App on mobile devices. This app offers over 100 sound presets designed for various popular games, which can help address any sound issues you might encounter. If these presets don’t align with your personal preferences, you can create custom ones. However, unlike the Arctis Nova 5, you cannot make custom presets directly in the app; instead, you need to download them from a PC version of SteelSeries GG and then transfer them to the GameBuds.
Travel-sized audio suite
It’s quite surprising that SteelSeries hadn’t ventured into the earbud market until now, but I’m grateful they waited as it seems like they’ve managed to combine numerous lessons and advanced technology in their Arctis GameBuds. Compared to budget-friendly options, these buds are a bit more expensive, yet less costly than high-end sets. For the $160 price tag, you get compact earbuds that offer comfortable long-term use and deliver strong sound that can be customized according to your preference, both manually and via the companion app.
This review is based on a review sample provided by the manufacturer. SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds launched on October 29, 2024 in PlayStation and Xbox variants at a retail price of $159.99 USD, and are available on the SteelSeries website, as well as at partnered retailers.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-10-30 01:27