I’m not sure if I have freakish ears or whether this is a normal phenomenon, but I have real trouble finding wireless earbuds that fit. Anything other than the standard Apple Airpods drop out of my ears the moment I move my head.
I was expecting something similar from the SteelSeries Arctis Wireless GameBuds, only to be pleasantly surprised not only by the comfortable fit, but also the audio quality and overall versatility.
In fact, the SteelSeries Arctis Wireless GameBuds have become my go to headphones not just for gaming, but also for dog walking, increasingly infrequent workouts and listening to podcasts.
The best headphones I’ve tried in 2024, the SteelSeries Arctis Wireless GameBuds are available from Argos for £159.99. Just click the link below to grab these in-demand GameBuds before Christmas.
The SteelSeries Arctis Wireless GameBuds come in white if you’re using them for the PS5, Switch and PC version, or black if you’re buying for Xbox, Switch and PC.
I think the white Gamebuds (pictured above) are the more stylish of the two, nicely complementing the design of the PlayStation 5 and recently released PS5 Pro.
The case is a little on the large side compared to the Apple Airpods, but not too big to comfortably fit in the pocket. The case can also be charged wirelessly, adding to the overall versatility.
Speaking of battery life, the Arctis GameBuds continue to impress. The GameBuds boast around ten hours of playback per charge, and around 40 hours with the case. It’s slightly less if you use ANC (active noise cancellation), but I personally prefer transparency mode.
As long as you charge the case semi-regularly, then battery life becomes a bit of a non-issue – unless you’re gaming for more than ten hours at a time! I typically use the GameBuds for a maximum of 3-4 hours at a time, charging the case once every 1-2 weeks. Not once has the battery died on me, or the case run out of juice, so it’s a big thumbs up there.
Of course, it would all be for naught if the performance wasn’t up to scratch, but thankfully there are no such issues.
Whether listening to music, playing the latest triple-A blockbuster, or creeping your way through an atmospheric survival horror game, the GameBuds are up to the task.
It’s also where the companion app shines. The uncluttered, easy to use app currently boasts 179 presets for lots of games, including Baldur’s Gate, Apex Legends, Fortnite, Elden Ring, Alan Wake 2, Red Dead 2, various Resident Evil releases and multiple CODs.
That’s on top of music presets to showcase the usual mixture of drums, bass, guitars and vocals. Obviously I haven’t tried them all, and it’s difficult to do a quick side-by-side comparison for games, but the music presets make a noticeable difference.
The microphone is also crystal clear, whether making calls when you’re out walking, or chatting with friends in Zombies mode for Black Ops 6.
My biggest issue with the SteelSeries Arctis Wireless GameBuds are the touchpad controls on the side of the earbuds.
They’re fine for gaming when you’re not really fiddling around with them too much, but using them to listen to music, podcasts and taking calls on smartphones can lead to a few mishaps.
I’d accidentally switch between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless when skipping songs, or flit between ANC and Transparency when momentarily taking one out of my ear. It’s easily remedied and doesn’t happen all of the time, but can be an issue when coming from the more reliable Airpods.
If unlike me you prefer ANC over Transparency mode, then it’s worth noting that the noise cancellation on the Wireless GameBuds isn’t the strongest.
Ultimately, however, I’ve been super impressed with the SteelSeries Arctis Wireless GameBuds. With a £159.99 price tag they’re not the cheapest, but the excellent performance and versatility even outside of gaming, makes them an easy pick for headphones of the year.
VERDICT – 4.5/5
