Im not confused by the GameBuds, a simple andmostlyeffective design for taking good-quality gaming audio on the go.
Im perplexed why more companies dont do something as obvious as what SteelSeries has done.
As in, they put the damn dongle inside the buds case.
The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds provide good-quality sound across a whole suite of games, but my favorite feature is simply the spot for the dongle inside the case.© Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
This past years most recent, notable attempt wasSonys PlayStation Pulse Earbuds, a companion to thePulse Elite headset.
Pros
Cons
Other wireless bud options likeRazers Hammerhead Hyperspeedand Turtle Beachs cheapScout Airlack 2.4 GHz connectivity.
SteelSeries put both the buds and dongle in the same case.
© Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
One of the bare few buds with a similar design comes from Sony with the$200 InZone buds.
The GameBuds are the follow-up from theSteelSeries Arctis Nova 5Headset.
The GameBuds USB-C dongle is offset, meaning you could plug two into a PlayStation 5 Slims front ports.
© Photo: Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
My only real issue was their tendency to disconnect if the buds ever jostle inside your ear.
SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds Review: Build Quality and Comfort
I have routine issues with earbud comfort.
The design on the GameBuds is the sweet spot for me, at least on most occasions.
©Adriano Contreras / Gizmodo
You wont forget theyre in your ears, but theres no sense of tightness either.
If you want more control over your buds, youll need to use the Arctis app.
Once connected, you fiddle with the low through high ANC controls or adjust the microphones sidetones.
In my experience, using them for gaming and music for a full week is right on point.
The other major feature of the app is the huge selection of EQ presets.
SteelSeries claims all 179 are built for specific games.
I was satisfied with the bass levels on the gamebuds, especially for something priced at $160.
The treble was also fair, but the sound quality could depend on the game.
The ANC does a good job suppressing all by the highest or lowest tones.
Theres plenty of other quality buds out there, some for slightly cheaper than the GameBuds.
But for pure portability, SteelSeries is my current pick for gaming on the go.
News from the future, delivered to your present.
Magnets, How Do They Work in Keychrons Newest Mechanical Keyboard?
The Keychron Q1 HE is the brand’s first board to feature Hall effect switches.
