Customer Ratings & Reviews

I was excited to receive these game buds because I felt that they could make my gaming experience even better, however after the first few minutes with them I realized that they were going to be unusable. Once I paired the Game Buds to my phone and downloaded the app, I then connected to my PC and updated the firmware via the Steel Series Engine App and made sure I was properly setup and up to date before I used them. Once I started using them, I noticed the Sound was really good. Playing games on XBOX sounded great. Lots of bass for explosions and there was decent level of detail in the game. I then proceeded to play some music through them and was again surprised that they sounded decent. I was now excited to use them as my primary device. Once I joined my friends through the XBOX party, the first thing they said to me was " you sound like you're in a tunnel" meaning there was a noticeable chamber like sound, almost an echo coming from me whenever I would talk. I wasn't bummed yet as I figured there was a setting I could adjust to fix this. I went through the app and even reached out to technical support. The app did nothing to solve this and technical support was useless. They told me to make sure they are up to date and then reset the Game Buds. This did not work either. So, the fact remains that since I play online with my friends in a party chat every single day, I cannot use these. They say it's really annoying to listen to the way my voice sounds and so I have gone back to my other Artis Headset. Other features of the headset are the ability to use them via Bluetooth with your phone as well as 2.4Ghz mode for XBOX or PC. You can fully customize the EQ via the phone application as well as change your sidetone and microphone volume. If only the microphone quality was better, they would be awesome. Another feature that I find is not particularly good is the transparency and ANC modes. The transparency is lack luster at best and the ANC barely sounds different then ANC OFF. These headphones feel rushed and not well thought out. I wanted to love these but the microphone being on the sides of your head means that your voice just won't come thru the same as if you were using a conventional headset with a mic right Infront of your mouth. I guess this is why no one has tried this before. I feel like if you don't regularly participate in voice chats, then they could work for you as they do have decent sound, but I cannot use these for how I game.

SteelSeries is a respected mainstream brand when it comes to gaming headsets, so I had high expectations when it came to the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds. While these earbuds are not without their flaws, for gaming, they work. Fit... It's very important when dealing with earbuds. It's also a very much a personal issue. I've tried so many different earbuds. Gaming earbuds, phone earbuds, earbuds for working out...lots of earbuds. I've NEVER had an issue with fit...until now. For some reason the right earbud of the SteelSeries Arctis seems to feel a little weird in my ear It doesn't necessarily fall out, but I wouldn't run to go shoot hoops with these in. It doesn't impact the noise cancellation, but it just feels like it's in my ear differently. Sound...the most important thing when it comes to headphones overall. These sound great! I tried these with my PS5 Pro, I tried these with my Rog Ally X...both of which they sounded great. Via the app, there are game presets for tons of games and they are definitely different per game. I messed with them a little bit and that's a nice little extra detail. Random, the wireless dongle has a weird design to it. When I tested these out on my phone to listen to music...it's a no. Absolute lack of volume on the highest level. I'm not sure if maybe the headphones were trying to protect me from myself. I know these are "GameBuds" but if you give people wireless earbuds with Bluetooth functionality, they're going to try them via Bluetooth. Don't. The ANC on these is very subtle. With nothing playing and the ANC on, I didn't notice it was on until I cut it off in a "Oh, it WAS on" type of way. With sound on, the ANC didn't shut out the background noise. It is there...but...subtle Originally, I had issues with the button presses. Switching modes wasn't working...but after a few days and trying them again, no problem with the button presses. Strictly for gaming, the SteelSeries Artis GameBuds are solid...the game presets is a nice little extra feature for a pair of "GameBuds." That is strictly for gaming though, as I would not recommend using these for anything else

The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are a nice-looking set of Earbuds. They sit comfortably enough in ear as well. As for the sound quality game wise, I wasn’t blown away by them. I’ve used so many pairs of earbuds over the years ranging in price from as little as a $100 to some as much as $500 but price doesn’t always determine quality. Trying the various EQ settings, I didn’t really find one that I preferred. I did try out a few of the games that there was already support for while having them paired up to my Steam Deck as well as my PS5 Pro. I could hear some minor differences between a standard setting like flat to using one for something say Gran Turismo but it wasn’t a stark enough difference. For Music and Videos/Movies, I found them even more middling. There really didn’t seem to be much difference between the music settings. The Punchy and Deep Bass settings sounded identical to me. Perhaps I’m just picky or my ears just can’t discern such minute differences as much anymore. The app to set them up and customize them is quite intuitive. I did like the ability to toggle between WiFI and Bluetooth based connections. Pairing them was also a breeze and took all of 10 or so seconds. The controls on the earbuds themselves are easy to use and you can also change what each does from inside the Arctis app. You can toggle between the different Noise Cancelling modes or disable completely with just a couple taps of the right Earbud. Adjusting other things such as volume was easy as well. They’re a decent pair of earbuds, but for the price and so many options out there, you’d be better served by another pair, be that more or less expensive. I really wanted to like these especially after all the great things I’ve heard from my friends that have sworn by the Arctis Pro Headphones but I just feel that these are lacking.

I got these Arctis Gamebuds to try out on my switch and pc. I had luck with another brand's 2.4ghz connection working on the switch, so I figured I'd try these, and they worked, mic and all. Since they are buds, very portable. I had been using an auxiliary Bluetooth plugged into the switch and Bluetooth setting on other headphones to go wireless. Now it’s all one brands unit, less funbling, and the connection is way more solid. The build on these are fairly good, very lite, but the plastics and feel are like similarly priced regular earbuds. They do feel lighter than many of mine. The fit in ear is good, and the seal is not bad either. With noise cancelation on, it is difficult to hear people as close as 8 feet to me talking. What I am going to have to clearly deduct a point for is setup and instructions. I had issues the first time working with these. First, I downloaded the app, then connected to the Phone like they said, and I saw a lot of settings in there. But you cannot update firmware by phone. It immediately wanted me to do and update, and it clicked on the instructions on how to download the program on the computer to do that connected by 2.4ghz. Fair enough, I did that hooked up the dongle and nothing, no sound, no mic. I fumbled around for 45 minutes or so then gave up the first night because of other commitments. The second time I went to hook it up, it all connected right away. It set up 3 different things to choose from under sound manager I noticed, and apparently I had not picked the right one. It was also recognized in the program, and then I could update the firmware and play with the mixer. This came with virtually no instructions on what to do,and I had to rely on their website help links, which I do not find laid out the best. Call me old, which I am, but I’m a guy who likes to read instructions before doing something that has multiple steps. The only instructions included on the box were what the buttons do. I’m annoyed because really, there was no need to set up on my phone, but again, I did what the qr code said. I guess I can change the setting before I use the switch. In the box there is a usbc to usb adapter, and a usbc charging cord and 2 sets of tips (small and large) Once I got these working, they sound good. I set up a custom equilizer, but there are a ton of game tweeked versions for over 100 games. Pretty cool. Overall it is a solid 4 stars because they work good.

Sound quality is not bad for earbuds. Doesn't beat IEMs in terms of sound quality but the trade-off is a TWS with great battery life and strong connection. It's a bit pricey, if this was $150, I would give a 5-star.

HenryW's review is completely wrong about everything he said. His device(s) is/are likely the issue, not these earbuds. He clearly didn't read the product info and thinks that these are dual channel audio. They're single channel and you have to manually switch between 2.4 and Bluetooth. Despite a horrible experience actually purchasing this product in-store, I'm very happy with the product itself. - Amazing audio quality - Crystal-clear transition between 2.4 and Bluetooth using triple-tap button command - Case battery lasts multiple days with constant use - Impressive microphone quality, tested for multiple days at my job as a phone tech support agent - Decent active noise canceling, great transparency mode, satisfactory physical ear-plugging effect, tested at a punk show with 100 decibel music - Generally intuitive default commands - Powerful and fast audio customization via SteelSeries Arctis mobile app - Additional detailed gaming customization via SteelSeries GG

The SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds are the wireless earbuds I’ve been searching for! I was really excited to try these because I’ve always preferred a lighter, more compact option compared to the heavier, bulkier headsets most people have grown accustomed to. These "Gamebuds" (a clever name for gaming earbuds) offer a fantastic alternative to those larger headsets. They fit very comfortably in my ears, with no issues of falling out or becoming uncomfortable even after extended use. The app is decent, but the advertised presets don’t seem to differ significantly from one another. However, the voice chat performance on this device is excellent, which is a major plus. The earbuds are fairly intuitive in terms of touch controls, although I still find it helpful to have my phone nearby with the app running as I’m learning to memorize the specific touch and press commands. One major disappointment, though, is the poor bass quality. As someone who has reviewed other listening products over the years, I feel SteelSeries has a long way to go if they want to compete with higher-end options on the market. Honestly, I was surprised they didn’t partner with a company (one whose name rhymes with “Close”) to improve this aspect. That said, these earbuds do a great job for what they are. Just keep in mind that if you’re expecting an experience comparable to a full home theater setup, you’re likely to be disappointed. These earbuds are fantastic otherwise. Cool Bonus: you can also use just one earbud for a wireless microphone.

I'm a headphones geek. But even my favorite set of cans can be uncomfortable, like when I'm trying to lay back in my recliner while playing Xbox. The cans are so big that unless my head is perfectly flat against the back of the chair, they end up bumping against it. And with most headsets these days having important controls and dials on the back of the earpieces, I'm always turning them off or changing the volume inadvertently. Laying down is also an issue with them. For comfort's sake, I had to find something else to use for my late night gaming sessions on the recliner or while settling into bed. So yeah, I have another set of wireless earbuds now. "Gaming" earbuds. But you know what? These earbuds are way better for gaming than any other earbuds I've tried pairing to my consoles. The difference is the 2.4 Ghz dongle. Regular earbuds connect via bluetooth (which this pair will also do, in case you want to use them for your phone or tablet), which can introduce lag. You know how annoying it is to watch a show and the actors' lips move slightly out of sync with the audio? Well, it can be an outright dealbreaker to try and play some games with audio lag. What's more is that the dongle can be used on any system, no more pairing and reconnecting and disconnecting and unpairing and so on trying to use the same earbuds on multiple devices. The dongle is USB Type C, but there's a C to A adapter in the box. The dongle has a switch on it labeled PC/Xbox, but don't be fooled. PC mode works on Playstation and Nintendo Switch, it' s only the Xbox that needs a proprietary communication protocol for full use of features. What I really like about this set is the dongle actually fits in the earbuds case! You can take it with you easy peasy! Listen to music through bluetooth on the phone on the commute to work, then plug the dongle into the work pc for a the morning teams meeting. Swapping from bluetooth to 2.4ghz mode is done by triple tapping the right earbud. There is an actual button with a tactile click, instead of capacitive buttons that tend to be finicky. Those are the only "gestures" that I have figured out, since it seems that every earbud manufacturer seems to assign tapping and holding a set number of times to different functions. What is volume up on one set is pause on another, so I never bothered to memorize any of the actions. The audio is pretty good with these in. I was surprised by the bass levels when pumping out some old school jungle tracks. Even though it wasn't bone vibrating, I could still catch all the subbass hits with the appropriate amount of thumping instead of a weak puff. Instruments weren't as crisp and tightly individualized as they are on my reference cans, but it doesn't detract from the overall audio experience. Unfortunately these don't have multipoint bluetooth, they can only connect to one device at a time. So my dreams of a complete all in one solution for all of my consoles, pc, phone & tablet were temporarily dashed. That is, until I remembered my iOS tablet has USB-C. So I did the only logical thing and plugged the dongle into that. A notification popped up asking if the device was headphones, so I said yes, and lo and behold, it worked! So yeah, this is it, the mimimalist solution to listen to every device with one set of wireless earbuds. One thing that I don't like is how quickly these go on standby mode. While I'm working, I like to keep them in for the impromptu teams call, but if no sound is playing for a few minutes the buds turn themselves off. While the app says it's only after 30 minutes, it really feels like a lot less. It can also be changed in the app or the PC program. The instructions say to turn them back on, put them back in the case momentarily (annoying if you don't have case on you) or according to the FAQ on the website, press and hold the button on each side for 3 seconds (which at the time it happened to me I hadn't yet read the instructions). Only a minor nuisance, but one I seem to run into often, usually while picking something to watch while also getting setup to settle in for some cozy couch gaming after the rest of the family has gone to bed.

These true wireless earbuds are meant for gaming to connect to your Sony PlayStation 5 but also to your phone phone be it an iPhone or an Android device, PC or Nintendo Switch. You can even download an app for your iPhone or Android to control some functions of these earbuds. The case is also wireless Qi chargeable which is nice to have. You also get a dongle inside the case to use on pc, switch or PlayStation 5. You can also use Bluetooth for like your phone. You do need to connect it to your PC if you want to download the latest firmware or make custom EQ’s on their software. Nice to have but why can’t we do custom EQ’s through the mobile app on your phone ? Anyways they also have ANC which is nice. As terms of performance goes it’s nice to have an option for earbuds to use with my PlayStation 5 because sometimes I don’t like big over ears on my head. The mics work good enough but if you want the best quality I would go with the over the ear type headphones. Also used these a bit to listen to music as just earbuds and if you just want one device for gaming and music this will do fine.

These are pretty solid gaming earbuds if you're looking for something wireless that works across multiple platforms. The noise cancelling is a nice touch too, especially if you're gaming in a noisy environment or just want to block out distractions. Sound quality seems decent for gaming. SteelSeries usually does a good job with audio, so you should get clear directional sound for competitive games where footsteps and stuff matter. Battery life is around 10 hours which is pretty standard for wireless earbuds, maybe a bit less if you're using ANC constantly. Price-wise, they're in that premium range - you're paying for the multi-platform compatibility and gaming-specific features. If you just need something basic, there are cheaper options, but if you want something that's actually built for gaming and works everywhere, these are a solid choice. The white color looks clean but might show dirt over time, just something to keep in mind.

After spending a couple days using these earbuds I was very surprised with the sound. The sound is very similar to the Xbox wireless headset with a couple of exceptions missing. I played Indiana Jones and could tell which way the footsteps were coming from. The sound was crisp and clear. The ANC-active noise canceling worked pretty good as I couldn't hear my wife talking to me when trying to play. It took me a little bit to get used to the controls but I finally figured out how to use the mute and the volume up/down. Now with the exceptions I mentioned. The have to do with chat/mic and game sound. From what I could tell there is now toggle for chat and game volume. The earbuds seem to keep both at half as a balance. I tried to change it in the chat mixer on my Xbox but it was all grayed out and would t allow me to change this setting. Perhaps it can be changed with the mobile app that can be downloaded on your phone that includes a bunch of presets or even allow me tk set up a custom config but from what I could tell in the mobile app it only allowed the change for game sound. I saw a few of my friends playing COD and they had a private party set up so I decided to join the party and see how their voices sound and how my voice was heard by them. Their voices were crystal clear on my end but they were actually using the Xbox wireless headset that has a better mic. When they were hearing my voice they said it was crystal clear but the only difference was thag it sounded like I was talking through a tin can. They said it was not bad though as they could understand everything that I was saying so the mic on the earbuds is pretty good and I can only see it getting better with future technology changing. I was contemplating wether or not to give these earbuds 4 or 5 stars but I decided on 5 based on the quality of the product and the effort that steel series has made. The chargeable case is sturdy and even has wireless charging. The case hold the earbuds and the usb s dongle all in one safe place for safe keeping. It was not hard at all to pair the headset to my Xbox. As soon as I plugged it in it automatically connected. Effortless just how I like. I ended up giving these earbuds a 5 star review because I was not too sure at first only owning over the ear headsets but I was very surprised by the sound and quality. I would recommend these to any consumer looking for an affordable audio option and mutiple device options.

I got these specifically to game on PC. If you've ever used bluetooth headphones or buds to game with then, if you're like me, the lag/sync will drive you crazy. Even with low latency buds there's still enough lag to make me want to trash the sets. Having a set of gaming buds with dongles are essential. Since these are buds there's some quality you give up versus using a set of headphones. Biggest are soundstage and location. While even headphones aren't as good as a 5.1 or larger set up, they're pretty decent for locating the source of the sound. Buds, while great for isolation, just don't perform as good when it comes to location. It's an issue you have to deal with that comes with the portability. While some are a bit better, none I've tried ever come close to headphones. Out of the box, playing music on the PC was decent. Bass is too heavy, highs not bright enough, and the volume has to be cranked to 3x what I set it for my other headphones. This is with turning on some of Window's audio enhancements and without. I couldn't match the level of two other buds I use for gaming. So, I figured I'd download the software and see if I could tweak the sound. Installed, icon in the tray, launch the UI and a big black blank window pops up. Force quit, try again. Same thing. Reboot, same issue. Uninstall, reboot, install, reboot, lanuch. Still no go on the app. Tried on a laptop...same issue. So basically I'm stuck with the preconfig sound which is horrible for gaming. It sounds like I'm playing underwater with the muffled sounds clouded by too much bass and not enough everything else. So, these are going into storage until the next version of the software and hope I can actually make them sound better than just decent.

I will start by saying that if you’re looking for a pair of gaming headphones for competitive play these are not it. There are other options out there around the same price range, BUT if you are looking for some gaming headphones that do the job and you can use outside of gaming for music and exercise, then I think these might be great for you! Personally, I am the type of gamer that sometimes plays competitive fps games and so I need me over the ear headset with a great microphone. However, other times, I am casually playing a story game mode or good RPG game, and I just need good sound, so I don’t disturb the wife the sound from the game. I have found that these Arctics GameBuds are perfect for me in these scenarios. Further, when I am done playing, and I want to listen to some music while cooking or cleaning the house, these have been my go-to headphones. I have some AirPods, but I actually find myself grabbing these now because of the audio files provided by the Arctis app. There are so many audio profiles it’s awesome. I love it! Likewise, using them at the gym while running or doing some weightlifting, has been a good experience for me. I have the Arctis Nova Pro Wireless for my serious gaming, and these are now my favorite for my casual gaming. Love them! I highly recommend them if you think you need some casual gaming buds that you can use outside of gaming as well.

These are the best earbuds I have ever bought. They have better noise cancelation then Jabra and sound quality is on par with all other SteelSeries products. They also fit in my ears more comfortably than any Jabra, Samsung or cheap set of earbuds I have bought in the last several years. Would highly recommend.

If you want overpriced mediocre earbuds to listen to music on your phone, these are it. I've had nothing but issues and frustration trying to get these set up. First the good- Paired easily by Bluetooth to my phone (Pixel 6 Pro) Sound quality is ok, nothing special. ANC sort of works. The bad- There are no instructions or tutorials on how to use these Artis Gamebuds. Just basic generic instructions. I really wanted these to be used with my Xbox One X for gaming and had high hopes. These do not work with my Xbox. The dongle won't connect at all. The app is no help. It states there is a firmware update, that can only be done on PC. If you don't have a PC, you're out of luck. What is the point of having a phone app, if you're going to require a PC to make any updates? I downloaded SteelSeries GG on my PC, created a SteelSeries account, Earbuds wont connect. The instructions on the SteelSeries website are for headphones, not earbuds. Plugging the case into my PC, with and without the earbuds, yields no results. I can connect the earbuds to my PC via bluetooth, but the GG app still says not connected. Tried connecting to the dongle on my PC. That connection stays connected for PC audio, but the PC SteelSeries GG app Still shows nothing connected. I've tried every manner of connection, restarting, unpairing, etc without success This has been an exercise in frustration and futility, along with precious time (hours at this point) wasted. No reply to email sent to SteelSeries. Cannot recommend at this time.

sound pretty good, setup guide needs work. a little quiet for my taste, when on 2.4ghz i pretty much have volume close to max

I use this mainly for gaming. These are great earbuds. Sound quality is nice and using the app is easy. Earbuds are secure enough to do a full workout with as well.

Great quality, feel and sounds good. Only complaint is that the noice cancel is too strong. I can't hear someone screaming at me.

Sound great a lot of bass in such a tiny package, easily connected to my devices. Only complaint is that it was super easy activating the buttons on them when you just trying to adjust them or take them off

I purchased these earbuds from the Steelseries website, and they were already linked to my xbox series x when I plugged in the dongle to my xbox console, but after that it was a complicated process to use these gamebuds. The gamebuds don't always respond when trying to program them, along with an unresponsive connection issue with my cellphone to attempt to connect to the steelseries app. The process of wirelessly connecting to my laptop was another issue. It took me all day to find a way to connect the gamebuds back to my xbox, and the sound is either too loud or just too low, there should be an option to adjust the volume levels at a gradual level. I had to return these gamebuds even though steelseries originally didn't want to give me an option on their website to return this item for a refund. Not necessarily a bad item, but not as receptive as expected for the price they're charging along with limited onnection and volume options.