SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds Available for Preorder

As a seasoned gamer with years of experience under my belt, I must say that the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds have certainly caught my attention. With their focus on comfort, connectivity, and immersive audio, these wireless earbuds seem to tick all the right boxes for me.

The gaming brand SteelSeries has launched its first wireless earbuds for gaming, the Arctis GameBuds, which are now open for pre-orders. There are two versions of these earbuds – one designed for PlayStation/PC users and another tailored for Xbox/PC gamers. At first glance, they appear like any other true wireless earbuds; however, SteelSeries has innovated in the areas of connectivity and portability. Moreover, comfort was a priority in their design, with extensive research ensuring the perfect fit.

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds: Design and Aesthetics

These wireless earbuds come in two options: a PlayStation edition and an Xbox edition. The PlayStation version is offered in both black and white shades, whereas only the black color is available for the Xbox version. Inside the compact case, you’ll find not just the two earbuds but also a 2.4GHz dongle that offers smooth gaming due to its low latency. Unlike many other earbuds on the market, these Arctis GameBuds lack touch controls and instead rely on physical button presses for various commands. Additionally, the earbuds themselves are quite small and don’t protrude from the ear as much as some other bulky earbud models.

For optimal comfort, SteelSeries utilized ear scans from 62,000 individuals and enlisted professional esports player T1 for testing. The Arctis GameBuds provide uninterrupted comfort all day long, and the package includes three varying sizes of ear tips to ensure a perfect fit.

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds: Specifications and Features

Regarding their technical features, the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds utilize neodymium magnets for superior sound production across a wide spectrum of 20Hz to 20,000Hz. They offer advanced Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) through a four-microphone setup. Additionally, they feature a transparency mode for easier engagement with your surroundings and have the ability to automatically pause audio when removed from ears.

These Arctis GameBuds offer a breathtaking audio experience with their 360-degree spatial sound technology, Tempest 3D and Sonar Spatial, taking your gaming immersion to unprecedented heights.

To establish a connection, you have two options: utilize Bluetooth version 5.3 or the provided 2.4GHz adapter. This versatile connectivity option works with an array of devices such as PlayStation, Xbox, PC, Nintendo Switch, iPhones, Android phones, handheld gaming consoles, and Meta Quest VR headsets. The Arctis GameBuds also offer the convenience of seamlessly switching between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connections with just a triple tap on the earbuds.

The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are wireless earbuds that need to be charged, similar to other wireless peripherals. But when fully charged, they offer up to 10 hours of gameplay. This battery life is based on Bluetooth usage with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) turned off and volume at maximum. On a lower latency 2.4GHz connection or with ANC activated, the battery life may decrease significantly. Fortunately, the case can charge the earbuds three times, providing a total of 40 hours of playtime. It also supports Qi wireless charging and fast wired charging; a 15-minute charge gives you an additional 3 hours of usage.

During intense gaming moments, the Arctis GameBuds boast an IP55 rating for dust and water resistance, ensuring top-notch functionality even in sweaty gaming scenarios.

As a gamer, I can personally vouch for the flexibility offered by my Arctis gaming earbuds. With the help of the Arctis Companion app, easily accessible on both Google Play Store and Apple App Store, you too can customize your audio experience to suit your unique preferences.

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds: Price and Availability

The two types of Arctis GameBuds are each valued at $160 and can be pre-ordered through Best Buy right now. These headphones will hit the shelves on October 29, and you’ll be able to find them at most major retail outlets after that date.

SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds vs Competition

Gaming earbuds are nothing new and manufacturers like Razer, Anker, Sony, Turtle Beach, and ASUS have been dominating the market for a while now. Razer’s Hammerhead series of earbuds includes the standard Hammerhead for Xbox, PlayStation, and Meta Quest headsets, as well as the Hammerhead Pro for PlayStation consoles. The Xbox and PlayStation compatible Razer Hammerhead earbuds are priced at $100 (at the time of writing) while the Meta Quest version costs $150. The Hammerhead Pro, on the other hand, is priced at $160, the same as the Arctis GameBuds. But the SteelSeries offering beats out the Razer offering in terms of battery life, weight, and IP rating. What the Razer offering does have is RGB lighting and touch controls. Check out our full review of the Pro model for more information.

Just like ASUS’s ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova gaming earbuds, they boast a variety of advanced features such as Dirac Opteo support, AI microphones using bone conduction technology, adaptive active noise cancellation, and longer battery life compared to SteelSeries and Razer alternatives. However, these premium features come at a higher price point, with the ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova earbuds retailing for $200 (not on sale).

FAQ

Q: Is SteelSeries a good gaming headset brand?

SteelSeries is renowned among gaming enthusiasts for their high-quality headsets, particularly those in the Arctis series. The Arctis Pro model is frequently ranked at the top of lists featuring the best gaming headsets due to its premium quality, but it’s worth noting that SteelSeries also offers a variety of affordable options that don’t compromise on quality.

Q: Is SteelSeries a Chinese brand?

Indeed, SteelSeries isn’t just any company; it’s a Danish entity that got bought out by Axcel, a prominent Nordic private equity firm back in July 2019. However, the tables turned in 2022 as another Danish corporation, GN Store Nord, took over SteelSeries.

2024-10-09 16:04