The SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are handy gaming earphones with which I play my games with excellent sound. I easily connect the earphones to my PlayStation 5 and smartphone. I can also easily switch between channels. The sound of the earphones could be a bit louder in my opinion.
Easy to use
When I take the earphones out of the box, I see the charging case with the GameBuds and USB C dongle in it, a USB C cable with which I charge the charging case, a USB A dongle and 2 different sizes of earplugs. I plug the USB C dongle into my PlayStation 5. I turn on the game buds and they immediately connect to my PlayStation. This goes smoothly and quickly. I can also easily connect the earphones to my smartphone via Bluetooth. The instructions are all in the box, which also makes this go quickly. The battery of the GameBuds lasts about 10 hours. That is long enough for a good gaming session. This also makes the GameBuds suitable for gaming on the go, for example on a Nintendo Switch or your smartphone.
Adjust settings
In the SteelSeries Arctis Companion app, I adjust various settings of the GameBuds, such as noise cancelling and microphone volume. I also choose from various audio presets for different games. This way, I can quickly switch between the best audio settings for Call of Duty and Astro Bot, for example. When I tap the GameBuds 3 times, the channel switches from my smartphone to my PlayStation. This is quick and easy.
Good sound with excellent noise cancelling
I play Call of Duty with an audio preset from the list in the Companion App. What I immediately notice is that the sound of the GameBuds is not very loud, which I am used to from a headset. This is less convenient for Call of Duty. Via the Companion App, I easily switch off the audio limiter, after which the sound is louder. The noise cancelling of the GameBuds is fine, but could be better. I also adjust this noise cancelling via the companion app. The microphone sounds clear and I also adjust it completely in the app. This way, I can always be heard by my teammates or friends in the PlayStation party.
These Arctis GameBuds are best suited if you like to game on the go or play more casual games. The earbuds are easy to use and I can adjust the settings to my liking. The sound level is a bit soft for competitive games, but loud enough for casual gamers. The microphone is of good quality and the charging case is very handy.
