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7 Best Gaming Earbuds of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Shop a lightweight, travel-friendly alternative to bulky headsets.
I know what you’re thinking. What’s the big difference between regular wireless earbuds and gaming earbuds? The main thing we gamers look for, in addition to rich, immersive sound quality, is low latency. It’s sort of like having a high frame rate but for sound. In competitive gaming, your tech accessories make all the difference. If you don't want the itch and the sweat that come from wearing a bulky, padded headset, try some lightweight and less-clunky gaming earbuds.
And maybe now you’re asking, “Why wouldn’t I just use a normal gaming headset?” There’s a pretty simple answer: Earbuds take up less room and help you combat those gamer rage sweats. In all honesty, it’s a matter a preference, but earbuds are more ideal for gaming while traveling or commuting to work. With new consoles like the PlayStation Portal, Steam Deck, and its competitors, plus cloud game streaming from the likes of Nvidia and Xbox, a good pair of earbuds are a major upgrade for gaming on the go. These seven picks stood out to us during testing—and the ones we recommend wholeheartedly.
Pros
- Built from the ground up for gaming
- Low-latency dongle included in the charging case
- Each version works on PC and Switch
- App has audio presets for hundreds of popular titles
Cons
- Can’t use the same pair between Xbox and PS5
- Not the best for music listening
With the Arctis GameBuds from SteelSeries, the first gold standard for gaming earbuds has arrived. The look is low-profile. They provide noise-cancelling immersion and a working transparency mode, and they include the 2.4 GHz dongle right there in the charging case. It’s everything we’ve wanted since the inception of the gaming headset.
Due to proprietary hardware, there is yet to be a headset that supports both Xbox and PlayStation. When buying the Arctis GameBuds, you must choose between the black Xbox model and the (classier, in my opinion) white PlayStation one. Beyond that, they are functionally identical. They deliver immersive sound that rivals a headset’s and a battery life that outstrips every one of the competitors by hours.
After hours of testing them, I still can’t get over how well the transparency mode works. I can carry on full conversations with someone in the room and still hear my game sounds clearly and loudly. It’s borderline miraculous.
| Connections | 2.4GHz wireless dongle, Bluetooth |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | Up to 10 Hours |
| Microphone | Integrated |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Yes |
Pros
- High-quality speakers
- Our favorite charging case
- Works with Switch and Steam Deck
Cons
- No ANC
- No Xbox support
We got more than we bargained for with Sony’s PULSE Explore earbuds. These wireless beauties are PlayStation branded, but they don’t only work on PS5 and PlayStation Portal. You can use these in Bluetooth mode while gaming on PC, Mac, or even your iPhone. The PULSE Explore buds are some of the best we’ve found for casual listening as well.
While you might guess that these won’t work with the PlayStation’s closest competitor, you might be surprised to learn these are great portable gaming system earbuds. You can use them with the Switch and Steam Deck, and they are arguably a better fit for those systems than if you’re sitting down at your PS5.
| Connections | Bluetooth, PlayStation Link USB adapter |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | Up to 5 hours |
| Microphone | Integrated |
| Active Noise Cancellation | No |
Pros
- Priced afforadbly
- Good sound
- Decent microphone
- Look nice enough
Cons
- Master of none
- No USB-C connection
The 1MORE Triple Drivers are the most unassuming earbuds you can find. Just middle-of-the-road speakers that’ll connect to any gaming system or controller via a 3.5mm jack. They even have a half-decent microphone. Best of all, they look pretty normal: black with a copper accent.
This is your jack-of-all-trades gaming earbud. Compared with the other wired options, these deliver the most sound quality for the price.
| Connection | 3.5mm Jack |
|---|---|
| Microphone | In-Line |
| Active Noise Cancellation | No |
Pros
- Works with every gaming system
- Comes with a mic attachment
Cons
- Only available in a wired version
- Sound is mediocre compared with others
For something that’ll work with everything—and features more than just an in-line mic—Turtle Beach has the Battle Buds. The gamer-trusted headset brand takes everything you may (or may not) love about its gaudy, massive headphones and shrinks it down to a portable package.
We won’t lie and say the sound quality will blow your mind—it didn’t blow ours—but for most prospective buyers it will be more than acceptable. If you’re looking for a headset on a budget, the boom attachment on the Battle Buds will be the closest you can get. Add the ability to work with any gaming system and a sub-$30 price tag, and these take the budget category, no contest.
| Connection | 3.5mm Jack |
|---|---|
| Microphone | In-Line or Attachable Boom |
| Active Noise Cancellation | No |
Pros
- Dongle compatible with Steam Deck and PC handhelds
- Adjustable ANC
Cons
- Battery life sucks
Another gamer brand with classy audio offerings is Razer. It’s a brand we love for more than just its amazing gaming keyboards. The Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed are Razer’s top-of-the-line gamer earbuds and are well worth the price of admission. They have noise cancellation and are ergonomic as fuck, and the implementation of neon gamer lights isn’t very annoying at all.
These earbuds come with a Razer dongle, which allows for a nearly lag-free experience when gaming on a Steam Deck or other portable PC-like device. For everything else, there’s Bluetooth.
| Connections | 2.4GHz wireless dongle, Bluetooth |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | Up to 4 hours |
| Microphone | Advanced ENC beamforming |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Yes |
ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless Gaming Earbuds
Pros
- Wireless charging case
- Decently low latency over Bluetooth
- Great mic quality
Cons
- No high-speed dongle
If you want to go full Bluetooth (no 2.4 GHz dongles) on your Steam Deck, Switch, or any other handheld gaming device, this is the route to go. At $100, the ROG Cetra from ASUS are the best dedicated wireless earbuds you can get for gaming at this price point. They even have basic ANC so that you can lock them no matter where you are traveling. They’re a perfect companion for your ROG Ally X handheld PC.
The Bluetooth connection is reliable enough that only esports players will ever complain about the latency. I would tell them to get a different pair of earbuds. What they lack in precision, though, the Cetras make up for in call quality. Your teammates will be able to hear you loud and, more important, clear. Every single time.
| Connections | Bluetooth 5.0 |
|---|---|
| Battery Life | Up to 5.5 hours |
| Microphone | Integrated |
| Active Noise Cancellation | Yes |
Pros
- Microphone pops on and off
- Great sound for the price
- Comes in a nice pouch
Cons
- No wireless options
In a pinch because your $300 headset just broke and you, coincidentally, are also broke? Check out the Tusq buds with detachable mic. These wired earbuds are best for when you truly need to jack in and be there for your squad. They are also a great value. For less than $100, the SteelSeries Tusq delivers on the sound quality we’ve come to expect from the brand while also going above and beyond for the gamers.
The microphone mimics the design of the brand’s larger headsets but manages to do so in a pair of cozy earbuds. And it detaches completely when you don’t need it and just want to use these as headphones. There aren’t many other bells and whistles here, but committed teammates can't go wrong with the Tusq.
| Connections | 3.5mm Jack |
|---|---|
| Microphone | In-Line or Attachable Boom |
| Active Noise Cancellation | No |
Honorable Mentions
Apple AirPods Pro (Gen 2) If you got through that list and said, “Well, what about my AirPods?” then here’s your answer. Use your AirPods Pro 2s. You paid good money for them and we agree they are some of the best earbuds Apple has ever made, both in terms of comfort and sound. So yeah, go for it.
Logitech G333 VR Earphones These earbuds swing in the opposite direction. They are built for the Meta Quest 2 and designed specifically to be comfortable when wearing a VR headset. It’s a niche for sure, but if you fall into it, you may find these pretty useful.
How We Tested Gaming Earbuds
We test gaming earbuds like we would any other products. That means weeks (at minimum) of daily use—or whatever is most likely to reflect your experience at home. We take the time to make sure the products our readers are buying are built to last.
The gaming earbuds I tested for this story, I took home and used on my own PlayStation 5 and Xbox. I connected them to my phone to judge music and Bluetooth playback. And of course, I downloaded and tested any and all of the numerous companion apps.
What to Look For In Gaming Earbuds
When testing earbuds, we find out what’s important and what’s just mumbo jumbo to put on a box. These are the features that matter and are easy to look for beforehand.
Connectivity: Making sure that your headphones of choice work with all your gaming devices is an early priority when shopping. Some of these gaming earbuds use Bluetooth only, while others have USB-C or proprietary dongles for more low-latency connections.
Battery life: Though many of these earbuds boast a battery life of thirty to fifty hours, that is stretching the truth a bit. That is how long the quick-charging cases last. The earbuds on their own, without being charged by the case, often last only a handful of hours, with upwards of eight being the high end for gaming and ANC-enhanced pairs.
Latency: A big boon for gamers is low-latency mode. This means that the audio lag between when a visual happens and when the accompanying audio cue is heard is cut down to a minimum. Target earbuds with USB dongles for the lowest possible latency. Wired headphones are also a great option for those concerned with lag.
Microphones: Online gaming is nothing without communication. If your headphones don’t have a mic, you’re screwed. Some of the best gaming earbuds even have external boom mics. Basically, you should already know if you need one or not.
Earbuds vs. Headsets: Which Are Better for Gaming?
Common knowledge is that headsets are the best for gaming. The best ones fully cover your ears, immersing you in the game world’s soundscape, and they often have a lot of comfortable padding for your head. The microphone quality tends to be a lot higher than what you get in earbuds, and the overall form factor just seems to make a lot more sense for high-level gaming like esports. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t dozens of use cases for earbuds over headsets.
In our experience, gaming earbuds can be great for commuting, traveling, or gaming on a portable handheld system. They are easy to travel with and fit into your pocket. And now many of them deliver very impressive sound quality, nois- cancellation features, and even decent microphones.
Which Brand of Gaming Earbuds Is Best?
Across the board, we love SteelSeries. That much we can’t hide, given we included not one but two of its earbuds here. The Arctis GameBuds are on the cutting edge of what earbuds for gamers should be, but even the cheaper wired sets from SteelSeries get the job done. If you’re looking for one gaming brand to trust, that’s the one we would choose.
The exception to that rule is this; if you have a PS5 and it’s your console of choice, Sony makes pretty great first party products. Both the PlayStation PULSE Explore and the Sony INZONE buds are top picks for PS5 gamers.
Why Trust Esquire?
Here at Esquire, we’ve been testing and reviewing the latest and greatest products for decades. When it comes to tech and gaming, I’ve personally been reporting on these things for years. From Amazon Echo speakers to portable monitors to the best controllers for PC gaming, I’ve tried out the best of the best—and some of the worst of the mediocre for good measure. If I wouldn’t recommend it to a friend or loved one, I wouldn’t even let you think about buying it, dear reader. Hold yourself to a higher standard. It is the Esquire way.
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