SteelSeries looks to rival Sony's Pulse & Inzone with AirPods-like Arctis GameBuds
SteelSeries has announced the new Arctis GameBuds, offering strong wireless earphone competition to the market.
26th Sep 2024 09:43
Images via SteelSeries
SteelSeries looks to rival Sony's Pulse & Inzone with AirPods-like Arctis GameBuds
SteelSeries has announced the new Arctis GameBuds, offering strong wireless earphone competition to the market.
26th Sep 2024 09:43
Images via SteelSeries
While the notion of gaming-focused earbuds with 2.4GHz wireless isn't anything new in the hardware space, SteelSeries has a strong aim to beat the competition with the new Arctis GameBuds.
Boasting an incredibly rich feature set with numerous enhancements over its direct competitors, the GameBuds look to be a more than worthy rival to any of the similar options on the market right now - including but certainly not limited to Sony's Pulse and Inzone earphones.
Sound for everywhere
One of the key points that SteelSeries is pushing with the Arctic GameBuds is their viability in both gaming and lifestyle spaces. Having one device that can perform across multiple use cases is wonderful as a consumer, as it means that you don't need to buy multiple devices or worry about carrying them around either.
On the gaming side of things, the GameBuds offer 2.4GHz wireless to ensure that there are no issues with delay and you're getting the best connection possible. Paired with this is a uniquely small USB-C dongle that will fit seamlessly into any device.
Critically it won't block any other connections on your PC or console, and is small enough to not feel cumbersome when plugged into a phone either. What's even better is that this dongle is compatible with pretty much everything out there, including PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, and mobile. This creates zero compromise and promises seamless use in every situation.
On the flip side, you've also got Bluetooth 5.3 and Classic if you don't want to use the dongle with any non-gaming devices. Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency modes make the GameBuds a perfect travel companion too.
If you worry about battery life too then the GameBuds might be something to consider, as it boasts a 10-hour single-use life, with 40 hours overall including case charging.
Presets galore
Something that also has the potential to give the GameBuds the edge is the abundance of game-specific sound profiles that you'll be able to choose from through the dedicated app.
There are currently over 100 uniquely tailored profiles to choose from at launch, comprising many of the most popular multiplayer games out there alongside a legion of single-player experiences.
You needn't worry about being left behind in new titles too, as there will be updates every two weeks to add new presets whether it be the most recent releases or older games that haven't yet been created.
This, in theory, gives you a specific competitive advantage in multiplayer games with sound that is tweaked so you can hear the most important things, alongside increased immersion in single-player titles to help you get lost in the world.
If that's still not enough for you then you'll also be able to tweak an EQ chart in detail, giving you far greater control over your sound beyond that of preset frequencies.
For just $159 too, the GameBuds certainly sit at a competitive price point on the market against their contemporaries, making them more than worth considering when they launch on October 29, 2024.
About The Author
Harry Boulton
Harry is a Guides Writer at GGRecon, having completed a Masters of Research degree in Film Studies. Previously a freelance writer for PCGamesN, The Loadout, and Red Bull Gaming, he loves playing a wide variety of games from the Souls series to JRPGs, Counter-Strike, and EA FC. When not playing or writing about games and hardware, you're likely to find him watching football or listening to Madonna and Kate Bush.
