6 best gaming earbuds 2023 | Are earbuds good for gaming?
If you’re looking for a great pair of gaming earbuds, reviewers say they were “absolutely blown away” by this model.
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When it comes to gaming, audio quality can make all the difference to your experience.
Whether you want to really immerse yourself in your virtual world of choice, gain a competitive advantage or communicate clearly with your team, a good pair of headphones can take your gaming to the next level.
While a lot of gamers opt for a headset, others turn to earbuds as they tend to be more comfortable to wear over longer periods. They’re also better for gaming on-the-go and tend to be cheaper than gaming headsets.
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If this sounds like the better option to you, we’ve rounded up a range of options below that are well-loved by gamers – like the budget-friendly SoundPEATS CyberGear Wireless Earbuds reviewers on Amazon said they were “absolutely blown away” by and “take the cake by a long shot.”
In the mix, you’ll find a range of different brands and prices, along with wired and wireless options, so you can easily find a pair to suit your needs.
Please note: prices are correct and products are in stock at time of publishing.
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Our team of experienced writers spend hours researching products to include in articles. We find out what factors make a good product by talking to experts, reviewing test results and analysing thousands of customer reviews.
OUR TOP PICKS
In this article
- Are Apple earbuds good for gaming?
- Are earbuds better than headphones for gaming?
- Best earbud brands for gaming
BEST GAMING EARBUDS FOR NOISE-CANCELLATION
Razer Hammerhead HyperSpeed Wireless Multi-Platform Gaming Earbuds
What you need to know
Sporting a design similar to the AirPods Pro buds, the Razer Hammerhead HyperSpeeds are a premium pick for regular gamers. The true wireless earbuds deliver a low-latency experience on both PlayStation and PC thanks to the included USB-C dongle, and also offer Bluetooth for more versatility.
Audio is well-balanced right out of the box, though you can finetune it using presets and graphic EQ in the companion app. Add in decent noise-cancellation, long battery life and customisable RGB lighting, and there’s plenty here to justify the HyperSpeed’s price.
That said, both the RGB lighting and ANC can drain the battery a lot faster, so if you’re someone who plays for hours on end, these may not be the buds for you.
Like the Hammerhead HyperSpeeds but don’t own a PlayStation? Bag the Xbox version instead.
BEST GAMING EARBUDS WITH QUALITY MICROPHONE
SteelSeries Tusq, $74.99 (down from $79) at Amazon Australia
SteelSeries TUSQ
What you need to know
SteelSeries’ TUSQ earphones are a great companion if you’re a competitive player who prioritises effective communication over anything else. The wired buds feature both a built-in microphone and a detachable boom mic, giving you the option for clearer calls whenever you’re playing online. The built-in mic also deactivates automatically once the boom mic has been attached, making it quick and easy to switch things up.
While the TUSQs don’t come with sound customisation features, the sound quality is pretty great right out of the box. The around-the-ear design also makes the pair comfortable to wear during longer gaming sessions and stops them from falling out of your ears when you’re moving around.
The lack of noise cancellation and average noise-handling by the mic does make the buds better suited to those playing at home without a lot of background noise. For less than $80 though, they’re an affordable and effective choice for online gaming.
BEST GAMING EARBUDS FOR SOUND QUALITY
EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Truly Wireless, from $240 at Amazon
EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Truly Wireless
What you need to know
If you’re after a pair of earbuds that focus on the audio experience, EPOS’ GTW 270 Hybrid buds are one of the best options around. With a bass-rich sound profile that can be further adjusted with presets and graphic EQ, the pair sound great both for action-heavy games and listening to music.
They also support multi-device pairing, so you can switch between your console and phone, and offer multi-platform compatibility, which is great for those who aren’t married to just one console.
While there is a microphone, it only works through Bluetooth and not in 2.4GHz mode, which is sure to frustrate online gamers. The trade off, however, is low latency audio through the USB-C dongle for less disruption while you play.
BEST BUDGET GAMING EARBUDS
SoundPEATS CyberGear Wireless Gaming Headphones, $44.79 (down from $63.99) at Amazon Australia
SoundPEATS CyberGear Wireless
What you need to know
If you’re looking for a standout pair of gaming buds that won’t break the bank, the SoundPEATS CyberGear Wireless are a compelling choice. These earbuds don’t just outperform their price tag, they look phenomenal too. From the Cyberpunk-inspired charging case to the four RGB lighting effects, the earbuds and case look right at home in any gaming setup.
For less than $100, you get a bunch of great features, including 10mm drivers, 45ms ultra-low latency, a dual mic system and a battery life of six and a half hours (or up to 26 hours with the charging case). They also offer two modes for gaming and music and Mega-S Surround sound for mobile gamers, which allows you to hear elements like footsteps and gunfire much more clearly.
The only downside is that they aren’t compatible with consoles like PlayStation and Xbox since they don’t support Bluetooth audio. For PC, Switch and mobile gamers though, these are a feature-packed buy at a great price.
The SoundPeats CyberGear Wireless hold a current 4.5 star rating from more than 300 reviews on Amazon, with one five-star reviewer saying they were “absolutely blown away” by the budget-friendly pair.
BEST WIRED EARBUDS FOR GAMING
1More Triple Driver In-Ear Earphones, $94.99 at Amazon Australia
1More Triple Driver In-Ear
What you need to know
Earbuds may offer more freedom of movement, but wired buds never need to be charged and often have less latency issues. 1More’s Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones are our top pick here, thanks to their amazing sound quality and reasonable price point.
Decked out in aluminium and rose gold, the pair look nice and sleek, though if you want something even more premium, you can opt instead for the more expensive 1More Quad Driver buds. The microphone isn’t amazing, which will be a downside for some, but they’re an otherwise impressive pair of earphones.
One reviewer on Google Reviews, who rated the buds five out of five, said: “Without a doubt the best earbuds I have ever heard and I’ve owned quite a few different brands.
“These are the first earbuds I can listen to after wearing my Sennheiser HD 650s and experience a similar level of audio quality which I never expected from earbuds selling for less than $100.”
BEST VERSATILE GAMING EARBUDS
Soundcore VR P10 Wireless Gaming Earbuds, $179.99 at eBay Australia
Soundcore VR P10
What you need to know
Soundcore’s VR P10 buds may be made with the Meta Quest 2 in mind, but they’re also a great option for pretty much everything other than Xbox. There’s customisable lighting, dual Bluetooth and USB-C connectivity, and a charging case that magnetically stores the USB-C transmitter.
The sound quality on the VR P10s is also decent, though bass-lovers probably won’t enjoy the neutral sound profile. The buds themselves also look like a gaming version of Apple’s AirPods, making the shape and design something most people will be familiar with.
A five-star reviewer on Google Reviews called the VR P10s “almost perfect”, saying: “I go back and forth from the office and it is nice to use this at the office for web calls, and my gaming gear at home.
“I like that it’s designed in a way that I don’t lose a USB spot too. Very nice touch.”
Are Apple earbuds good for gaming?
This one largely comes down to personal preference, but it is worth noting that neither Apple earbuds or AirPods have been designed with gaming in mind.
On the list of pros, Apple earbuds offer balanced audio and decent microphone quality, which could make them a good choice for casual gamers or those in a pinch.
However, they may not provide the same level of comfort for extended gaming sessions as gaming-specific earbuds, and they could also have more latency issues. While the earbuds work well with other Apple devices, compatibility with PCs and gaming consoles could also be limited and may require you to use adaptors or software configurations to connect them.
Ultimately, you could find they suit your needs just fine but, if you’re a serious gamer, you may want to consider a pair of dedicated gaming headphones or earbuds instead.
Are earbuds better than headphones for gaming?
Again, there’s no right or wrong answer here. Earbuds are more portable than headphones and some people may find them more comfortable over longer periods than headsets. They also tend to be a better option for those who wear glasses and those who don’t want headphones sitting over their hair.
However, headphones and headsets typically offer better audio quality, better noise-cancellation, more features and additional on-ear controls. Headphones also tend to offer wider compatibility with PlayStation and Xbox than earbuds do.
Essentially, choosing between headphones and earbuds comes down to personal preference and deciding which features are a priority for you.
Best earbud brands for gaming
Most people tend to use earbuds from big name gaming brands like Razer, EPOS and SteelSeries. But there are plenty of models by smaller brands (like some of the ones on this list) that can be just as effective for gaming.
Some people also opt for earbuds by brands that are popular for audio, like Apple or Bose, in place of gaming brands. Keep in mind though that earbuds from these brands may offer less compatibility and more latency issues than those made specifically for gaming.
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