The gamers at Stuff (that’s most of us) have a soft spot for PC gaming hardware specialist SteelSeries. If only we had compatible budgets. The brand’s newest gaming gear might fit the bill for something a little more budget, if only because you might have to buy two.
We’re talking about SteelSeries’ new Arctis Gamebuds, in-ear buds intended to be used with Sony or Microsoft’s newest consoles. You could also use them with your PC, mobile device, and probably the Nintendo Switch, but those are unofficial usages.
Song of SteelSeries
At least, that’s what SteelSeries’ product lineup suggests. There are three versions of the Arctis Gamebuds available, two for Sony’s PlayStation (the only difference is the colour), and one for Microsoft’s Xbox One ecosystem. No matter which you buy, you’ll get 2.4Ghz wireless and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity options. This should mean they’ll play nice with multiple devices but your chosen platform gets special treatment.
Both PlayStation and Xbox fans get support for customised game profiles — more than a hundred per platform — via the Arctis Companion App but either set of buds will also work with Nintendo’s console, the Steam Deck (and the various competitors), and VR systems. But wire-free console gaming is what they’re really made for.
To that end there’s active noise cancellation, an IP55 water- and dust-proof rating, and hear-through — all the headphone standards, though there’s probably not a profanity filter for Call of Duty lobbies. And then there’s the price. When they turn up here in South Africa, SteelSeries new in-ears will cost more than R3,300 (€170).