The Best Gaming Earbuds of 2024

If you’re a gamer, you’ll know that one of the best ways to get the most out of your gameplay is with a quality pair of headphones. With plenty of options to choose from you can enjoy wireless (or wired) gameplay no matter your budget. Whether you’re looking for premium lag-free audio, ANC, built-in mics for voice chat, multi-device connectivity, or you simply want something you can game with on your commute, there’s a perfect pair of gaming earbuds for everyone.

The Logitech FITS Earbuds are a worthy premium set of wireless earbuds for gamers. They’re an excellent multi-platform choice, compatible with PS5, PS4, PC, Mac, Mobile, and Switch. They provide Lightspeed wireless and Bluetooth connectivity, and their 10-millimeter drivers deliver full-bodied sound with plenty of bass.

These earbuds boast a best-in-class passive noise cancelation thanks to the custom fit offered by the gel tips. Using Lightform technology, the earbud tips will mold themselves to perfectly fit the inside of your ears within the first 60 seconds, blocking out most background noise. And built-in dual beamforming mics make them suitable for voice chat, too.

The battery life gets you through long gaming sessions, with seven hours provided by the earbuds themselves and an additional eight hours with the charging case. Swapping between Lightspeed and Bluetooth is nice and simple, making gaming across different platforms a breeze. And EQ and other sound settings can be customized via the Logitech app.

A pair of wireless gaming earbuds that won’t break the bank is the Turtle Beach Scout Air True Wireless Earbuds. Designed with a Game Mode that delivers 60 milliseconds of low latency feedback, these Bluetooth earbuds can be used for PC, Mac, mobile, and Switch.

There’s no ANC here, which is unsurprising given their relatively low price. However, they come equipped with dual microphones for in-game voice chat, and there’s a selection of sound customization options available via the Audio Hub app. They’re rated IPX4 for sweat and water resistance and provide 20 hours of audio (five from the earbuds and an additional 15 from the charging case).

Sound quality is decent for the asking price, although not in the same league as more premium options. On-ear touch controls are easy to operate, and they’re lightweight and comfortable to wear. There’s very little to complain about here, considering the cost.

If mobile gaming is your jam, the SteelSeries Tusq In-Ear Mobile Gaming Headset provides the functionality of a gaming headset in a more portable form factor. The lightweight over-the-ear suspension design provides lasting comfort and dual microphone functionality, with a built-in microphone on the cable and a detachable boom mic, making it super easy to talk to your squad when you’re gaming on the go.

This wired headset offers convenient multiplatform use thanks to the 3.5mm headphone jack. Plus, the dynamic composite sound drivers mean you can enjoy superior gaming audio on the move, whatever your surroundings. With three sets of silicone earbuds and a soft fabric carrying pouch to complete this kit, the Tusq Headset provides excellent value for money.

With low-latency wireless connectivity and Bluetooth, the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid True Wireless Gaming Earbuds include a USB-C aptX dongle for multi-platform gaming and offer lag-free audio with low latency. A closed acoustic design filters out unwanted background noise, letting you concentrate on the action.

Dual microphones ensure sound quality is nice and clear for voice chat, with very little sound leakage. Side Tone automatically kicks in whenever the mic is on so that you can hear yourself, but otherwise, the sound reduction is pretty good, considering there’s no ANC here. You can game for up to five hours with these buds and grab an additional 20 hours with the charging case. An IPX5 water resistance means these earbuds will be protected from sweat, and they feel comfortable to wear.

A more affordable option for gamers seeking a pair of wireless earbuds, the ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless Gaming Earbuds offer plenty of value for money. They’re equipped with hybrid ANC and provide low-latency wireless for greater audio synchronicity. These earbuds can be used with PS5, PC, Mac, Switch, and mobile devices and use 10-millimeter drivers to deliver a clean sound with decent bass.

They offer a maximum of 27 hours of battery life (five hours ANC-free, with 21.5 extra hours from the charging case) and support fast charging. If you’re in a pinch, you can secure 90 minutes of gameplay from a 15-minute charge. They can be wirelessly charged as well, which scores bonus points for convenience. IPX4 water resistance means that any particularly tense campaign shouldn’t cause sweat damage.

There’s RGB lighting on the case which is nice, though by no means essential. It can’t be customized, unfortunately, though EQ and sound profiles can be via the Armoury Crate app. The case itself is a little fiddly to open, but looks cool. And though these earbuds are low latency, they probably aren’t suitable for competitive gameplay.

FAQ

Q: What are the differences between normal earbuds and gaming earbuds?

Both gaming earbuds and regular earbuds can be a good choice for gaming on the go or for wireless gameplay without the head of a full-blown gaming headset.

Gaming earbuds tend to be more ergonomically designed than regular earbuds, providing longer-lasting comfort. They may also feature a dedicated Gaming Mode for low-latency audio that syncs better with your gameplay, and most feature Active Noise Cancelation (ANC) features that provide a more immersive audio experience for gaming.

Q: Why do some pro gamers use earbuds instead of headphones?

The choice between earbuds or headphones largely comes down to personal preference, and there’s no definitive answer as to why a pro gamer would favor one over the other. However, as earbuds create a more direct path to a player’s ears, there’s an argument that this creates less chance of sound leakage and less intrusive white noise. This can be a deciding factor for pro gamers who rely on complete immersion in their gameplay.

Q: What is active noise cancelation (ANC)?

Active Noise Cancelation is a feature that’s become prevalent in many modern headsets and earbuds. It uses microphones to listen to sounds from the headphone speakers, as well as external sounds from the surrounding environment.

The ANC feature acts to invert the soundwaves from inside and outside the headphones and cancels out the external noise by neutralizing its soundwaves.

Q: Can I use AirPods for gaming?

The short answer is yes, you can use AirPods for gaming. The longer answer is that to do so (depending on your platform of choice) you may need to purchase a separate Bluetooth adapter first since the current generation of game consoles don’t have native support for Bluetooth.

The good news is there are plenty of decent Bluetooth adapters to choose from, and they are relatively inexpensive to buy. With the adapter plugged into your console, it should be a simple matter of pairing your AirPods with the console before you’re ready to rock and roll.

For PC gameplay, you should be able to simply pair your AirPods with your PC’s Bluetooth connection.