Sound quality is crucial for a good gaming session, so many gamers would rather sweat their ears off than get a pair of headphones that don’t deliver. However, headphones are bulky, heavy, and can feel like a vise is slowly tightening around your head after a few hours of wearing them.
But now you have a choice! Earbuds use more advanced technologies nowadays, so there’s no wonder we had to do a best gaming earbuds list. They may be small, but they come with impressive features in both sound and comfort.
So, if you want freedom from big headphones, a good pair of earbuds may be the best solution (especially during hot summers).
Top Picks
Last update on 2023-10-11 // The links above are affiliate // Images from Amazon
How to Choose the Best Earbuds For Gaming?
While the products we reviewed cover a wide array of budgets and preferences, we thought you should also have the list of features on which we based our selection. This way, if you want to do your own search, you have a solid base from which to start.
Comfort & Durability
Whether you’re a PC or a console gamer, you will spend countless hours performing tasks, taking quests, and battling enemies. As such, comfort is the first criterion that matters when selecting the best gaming earbuds.
Start with the ear tip; you should have at least three different sizes in the package and the material should be designed to fill the ear canal in order to provide passive noise cancellation. Also, the earbuds should be light and compact, so they won’t fall off when you make sudden moves.
Not to mention, if they are wired, the cable should be tangle-free and lightweight, so its weight doesn’t pull the earbuds down.
Sound Quality for Gaming Sessions
The second crucial criterion is sound quality. But gamers have different preferences compared to audiophiles, so you should be looking for:
- Powerful bass
- Spacious representation of the sound stage (so you can tell where your enemies are coming from)
- Clear trebles
Wired vs. wireless
Some gamers think that a wired design transmits sound better than a wireless one because it is via cable and not BT. However, modern BT technology is advanced, and you can hardly tell the difference between wireless and wired when it comes to sound quality.
Furthermore, a wireless design frees you from cables and gives you a good range to move around the device. On the other hand, wired designs don’t suffer from interference from other wireless signals and are a bit more durable.
At the end of the day, you are the one to decide which is best.
Mic Quality
Most MMORPG and online games, in general, require teammates to chat in order to share instructions, send out commands, and collaborate. This is difficult to do with a mic that doesn’t pick your voice properly or one that picks a bit too much.
That’s why some of the best gaming earbuds highlight the fact that their mic is at the higher end of the spectrum. It may cost a bit more, but it is definitely worth it!
7 Best Gaming Earbuds
HyperX Cloud Earbuds (HX-HSCEB-RD)
Perfect for Gaming on The Go
The HyperX Cloud earbuds are perfect for when you want to go and play outside (with your Nintendo Switch or phone/tablet).
First, the tangle-free cable is rubberized to reduce cable noise and make the experience of playing a handheld device a lot more pleasant. Second, the plugs are angled at a 90-degree, so they don’t fall off even if you’re jumping around, enjoying your victory.
But the HyperX Cloud earbuds are not just for mobile gaming! These are earbuds with mic, which means you can chat with your teammates in MMORPGs for as long as you want without sweating your ears off or getting a headache from the headband of some bulky headphones.
The audio is immersive, with crystal-clear lows, mids, and highs, and deep bass (yes, you’ll hear those explosions!). The surround sound is easy to interpret, which makes playing first-person shooter games quite fun.
Finally, the earbuds are slim, lightweight, and feature a multi-function button that makes controlling the audio in the game extremely easy.
- Slim design
- Impressive audio qualities
- Sound is easy to interpret
- Great for long gaming sessions
- Three sizes of ear tips
- Come with a hard travel case
- Compatible with a wide range of devices
- A bit pricey
- Cables are quite rubbery
- Some players may have difficulties finding a good fit
Sony MDRXB50AP
Budget-friendly Earbuds with Big Bass
This wired in-ear headset is great for a wide range of scenarios, but they also make a good budget-friendly gaming accessory. The bass is indeed powerful and deep (due to the 12-millimeter dome type driver units) and the hybrid silicone tips help isolate you from the outside world. In addition, the 0.47” neodymium drivers deliver a well-balanced sound, which is great for those games where the audio is delivered via multiple channels.
To make it easy to wear, the headphones have a Y type flat cord (1.2m in length) with a slider. There’s also a built-in mic, a multi-function control button, and smartphone playback control (via the Smart Key app).
- Clear sound & powerful bass
- Built-in mic
- Secure & comfortable fit
- A tangle-free cord with slider
- The earpiece is a bit large
- The sound is not audiophile-quality
JBL Quantum 50
More Basic, yet Solid Gaming Earbuds
If you are looking for simple gaming earbuds that are easy to use and offer a solid audio experience at a reasonable price, JBL Quantum 50 are the earbuds for you. As mentioned previously, these earbuds come without any special features and are rather basic.
There is the 3.5mm connection, a volume slider with a mic mute, and a decent Inline Voice-Focus microphone that delivers a clear voice; however, is a bit quiet.
JBL Quantum 50 are comfortable to wear and more importantly, they bring accurate and clear audio, with a bit more emphasis on lows; nonetheless, the sound experience is still more than pleasant.
Therefore, if you are after one of the best gaming earbuds for the price, JBL Quantum 50 is a pretty nice option.
- Great compatibility
- Affordable
- Comfortable
- Very good audio quality
- Easy to use
- A bit quiet microphone
Bose QuietComfort 20
Impressive Quality and Control
Bose never disappoints when it comes to sound quality! With the QuietComfort 20, they managed to create an almost perfect portable headset that can be used in a wide range of situations. You can wear them while running or working out, they do an amazing job at blocking environmental sounds in an airplane, and they deliver spacious audio that let the listener imagine the position of every sound.
But Bose went one step further and included ANC in these earbuds! This means you can enjoy your game without being disturbed by external sounds regardless of your current location (at home, on the couch or on a busy train).
You also get an aware mode, so you can hear the outside world without removing the earbuds or interrupting your gaming session. Not to mention that due to Active EQ and TriPort technology the sound is deep and clear.
Finally, Bose QuietComfort 20 work on lots of devices, including Apple ones. You can even wear them for hours due to the StayHear+ tips which provide a comfortable and customizable fit.
- Incredible gaming sound quality
- Acoustic Noise Cancellation module included
- Customizable fit
- Solid build & high-end materials
- In-line remote control & mic
- A bit pricey for the regular gamer
- Built-in battery pack can be annoying
- Not comfortable for sleeping
ASUS ROG Cetra II
The King of Gaming Earbuds is in the House
Some devices offer great performance and raise your whole gaming experience to another, higher level, and ASUS ROG Cetra II earbuds are that type of product. They are sleek, attractive looking, fitted with the Aura Sync RGB lightings, and more importantly, they bring an excellent gaming audio experience.
They feature ANC that is doing more than a fair job and are equipped with liquid silicone rubber drivers that are one of the key reasons for its glorious performance. Moreover, they offer USB Type-C connectivity, an excellent microphone that delivers great voice clarity for both ingoing and outgoing calls, and a lightweight build that makes them perfect for travels.
In addition, they are also fitted with three different-sized pairs of earbuds, for easy finding of the best fit, offer onboard commands, and support three different working modes (ANC on, ANC off, and Ambient Mode).
In short, they bring exactly what the best gaming earbuds should, offering an impressive gaming experience; however, they aren’t that versatile. Therefore, if you are after the best gaming earbuds, the thing is pretty simple, yet if you are planning to use them for some other activities, such as watching movies, or listening to music, some earbuds may come as a better, or at least, more affordable option.
- Lightweight
- USB Type-C connection
- Portable
- ANC
- Aura Sync RGB Lighting
- Three different-sized pairs of earbuds are included in the package
- Pricey
- Not that versatile
Razer Hammerhead True Wireless (2nd Gen)
Very Good Gaming Earbuds
Razer Hammerhead True Wireless (2nd Gen) are well-built, excellent performance earbuds, with plenty of features that are one of the major reasons for their high price. These earbuds come with the Razer Chroma RGB that is fully customizable over the Razer Audio app, and they offer ANC that could have been a bit better, especially considering the price tag.
Moreover, Razer Hammerhead True Wireless (2nd Gen) features Bluetooth 5.2 and supports AAC and SBC codecs. Their battery life is modest at 6.5 hours that can be increased by the additional 26 hours, thanks to the charging case, while the presence of very good Dual Environmental Noise Cancelling (ENC) Microphones guarantees great voice clarity.
In addition, these earbuds also feature adjustable EQ and have a special Low Latency Gaming Mode, perfect for any gamer. On top of that, they are compact and practical, and more importantly, they deliver excellent audio, with a strong bass, ideal for all sorts of activities, including high-end gaming.
In other words, they are an ideal option if the combination of attractive looks and a great audio experience is what you are after in the best gaming earbuds.
- Comfortable
- ANC
- Strong bass
- Great audio quality
- Razer Chroma RGB
- Not the best battery life
- No AptX support
Anker Soundcore Liberty 2 Pro
Bluetooth Earbuds with Astria Coaxial Acoustic Architecture
Designed to fit perfectly in your ear, these in-ear buds are also fitted with advanced audio technology for audiophile sound quality. As such, they come with customized Knowles balanced armature and an 11mm dynamic driver for a well-balanced sound without interference.
The expanded sound stage is extremely well detailed and the depth and nuance are impeccable in delivering harmonious representations where you can hear each instrument and vocal. In addition, the earbuds are fitted with HearID (a technology used to deliver the sound according to your hearing profile), an adjustable EQ, and 22 preset sound profiles.
Lastly, there are 4 microphones and cVc 8.0 noise reduction technology that isolates your voice and ensures high-clarity phone calls.
- Amazing sound quality
- An oversized 11mm driver provides for stunning bass power
- Single ear listening
- Decent battery life & fast charging
- Sound is based on your unique hearing profile
- 4 microphones and cVc 8.0 noise reduction
- A bit on the expensive side
- The battery drains a bit fast
Wrap Up
We reviewed a wide array of products, but you are the only one who can choose the best gaming earbuds for your needs. You know your budget limitations and the experience you want to access every time you put on the earbuds.
So, don’t waste any more time! Read our reviews, learn about the features that matter, and buy the perfect earbuds to make your gaming a bit more fun and immersive!
