Table of Contents Show
Modern gamers can fire up handheld devices and resume their gameplay in motion. You might have to settle for a smaller screen if you’re playing on your phone, but there are ways to ensure the experience is still deeply immersive – a good pair of earbuds, suited for video games, is definitely one of them.
Now, it’s likely you won’t be able to use the usual gaming headset. Take one look at the bulky PlayStation headphones and you’ll know exactly why. No one wants to be sitting on a train, looking like they’ve just logged into the Starship Enterprise. You need a headset that’s more lightweight, or, more specifically, it might be time to invest in some noise-cancelling earbuds.
Not only can you pack them easily and take them anywhere, earbuds are also ideal in so far as they’ve evolved during the rise of mobile gaming. In-ears and earbuds have been developed with superior microphones, more comfortable designs and a better balanced sound profile. You won’t miss out on any important action, or dialogue, and it’s likely you’ll avoid any lag as well – if you choose the right pair.
So, let’s take a closer look at a selection of earbuds and in-ears to see if we can’t pick out a few of the best options for gaming. Check out our latest recommendations for 2023 below:
5. HyperX Cloud Mix Buds
In answer to various queries and rumours, HyperX has expanded their audio options with the introduction of Bluetooth to the new Cloud Mix Buds. To put it simply these are some of the best wireless earbuds currently on market and they’re ideally suited for gaming as well. If you don’t want to be hunched over a small screen, you can wirelessly connect to your PC setup at home. This allows for more freedom of movement and adaptability when you fire up your favourite games. For less latency, these earbuds come with a 2.4GHz USB-C adapter, enabling a more trusty connection. On full charge, you’re likely to get about 10 hours of play – plenty of time to enjoy the immersive 3D audio, which picks out footsteps and other less obvious audio cues.
4. EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid
These are surely some of the best gaming earbuds you’ll find. The comfortable fit is just an added bonus, thrown in to bolster a range of features that bring your gaming sessions to life. A bass-rich sound profile might just give you goosebumps, shuddering in combat situations, or hearing the guttural tones of passing vehicles. Action-packed games can be brought to life in exciting ways, utilising the companion app and all the presets you’ll find there. They also enable a fairly low-latency connection with your PlayStation console and run for about 6 hours if used continuously.
3. Logitech G333
If you can get over the minor detail that these are wired earbuds, you could definitely make a strong argument that this is the best option for gaming in our list. That also means you don’t have to worry about latency and sound quality can even seem superior at times, without Bluetooth. They’re comfortable and robust, not easily broken if you happen to pluck them from your ears in some thrashing moment of feverish gameplay. The mic has effective recording capabilities too – perfect if you need to relay anything to your teammates in the heat of an online game.
2. Razer Hammerhead True Wireless
When it comes to gaming with active noise cancelling (ANC) it would be hard to beat these wireless earbuds, designed specifically with mobile gaming in mind. They’ve been fine-tuned to offer an impactful ‘Gaming Mode’, boosted by another intuitive companion app. When you enable this mode you’ll experience reduced Bluetooth latency and better synchronisation between your audio and visuals. The ANC is very effective at cancelling out mid-range noise and ambient disruptions around you, as well as bass-range noise, which might gradually eject you from your gaming experience.
1. Asus ROG Centra True Wireless
Last, but by no means a damp squib, let’s talk about the arrival of these Asus earbuds, which rely again on a strong wireless connection. This can bring your gaming session to an agonising stop if the earbuds die mid-mission, but you’ll be happy to learn that these wireless earbuds actually have one of the longest lasting batteries on market. Enjoy up to 5.5 hours of gameplay on full charge, or top up with just 10 minutes and gain an additional 90 minutes of extra play – a perfect solution if you need to fit in a few extra rounds of an online multiplayer game. The excellent audio quality is not to be sniffed at either, improved by 10mm drivers for crisp high-mid tones and rich bass notes.