Key Points
- The EPOS GTW 270 earbuds are one of the best sets you can get on the market today for gaming or music listening.
- The ROCCAT Syn Buds are great for a budget choice and feature compatibility with the Nintendo Switch.
- The Audeze Euclids are intended more for listening where superior audio quality is needed.
- The Razer Hammerhead is the only pair featured which is also compatible with the PS5 in addition to Windows PCs.
- Good gaming earbuds feature lower latency operational modes, to help you stay in the game while getting great sound.
What are the best gaming earbuds around? Earbuds have a lot of distinct advantages over things like a pair of headphones. There’s less overall strain on your head and neck when wearing them. You don’t have to contend with cumbersome wires and other annoyances.
Today’s guide is covering nine of the best gaming earbuds you can find. These are built for low latency, premium sound quality, and in some instances can be rather affordable.
If you’re sick and tired of cumbersome headsets weighing you down while indulging in some gaming, you’re in the right place.
The nine earbuds selected are weighted based on price, sound quality, and overall ease of use. If you’ve been looking for a new solution to your headphone woes, then let’s dive in and take a closer look at some earbuds.
Wireless Earbuds: Overview
Wireless earbuds have come a long way since their initial introduction. Thanks to advances in Bluetooth technology, users are able to forego the hassle of cables while also enjoying great sound. This does come with trade-offs, especially with gaming consoles.
The best overall selection from the featured earbuds is the EPOS GTW 270. They offer up superlative battery life, great ergonomics, and solid sound quality.
Windows, Android, iOS, and the Nintendo Switch are all fairly flexible with earbuds, regardless of choice. The latest Xbox and PlayStation need purpose-built devices, however.
This can sometimes lead to a sharper increase in cost, as you can see when comparing some like the ROCCAT Syn Buds to the Razer Hammerhead.
History Computer’s Top Picks for the Best Gaming Earbuds
$111.40Buy Now on Amazon- 20 hours of audio playback
- USB-C dongle or BlueTooth connection
- Closed ear design for crystal clear audio
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12/03/2023 03:55 am GMT
$1,299.00Buy Now on Amazon- 18 mm drivers
- Bluetooth and wired cables for listening options
- 3 different style ear tips
- MMCX connectors
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12/02/2023 01:56 pm GMT
$44.99Buy Now on Amazon- 27 hours of battery life
- Low latency mode tailored for gaming
- Comfortable fit and active noise reduction
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12/03/2023 03:55 am GMT
$149.95Buy Now on Amazon- Simulated surround sound
- Low-latency wireless connection
- Feature JBL Fast Pair technology
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12/02/2023 02:00 pm GMT
$34.79Buy Now on Amazon- 5-hour battery life and an additional 15 hours in the charging case
- Dual-microphones for communication
- Compatible with the Nintendo Switch
- Bluetooth 5.1
- Mobile gamers can adjust and create EQs for their own unique sound
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12/03/2023 03:05 pm GMT
$84.99Buy Now on Amazon- 30 hours of audio playback
- Compatible with PS5
- RGB Chroma included
- Deliver ultra-fast 2.4 GHz wireless connection
- Bluetooth 5.2
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12/02/2023 02:01 pm GMT
$28.49Buy Now on Amazon- Control sound settings through the Turtle Beach app
- 15 hours of battery life on a single charge
- Quick charging case provides up to five hours of battery life in fifteen minutes
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12/03/2023 03:55 am GMT
$29.99Buy Now on Amazon- Optimized for iOS
- Seven hours of battery life on a single charge
- Features a pair of drivers in the earbuds and a dynamic driver in the neckband
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12/03/2023 04:09 am GMT
$129.99Buy Now on Amazon- 32.5 hours of playback time
- Special low-latency H+ mode
- Great noise cancellation
- Poison Fang Design
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12/02/2023 02:06 pm GMT
Best Overall Gaming Earbuds: EPOS GTW 270
- 20 hours of audio playback
- USB-C dongle or BlueTooth connection
- Closed ear design for crystal clear audio
The EPOS GTW 270 is a great hybrid pair of earbuds, and the best overall choice. What makes these special, and a top choice for best gaming earbuds, is that they can function as a Bluetooth or USB Type-C wireless listening source. If the latency is a little too high, you can readily plug them in and get a far faster connection.
Beyond this novel functionality, you’re getting great stereo audio with quite a bit of playback time. EPOS estimates you’ll get around 20 hours out of a single charge, which is huge for a pair of wireless earbuds. The case is also water resistant, rated to IPX 5.
If you’re needing to communicate with your pals, there are also a pair of microphones, one on each earbud. This should help deliver crystal clear sound so you can communicate when the enemy team is making a push.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| USB-C or Bluetooth connection. | Battery life could be higher. |
| Excellent water resistance for workout sessions. | Not all gaming setups have USB Type-C inputs. |
Best Premium Choice: Audeze Euclid
- 18 mm drivers
- Bluetooth and wired cables for listening options
- 3 different style ear tips
- MMCX connectors
Sometimes you just have to splash out a little bit and treat yourself. The Audeze Euclid are some of the best gaming earbuds, let alone music earbuds, you can purchase today. These super expensive earbuds come from one of the most respected names in pro audio.
Audeze has made its name creating high-quality portable listening interfaces for recording studios, now you can bring that quality home to your gaming setup. With a retail price of $1,299, you would hope these bring quite a bit of power to the fore.
The Euclids sound great, thanks in part to their larger-than-average planar drivers. You get a balanced sound with strong bass and highs when using these as part of your gaming rig. These obviously aren’t the best choice for everyone, but work quite well if you can afford the absolute best.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Offer great sound quality. | They’re prohibitively expensive. |
| Feature a sleek, modern design. | They’re overkill for most gaming needs. |
Best Low-Cost Choice: Tronsmart Onyx Ace Pro
- 27 hours of battery life
- Low latency mode tailored for gaming
- Comfortable fit and active noise reduction
The Tronsmart Onyx Ace Pro is quite an affordable selection for the best gaming earbuds around. These aren’t explicitly designed for gaming but come packaged with a special low-latency mode. The price is hard to beat, with a suggested retail price of $44.99.
The sound quality of the Onyx Ace Pros is generally quite good. Tronsmart has packaged smaller drivers, but they are outputting great bass and highs. When taken with the adaptive Qualcomm aptX codec, you get crystal-clear audio at a great price.
If you’re on a budget, these are a great choice. Even if you aren’t on a budget, these are great earbuds for what you’re paying.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| They’re affordable. | There are no adjustable earbud tips. |
| Have a great battery life. | Sound quality is average. |
Best Choice for Surround Sound: JBL Quantum TWS
- Simulated surround sound
- Low-latency wireless connection
- Feature JBL Fast Pair technology
JBL is no stranger to consumer audio, and its Quantum TWS is one of the best sets of gaming earbuds you can buy. These normally retail for $149.99, but you can find them half off if you’ve got a keen eye for sales.
What makes the Quantum TWS such an attractive option is the simulated spatial audio. It isn’t true surround sound, but there is a degree of depth you won’t find in other earbuds here.
They are also low latency by default, so you don’t have to worry about the action on the screen being out of sync with the audio. These are generally on the upper end of quality for gaming earbuds, and if you can find a sale they are a great choice.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Offer simulated surround sound. | They’re not true surround sound. |
| There’s a choice of wireless connection preferences. | MSRP is a bit high considering the lack of PlayStation or Xbox compatibility. |
Best Choice for Nintendo Switch: ROCCAT Syn Buds Air
- 5-hour battery life and an additional 15 hours in the charging case
- Dual-microphones for communication
- Compatible with the Nintendo Switch
- Bluetooth 5.1
- Mobile gamers can adjust and create EQs for their own unique sound
The Syn Buds Air from ROCCAT is a budget choice that doesn’t lack sound. However, you’re going to face some compatibility issues as the only supported platforms are PC, iOS, Android, and the Nintendo Switch. If you can put all that aside, you’ve got a set of the best gaming earbuds.
The Syn Buds Air feature 20 hours of battery life, a USB-C charging port, and touch controls for handling your audio needs. While these might not compatible with the Sony PlayStation 5, they will certainly be up to the task of any PC gaming.
They are on the larger side, however, so you might want to shop around if you’ve got smaller ears.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| They’re compatible with the Nintendo Switch. | Not optimized for other gaming consoles. |
| They have a great price. | The sound quality could be better. |
Best Choice for PlayStation: Razer Hammerhead
- 30 hours of audio playback
- Compatible with PS5
- RGB Chroma included
- Deliver ultra-fast 2.4 GHz wireless connection
- Bluetooth 5.2
Razer isn’t a new name to those who’ve been gaming for a while. The Hammerhead is among the best gaming earbuds, and for very good reason. You get thirty hours of battery life on a single charge along with active noise cancellation.
If you’re wanting to trick out your rig to color code, you might be in luck. The Hammerheads feature full RGB lighting. They’re also compatible with the Sony PlayStation 5, which is a great addition. You can comfortably use these with a Windows PC as well, thanks to the USB-C dongle.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| They’re compatible with the PlayStation 5. | They’re expensive when not on sale. |
| They have RGB lighting. | They’re not THX-certified like the Hammerhead Pros. |
Best Choice for Fast Charging: Turtle Beach Scout Air
- Control sound settings through the Turtle Beach app
- 15 hours of battery life on a single charge
- Quick charging case provides up to five hours of battery life in fifteen minutes
Turtle Beach has made its name on creating great gaming peripherals at an affordable price. The Scout Air hew closely to this line of thinking, which makes them one of the best gaming earbuds you can buy. These are firmly in a more budget pricing, retailing for around $49.99 usually.
The charging case comes with a battery indicator, and you’ve got waterproofing up to IPX 4. There aren’t many gaming earbuds that double as the soundtrack to your next workout. The sound quality could be a bit better, but for under $100, this is a great choice.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| They have the IPX 4 waterproof rating. | Sound quality is average. |
| The case offers excellent fast charging. | They have an average battery life. |
Best Choice for Comfort: 1MORE Triple Driver BT
- Optimized for iOS
- Seven hours of battery life on a single charge
- Features a pair of drivers in the earbuds and a dynamic driver in the neckband
The Triple Driver from 1MORE aren’t explicitly designed with gaming in mind. However, that hasn’t ever stopped them from being one of the best gaming earbuds you can buy. The Triple Driver come with superb audio quality, thanks in part to the high-quality chip that controls the Bluetooth playback codecs.
This really excels on iOS, which the Triple Driver was designed for. However, they sound fantastic with Windows games, as well. You’ll get some deep and rich bass while enjoying those airy highs.
They aren’t as compact as other choices, since you do have a neckband to contend with. Despite this, they are extremely comfortable when listening for hours on end.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| They’re great for iOS devices. | They have a poor battery life. |
| The additional driver in the neckband gives a great audio response. | They’re not as compact as earbuds with a carrying case. |
Best Choice for Battery Life: HECATE GX07 by Edifier
- 32.5 hours of playback time
- Special low-latency H+ mode
- Great noise cancellation
- Poison Fang Design
Last but not least on this list are the HECATE GX07 by Edifier, which are one of the best gaming earbuds on the market today. The design evokes a sci-fi feel, thanks to the sleek carrying case and unorthodox earbud design.
You’ve got full RGB on the earbuds, as well, so you can tweak the colors to your heart’s desire. These are a low-latency set of earbuds, with less than 60ms of latency measured when playing games. That might seem high, but is more than usable for gaming.
You get 32 and a half hours of playback on a single charge, making these the longest-lived out of all the earbuds on this list. The only real drawback is the price, with the HECATE GX07 retailing for $149.99 usually.
This is on the upper end of the scale, at least when not accounting for the Audeze Euclid. Still, if you want the best, these might very well be it.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| They have a sleek, modern design. | There’s no PS5 or Xbox compatibility. |
| Offer superb battery life. | They’re expensive. |
Closing Thoughts
There is a plethora of gaming earbuds out there. You won’t go wrong with any of these choices. Out of the nine selected for your perusal, there should be at least one pair of earbuds that fits your budget and your needs.
Summary Table
| Earbud | Description |
|---|---|
| Audeze Euclid | High-quality, expensive earbuds with strong bass and highs. Retail price: $1,299. |
| Tronsmart Onyx Ace Pro | Affordable earbuds with a special low-latency mode. Retail price: $44.99. |
| JBL Quantum TWS | Earbuds with simulated spatial audio and low latency. Retail price: $149.99. |
| EPOS GTW 270 | Hybrid earbuds that can function as a BlueTooth or wireless listening source. Estimated 20 hours of playback time. |
| ROCCAT Syn Buds Air | Budget earbuds with 20 hours of battery life. Compatible with PC, iOS, Android, and the Nintendo Switch. |
| Razer Hammerhead | Earbuds with 30 hours of battery life and active noise cancellation. Features full RGB lighting. |
| Turtle Beach Scout Air | Affordable earbuds with a battery indicator and waterproofing up to IPX 4. Retail price: $49.99. |
| 1MORE Triple Driver BT | Earbuds with superb audio quality, designed for iOS but also great for Windows games. |
| HECATE GX07 by Edifier | Sci-fi design earbuds with full RGB and low latency. 32.5 hours of playback on a single charge. Retail price: $149.99. |
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