13 Best Gaming Earbuds to Buy in 2022 [Review and Buying Guide]

The Razer Hammerhead true wireless earbuds are a must-have if you’re into gaming. They’re surprisingly affordable and fit securely and comfortably in most ears. Also, they yield impressive sound; you’ll get highly detailed audio and deep bass. But if you’re not satisfied with the audio balance, you can always tweak it using the EQ settings in the Razer Audio app. These gaming earbuds offer active noise cancellation as well, making it easy for you to be fully immersed while gaming.

The Razer Hammerhead true wireless earbuds allow you to switch to Gaming Mode, which reduces latency. With this mode enabled, you get 60ms latency, so there’s very little audio-visual lag, if at all. They also last up to 15 hours on a full charge and are IPX4-rated, making them resistant to sweat and small splashes of water.

If you’re looking for a pair of gaming earbuds that’s even more affordable than the Razer Hammerhead wireless buds, then consider getting the Roccat Syn Buds Core. For just under $30, you get accurate and crisp audio (thanks to the precision-tuned drivers), an in-line mic, and intuitive volume controls. In-game environmental sounds (like those in Animal Crossing: New Horizons) sound great when you have these earbuds on, thanks to the bass-heavy audio they offer. They also isolate noises around you quite well. However, they won’t completely tune ambient noises out, which is great if you’re gaming on the go.

The Roccat Syn Buds Core earbuds are incredibly comfortable as well, even if you’ve been playing for hours on end. Plus, they fit snugly in most ears and won’t fall out easily. These gaming buds are compatible with a wide range of devices, including the Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, and Android phones.

The Bose QuietComfort 20 are one of the best (and priciest) earbuds currently on the market, but did you know that they’re also great for gaming? Besides delivering an excellent sound profile, this pair of earbuds offers remarkable active noise cancellation, allowing you to easily immerse yourself in the game you’re playing. That said, with Aware Mode, you also have the option to tune back into the real world with a single press of a button. If you want to disable the active noise cancellation feature altogether (and save on battery life), you can simply switch to Passive Mode.

Bose’s QuietComfort 20 earbuds come with noise-isolating microphones, so you can easily strategize with your friends during a game. Their StayHere+ ear tips are incredibly soft and won’t fall out of your ears accidentally. Thus, you can wear these earbuds for hours without feeling any discomfort. They’re also incredibly durable and offer IPX4-rated protection.

Like the Bose QuietComfort 20 headphones, Shure’s SE215 PRO isn’t really marketed as gaming earbuds, but it performs quite well in gaming. In terms of audio output, these earbuds offer great full-range sound, making even the most bustling soundscapes from games like Battlefield 3 sound clear and crisp. They also isolate sound effectively. Plus, they’re incredibly comfortable, so you won’t have any issue playing endless hours of video games with these on.

The Shure SE215 PRO features detachable cables, which makes them all the more portable. This also makes it easy to have the cables repaired or replaced should they break. One thing that is missing from the Shure SE215 PRO earbuds, though, is a microphone, so you might not want to use them for multiplayer games. But for just under $100, these earbuds are already a steal considering their great audio quality and durability.

The 1MORE Triple Driver in-ear earphones are another great choice if you’re looking for gaming earbuds that are under $100 and deliver superb sound. You get balanced audio and rich bass that’s not overwhelming — perfect for gaming buffs. The package comes with nine different sets of ear tips; six of them are silicone, and the other three are foam. Besides ensuring that this pair of earbuds will fit all types of ears, they also isolate noise quite well — although not as well as gaming headsets. If you want to fully immerse yourself in a game with the 1MORE Triple Driver earbuds on, opt for quieter environments rather than bustling crowds.

These gaming earbuds also come with an in-line microphone that eliminates background static effectively, so they’re great for playing multiplayer games. They’re also durable, thanks to the braided cable and aluminum earbud exterior.

Creating comfortable designs has always been HyperX’s expertise, and that still shows in their Cloud gaming earbuds. They’re designed for all-day use, so you can go on endless gaming sessions without your ears feeling any fatigue. And since they’re wired, battery life issues aren’t present. These earbuds come pre-packed with multiple ear tips, so they’ll fit no matter the size of your ears. While they don’t offer noise isolation, you still get balanced and immersive audio that doesn’t skimp on bass.

The HyperX Cloud gaming earbuds also have an in-line mic that effectively detects and isolates your voice even in the loudest gaming environments. They also feature tangle-free cables and are compatible with any device that has a 3.5mm jack, like the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and most mobile phones.

Also read: HyperX Cloud 2 Review: Is It Still the Best Gaming Headset?

The Linsoul KZ ZS10 Pro earphones are one of the most durable on the market, and they also happen to perform quite well in gaming. They’re made with a combination of resin and stainless steel, so not only are they designed to last long, but they also look elegant. If you want to replace or upgrade the cables, you can easily do so since they’re fully detachable. Plus, they’re budget-friendly!

You can expect the Linsoul KZ ZS10 Pro earphones to sound awesome as well. They deliver dynamic and detailed audio, which is great for capturing a wide range of video game soundscapes. That said, they don’t produce bass as well as the Razer Hammerhead gaming buds or the Roccat Syn Buds Core. They do isolate noise effectively, though, which is always a plus when you’re gaming.

If you want gaming earbuds that tout powerful active noise cancellation, make the Jabra Elite 85t wireless earbuds part of your bucket list. But while they do a tremendous job of tuning out the world around you completely, they also let you easily tune back in by enabling HearThrough. You also get detailed and dynamic sound quality with these earbuds. That way, you can fully immerse yourself in any game you’re playing. Plus, by downloading the free Sound+ app, you can customize the EQ and access other personalization features.

The Jabra Elite 85t wireless earbuds can be paired with two gadgets at once. However, if you want your gaming experience to have no audio-visual lag at all, we suggest connecting them to only one device at a time. You also get a total of six mics, IPX4-rated protection, and a 5.5-hour battery life (7.5 if you turn ANC off).

Also read: Jabra Elite 85t Review: Is it the Best True Wireless ANC Earbuds?   

If you already have other Apple products and you’re looking for gaming earbuds, why not give the Apple AirPods Pro a go? They aren’t made specifically for gaming, but they’re still one of the best earbuds you can use for playing video games on mobile, on the Nintendo Switch, or on the Steam Deck. They pair quickly with these gaming devices, too. The sound profile of the AirPods Pro is expectedly strong even in gaming, and the active noise cancellation is effective as well. Like the Jabra Elite 85t buds, the AirPods Pro allows you to hear what’s going on around you by switching to Transparency mode.

On top of that, the AirPods Pro offers low latency technology, so the game visuals and audio will always be in sync. On the downside, their battery life isn’t the best. You’ll only get to use these buds for 4.5 hours after each charging cycle. But with a fully-charged case, you’ll get around 24 hours of battery life, which is enough for several gaming sessions.

The EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid wireless earphones have everything you need in a pair of gaming earbuds. They produce high-end sound quality with directional audio as well as clear mid-tones and deep, rich bass. You also get noise isolation for a more realistic gaming experience. Although they’re primarily Bluetooth gaming earbuds, they also come pre-packed with a USB-C dongle for when you’re playing on your Switch or PS5 and another cable for the PS4. There’s also a built-in mic that does a good job of reducing ambient noises. However, you can only use the mic when you’re connected via Bluetooth.

The battery life of the GTW 270 Hybrid earbuds is average, lasting around five hours. With the case, though, you’ll get 20 hours at most. As for the sweat and water resistance rating, the gaming earbuds are rated IPX5.

The Turtle Beach Battle Buds are a great option if you’re looking for gaming earbuds that have the basics and are also low-cost. They’re compatible with smartphones as well as the Nintendo Switch. The audio quality is decent for the price point, but it isn’t the best, especially in terms of producing bass. Plus, there tends to be some sound leakage if you’re gaming at max (or almost max) volume. However, considering that they’re only around $30, the sound profile is good enough, especially if you’re gaming on the go.

Though they don’t have noise cancellation, the Turtle Beach Battle Buds do come with multiple ear tips that help reduce ambient noise while you’re gaming. Plus, they’ll fit snugly in your ears as well. These gaming earbuds also come with a detachable high-sensitivity mic that extends to your mouth, helping your voice sound clearer during voice chats with your teammates.

Here’s another pair of Razer gaming earbuds for you. But this time, it’s the Hammerhead Duo wired earbuds, suitably named for their dual-driver technology. With this feature, you get one driver that solely produces the bass and another one that produces mid and high tones. As a result, you get audio that’s layered and rich, although sounds in the higher-end frequencies do tend to be a bit too sharp. The gaming earbuds come with three sets of silicone tip replacements to fit your ears perfectly. Besides being soft and comfortable, these ear tips also provide passive noise isolation for more immersive gaming.

The Razer Hammerhead Duo wired earbuds also have easy-to-use controls for adjusting the volume, playing and pausing media, and taking calls. There’s a built-in mic as well that captures your voice quality accurately during calls. Plus, these earbuds are built to last, thanks to their aluminum frame and braided cables.

The Logitech G333 gaming earbuds are another great choice if you’re on a tight budget. They offer superior comfort due to their flexible ear tips, and they are packed with six extra tips that fit all types of ears. As such, you can go on endless hours of gaming with these earbuds on. With their solid aluminum exterior, they’re also one of the most durable earpieces you can find on the market.

In terms of sound quality, the Logitech G333 gaming earbuds won’t leave you disappointed as well. They do a particularly good job of delivering bass-heavy audio, which makes playing action-packed games all the more realistic and immersive. On top of that, they come with a USB-C adapter, so you can use it even on devices that don’t have audio jacks anymore. They also have an in-line mic that picks up your voice pretty decently. However, it might struggle to isolate your voice if you’re in a noisy environment, so it’s best to only use these gaming buds in relatively quiet places.

How to Choose the Perfect Gaming Earbuds for You