If you enjoy gaming on your phone, a traditional gaming headset is likely too bulky to take you everywhere. Luckily, as mobile gaming has risen in popularity, more earbuds and in-ears are designed with that in mind. Generally, you want a gaming headset with a good microphone, a comfortable fit, and a well-balanced sound profile so all explosions and dialogue sound how they should. Latency can also be very important, as many Bluetooth headphones introduce noticeable lag, which can be an issue when gaming online with others.
We've tested over 885 pairs of headphones, and below are our picks for the best gamer-centric earbuds. Unlike traditional over-ear gaming headsets, we haven't tested nearly as many earbuds suitable for gaming yet, but we'll update this list as we test more. You can also check our recommendations for the best gaming headsets, the best in-ear headphones, and the best earbuds with a mic.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
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Best Earbuds For Gaming
Wireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)WirelessTruly WirelessNoise CancellingYesRecording QualitySee all our test resultsSound SignatureBalancedThe SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds are the best gaming earbuds we've tested. These in-ears have a wireless USB-C dongle for a low-latency gaming experience on PCs, PlayStation, and Xbox. We tested the PlayStation variant, so if you need support for Xbox, make sure to pick up the corresponding version. The buds can connect simultaneously to one Bluetooth device and one device via their dongle. They also have an active noise cancelling (ANC) system that blocks a good amount of ambient sound, so you won't be disturbed by a bus going past your open window. With ANC enabled, their battery lasts for a respectable 8.25 hours of continuous playback, with an extra three charges in the case.
They're decently comfortable for most people and have a balanced sound out of the box. While a dip in the treble can make the earbuds sound uneven or closed off, their app has a graphic EQ and presets to help you fine-tune their sound. They also support Spatial Audio through the SteelSeries GG software and on PlayStation 5 (with the PlayStation variant). If you play multiplayer games, their mic offers passable overall performance, and you'll have no trouble being understood clearly. However, you'll likely be drowned out by background noise if you're on Discord in a chaotic environment like a shared living room.
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Best Mid-Range Gaming Earbuds
Wireless GamingWired GamingWirelessTruly WirelessNoise CancellingNoSee all our test resultsRecording QualityIf you only tend to game in short bursts and don't need a longer battery life, the EPOS GTW 270 Ηybrid Truly Wireless are some of the best wireless gaming earbuds we've tested. Unlike our top pick, they support multi-device pairing with two Bluetooth devices, while the SteelSeries require one connection to use their dongle. They also support the aptX-LL codec, which helps lower latency with compatible devices. Unfortunately, their continuous battery life is pretty meager, at just over three hours. That's quite a bit shorter than the eight hours offered by the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds.
These buds are very well-built and have a comfortable fit that's suitable for long gaming sessions. Their bass-rich sound profile can help bring out sound effects in action-packed games and can also be customized with a graphic EQ and presets in the headphones' companion app. They also support up to Dolby 7.1 virtual surround sound, which can help make your game audio more dimensional and immersive. Their mic renders your voice with plenty of clarity, but you won't want to use it in noisy environments, as loud sounds can easily overwhelm the mic system, making you unintelligible.
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Best Budget Gaming Earbuds
Wireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)WirelessNoNoise CancellingNoRecording QualitySee all our test resultsSound SignatureV-ShapedIf you'd like to keep costs down, it might be worth compromising on wireless support. The TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO are a great budget option, but unlike our previous picks, they're wired-only and don't have a mic. You also won't find any companion app or software to add more customization to your gameplay audio. Don't let that stop you, though! You can always EQ the earbuds if your connected device supports it. If you already use a standalone mic or don't need to talk with others, their V-shaped sound signature makes them a solid choice for gamers. Out of the box, these buds deliver extra thump and boom to help emphasize low-end sound effects like explosions. There's also a bit of added mid-range and treble to help dialogue and instruments stand out from the mix and retain their clarity.
These IEMs have a braided audio cable that can be detached and replaced if it becomes damaged. They're also lightweight, comfortable, and come with a variety of tip options to help you get the best fit possible. Fans of the original ZERO may also be interested in the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO: RED. They deliver a flatter bass and mid-range response, which some gamers might prefer. Whether you go with the original ZERO or the new RED is ultimately up to your listening preferences, though, as the two buds otherwise have a similar fit and feel.
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Best Wired Gaming Earbuds
Wireless Gaming (In Development)Wired Gaming (In Development)WirelessNoNoise CancellingNoRecording QualitySee all our test resultsSound SignatureWarmThe MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK are premium and versatile wired in-ear monitors (IEMs). Unlike many IEMs, they come with an in-line mic, and you can connect to them via both analog and USB-C ports. That makes them easy to use with a variety of devices, from smartphones to PCs and consoles. Their in-line controls also let you adjust your volume in the midst of gameplay, and the absence of a battery means you can marathon the latest release without worrying about recharging.
Their warm sound is well-balanced and controlled throughout the whole frequency range, so kick drums feel full and dialogue is clear. If you use them with an Android device, you can access a companion app that offers an EQ so you can customize the sound to your tastes. The microphone sounds alright, too, but it doesn't have added features such as an adjustable noise gate. The mic also only works when you're connected over USB-C, which means it won't work if you primarily use consoles. If you already have a standalone microphone or only play solo, consider the MOONDROP Blessing 3, a fantastic wired pair of IEMs with a slightly brighter treble response. They lack an in-line remote, mic, and USB-C connectivity, but you can always replace the analog cable with an aftermarket option that has a mic. Otherwise, both sets of IEMs isolate you from noise with similar effectiveness, but the DUSK offer more flexibility.
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Best Boom Mic Earbuds For Gaming
Wireless GamingWired GamingWirelessNoNoise CancellingNoSee all our test resultsRecording QualityIf you're looking for earbuds that ensure your friends can hear you clearly during online games and don't mind the added bulk of a boom mic, you'll want to check out the SteelSeries TUSQ. That boom mic is unusual for earbuds, and means the mic sits closer to your mouth than it would otherwise. This helps your voice sound clearer and more full-bodied than with the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Truly Wireless' mic. That said, the mic still struggles a bit to separate your voice from moderate ambient noise, so they're not the best for gaming in shared spaces. Still, if you mainly play in a quiet space and want a simple wired option with a strong boom mic, they're worth considering.
Their wired design lets you connect with PCs and consoles easily and keeps latency low, while their bass-heavy sound profile adds intense thump, punch, and boom to your audio. It brings out low-end sound effects like explosions, which can make gameplay more immersive, but voices and instruments sound muddy. Unfortunately, they don't have sound customization features, and they're better suited to controlled environments since they don't effectively block out much noise around you.
Notable Mentions
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ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova:
The ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova have a similar battery life to the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds and can connect to one device via their dongle and one over Bluetooth. That said, they don't have an Xbox-compatible variant, and their frequency response fluctuates a lot relative to their excited sound signature.
See our review -
Sony PULSE Explore Truly Wireless:
The Sony PULSE Explore Truly Wireless are wireless gaming earbuds with planar magnetic drivers. They're not as well-built as the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds and have a worse mic recording quality. However, they have slightly lower wireless dongle audio latency than the SteelSeries, though you likely won't notice the difference.
See our review - Samsung AKG Type-C: The Samsung AKG Type-C are wired headphones compatible with devices with a USΒ-C port, making them a solid choice for mobile gaming. They have low latency and a comfortable fit, but unlike the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO, they aren't compatible with Xbox or PlayStation consoles. See our review
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Sony INZONE Buds Truly Wireless:
The Sony INZONE Buds Truly Wireless rely solely on Bluetooth LE's LC3 codec. Although this newer codec enables low-latency connections without a dongle, it's not widely supported. Fortunately, the earbuds come with a compatible dongle to help mitigate compatibility issues. Unlike the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds, the Sony don't have a variant that works with Xbox consoles.
See our review
Recent Updates
May 26, 2026:
We removed references to the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed True Wireless and the Turtle Beach Battle Buds, which are getting hard to find. We also checked that our picks are still the best in their respective categories, but we haven't changed them.
Mar 02, 2026:
We've reviewed this text to help our readers understand the tradeoffs between the different earbuds listed, but haven't changed our picks.
Oct 31, 2025:
We've verified our picks are still valid and in stock and updated the text for clarity.
Jun 25, 2025:
We've replaced the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed True Wireless with the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds as our top pick.
Feb 26, 2025:
The MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK have been added as the best wired gaming earbuds, with the MOONDROP Blessing 3 allocated as an alternative.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best in-ear gaming headphones. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).
If you'd like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our in-ear and earbud headphone reviews, sorted by their wired gaming scores. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection, especially if you don't care about having a microphone or wireless features.