The 4 Best Earbuds For Gaming - Fall 2020
Reviews

The best gaming earbuds with a wireless connection that we've tested so far are the Razer Hammerhead. These truly wireless earbuds don't enter the ear canal as deeply as most in-ears, which some people may find more comfortable. They have a unique 'Gaming Mode' which allows for outstandingly low latency when connected to mobile devices, making them a great choice for competitive gaming on your phone.

Their sound profile is quite bass-heavy and uneven, though this helps to bring out explosions and gunshots in your game. If you also use your headphones for listening to music, they'll be best suited for bass-forward genres like EDM or hip-hop, as they're likely too boomy and muddy for genres like rock or country. On the bright side, their dedicated companion app gives you access to a few EQ presets, so you can boost their treble or bass to better suit your taste.

Unfortunately, their microphone is rather disappointing, especially for headphones designed for gaming. Your voice sounds muffled, lacking in detail, and it can be difficult to hear in even moderately loud environments. Their 3.7-hour battery life is also sub-par for truly wireless earbuds, though you can fully charge them in their case within an hour. Overall, these are a unique pair of truly wireless headphones geared towards gamers that offer outstanding low latency when paired to a mobile device.

The best wired gaming earbuds with a boom mic that we've tested to date are the Turtle Beach Battle Buds. These in-ears occupy an unusual place in the headphone market, combining the compact footprint of a pair of earbuds with a detachable boom microphone. They have a shallow in-ear fit that doesn't cause too much fatigue as well as a reasonably easy-to-use, comprehensive control scheme on their in-line remote.

They have a very bass-heavy sound profile that should bring out the thump and rumble of sound effects in more action-heavy titles, though this may come at the expense of slightly cluttered and muddy-sounding dialogue. Their small detachable boom microphone does a decent job of making your voice sound clear and easy to understand, even in noisy environments. Their analog audio connector yields full audio, and their microphone is compatible with PS4 and Xbox One consoles as well as PCs with an AUX port.

On the downside, these in-ears don't feel especially premium, with cheap-feeling plastic and rubber used in their construction. Also, their ear tips feel quite brittle and can start to hurt your ears during longer listening sessions. Still, if you're looking for the best gaming earbuds but don't want to deal with the bulky design of over-ears, these are a solid choice.

The best wired gaming earbuds with an in-line microphone that we've tested so far are the 1More Triple Driver. These well-built, lightweight in-ears are very comfortable, and they come with a choice of nine different earbud tips to help you find the best possible fit.

They have a decently well-balanced sound profile with a bit of extra kick in the high-bass, making them suitable for most music genres. They also have an in-line remote, which makes it easy to adjust the volume while gaming. Their microphone has a good recording quality, so it should transmit your voice clearly and accurately to your teammates.

On the downside, the microphone doesn't perform as well in loud, crowded environments, so your voice may get drowned out if you're using them on the go. They also only do a mediocre job blocking out background noise. However, these versatile headphones should still please most casual listeners and gamers.