Our personal audio experts used the PerfectRec decision engine to comb through our database of headphones and earbuds to find the best gaming earbuds available in 2024. Here are the top 10 picks.
Our criteria for the best gaming earbuds:
Gaming: We prioritized products that have minimal delay between the action on the screen and the sound, and also have a good microphone for voice chat. * Earbuds: We limited our search to earbuds and excluded headphones.
To consider others factors, try the PerfectRec decision engine to get your personalized Earbuds or Headphones recommendation
The "Nothing" Brand Ear (2) earbuds are a midrange priced, closed enclosure option with a stemmed form factor. They boast a very good overall sound quality, comfort, and build quality, which makes them suitable for listening to music, and they have features like active noise cancelling, making them excellent for air travel and portability. Their low latency mode is ideal for gaming and watching TV, and they're sweatproof and dustproof, appropriate for exercise. With a dynamic driver and support for AAC and LHDC codecs, they deliver high-fidelity audio. They're optimized for both Android and Apple devices and offer around 6.7 hours of battery life, extendable to 30 hours with the charging case, which also supports wireless charging. They come with an integrated microphone but do not feature virtual surround sound. Their app allows for equalizer settings and controls customization. If you want versatile, durable earbuds with active noise canceling and low latency, these could be a good option, unless you're specifically looking for features like virtual surround sound.
The Steelseries TUSQ earbuds are a budget-friendly wired option with a closed, stemless design that prioritizes gaming with a strong mic quality, boasting a boom mic that is both removable and replaceable. They're comfortable, have very good build quality and built-in controls, but are not optimal for calls, meetings, or exercise. They provide good sound quality, soundstage, and noise isolation, making them suitable for TV and video but not ideal for enjoying music or listening to books and podcasts. They're fairly portable, somewhat suitable for air travel, and have cable ear hooks for a more secure fit, but lack wireless capabilities, active noise cancelling, an app for equalization or control customization, and features like ear detection or options for optimizing for Android or Apple devices.
The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless earbuds are a solid choice if you're looking for versatile earbuds with lower midrange pricing. They have a stemmed form factor with a closed enclosure, providing good noise isolation. With excellent scores for gaming due to a low latency game mode and very good build quality, they are durable and great for dynamic sound. However, they are poor for calls and meetings, indicating that the microphone quality may not be ideal in noisy environments. They have an app with equalizer and control customization features, which is a plus for sound personalization. These earbuds also have a decent battery life, are sweatproof certified, support the AAC codec, and are suitable for use during exercise. They are not the best option for listening to music or consuming book/podcast content as they scored fair and poor in those areas, respectively. If active noise canceling is important for you, these earbuds come equipped with that feature as well.
The 1More Triple Driver earbuds are a lower midrange-priced option best suited for a high-quality music experience, with sound quality and soundstage rated as good. They excel in comfort and have very good build quality and built-in controls. They're wired with a non-detachable 1.28-meter cable and include dynamic and balanced armature drivers for detailed sound. However, they do not support wireless connectivity or active noise cancelling, and they're not optimized for sweat or dust resistance, making them less ideal for exercise and air travel. Their performance in calls and meetings is poor, and they may not be the best choice for gaming due to potential latency issues. They weigh 9 grams, come with an integrated microphone, and provide a variety of included secure fit accessories.
The Moondrop Chu is an earbud that is well-suited for listening to music with a very good overall sound quality and comes at a budget price. It has a closed enclosure with a wired connection and a dynamic driver, although it lacks wireless capabilities. These earbuds excel in call and meeting quality, as well as gaming, providing very good microphone quality and sound. They are not optimized for exercise due to their poor score in that regard and do not offer features like active noise cancelling, sweatproof or dustproof certification, which might be important for some users. Comfort is rated as good, but built-in controls score poorly, so if you prefer earbuds with easy access to controls, you may need to consider other options. Moondrop Chu is quite portable with a large earbud size, and they come with cable ear hooks for a more secure fit but do not support wireless charging. They might be a good fit for users who prioritize sound and microphone quality over wireless convenience and who are not using them in very active scenarios.
The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds offer a very good overall sound quality and noise isolation, making them suitable for enjoying music in various environments, including during air travel. They're also praised for build quality and have an integrated microphone of very good quality, which is useful for calls. They're compatible with AptX Adaptive, ensuring compatibility with high-quality audio streaming and lower latency. Notably, they excel in gaming and TV due to their low latency. The earbuds are sweatproof, so they can be used during exercise. They are not, however, dustproof, and they do not offer wireless charging. The battery life lasts for approximately 7 hours, with a case providing an additional 28 hours. The Sennheiser app provides equalizer and control customization, enhancing the user experience. Their midrange price point makes them an appealing option for those looking for a balance between quality and affordability.
The Antlion Kimura Duo earbuds are a midrange-priced, wired option with stemless, closed enclosures, offering very good overall sound quality and excellent comfort. They feature a boom microphone that provides very good mic quality but with built-in controls rated as poor. While they perform very well for gaming and music, they're not the best for calls and meetings or for use during exercise. The Kimura Duo does not support wireless use, active noise cancelling, or sweatproof features, but they have a detachable cable and a large earbud size, which might not be ideal for portability. They are designed with both balanced armature and dynamic drivers but lack optimization for Android or Apple devices.
The Soundcore P20i earbuds offer good overall sound quality, with a closed enclosure type and a stemmed form factor. They're wireless but do not support a wired connection. Comfort and mic quality are both good, while they are rated very good for build quality and built-in controls. If you prioritize battery life, the Soundcore P20i has a solid 9 hours of typical use, extending to 20 hours with the case. Plus, they have wireless charging capabilities. For exercise enthusiasts, they are sweatproof but have only a fair score for use during exercise. Active noise canceling is included, which enhances listening experiences in noisy environments. However, they are not the best choice for calls and meetings or gaming, where their performance is rated as poor. An integrated microphone is present for calls, and they feature app customization options, equalizer, and audio controls, being optimized for both Android and Apple devices. They are lightweight at 4.5 grams per earbud and come with a medium-sized carry case. Keep in mind, though, that they lack low latency features, which could affect gaming and TV/video syncing.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds offer excellent overall sound quality, with superb noise isolation which makes them perfect for air travel and use in noisy environments. They also have a high comfort score, ideal for extended listening periods. These earbuds are wireless, supporting AAC and AptX Adaptive codecs for better sound, and they are sweatproof, enhancing their suitability for exercise. However, calls and meetings might not be optimal due to the earbuds' fair mic quality. Designed for durability, they come with stability bands but the poor gaming score suggests they may not be the best choice for gamers due to possible latency issues. They provide an impressive 6.5 hours of battery life, with a case offering an additional 21 hours, though they lack wireless charging. The earbuds are optimized for both Android and Apple devices, and they come with an integrated app that allows equalizer and controls customization for a personalized experience.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro are a midrange priced, stemless earbud option that offer features such as active noise cancelling, wireless charging, and an integrated microphone, making them suitable for calls and meetings. They are optimized for Android, though they also work with Apple devices, and have an app that allows equalizer, controls customization, and audio controls. With very good overall sound quality, they're great for music listening, and their excellent portability and good comfort make them convenient for use during exercise or air travel. However, their microphone quality is only fair, which might be a consideration for frequent call users. These earbuds are sweatproof but not dustproof, and offer 4.8 hours of battery life with an additional 12 hours provided by the case. They're suitable for gaming and watching TV due to their low latency, but might not be the best option if microphone quality is a priority.