Ditch Your Old Gaming Cans for a Pair of Lightweight Earbuds

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Over-ear gaming headphones are all about complete immersion into onscreen action. They pack a combination of large audio drivers, fancy audio processing tech, and fluffy earpads that will detach you from reality. But since these products are too bulky for on-the-go use, they're much better suited for desktop, laptop, or console gaming at home.

With mobile games becoming more elaborate by the day and cloud gaming services bringing blockbuster titles to smartphones and tablets, switching to gaming earbuds is definitely the move. Since their take-anywhere form factor is impossible to overlook, I set out on a testing journey to determine today's best gaming earbuds. I evaluated products from tech giants like Apple and Samsung, as well as leading gaming brands like JBL, Logitech, and Turtle Beach, among others.

The Best Earbuds for Gaming

• Best Overall: Sony Inzone Buds

• Runner Up: JBL Quantum TWS

• Best Budget Wireless: Soundcore VR P10

• Best Wired: Logitech G333

• Best for Apple Hardware: AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

What to Consider

Wired vs. Wireless

Deciding whether you want a wired or a wireless pair is the most important decision you need to make before buying a set of gaming earbuds. Each form factor has advantages and shortcomings that you should know about.

True wireless earbuds are undeniably the most convenient for daily use, offering impeccable comfort and various designs for all budgets. But along with gameplay-interrupting trips to their charging case, top-tier Bluetooth buds will inevitably cost more than wired earphones.

Wired earbuds will ensure you never have to worry about charging and deliver sound that perfectly syncs with gameplay. However, these standard audio connector-toting products will probably require a dongle (USB-C or Lightning) to connect to most phones and tablets. Plus, wire clutter can get annoying — especially while you're gaming.

Wireless Connectivity

The latest true wireless gaming earbuds to hit the shelves from leading brands like Sony, JBL, and Razer have bundled USB connectivity dongles, which allow them to take advantage of the same high-performance wireless connection as top-tier over-ear headsets. If you are spending big on a set of gaming earbuds, look for products with a bundled USB-C connectivity dongle. Bluetooth 5.0 (or higher) is another must for any set of wireless earbuds, including the one you plan to game with.

Measured in milliseconds, latency is a vital connectivity feature to consider, and the lower the number, the better. High latency might result in imperfect sync between the sound and the onscreen action, which might be the difference between winning or losing a competitive round. For high-performance gameplay, I highly recommend you look for earbuds that can deliver Bluetooth latency below 60 ms. Those that come with a USB dongle will always treat you or the gift recipient to a low-latency link.

Other Features

Your next wireless gaming earbuds should also offer a stellar experience during everyday use. I suggest you evaluate features like battery life, comfort, and durability. The latter typically carries an official rating for water resistance.

Companion apps for customizing sound and controls are also preferable for true wireless earbuds. Some of the products I considered have an app-activated gaming mode, which will further reduce their latency, too.

How They Were Tested

I put the earbuds on this list to the test using multiple devices — from an Xbox Series S and PlayStation 5 to a gaming laptop, all the way to multiple Apple and Android devices. Before scrutinizing their audio quality and (where available) noise cancellation, I made sure every wireless product on this list delivered a solid connection for a flawless sync between the sound and the onscreen action.

Sound-wise, I scrutinized the earbuds’ ability to deliver immersive and accurate in-game audio, ranging from action-packed scenes with loud noises to quieter scenes where reproducing fine details was crucial. I also paid close attention to the noise-canceling capabilities of earbuds that offered such functionality.

When I didn’t game with the earphones on this list, I streamed my go-to playlists to evaluate their ability to deliver bass, treble, and mid-range across a plethora of genres – from classical to podcasts. Of course, I also examined their microphones’ quality during online gaming sessions with friends and the occasional video call.

Find the perfect pair of earbuds for conquering your favorite games or to give someone you care about a thoughtful gift among these extensively vetted picks.

INZONE Buds Wireless Earphones

Sony’s INZONE Buds are the best for gaming, offering an unbeatable mixture of sleek design, superb ergonomics, best-in-class sound and noise cancellation, and best-in-class battery life. Sporting a $200 price tag, the true wireless earbuds are not cheap but worth every penny for their performance, comfort, and brand cachet. The earbuds are available in an all-black finish or white with contrasting black accents, with the latter being a perfect match for the PlayStation 5 gaming console.

Powered by the same audio drivers as the excellent Sony-WF1000XM5 wireless earbuds, the INZONE Buds treated me to a fantastic sonic experience during my testing. Their immersive spatial sound made my go-to games more engaging and lifelike. The noise cancellation was just as impressive, allowing me to use the buds during work sessions instead of just while gaming.

The INZONE Buds’ sound and features are customizable via a PC software suite. The latter includes the option to tailor the sound to your hearing. Setting up the earbuds’ 360 Spatial Sound requires installing a phone app, but the final result is worth the extra effort.

Quantum TWS Wireless Gaming Earbuds

The Quantum TWS wireless earbuds by JBL are a solid alternative to our top pick from Sony, bringing a stem design, high-quality sound, reliable noise cancellation, and big-name credentials at a considerably lower price point. But you should know that Sony’s earbuds have a significant edge in sound quality, noise cancellation, and battery life over the JBL Quantum TWS.

JBL’s earbuds also have dual-source connectivity, allowing them to pair simultaneously with a gaming rig and a phone. I successfully relied on the feature to take phone calls without disrupting my PlayStation 5 gameplay. JBL’s earbuds also have an intuitive smartphone app for customizing their sound, as well as a desktop suite dubbed Quantum Engine for customizing them and enabling immersive surround sound.

Consider the JBL Quantum TWS Air earbuds if noise cancellation is not a priority for you. The compact earphones offer good sound and similar connectivity for less.

VR P10 Wireless Gaming Earbuds

The Soundcore VR P10 true wireless earbuds are hands down the best for experiencing high-performance sound without breaking the bank. Priced well below $100 before additional discounts, the earbuds have a bundled connectivity dongle, which brings a wireless link with incredibly low latency. To top things off, the VR P10 offers price-defying sound via 11-millimeter onboard audio drivers.

Impressively, the tiny connectivity dongle also features a USB-C connector for passthrough charging. The nifty add-on accessory makes the buds super easy to pair with a PC, a gaming console, and even a VR headset like the Meta Quest 2.

When you don’t need them for gaming, the Soundcore VR P10 earbuds are also great for everyday use with a smartphone. Between their elegant design, comfy fit, powerful sound, and support for dual-device connectivity over Bluetooth and the included USB-C dongle, I constantly felt like I was interacting with a more expensive product during my testing.

G333 Gaming Earphones

The sub-$50 Logitech G333 wired earbuds are our favorite for gaming. They have a sleek design with colorful aluminum housings and an inline remote control with a quality microphone. Thanks to a duo of audio drivers packed into each bud, the G333's sonic capabilities defy their price point.

Impressively, the wired buds come bundled with a USB-C adapter for seamless compatibility with phones and tablets without an audio jack. The additional connector helped me connect them to Android phones and an iPad Pro during my testing.

You can order the earbuds in black, white, or purple. Each color option has a matching cable.

S-Play Wireless Earbuds

For $70 before any deals and discounts, the Soul S-Play true wireless earbuds are another solid option for mobile gamers shopping on a tight budget. The stem earphones offer a cool and durable design, enjoyable sound with enhanced bass to make action-packed games more immersive, and reliable battery life with support for wireless charging.

An entertainment mode reduces the latency of the Soul S-Play to only 40 ms, making the earbuds great for gaming and video streaming. The feature is easy to activate by long-pressing the right earphone’s touch panel. That said, I wish the S-Play had a companion app for customizing the sound.

The Soul S-Play earbuds are available in black, blue, purple, and white. Each option has a case with matching color accents and a removable carabiner. I relied on the latter to keep the buds within reach inside my laptop bag during my testing.

AirPods Pro (2nd Generation)

If you like gaming on an iPhone, an iPad, or a Mac, you should look no further than Apple’s latest AirPods Pro as your next earbuds. Fresh off a recent update that brought a USB-C-equipped case and a higher rating for water resistance, the noise-canceling earphones will maintain a rock-solid connection with your Apple hardware and allow you to focus on your gameplay.

I spent many hours gaming on an iPhone 15 Pro, an iPad Pro, and a MacBook Pro with the range-topping AirPods, and the sonic experience was top-notch. Thanks to the earbuds’ Apple H2 chip, the sync between the earphones and the onscreen action was always stellar.

The range-topping Apple earphones also deliver top-tier sound with support for immersive spatial audio, exceptional noise cancellation that can seamlessly adapt to your surroundings, impeccable comfort, convenient controls, and a high-tech storage case that’s compatible with Apple’s Find My service and MagSafe wireless charging.

Galaxy Buds 2 Pro Wireless Earbuds

Samsung’s excellent Android smartphones are also great for gaming, and the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro— the tech giant’s range-topping wireless earbuds — are unsurprisingly great for such a task. Thanks to a gaming mode that’s available in the Galaxy Wearable app, the earphones can deliver a sonic experience with reduced latency.

Enabling gaming mode on the Buds 2 Pro results in a more reliable sync between the sound and the onscreen action. I successfully relied on the functionality during cloud-based and local gameplay on a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

In a manner befitting their price tag, the Galaxy Buds 2 Pro earphones are also capable of producing incredible sound and stellar noise cancellation. Available in several colors, the buds are also elegant, durable, and comfy. Their battery life with noise cancellation could be better. Disabling the functionality significantly increases the battery endurance.

More: Our Review of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 2 Pro

Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed Wireless Gaming Earbuds

The Razer Hammerhead HyperSpeed true wireless earbuds, like many of the brand’s excellent gaming keyboards and mice, have customizable Chroma RGB lighting. The standout feature will allow you to personalize the buds’ by adjusting their lighting color and patterns via their companion app to match your mood or gaming style. The unique functionality is fun, but you should be mindful that it impacts the earbuds’ battery life.

In a manner befitting their hefty price tag, the Hammerhead HyperSpeed earphones are among today’s best for mobile gaming, offering immersive low-latency sound and dependable noise cancellation, whose intensity is adjustable via a companion app. Of course, the earbuds can simultaneously connect to a phone and a gaming device. A do-not-disturb mode can reduce gameplay distractions by turning off phone calls. I relied on the feature to focus on my games during a couple of late weekend afternoons.

The USB-C dongle makes the Razer earbuds universally compatible with gaming hardware. Product versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox with matching colors are also available.

Battle Buds Wired Earphones

The affordable Turtle Beach Battle Buds set themselves apart by rocking a detachable boom microphone with high sensitivity — an essential tool for quality in-game communications and making calls. Powered by large audio drivers, the Battle Buds deliver a high-quality sound with enhanced bass and treble, ideal for gaming.

I relied on the Battle Buds' microphone during online gaming sessions, and it exceeded my expectations. However, it took me a while to get used to having the bit attached to the left earphone. Thankfully, it's easily removable when you don't need it.

Available in black with silver or white with teal, the wired earbuds also have a distinctive design, top-tier ergonomics, and a convenient inline remote control.

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