Best gaming earbuds 2024 – earphones for PC & console

The Best Gaming Earbuds in 2024 for all budgets

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Buying the best gaming earbuds of 2024 may sound a bit peculiar to some, however, with esports becoming larger by the day, earphones have managed to creep their way into the gamer-specific category. Whether it’s because over-ear gaming headsets are too warm, uncomfortable, or you’re just looking for something slightly more incognito, there is an earphone offering to suit all gaming needs. They definitely still fit within a more niche market, but that doesn’t mean that high quality isn’t out there. To throw a couple of suggestions out there already, we’d recommend either the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid or Razer Hammerhead buds.

We have a bunch of different options that range from the best gaming earphones with a mic, the most affordable option, the best all-around gaming earbuds, and the more premium, feature-packed alternatives. Wireless earphones are now very accessible and a great option for those that can afford a little bit more. We will delve a bit deeper into the benefits and possible drawbacks of gaming earbuds, while also reviewing each model – we aim to keep this page as up to date as possible, so we’re always on top of new releases.

Today’s best earbuds deals

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Best gaming earbuds 2024

Here we are folks. The good stuff, the big boys, the best gaming earbuds in 2024. We’ve put these diminutive lads both in order from best to least-best, and separates the choices out to more specific use cases, because we’re just that nice.

EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Wireless

EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Wireless

Drivers

6mm

Water resistance

IPX 5

Noise Cancelling

No – Noise Reducing Closed Design

How We Review

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Pros

• Excellent build quality
• Bass-rich
• Support dolby 7.1 virtual surround

Cons

• Poor mic for gaming

The EPOS GTW 270’s are an excellent wireless earbud for a wide variety of different scenarios. While they may not compete with the likes of gaming headsets and in-ear monitors, they offer a decent sound quality and perform reasonably well for gaming. These are very well-designed earphones, with a comfortable fit and durable construction. The sound is decent for gaming, however, the mic isn’t particularly great. These are quite versatile and feel stable enough to enjoy at the gym or while playing sport, with the shape keeping them in your ears.

These feature a low latency connection for gaming with the included USB-C dongle. These barely leak and will block out a decent amount of external noise, making these a very good option for anyone looking to pick up a pair of earbuds for gaming.

Razer Hammerhead True Wireless

Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds

Headphone Drivers

Custom tuned 13 mm

Headphone Frequency Response

20 Hz – 20 KHz

Extras

Inbuilt mic, charging case, wrist strap, touchpad controls

Noise Cancelling

Yes (but low effectiveness)

How We Review

Hands-on Review

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Pros

• Build Quality
• Functionality
• Cost

Cons

• Battery Life
• Noise isolation
• Microphone

Razer are a well-known gaming peripherals brand: producing keyboards, mice, and full-size on-ear headsets, among other things (i.e. thin gaming laptops). The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds mark their first foray into the wireless earphone space.

As with all things Razer, these earbuds look great, as does the mini carry and charging case which can store up to three additional charges for the earbuds. They are one-size-fits-all, which may put some people off with particularly small ears for instance, but for us, they proved to be very comfortable and snug. The braided USB-A to USB-C charging cable feels robust and light and has the ability to adapt to different device platforms which include PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and mobile devices.

The touch-enabled functionality can take some getting used to when you use the standard logo area on the side of the earbuds as the touchpad, but the functionality it offers in terms of accepting/rejecting calls, playing/pausing media, skipping tracks, activating pairing mode etc. is impressive on such a small device. You have to hold your finger on slightly longer than just tapping them in each case to enact these commands – a small but significant difference that reduces accidental miss-presses when gaming.

Sound quality is overall fairly average when compared to on-ear headphones, but as good as you will get in earbuds outside of the most expensive premium options like the Bose QuietComfort 20, which cost several times the price. In games such as Fortnite, CS2, and Insurgency: Sandstorm that we tested it in, there was good bass representation and explosions and gunshots sounded solid.

As you’d expect from an inbuilt microphone inside some earbuds, the audio quality is not the best – we wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s a bad mic, just fairly mediocre. You will be audible to those you’re communicating with in-game, but expect some background noise to be picked up and a degree of muffling to your voice in loud environments.

These Razer earphones occupy about the mid-range of the price spectrum, and we definitely feel they justify that price tag and offer good value for money. You can check out our full in-depth review of the Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds for a thorough look through each of the features.

Logitech G333

Logitech G333

Drivers

5.8 mm + 9.2 mm

Frequency Response

20Hz ~ 20KHz

Connection

Wired

Platform compatibility

PC, mobile, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, and more

How We Review

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Pros

• Great Sound Quality
• Good Bass
• Microphone Included
• Noise cancelling
• Hardware Controls

Cons

• Very expenisve
• May need a splitter for PC

The Logitech G333 earphones are a decent pair of gaming earbuds for those on a budget. They are incredibly comfy and deliver great sound in many environments. These are a very affordable option and are a great addition for anyone looking to play single-player games or jump in to a VR headset.

Furthermore, they can plug straight into your console controller or phone. The design with these is quite simplistic, however, they come with three different silicone tips to fit a variety of ear sizes. These are quite compact and easy to carry around, making them a better choice for mixed usage than others on this list. These are a very durable pair and feature hardware controls, which could make them ideal for most gamers out there.

Shure SE215-CL

Shure SE215-CL Earphones

Drivers

Single Dynamic Driver

Frequency Response

22Hz – 17kHz

Extras

No out of the box extras

How We Review

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Pros

• Cool aesthetic design
• Very light weight
• Wireless
• Solid audio output
• Decent bass

Cons

• Quite expensive

The Shure SE215-CL gaming earphones signify the start of the premium offerings in this best of guide. They are the first of the IEM’s (Inner Ear Monitors) which provide superior audio playback and comfort over the non-IEM gaming choices. The professional series comes in a clear shell that shows off the intricate inner technology nicely. The cable is also clear, creating a really unusual design that we love here at WePC.

The single dynamic driver helps produce great sound output which is brilliant for both in-game audio and music playback. They provide excellent sound isolation to help users become immersed in their gameplay. Crucial for tournament-level gamers. Unfortunately the mic these gaming earphones have been equipped with can only be used alongside phones meaning you would have to purchase a standalone microphone for gaming purposes. What you lose in microphone accommodation is made up for with superior audio playback and comfort. With great sound and comfort naturally comes a higher price tag, however, for IEMs, this is considered good value.

HyperX Cloud Earbuds

HyperX Cloud Earbuds

Drivers

2 14mm Drivers

Frequency Response

20Hz – 20kHz

Extras

In-line microphone

How We Review

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Pros

• Nice in game spacial awareness
• 3 varying ear inserts
• Comfortable fit
• Budget gaming specific buds
• Included gaming microphone

Cons

• Not great for music listening
• Longevity is questionable

HyperX is a household name when it comes to gaming headsets and audio devices. What we have today, however, is their latest offering in the earbud category. The Clouds, as we like to call them, come to the table with a bunch of features and benefits which allow for effortless sessions of gaming. They have a 90-degree angled plug and tangle-free cable which allows for obstructive free gameplay which is always welcomed.

The design is strictly red with black accents around the controls and earbuds. The patented silicone ear inserts come in 3 different sizes helping to cater these buds to all consumers. We found them particularly comfortable but we prone to slipping out occasionally. The built-in mic worked very efficiently and provided excellent audio playback with mid/low outside noise pickup. The actual sound output is pretty decent offering good high’s and bass respectively, whereas spacial awareness which was pretty decent, was ultimately nothing to write home about.

Overall, if you’re looking for a budget set of earbuds with decent audio output and a solid built-in mic, the HyperX cloud’s could be the pick for you. They are definitely our choice for the best earphones for gaming on a budget. Our HyperX Cloud Earbuds review is where you want to head if you’re interested in learning more.

Things to consider when choosing the best gaming earbuds

It is unfortunate that not everyone can enjoy the comfort and quality of gaming headsets and over-ear headphones but regardless of your needs, we want to make this process as simple as possible. What makes a pair of earbuds the best for gaming comes down to a few, easy to understand factors.

Gaming earbuds vs gaming headsets

It is important to know that some gaming earbuds may be marketed as such but they are simply branded earbuds in disguise. There is little to differentiate between the two, with the more established audio brands usually offering higher quality experiences. If you enjoy gaming with your earbuds and need a set that features a microphone then by all means upgrade but if you play with your current earbuds and they work fine, maybe consider saving your cash or going for a gaming headset.

While gaming headsets are still behind in terms of sound quality compared to audio headphones, they still offer a much more balanced and well-rounded gaming experience over earbuds. Sound and mic quality is better but sometimes they can be a little bulky and less desirable for anything other than gaming.

On the flip side, gaming earbuds are going to be cheaper and more portable, with wireless technology being as good as it is right now, you could always pick up a wireless gaming headset instead. Of course, for some, a headset is a no-go area, with some favoring the lightweight, compact earbud alternative.

It is worth noting that you may lose some of the immersion and audio quality when using gaming earbuds from the more cinematic games out there but this is all rather subjective to what is important to you. Full headphones offer the better sound quality and noise cancellation for gaming. That’s assuming both products have a similar price tag and occupy the same portion of the market. For the most part, the mics on headphones are of a higher quality than what you’ll get with earbuds too.

Headphones, with their cushioned ear cups and space for the ears, are also a much more comfortable prospect if you enjoy lengthy stints on your favorite games. Conversely, not everyone prefers headphones. Even if they technically offer better audio, some are willing to sacrifice sound quality for the minimal scale of earbuds. These smaller in-ear designs are also slightly more versatile as you can use them for general listening on the go, whereas specialist gaming headphones should really stay with your build.

Drivers

In headphones, speakers, and other sound systems, “drivers” refer to one of two things: the software component that allows the device to be used with a computer and the hardware component that produces the sound in the headphones.

Larger headphones typically have multiple drivers per-ear, each used for different frequency ranges. The more drivers you have, the “cleaner” your sound should be since you won’t have just one driver being over-stressed with too many things to do.

Because of the smaller, cheaper nature of earbuds, though, many units will only come with one driver or two. In general, the larger the driver and the more there are, the better your listening experience will be.

Adapter And Mic

In this context, we’re referring to an adapter that you can use to split your single headphone cable into two; one for your mic, and one for your headphones. This is because most PCs won’t be able to take both of those inputs from just one input, unlike most smartphones.

Having this adapter included is a great feature that saves the user money spent on workarounds or just buying it themselves.

Of course, a mic is also important for the purposes of communications. While you can also look into our collection of best microphones for gaming if you’re serious about that, having a mic in your gaming earbuds is much more convenient overall.

Compatibility

Most, if not all of our earbud selections feature a 3.5mm jack meaning they will work in your console controller, with your Nintendo Switch, and mobile phone. There are Bluetooth options available but they are not latency-free like the wired options you see here.

Sweat Resistance

Generally, earbuds are worn when out and about and generally being active so they are naturally a bit more durable and weatherproof than other types of audio equipment. It’s because of this that they are also sweatproof and can keep your ears cooler for longer when compared to bulky gaming headsets. For the masses, a sweaty head is a bit of a none issue but there are plenty of gamers out there who struggle with comfort from all types of audio hardware.

Water-resistance

Another good feature for gaming earbuds will be that they are water-resistant, this might be a good one if you like to be active with them. Or just gaming sessions get intensive or it might be a bit humid. Having silicone ear tips and an IP rating will ensure they last in a bigger environment.

Active noise cancellation

One important feature to you might be active noise cancellation, also known as ANC. These are some features you might find on the best earbuds. What they do is cancel out any incoming sound, it’s particularly useful for when you get a constant, repetitive stand. As what they do is use a microphone to detect that wave and emit a sound to cancel out that wave and stop it from coming in to your ears.

Bluetooth connectivity or USB-C dongle

There might be a few ways to connect the earbuds. Either having to use Bluetooth connectivity, which might add latency and worse interference. Whilst the option for a USB-C adapter might just be too bulky to choose instead as that requires you to use something else with your device.

This also might vary on your device as well. As if you’ve got an IOS or Android phones you might have different options that won’t be able to use one or the other if the connectivity isn’t available. Although you might find a lot of hybrid options that can use both of those either way.

How we choose & test earbuds for gaming

Buying a new pair of gaming earbuds can be a little daunting, they tend not to perform as well as their over-ear counterparts and have been deemed unreliable in the past. All this before having to sift through the wide range of options!

Making sure you get the right gaming earbuds for your needs is crucial, the last thing you want to do is waste your cash on a product that doesn’t fit the bill. This process can often require a lot of research and time but this is where WePC comes in. We will sift through online comparisons, competitor and user reviews to narrow down our search. Once we have our selections we bring them all into one place to make your life easier.

Testing the products we recommend is one of the most important aspects of our best-of-guides, and something we take extremely seriously. We don’t just want to recommend the most popular products; we want to recommend the best products, regardless of reputation or brand. 

As we don’t have a methodology for earbuds specifically, we apply our existing gaming headset testing process instead. If you’re curious about the specifics, you can read our gaming headset testing methodology. While you’re there, why not check out how we test everything else too!

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Best gaming earbuds FAQs

Why do pro gamers wear earbuds and headphones?

Two sets of headphones seem outlandish at first, but there’s a very good reason why pro gamers don both to compete.The earbuds feed gamers the sounds coming directly from the game they’re playing, but earbuds have no noise-canceling capabilities. This is a problem when you’re competing in a large arena with a crowd and commentators. That’s where the second pair of headphones come in. To help them both focus on the task at hand and to prevent cheating, small amounts of white noise are played through the second set of headphones to ensure no noise from their surroundings can reach their ears.

What earbuds do pro gamers use?

You might be surprised which earbuds find their way into your favorite pro gamer’s ears. You’d think the big players would only settle for the best, but some use fairly entry-level products. JW, for example, is known to use standard Apple earbuds from time to time, as does his Counter-Strike contemporary, Lekr0. There’s nothing wrong with this. Apple earbuds have pretty good audio quality, but they’re not too durable. We’d be surprised if these pros don’t keep spares with them just in case their first set fail.

You’re just as likely to see the pros using Sennheiser earbuds, namely, the momentum design. If you’ve got a sharp eye, you’ll also notice a fair few Razer Hammerheads nestled in the pro’s ear canals. Others use high quality, gaming-optimized Samsung, Bose, or Cooler earbuds. There isn’t really a set standard for pro gaming; It all comes down to personal preference.

Final word

There we have it, the best gaming earbuds no matter if you are looking to play single player games on your PC, jump into VR, or just need something more compact for your console. With the rise in mobile gaming, the popularity of gaming earbuds is only going to grow. These are the most portable option out there and offer refuge for gamers in hotter climates during peak summer.

The best gaming earbud option overall were the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid pair, offering an excellent balance or performance, comfort, and value. The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless Earbuds bring ANC to the table, something highly important for gamers in louder environments. This set of buds brings all the connectivity you need to get that audio working across a variety of platforms.

If you’re looking for a pair of over-ear cans though, that don’t stifle your lobes, then a decent open backed headset is the way to go. Something like Corsair’s Virtuoso Pro is a prime pick.