I got my first pair of SteelSeries Arctis Game Buds last year, and they turned me into an earbuds convert. It wasn't just the fact that they take up far less room in my backpack than my favorite headset, or that they negate any fiddly Bluetooth pairing with my Switch 2 or Steam Deck OLED, but that they manage to pack in a fantastic, travel-friendly sound despite their tiny size.
Ever since falling hard for these buds, I try to recommend them to just about everyone I know, but their full $199.99 MSRP makes those conversations a tad awkward. Fortunately for my family and friends (and for you if you need some new earbuds), I just spotted them for $127.80 at Amazon, a saving of $72 off their full price. Not only are they $72 cheaper today, but the game earbuds are down to a similar price that I spotted over the holiday sales. It's not a record low, as they have been almost $8 cheaper fairly recently, but as the holiday sales are well and truly over, it's worth grabbing these before they return to full price.
Should you buy the SteelSeries Arctis Game buds in 2026?
If you're after a new pair of earbuds for gaming on the go, or just for listening to music, the SteelSeries Game Buds are the first and only buds I'd recommend to just about everyone. Yes, as they're designed with gaming in mind, so they're automatically a bit pricier than a run-of-the-mil buds you can grab from no-name brands off Amazon's search results, but having that 2.4GHz wireless they offer is a lifesaver.
I cannot stand the tedium involved with pairing devices via Bluetooth. Very rarely do many of my Bluetooth-only gaming headsets get remembered by my devices, so I have to spend what feels like an eternity holding down buttons and ensuring they're discovered by the Steam Deck or my phone. As the Game Buds come with the same slimline wireless dongle as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3 Wireless headset, all I need to do is pop it in a USB-C port, ensure that 2.4GHz Wireless is toggled on via the buds, and the connection is good to go.
If you aren't too fussed about whether or not your buds have a lag-free and easy-to-set-up 2.4GHz wireless connection, you might be more intrigued to know that these buds are incredibly compact. Including the case, they take up the same amount of space as the palm of my hand, and they're far easier to lug around than a large pair of headphones or a gaming headset that doubles up for everyday wear.
I have the limited edition Glorange buds in my backpack at all times, and their compact size has given me more room for packing my Switch 2 with me, which I've been doing pretty regularly since the console launched last summer. Or, if I just want to listen to music, which sounds great no matter the genre via the buds' 6mm neodymium audio drivers, having them as a permanent fixture of my bag is an easy feat as they're just that travel-friendly.
I spent a good chunk of last year getting well acquainted with SteelSeries flagship gaming buds, and have already begun to take them with me wherever I go in 2026. If you're after a great-sounding, more travel-friendly alternative to bringing your favourite headset (or headphones) with you out and about, these $127.80 buds are worth their current $127.80 deal price.
- SteelSeries Arctis Game Buds - Black |
$199.99$159.99 at Amazon - View all gaming earbud deals at Amazon
If the SteelSeries Arctis Game Buds aren't for you, I've also rounded up the best PS5 headsets, the best Xbox Series X headsets, and the best Nintendo Switch headsets that are worth your attention this year.
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