The new SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds fit my odd little ears. If that's not a glowing recommendation, I don't what is.

SteelSeries just announced its first earbuds, the Arctis GameBuds. I listened to the instructions and ignored everything else. Instead, I based my opinion on a peculiar and particular fact: these earbuds actually fitted my weird little ear.

There's a lot about the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds that I like objectively, but the fact is, I've never really been an "earbuds guy", so hearing about its features didn’t really spark joy in my heart, you know? however, did spark joy in me. After getting used to the push and twist movement required to fit these things, they fit snugly as a bug.

I've long since given up on using and owning earbuds due to my oddly small ears, which have what must be the world's most horribly designed ear canals (I've had a doctor comment about my narrow ear channels, so it's definitely not just me). They always fall out.

For the longest time, I've worn bone conduction headphones because they don't go in my ears. They sit on top of them. Arctis GameBuds are making me reconsider this decision. They fit my ears like Cinderella’s slippers.

Since I had thrown away all my earbuds years ago, and hadn't used them regularly for a very long time I struggled a bit to insert them correctly right away. To do this, you need to gently place them into your ear while twisting them slightly. A SteelSeries representative saw me struggling and looked sheepish. He actually put them in my ear at first. This is an experience I will cherish. But I soon got the hang out.

I sat down, I stood up, I even walked with these things in my ear, and I never felt the telltale slide and slip of a bud just about to pop.

SteelSeries claims that it has designed these products using "over 62,000 scans of ear canals" to "build a perfect design". When I first heard this, I thought it was probably just marketing fluff. But after they fit so snugly and comfortably in my ears, I began to wonder. Maybe all this R&D nonsense isn't just marketing fluff.

All of this wouldn't matter if the earphones were bad, but they aren't. They're great, in my opinion, for the $160 MSRP.

The basic features are as follows: two svelte earphones with a 10-hour battery life. Qi fast charging is included in the pod case. IP55 water-resistance, 360-degree audio, ANC and transparency mode. Bluetooth 5.3 and 2.45 GHz wireless. game-specific sound profiles , similar to Arctis Nova 5. Cross-compatibility for all devices, including PC, PS5, Xbox (if you purchase the Xbox-compatible model).

SteelSeries' Arctis GameBuds are unique in that they offer per-game profiles and do not have compatibility. This is not to say that it's a great feature--our Andy did not rate the utility and usefulness of such profiles highly in his Nova 5 Review. A feature is a feature, right? The GameBuds seem to have a lot of features, which is great for the price.

I was also impressed with the sound quality when I tested them. After I got over the shock that the earbuds stayed in my ears, i started gaming and listening music. I only had a short time with them, so I can't give a more detailed impression. However, I found that they offered a good amount of clarity and bass.

I was also unreasonably impressed with the mechanical switch clicks which occur when you press each ear--none haptic touch nonsense, just solid, good buttons. Buttons that I'm sure I'll be pressing a great deal to switch between 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth connection. This is probably my use case, gaming on 2.4 GHz with my handheld, and then switching to Bluetooth for my phone.

I'll probably be amazed at the fit for a little while. The Arctis GameBuds have really made me reconsider my opinion of earbuds, and the possibility that they could once again be comfortable in my ears.