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The 5 Best Earbuds For Gaming of 2025

Updated Feb 26, 2025 at 03:16 pm
Best Earbuds For Gaming

If you enjoy gaming on your phone, a traditional gaming headset is likely too bulky to take you everywhere. Luckily, as mobile gaming has risen in popularity, more earbuds and in-ears are designed with that in mind. Generally, you want a gaming headset with a good microphone, a comfortable fit, and a well-balanced sound profile so all explosions and dialogue sound how they should. Latency can also be very important, as many Bluetooth headphones introduce noticeable lag, which can be an issue when gaming online with others.

We've tested over 340 pairs of earbuds and in-ears, and below are our picks for the best gamer-centric earbuds. Unlike traditional over-ear gaming headsets, we haven't tested nearly as many earbuds suitable for gaming yet, but we'll update this list as we test more. You can also check our recommendations for the best gaming headsets, the best in-ear headphones, and the best earbuds with a mic.


  1. Best Earbuds For Gaming

    The Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed True Wireless are the best gaming earbuds we've tested. These in-ears have a wireless USB-C dongle for a low-latency gaming experience on PCs and PlayStation consoles. Want to connect via Bluetooth? Their companion app also offers 'Game Mode,' a setting that ensures your audio and visuals stay in sync during the heat of the moment. If that's not enough, they've got customizable RGB lighting so you can show off your style. Their active noise cancelling (ANC) system blocks a good amount of sound, like traffic from an open window; however, with both features on, their battery life tanks from four hours to three. Luckily, their case supplies four extra charges for when the battery needs a top-up.

    They're decently comfortable for most people and have a somewhat balanced sound out of the box. While a dip in the mid-range makes dialogue and instruments sound a little hollow, their app has a graphic EQ and presets to help you fine-tune their sound. They also have a THX preset to help create a more 3D listening experience. If you play multi-player games, their mic offers good overall performance, and you'll have no trouble being understood clearly, even if you're talking in a noisy environment like a shared living room.

    If you're concerned about their short continuous battery life, try the Sony INZONE Buds Truly Wireless. Their battery provides about 12 hours of continuous use from a single charge, so they'll last through long gaming marathons. However, they aren't as well-built, and although they support Bluetooth, they're limited to LC3 codec, so you'll need a compatible device if you want to use them this way. You can use them on PS5 consoles or your PC via their wireless dongle.

    See our review

  2. Best Mid-Range Gaming Earbuds

    The EPOS GTW 270 Ηybrid Truly Wireless are the best wireless earbuds for gaming we've tested at this price point. What sets them apart from our top pick is their support for multi-device pairing, which lets you simultaneously connect to your console and smartphone. They also support aptX-LL codec, which ensures low latency with Βluetooth-compatible PCs. However, while their dongle provides a fairly low-latency connection, users have reported connectivity issues after updating to the latest firmware. Unfortunately, this same firmware also lowered their original advertised battery life to just over three hours, which is pretty short. However, their carrying case supplies three extra charges.

    These buds are very well-built and have a comfortable fit that's suitable for long gaming sessions. Their bass-rich sound profile can help bring out sound effects in action-packed games and can also be customized with a graphic EQ and presets in the headphones' companion app. They support Dolby 7.1 virtual surround sound, which can help make your game audio more dimensional and immersive. Their integrated mic makes your voice sound clear and natural. However, unlike the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed True Wireless' mic, your voice can easily be drowned out by background noise.

    See our review

  3. Best Budget Gaming Earbuds

    Check out the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO if you want something more budget-friendly. Unlike the previous picks, these buds are wired-only and lack a mic, and you won't find any companion app or software to add more customization to your gameplay audio. Don't let that stop you, though! If you already use a standalone mic or don't need to talk with others, their excited sound makes them a solid choice for gamers. Out of the box, these buds deliver extra thump and boom to help emphasize low-end sound effects like explosions. There's also a bit of added mid-range and treble to help dialogue and instruments stand out from the mix and retain their clarity.

    They have a braided audio cable, which can be detached and replaced if it gets damaged. They're also lightweight and comfortable and come with a variety of tip options to help you get the best fit possible. Fans of the original ZERO may also be interested in the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO: RED. They deliver a flatter bass and mid-range response, which some gamers might prefer. Whether you go with the original ZERO or the new RED is ultimately up to your audio tastes, though, as the two buds otherwise have a similar fit and feel.

    See our review

  4. Βest Wired Gaming Earbuds

    The MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK are versatile, premium-built in-ear monitors (IEMs). Part of their versatility lies with an in-line mic and the option of using them with a USB-C or 3.5 mm analog connection, allowing you to connect to anything from a smartphone to a PC or console. The in-line remote lets you adjust the volume on the fly in the midst of gameplay, and the absence of a battery means you can marathon without regard for recharging.

    These buds have a bit of a low-bass boost to add immersive tension to foreboding cutscenes, a mid-range that produces clear dialogue, and a slightly warm treble response that won't cause early fatigue. Their frequency response consistency is top-notch, providing a predictable sound between wears and on different people. If you use them with an Android device, you can access the companion app, which opens up the possibility of equalizing the sound to suit your tastes. Unfortunately, the app is limited to Android and is otherwise sparse.

    The microphone sounds alright, too, but it doesn't have added features such as an adjustable noise gate. That said, the mic only works when you're connected over USB-C, which means it won't work if you primarily use consoles. If you already have a standalone microphone or only play solo, consider the MOONDROP Blessing 3, a fantastic wired set of IEMs with a slightly brighter treble response. They lack an in-line remote, mic, and USB-C connectivity, but you can always replace the analog cable with one that has a mic if you want. Otherwise, both sets of IEMs isolate you from noise with comparable effectiveness; only the DUSK IEMs offer more flexibility.

    See our review

  5. Best Boom Mic Earbuds For Gaming

    If you're looking for earbuds that ensure your friends can hear you clearly during online games, you'll want to check out the SteelSeries TUSQ. Thanks to their detachable boom mic, they stand out from the other picks on this list (and most earbuds in general). The detachable boom mic sits closer to your mouth than an integrated or in-line version, making your voice sound clearer and more full-bodied than the EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Truly Wireless' mic. Their wired design lets you connect with PCs and consoles easily and eliminates latency. They have a very bass-heavy sound profile that adds intense thump, punch, and boom to your audio. It brings out sound effects like footsteps and explosions, which can make gameplay more immersive, but voices and instruments sound muddy.

    Unfortunately, they don't have sound customization features. They're also best suited for quiet areas since they don't isolate you from much sound, and the mic has mediocre noise handling. If you're concerned about noise, the Turtle Beach Battle Buds also come equipped with a boom mic, which is better at separating your voice from ambient sound, so people will understand you even with some noise in the background. However, they have a very muddy profile and aren't as well-built.

    See our review

Notable Mentions

  • Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2021: The Razer Hammerhead True Wireless 2021 are noise cancelling gaming earbuds like the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed True Wireless. They're worth considering if you want to save money on a truly wireless design but don't want to lose out on ANC. However, they block out less ambient sound and use Bluetooth for their wireless connection, which has higher latency than the HyperSpeed's USB dongle. See our review
  • ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova: The ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova have a battery life that lasts twice as long as the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed True Wireless and can connect to two devices via Bluetooth at once. However, the ASUS headphones' mic doesn't perform as well as the Razer's, so they're less useful for online gaming with other people. See our review
  • Sony PULSE Explore Truly Wireless: The Sony PULSE Explore Truly Wireless are wireless gaming earbuds with planar magnetic drivers. They're not as well-built as the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed True Wireless and have a worse mic recording quality. However, they have a more balanced default sound profile and can deliver audio more consistently. See our review
  • Samsung AKG Type-C: The Samsung AKG Type-C are wired headphones compatible with devices with a USΒ-C port, making them a solid choice for mobile gaming. They have low latency and a comfortable fit, but unlike the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO, they aren't compatible with Xbox or PlayStation consoles. See our review

Recent Updates

  1. Feb 26, 2025:

    The MOONDROP x Crinacle DUSK have been added as the best wired gaming earbuds, with the MOONDROP Blessing 3 allocated as an alternative.

  2. Dec 04, 2024:

    We removed the Logitech G333 and MOONDROP Aria from our Notable Mentions because they're out of stock, but we haven't changed our picks.

  3. Aug 29, 2024: We added the ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova to our Notable Mentions for their great Bluetooth connectivity and long battery life. But the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed True Wireless have a better microphone, so the ASUS don't make it into our pick list.

  4. May 24, 2024: Due to a price jump from the Logitech G333, we've removed the KZ AS10 and made the TRUTHEAR x Crinacle ZERO the 'Best Budget' pick. We've added the Logitech to the Notable Mentions.

  5. Mar 28, 2024: We've checked to ensure all products remain in stock and our picks remain the same. However, we've added the Sony PULSE Explore Truly Wireless as a Notable Mention due to their great frequency response consistency and balanced default sound profile.

All Reviews

Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best in-ear gaming headphones. We factor in the price (cheaper headphones win over pricier ones if the difference isn't worth it), feedback from our visitors, and availability (no headphones that are difficult to find or almost out of stock everywhere).

If you would like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our in-ear and earbuds headphones reviews, sorted by their wired gaming scores. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There are no perfect headphones. Personal taste, preference, and listening habits will matter more in your selection, especially if you don't care about having a microphone or wireless features.

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