Best gaming earbuds for PS5, Xbox, PC and Nintendo Switch | TechRadar

Best gaming earbuds for PS5, Xbox, PC and Nintendo Switch

How often do you think of the best gaming earbuds? When you think of the best gaming headsets, earbuds probably don’t come straight to mind. 

You may be used to wireless earphones and wireless earbuds when it comes to listening to music for fun or sport; these are two-a-penny. If in-ear designs are a must for your gaming sessions, how do you spot the best gaming earbuds for you? That's where this quick guide comes in. 

It's only the Turtle Beach and EPOS options that we're recommending. Thankfully, PCs, Nintendo Switch, DualSense controller, and Xbox Wireless Controller on PS5 and Xbox Series X can all accept 3.5mm jack input. So we've been able to suggest a few stellar earbud options from the music world that do a great job for gamers, too.

Just in time for the Cyber Monday deals, bookmark some of these top picks for the best gaming earbuds before November 28. We may even see some of these excellent buds as part of the best Cyber Monday PS5 dealsand Cyber Monday Xbox Series X deals, so be sure to stay tuned.

Our best gaming earbuds picks

(Image credit: EPOS)

The EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Earbuds could top this list for one virtue alone – they're the only true-wireless earbuds on the market with the dedicated gamer in mind.

It's a form factor we love for mobile devices, and we're surprised more manufacturers haven't followed EPOS's lead with true wireless gaming buds. They're not class-leading in sound terms, but they're pretty great all the same. With a USB-C dongle connection for consoles and Bluetooth 5.1 for basically everything else, they could be the one earbuds you need for all listening purposes in your life.

Our main gripe? When using the dongle connection, the earbuds' microphones are knocked out, preventing in-game chat. We realize this is a pretty big caveat, but the premium build of the earbuds, plus the convenient form factor, still make them a top choice for most gamers – particularly for those of us who prefer to play solo.

Read more: EPOS GTW 270 Hybrid Earbuds review

(Image credit: Future)

The cable-packing 1More Triple Driver in-ear headphones are the best wired earbuds you can buy in 2022. The rubber cable can tangle a bit, and the remote is a bit plasticky, but it's hard to find a genuine fault at the price here.

After extended testing periods spent with both the 1MORE Triple Driver in-ear headphones and the 1MORE Quad Driver in-ear headphones, we were taken aback by the value of each set of earbuds, given their relatively low price points. These ones give you a lush sound simply by plugging them into the headphone jack on your controller or PC. They punch way above their weight.

For a mere $100 / £100 (around AU$168), you'll be hard-pressed to find a more sonically pleasing pair of earbuds than 1MORE's Triple Driver. Those that want a little more luxury from materials in their earbuds can look further down this list for the Quad Driver version – though expect to pay roughly twice as much. The triple drivers tick pretty much every box, though. 

Read more: 1More Triple Driver In-Ear Headphone review

(Image credit: Future)

If you've got the cash to splash, the 1MORE Quad Driver in-ear headphones are the best-quality, pound-for-pound, buck-for-buck, wired headphones out there. 1MORE delivered a smashing flagship pair of wired earbuds with the Quad Driver set, thanks to their balanced sound build quality, smartphone compatibility, and price. 

These in-ear headphones will make mobile audiophiles very happy and do justice to modern gaming's 3D audio and virtualized Dolby Atmos settings. The Quad Driver's main competition comes, in fact, from 1MORE’s own cheaper Triple Driver sibling, which costs half the price (which rides high at the number two spot on this list). 

In terms of value, the 1MORE Triple Driver headphones are the winner. But if you're willing to spend a little more on build and sound quality, the 1More Quad Drivers are among the best earbuds you can buy.

Read the full review: 1More Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones

(Image credit: Future)

Lightweight, portable, and ready to play with as soon as you plug them into a controller's headphone jack, the Turtle Beach Battle Buds are a Nintendo Switch player’s best friend. Offering great value for more, these basic-looking wired buds are as good as they get at the market's entry-level end. 

They’re not going to deliver the sound quality of the pricier buds on this list. Still, they're comfortable to wear, easy to travel with and offer a detachable boom mic that's sensitive and commanding in the heat of battle.

Read the full review: Turtle Beach Battle Buds review

(Image credit: SoundMagic)

Another great budget option, the E11Cs offer a brilliant design and feel comfortable even during long gaming or music-listening sessions. These are by no means earphones for audiophiles - the separation between the different frequencies isn’t good enough – but that's ok.

With the easy connection of a 3.5mm headphone jack, a clear mic and solid (if not exemplary sound), they're a perfect partner for your gamepad. The passive noise isolation here is excellent too, and while not using nifty active noise cancellation techniques, do well through its seal alone to block out external sound.

Read the full review: SoundMagic E11C review

• These are the best PC gaming headsets: ideal for discord, game chats, and conferencing