SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds 61685
Dual 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity provides low-latency audio for gaming while maintaining versatility for mobile use, paired with 360-degree spatial audio and active noise cancellation. The IPX4-rated design and 10-hour earbud battery life offer practical durability for daily wear, though the 3.1-star customer rating signals mixed real-world reception. These are best suited for gamers who split time between a console at home and commuting, prioritizing a single wireless audio solution over specialized, higher-fidelity alternatives.
Form Factor in-ear
Wireless Yes
active noise cancellation Yes
bluetooth version 5.3
battery life hours 10
water resistance IPX4
29 Overall Score
No current retailer price
Snapshot
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Strong anc (82nd percentile) 82nd
- Strong connectivity (79th percentile) 79th
- Strong build (79th percentile) 79th
- Strong comfort (70th percentile) 70th
Cons
- Below average battery (10th percentile)
- Below average affordability (17th percentile)
- Below average social proof (21st percentile)
- Below average sound (27th percentile)
The proof
Performance
Specifications
Full Specifications
Design
| Form Factor | in-ear |
| Wearing Style | true wireless |
| Weight | 0.1 kg / 0.1 lbs |
Audio
| Freq Min | 20 |
| Freq Max | 20000 |
Noise Control
| ANC | Yes |
| ANC Type | Active Noise Cancelling |
Connectivity
| Wireless | Yes |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
Earbud Battery
| Battery Life | 10 |
| Charge Time | 1.5 |
| Charging | USB-C |
Case Battery
| Case Charging | USB-C |
Microphone
| Microphone | Yes |
Features
| Touch Controls | No |
| App | SteelSeries GG |
| Gaming Mode | Yes |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 |
vs Competition
| Spec | SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds 61685 | Technics EAH-AZ100 | JLab JBuds Pods ANC | Samsung Galaxy Buds Buds3 Pro | Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation | Soundcore P31i |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Form Factor | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear | in-ear |
| Driver Type | - | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic | dynamic |
| Wireless | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Active Noise Cancellation | true | true | true | true | true | true |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.3 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 6.1 |
| Battery Life Hours | 10 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Case Battery Hours | - | 28 | 56 | 26 | 24 | 50 |
| Water Resistance | IPX4 | IPX4 | IP55 | IP57 | IP57 | IP55 |
| Multipoint | - | true | true | true | true | - |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
| Product | Anc | Mic | Build | Sound | Battery | Comfort | Connectivity | Social Proof | Affordability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds 61685 | 81.9 | 36.7 | 78.8 | 27.4 | 10.4 | 69.7 | 79.2 | 20.8 | 17.1 |
| Technics EAH-AZ100 Compare | 97.5 | 97.4 | 78.8 | 99.7 | 76.6 | 93.2 | 99.8 | 81.2 | 2.9 |
| JLab JBuds Pods ANC Compare | 93.5 | 97.4 | 90.8 | 87.1 | 94 | 93.2 | 98.1 | 95.5 | 32.9 |
| Samsung Galaxy Buds Buds3 Pro Compare | 97.5 | 97.4 | 98.9 | 92.2 | 70.5 | 93.2 | 99.6 | 89.7 | 7.2 |
| Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation Compare | 97.5 | 81 | 98.9 | 90.3 | 73.1 | 69.7 | 99.6 | 99.3 | 11 |
| Soundcore P31i Compare | 89.9 | 97.4 | 90.8 | 96.6 | 92.2 | 69.7 | 86.2 | 89.7 | 57.5 |
Usage Scores
- Calls24.4
- Music24.4
- Overall29.4
- Budget28.3
- Gaming36.4
- Travel27.3
- Commute28.2
- Fitness35.8
A full written review is coming soon. The specs, scores, prices and charts above are always up to date.
