SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds

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SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds review: For your gaming delight

This Gamebuds’ for you

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Steelseries is a popular option for competitively-priced gaming audio products. In many online groups, their headsets are often top recommendations. Now they’ve taken all they know about gaming audio and put it in a smaller package – the Steelseries Arctis Gamebuds.

On paper, it has all the bells and whistles of any TWS earbuds worth your time. Among them are 360 Spatial Audio, Active Noise Cancellation (ANC), a companion app, and more. 

SteelSeries Sound 

SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds

The SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds is my second listening-type audio device from the brand. With that, I think I have a better understanding now of what to expect from them in terms of sound. 

For context, my preferred sound tuning tends to be full, rich, and round. I’m not exactly sure how to explain that last one, but sometimes I hear things and associate them to shapes. Anyway, I mostly get that type of sound from Sony’s WH series of headphones. For earbuds, it’s the Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro that delivered this type of sound for me. To a lesser extent, there’s also the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 from a couple of years ago. 

In contrast, the SteelSeries Sound feels sharper. Instead of full, rich, and round. It’s more spacy, airy, and sharp. I understand I’m describing them way too differently from each other. In practice, they do sound close, but I feel like it’s something you can only really tell if you’ve listened to both. 

That’s not to say the SteelSeries Sound is bad. It’s just a different type of good. And this is true whether you’re listening to it straight out of the box or after tweaking the equalizer from the companion Arctis App. 

Phenomenal for play

SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds

Connected via dongle on an ROG Ally. For visualization only. We mostly played while it’s connected to a PlayStation 5.

Where it shines the most is the tuning for each game. Much like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5, the Arctis Gamebuds has access to a wide selection of pre-tuned equalizers for specific games. 

The best part is you have recently released games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, Black Myth Wukong, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and the list goes on and on.

The 360 Spatial Audio really comes into play with games like Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. With the Arctis Gamebuds on, the feeling of immersion goes up a few notches. The sounds rattle off in and around your head feels as if you’re actually in the game environment. 

It also elevates the experience for games like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth – a game that features a wide variety of tracks that shape the mood of each encounter, gameplay, and scene. The game is a treasure trove of tracks that will have you bopping or feeling somber. And having the Arctis Gamebuds on delivers these sounds flawlessly. 

In NBA 2K25, I had fun with it by turning off the commentator audio. With these on and with in-arena, crowd, and on-court volume blaring, it almost feels like you’re watching a live NBA game. It’s a fun way to experience 2K. 

If the specific game you’re playing isn’t available on the app. Simply select a similar genre or a title in the same franchise or series. Chances are, those are bound to perform just as well as if it was pre-tuned for your chosen game. 

Skip the Music Presets 

SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds

I found the existing Music presets to be a little lacking. Flat is a little too flat, Bright almost takes out the lows too much, and Deep Bass threads the line to sounding muffled. You get the picture. 

For a while I stuck with the Punchy preset and I was okay with it for the most part. But what unlocked things quite a bit for me is when I stuck with the Final Fantasy VII Rebirth preset. It was a glass-break moment when I opted for it as my main equalizer. 

The way the variety of music and sound that the game delivered translated nicely into music listening. I had a blast playing on repeat TWICE’s 14th Mini Album Strategy which you should totally check because it’s a banger. 

I haven’t gone through the entire equalizer list — cause there’s literally so many of them. But I reckon you’d find a game preset that will match your music listening sensibilities. 

Connectivity and control 

SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds

Like the Arctis Nova 5, the Arctis Gamebuds can connect in a couple of ways – via direct Bluetooth 5.3 or through the included 2.4Ghz dongle. It’s also easy to switch between the two. That means you can have the dongle inserted to your gaming device of choice and then have the Bluetooth paired to your phone.

The dongle also having a slot on the charging case is a great touch. Too often, headphones and earbuds that have a similar dongle in the package don’t have a way to adequately carry the dongle making it easily misplaceable. I know I’ve lost more than my fair share. 

Another really nice touch is that the area on the buds where you see the SteelSeries logo is actually pressable. They are real, tactile buttons. How they managed to include that mechanism in such a tiny body is a marvel. 

It’s a nice change of pace from most other earbuds out in the market today who rely on different sensors for touch, tap, and pinch gestures that don’t always connect. This makes the controls on the Arctis Gamebuds extremely easy to manage. 

The gestures include single press, double press, triple press, short hold, single press then press hold, 3-second-hold in case, and 3-second hold. That’s a wide gamut of actions and you can program a different one for each earbud. It gives you granular, customizable control. 

The default settings also already make sense and feel intuitive. Previous and Next tracks are mapped as double presses on the left and right earbuds respectively. A single press on the right earbuds is for play/pause while the left one has ANC/Noise Control. 

You can charge the Arctis Earbuds wirelessly

This is a great addition and something I hope more brands will try to emulate or apply in their own earbuds products. 

Is this your GadgetMatch?

SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds

As great as it is, we can’t say the SteelSeries isn’t for everyone. It also comes at a price range that might turn some off.  It’s available at SteelSeries.com and at select retailers in the Philippines starting at PhP 10,458.00. In the US, it’s priced at USD 169.99.

But let’s break it down. 

Swipe Left if you’re not a gamer. The product is very clearly a gaming lifestyle device. It’s squarely aimed at gamers who are willing to spend a bit for quality audio. If you’re only after good audio quality for music/podcast listening, you’re better off looking elsewhere. 

Swipe Right if you’re a multi-platform gamer. PlayStation, PC, and mobile gamers will have a field day with the Arctis Gamebuds. Even if you only really game on a couple of devices, you’ll still get the most out of it. If it’s outside your budget, our advice is to hold and save up a little more. It’s worth it. 

Super Swipe if money is no object or if it’s within your budget and you play on multiple platforms, then this is a no-brainer pick-up. Even if you prefer headphones, it’s always nice to have an in-ear option that you can easily and discreetly carry. 

If you’re dead-set on getting one, just make sure you get the right version. If you play on Xbox, then make sure to get that version as it has drivers specifically made for Microsoft’s gaming console. But if you’re mostly on PlayStation, PC, Switch, or gaming handhelds, then you should be fine with the non-Xbox variant. The black & white color combo looks cooler too in our humble opinion. 

SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds

The Arctis Gamebuds is a dream in-ear headphones for multi-platform gamers. It sounds phenomenal for play and more than adequate for other listening activities. The customization and control capabilities are cherries on top that make this deserving of the GadgetMatch Seal of Approval.

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Peak Design’s new City Line combines minimalism and color

Less padding, more personality

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Known for its camera-friendly bags with generous padding to protect photography gear, Peak Design is taking a different approach with the City Line.

The new collection prioritizes lightweight construction and everyday functionality, stripping away unnecessary bulk while still delivering the thoughtful organization the brand is known for.

The new collection includes the City Backpack in 15L and 22L sizes, the 15L City Tote, the City Crescent in 6L and 12L options, and the compact 2L City Sling. While each bag serves a different purpose, they all share the same minimalist aesthetics and intuitive organization.

To achieve that lighter design is Peak Design’s new weather-resistant MonoShell material, along with a seam-reduced construction that cuts down on unnecessary bulk.

It also comes with Peak Design’s built-in BagLev hook, allowing you to hang your bag from a table instead of placing it on the floor.

Beyond the neutral and muted finishes we’ve seen in the past, Peak Design is also introducing brighter options that add more personality to the collection.

The vibrant Lapis blue, in particular, stands out as a fun alternative for anyone looking to move beyond the usual black everyday bag.

The City Line is now available through peakdesign.com and authorized retailers worldwide.

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DJI Osmo Mobile 8P: From a videographer’s perspective

Better tracking, fewer buttons

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DJI’s smartphone gimbals have always chased one goal: delivering cinema-smooth footage without forcing you to carry a heavy rig.

The Osmo Mobile 8P (OM 8P) makes its priorities clear right out of the box. This is not a simple refresh. DJI rebuilt how you control the gimbal, and that decision shapes the entire shooting experience.

Freedom behind the lens

The biggest change is the FrameTap remote, and it’s the kind of upgrade that fixes a problem you didn’t realize was slowing you down until it’s gone.

On the standard OM 8, adjusting your framing meant reaching for your phone every time, which broke the flow of shooting and pulled you out of the moment.

FrameTap puts that control back in your hand. You can reframe shots and manage the gimbal without touching your phone at all, and for anyone shooting solo, that alone changes how usable the whole setup feels. Tracking has taken a real step forward too.

ActiveTrack 8.0, paired with Module 2, held onto its subject even after they stepped out of frame for a moment, then picked them back up without much fuss.

It also lets you sit off-center in the shot instead of forcing you into the middle every time, which gives you more room to compose something that doesn’t look like every other gimbal video.

None of that would matter much if the gimbal itself wasn’t solid, and it still is. The OM 8P holds onto the same foldable design, magnetic phone clamp, and built-in tripod that made the OM 8 easy to live with.

And it remains one of the better compact options for stabilization, tracking, and portability in one package.

The tripod legs are a touch wider this time, and that extra width does make a noticeable difference on uneven ground.

The trade-offs in touch

The trade-off for all that new remote functionality is a control scheme that takes more getting used to. More of the gimbal’s functions now live on the FrameTap touchscreen, the joystick is smaller, and switching between shooting modes takes a few extra taps compared to the OM 8. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s a learning curve you’ll need to budget time for.

DJI also removed the zoom and focus wheel, so if you leaned on that dial for quick adjustments, you’ll feel its absence here. Module 2 no longer lets you plug a DJI wireless mic in directly either.

You’ll need to connect it to your phone instead, which adds a step to a setup that used to be simpler. Phone compatibility is still a limiting factor as well. DJI lists support for phones up to around 300g and 11mm thick, so bigger phones or ones in chunky cases may not clamp in properly.

Finding your ideal workflow

The OM 8P makes the most sense for solo creators who want dependable tracking and the freedom of remote framing without stepping up to a dedicated camera like the DJI Osmo Pocket.

If you’re already shooting on a phone with a solid camera, this fills the gap nicely. It’s a tougher sell if you prefer physical buttons over touchscreen menus, or if your phone runs on the larger and heavier side, since fitting it onto the clamp might be a problem before you even get to shooting.

Price, availability

DJI is offering the OM 8P in three combos, so how much you pay depends on how much of the ecosystem you actually need.

  • Standard Combo (PhP 7,499): the gimbal itself, with 8th-gen stabilization and the detachable FrameTap remote included.
  • Advanced Tracking Combo (PhP 9,199): adds the Multifunctional Module 2 for the improved subject tracking we tested.
  • Creator Combo (PhP 11,099): the full kit, built for creators who want everything DJI bundles in from the start.

Is the DJI Osmo Mobile 8P your GadgetMatch?

The DJI Osmo Mobile 8P asks you to relearn a few habits in exchange for a gimbal that finally lets go of your phone. If hands-free framing and steadier tracking matter more to you than a dedicated zoom dial, this is worth the adjustment.

If you’d rather keep things exactly as they were on the OM 8, that learning curve might be the deciding factor.

Swipe right if you shoot alone often and have been waiting for a gimbal remote that actually works. The FrameTap remote alone justifies the upgrade if reaching for your phone mid-shot has been slowing you down.

Consider this if reliable tracking matters to you, especially if you’ve had a subject wander out of frame and stay lost on older gimbals.

And of course, get this if you already own a capable phone under the weight and thickness limits, and you’d rather invest in a smartphone rig than jump to a dedicated camera like the Osmo Pocket.

Swipe left if you lean on physical dials for zoom and focus, and moving those functions to a touchscreen sounds like a downgrade rather than an upgrade.

This is not for you if you use a DJI wireless mic and want it plugged directly into the module without routing through your phone first. Or, your phone runs heavier or bulkier than DJI’s limits allow, since no amount of enthusiasm fixes a clamp that won’t close.

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Sony WH-1000XM6 gets a new Olive Gray colorway option

The new color launches today.

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Last year, the Sony WH-1000XM6 quickly became our favorite pair of noise-cancelling headphones. The audio quality pairs remarkably well with its ANC capabilities. Now, a year into the accessory’s life cycle, new colors are still coming out. Today, the acclaimed WH-1000XM6 is getting an Olive Gray variant.

A few months ago, Sony expanded the WH-1000XM6’s colorway options with a Sandstone version, launching alongside the Sony 1000X THE COLLEXION. At the time, the new color added a splash of life to an already blossoming lineup.

Now, much like the rest of the lineup, the new Olive Gray version is a subdued mashup between olive green and gray. Though it stands out on its own, the color is still cool enough to mix well with the contours of the user’s head.

Other than that, the new version is still identical to the inner workings of the original device. The Sony WH-1000XM6 comes with a new HD Noise Canceling Processor QN3, providing 12 microphones for effective noise cancellation. In terms of audio quality, the headphones support High-Resolution Audio and High-Resolution Audio Wireless, thanks to LDAC support.

Also, the accessory sits comfortable on the head with a high rigidity carbon fiber composite material dome, cushioned well with synthetic leather.

As always, the Olive Gray version, launching today, will sell for US$ 459.99.

In Singapore, the Sony WH-1000XM6 in Olive Gray is available starting today through Sony Stores, the Sony Store Online, and authorized dealers for S$649, matching the pricing of the existing color options.

SEE ALSO: Sony WH-1000XM6: Master of sound quality and noise cancellation

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