Accessories

SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds review: For your gaming delight

This Gamebuds’ for you

Published

December 13, 2024

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

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

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

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

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?

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.

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.

Related Topics:ArctisGamebuds PlayStation Steelseries SteelSeries Arctis Gamebuds

Accessories

OBSBOT launches AI-powered 4K Tiny 3 series webcams

Professional-grade audiovisual features in compact bodies

Published

January 28, 2026

GadgetMatch

OBSBOT has announced the global launch of two new AI-powered 4K webcams: the Tiny 3 and Tiny 3 Lite.

Designed for content creators, streamers, podcasters, remote professionals, educators, and more, the Tiny 3 series sets a new benchmark for professional webcams.

The products combine studio-grade spatial audio, flagship-level imaging, and industry-leading AI intelligence.

The two variants also come in ultra-compact aluminum-alloy bodies while delivering premium sight and sound.

Both the Tiny 3 and Tiny 3 Lite feature industry-leading triple silicon MEMS microphone array. This system combines one omnidirectional and two directional microphones powered by Sisonic MEMS technology.

The architecture is commonly found in premium TWS earbuds and professional audio equipment. Such technology enables:

ultra-low distortion up to 130 dB SPL
exceptional 69dB signal-to-noise ratio
full spectrum 50Hz-20kHz frequency response
consistent unit-to-unit studio quality

This way, users can expect immersive sound that rivals dedicated microphones without the need to buy an extra product.

In addition, the Tiny 3 series features five dedicated audio profiles so users can tailor fit the webcams for various needs:

Pure Audio Mode — zero processing, studio-grade capture
Spatial Audio Mode — enhanced left-right stereo separation for vlogs, storytelling with soundscape
Smart Omni Mode — AI-powered 360-degree pickup with balanced vocals, ambient sound
Directional Mode — focuses on voice in front while cutting surrounding noise
Dual-Directional Mode — clear audio capture from front and rear while rejecting side noise

Moreover, the Tiny 3 series comes with Voice Locator. This feature lets the product find users, smoothly rotating the gimbal and tracking them automatically.

They can also leverage voice commands or the OBSBOT Vox SE wireless lavalier for cable-free audio.

Flagship imaging

Picture wise, the Tiny 3 features 4K@30fps video and up to 120fps high-frame rate capture. The system also uses advanced DCG HDR for balanced highlights and shadows, as well as ultra-fast dual all-pixel PDAF autofocus.

And powered by OBSBOT’s AI algorithms, the series introduces AI Tracking 2.0. Key capabilities include:

accurate tracking of subjects like individuals, groups, hands, objects, and more via Only Me mode
auto zoom, customizable composition lines, Face Framing
Voice Tracking
Multiple AI modes, including dedicated Desk Mode, Whiteboard Mode
Intuitive gesture and voice controls

For further control, users can use the OBSBOT Center and OBSBOT live for creative controls. These cover exposure and gamma curve adjustments, manual white balance tuning, and more.

Furthermore, the Tiny 3 products support remote interaction and VR features powered by the OBSBOT Toolkit.

They also integrate effortlessly with the OBSBOT ecosystem for livestreams, gaming handheld capabilities, and more.

Price, availability

The Tiny 3 starts at US$ 349 while the Tiny 3 Lite starts at US$ 199. The Vox SE, meanwhile, retails for US$ 59.

Accessories

Soundtrack for the city: HIDDEN.NY x AIAIAI TMA-2 headphones

Published

January 28, 2026

Alex Matinkhah

Living in a big city like New York makes you want to have music on a lot: on the subway, walking between meetings, sitting in a café with your laptop, zoning out on a long walk home, or romanticizing the smallest things. Headphones have become an essential part of my life.

That’s why the HIDDEN.NY x AIAIAI collaboration makes sense. The TMA-2 HIDDEN Edition headphones are reminiscent of early-2000s tech. It’s nostalgic but with New York City character, at least the kind that I encounter and not the one you see in movies.

If you follow either brand, the partnership feels natural. HIDDEN.NY started as an Instagram mood board and grew into a full lifestyle platform rooted in street culture and design. AIAIAI is a Danish company that’s long been part of music culture, known for modular gear that artists use.

The first thing you notice is the colorway. The transparent design with green highlights is subtle. It’s not loud but still stands out.

You can see the structure of the headphones, which makes them feel more like an accessory than just another piece of black plastic tech. Bonus points that they are a conversation starter, too.

In daily use, the headphones are easy to live with. They are light and comfortable, which is important when you’re wearing them for long stretches. They don’t clamp too hard nor do they feel bulky.

Sound-wise, they’re clean and balanced. While it doesn’t have active noise cancellation, it works well for all the ways people actually listen in a big city. I like that you don’t have to think about the sound much.

It’s just good in a way that doesn’t get in your way, whatever mood I’m in wherever I am in the city, these headphones are great company.

AIAIAI’s modular approach also means these aren’t built to be tossed when something wears out. The speaker, headband, earpads, and cable are all replaceable.

So much of the tech we use should grow with us, even if they get outdated. So AIAIAI builds systems that can be upgraded over time. That’s part of why artists and DJs use them.

Especially because it’s a collectible, it feels like a piece you’ll want to keep. As someone who uses his prized possessions for a really long time, I love this about these headphones.

In a city where everything moves fast and feels temporary, it’s nice to have gear that doesn’t feel disposable.

The campaign, shot by photographer Gunner Stahl, probably looks familiar if you’re attuned to hiphop culture. What sets his work apart is his portraits feel more raw and relaxed instead of posed and polished. It aligns with HIDDEN.NY’s aesthetic, the kind of everyday style that feels genuine.

At the end of the day, the HIDDEN.NY x AIAIAI TMA-2 Bluetooth headphones make sense for people who live in cities like New York, where music is part of how you move, work, and think.

They sound good, they look interesting and different. They fit into real life without trying too hard.

The TMA-2 Hidden Edition headphones retail for US$220 and is available on aiaiai.audio.

Accessories

G-DRAGON is CASETiFY’s first ever Global Brand Ambassador

Right on time with the brand’s 15th-year milestone

Published

January 22, 2026

Vincenz

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

One of K-Pop’s most iconic soloists of all time has finally partnered up with the globally-renowned case maker.

And this isn’t like any other CASETiFY’s K-Pop Collab, this is much grander than that.

i-naugural Brand iCON

You heard that right! CASETiFY reveals their first ever Global Brand Ambassador.

Amassing 25 million Instagram followers, over 1.2 Billion YouTube views, and hitting almost 4 Million Spotify listeners, G-DRAGON has truly marked his footprint as the “King of K-Pop” — more than just being the iconic member of the global hit group BIGBANG.

His long overdue comeback (and world tour) with ‘Übermensch’ last 2025 further proves how massive the VIP (and FAM) community is.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by PEACEMINUSONE®️ (@peaceminusonedotcom)

That said, GD’s influence isn’t limited to the music industry alone. Art and fashion have also witnessed his legendary artistry through his PEACEMINUSONE label. That pretty daisy with a fallen petal is the brand’s most iconic emblem you can see around.

The introduction of his fashion line was connected to music as well. It was introduced way back in 2013 during his ‘COUP D’ETAT’ solo promotions which was a true hit. It was totally evident in the album art’s peace symbol minus that one line.

Wesley Ng, CASETiFY’s CEO and Co-Founder (who’s also fashion-savvy), said that “welcoming G-DRAGON as the brand’s first Global iCON is a powerful statement.” This will not only amplify the reach of the already-popular case maker, it will also influence the brand’s creative direction.

After all, one’s artistic expression can be seen easily with the cases we rock out and about.

i-conic CHROMATIC

In line with this milestone also lies a new collection of cases and accessories.

The all-new CHROMATIC Collection is built around two concepts: FORMS & HUES. First, the CHROMATIC: FORMS set is headlined by the premium-made Alloy Ripple Case with an upgraded aluminum material.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Speaking of aluminum, the accompanying accessories are all metallic — from the 2-in-1 cross-body chain to custom cube charms for bespoke personalization.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Meanwhile, the CHROMATIC: HUES adds five new vibrant shades to CASETiFY’s ever-popular Ripple Collection through the Neon Ripple Case. These bold range of colors not only embody users’ creativity and self-expression, it also showcases an individual’s overall aesthetics.