How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-29 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• realme Buds biggest strength: 50dB hybrid active noise cancellation plus up to 38 hours of playback in an in-ear design that weighs just 30 g — serious quiet and serious stamina for the size.
• realme Buds biggest trade-off: it's a Bluetooth-only in-ear set with no dongle and no wired option, so it's built for phone and laptop life rather than console gaming.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X biggest strength: a multi-platform 2.4GHz USB-C dongle (with a USB-A adapter included) plus per-game presets in a companion app — a genuine low-latency gaming tool.
• SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X biggest trade-off: it's over-ear and heavier at 260 g with no active noise cancellation, so it's not the pair you slip in a pocket for a commute.
• Who each pick is for: realme Buds is for the commuter, student or phone-first listener who wants quiet and battery; Arctis Nova 3X is for the gamer who switches between Xbox, PS5, PC, Switch and mobile.
The realme Buds are a noise-cancelling in-ear Bluetooth set, and the headline number is the one most earbuds can't match: 50dB of hybrid active noise cancellation. That's an aggressive figure, and the type of cancellation matters — hybrid means it listens on both the outside and inside of the ear, which is exactly the setup that works on a bus engine, a plane cabin drone or an air conditioner hum. Combined with the in-ear seal, this is a set designed to carve out quiet.
Then there's the sound. A 13.6mm dynamic bass driver is a large driver for an in-ear model, and realme pairs it with 360° Spatial Audio. In practice that means a wide, enveloping presentation — good for film soundtracks, pop, hip-hop and anything that leans on low-end weight. If you're the type who wants bass you can feel from a pair of earbuds, the driver size here is doing the heavy lifting.
The battery story is just as straightforward: up to 38 hours of total playback. For a daily commute, that's a set you charge roughly once a week rather than once a day. IP55 water and dust resistance means sweat, light rain and gym sessions aren't a problem, though I wouldn't swim in them. And dual device connection lets you stay paired to a phone and a laptop at once and switch between them — genuinely useful if you take calls while working.
Who should buy it: anyone who wants quiet, long battery and bass-forward sound in something small and light — commuters, students, gym-goers, remote workers on calls all day. Who should skip it: competitive console or PC gamers who need a low-latency dongle connection and per-game audio tuning, and anyone who prefers the feel of over-ear cups.
SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X: Who It's For
The Arctis Nova 3X is a different animal entirely: a wireless multi-platform gaming headset that covers Xbox, PS5, PC, Switch and mobile from one device. The trick is the USB-C dongle running 2.4GHz low-latency audio, with a USB-A adapter included for older ports, plus Bluetooth 5.3 for a quick switch to music or calls. That dual-radio setup — 2.4GHz for play, Bluetooth for everything else — is the most useful thing about it.
The software side is where it separates itself from a generic headset. The Arctis Companion mobile app offers 200+ game presets, including profiles for Call of Duty and Fortnite, and the pitch is simple: sharpen footsteps, reloads and other cues so you hear opponents before you see them. You can adjust in real time mid-match. Whether presets make you faster is debatable, but having per-title tuning on tap is a real convenience.
Comfort is clearly a design priority. At 260 g with a stretchy headband, multiple adjustment points and a dual-hinge design for durability, SteelSeries has built this for marathon sessions. The neodymium magnetic drivers are tuned for a detailed soundscape — clear highs, defined mids, deep bass — and with a 36 ohm impedance and a frequency response up to 22,000 Hz, they're voiced for gaming detail rather than thumping bass.
Battery life is up to 40 hours, with fast charging that gives roughly nine hours from a 15-minute top-up — the kind of feature you appreciate when you forgot to plug in. It ships with a 1-year warranty.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for noise cancellation → realme Buds. 50dB hybrid ANC versus no ANC at all on the Arctis Nova 3X.
• Best for total battery → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X. Up to 40 hours versus up to 38 — close, but the fast-charge top-up (15 minutes for about nine hours) is the real differentiator.
• Best for gaming latency and consoles → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X. 2.4GHz USB-C dongle, USB-A adapter, Xbox/PS5/PC/Switch support.
• Best for portable, everyday listening → realme Buds. 30 g in-ear, IP55, dual device connection, works anywhere.
• Best for bass-forward music → realme Buds. The 13.6mm dynamic driver and 360° Spatial Audio are aimed squarely at low-end weight and a wide stage.
• Best for per-game audio control → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X. 200+ presets in the Arctis Companion app.
• Best for long-wear comfort → SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X. Stretchy headband and 260 g over-ear build for marathon sessions.
• Best for calls and switching between phone and laptop → realme Buds. Dual device connection is designed for exactly that.
If I had to buy one, I'd pick based on where I actually spend my hours. Gaming on a console or PC? I'd take the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 3X — the USB-C dongle, per-game presets and 40-hour battery make it a purpose-built gaming tool, and the comfort design suits long sessions. Commuting, working and listening on a phone? I'd take the realme Buds — 50dB hybrid ANC, up to 38 hours and an IP55 in-ear build cover the day better than any over-ear can. In my opinion these aren't really rivals; they're two answers to two different questions. Buy the one that matches your main screen.
They include a 45ms low-latency mode, which helps with casual mobile gaming and video. For competitive console or PC play, the Arctis Nova 3X's 2.4GHz dongle is the more purpose-built option.
No. Its feature list covers 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.3 wireless, app presets, fast charging and comfort design — but not active noise cancellation. If ANC is your priority, the realme Buds' 50dB hybrid system is the one to look at.
Very close. The Arctis Nova 3X is rated up to 40 hours and adds fast charging (about nine hours from a 15-minute charge); the realme Buds are rated up to 38 hours of total playback.
Yes. It supports Bluetooth 5.3 and mobile via the USB-C dongle, and it's listed for Xbox, PS5, PC, Switch and mobile. The realme Buds also connect to phones over Bluetooth with dual device connection.
Pick by use case, not by brand. Mostly gaming at a desk or console → Arctis Nova 3X. Mostly commuting, calls and music on the move → realme Buds. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon and affiliated sites.
When you buy through links on this page, we may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon or its affiliates. This site is an independent third-party review and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Amazon or the product brands mentioned.
See also: Turtle Beach Airlite Fit vs Duyfioa Replacement Ear Pads, SONTINH CoolBuds2 vs voijump AI Translation Earbuds, YOTMS Gaming Headset vs BENGOO Gaming Headset, Hearprotek Sleep Earbuds vs YLYHHFY 5.4