Using Your Earbuds and AirPods As Gaming Headsets

Gaming headsets are pretty costly. At the same time, as premium, as they are, they get put through a lot of wear and tear. Therefore, the average gamer goes through a lot of headsets. There are times when we need to create workarounds, and for some, especially on mobile, AirPods seem like the best bet. So, are AirPods good for gaming? Let’s take a look.

Airpods work well with PC gaming and primarily mobile gaming. It is one of the best options for people who want great sound with a microphone for mobile gaming. For PC gamers, they are great for those who don’t want bulky headsets over their ears all the time. AirPods work well on consoles, but they are not suited for it.

In this article, we are going to have a few step-by-step guides telling you how you can get going with AirPods and earbuds for gaming. We also want to talk about what you can expect when using AirPods on mobile or PC.

Finally, we are going to speak a little bit about Beats by Dre. So, for everything you need to know, keep reading.

Using AirPods For Mobile Gaming

We are starting with mobile gaming because it is a match made in heaven. Well, at least in my experience. Playing games on mobile means that you can play anywhere, and with Razer making gaming headphones it’s amazing.

However, carrying around a bulky gaming headset can be tedious, and therefore we understand why so many people want to use the AirPods for mobile gaming. Maybe, you want to buy a pair and need convincing.

The AirPods use stereo sound. So, if you are playing games like PUBG, you will still be able to hear more or less what direction footsteps are coming from.

Also, you will be able to hear where gunfights are coming from. AirPods also offer a great experience if you play games like CSR Racing or any other chilled game on mobile.

With the recent introduction of Xbox cloud gaming, the mobile space has been invigorated with new life, at least in terms of gaming. You now have the ability to play AAA games on your mobile device. Well, at least in the countries where Cloud gaming is supported. 

With the ability to play AAA games with your friends across different platforms, you don’t really want to carry a bulky headset with you when playing Halo or Forza with your friends.

So, having AirPods means you can easily connect them with your phone, which allows for game audio and party chat simultaneously.

Using AirPods for PC Gaming

Look, if you own a laptop or desktop and a pair of AirPods, you have most likely connected them before. After all, wearing headphones is almost essential when you do a lot of Zoom calls.

However, are they good for gaming on PC? Well, we want to answer that now. As a bonus, we will give a small step-by-step guide for those who have not connected them before.

AirPods are not as good as traditional gaming headsets, especially when comparing them with premium ones. However, they offer a solution for those who do not have headsets or are waiting for them to be delivered. At the same time, if you want a wireless solution, then AirPods are great.

You will have stereo sound, which means that footsteps and in-game noises will be directional so that you can pinpoint, to some extent, where the noise is coming from.

Let’s be honest; that is what we need as gamers. AirPods also have a built-in microphone that you can use to talk to your friends or teammates.

How to setup AirPods on PC for Gaming: 9 Easy Steps

Setting up the AirPods on your PC is relatively simple. You will need a motherboard that has built-in Bluetooth or a Bluetooth dongle. Laptops should have Bluetooth built-in.

If you have any of those, you are ready to start. So, here are our xx easy steps to setting up AirPods for gaming on your PC.

1. Make sure that your PC or Laptop has Bluetooth.
2. On your desktop screen, click the little up arrow on the bottom left.
3. Click Bluetooth.
4. Open the Bluetooth manager by clicking on it.
5. Activate Bluetooth.
6. Open your AirPods case while the AirPods are inside it.
7. Hold down the button at the back to make your device discoverable.
8. Once the white light starts flashing on your case, you should see the device pop up in the devices list on your PC.
9. Select the AirPods and enjoy.

That should do the trick. Oh, and this will work for almost every kind of Bluetooth headset. So, if you have Galaxy Buds, you can follow the same tutorial.

How to Use AirPods on PS4 or PS5: 9 Easy Steps

When it comes to using AirPods on your PS4 or PS5, it is touch and go. You do need a 3^rd party device. We recommend using the Gulikit Route Air Nintendo Switch Bluetooth Adapter.

Now, We will give you a step-by-step guide on how to connect your AirPods to your PlayStation console. 

1. Plug the USB Bluetooth transmitter into a USB port on your PS4 or PS5.
2. Hold down the “Pair” button on the transmitter.
3. Open your AirPods case.
4. Hold down the button at the back to make your device discoverable.
5. Once the white light starts flashing on your case, you should see the device pop up on your PS4.
6. Go to your PS4 or PS5 settings.
7. Click on “Devices.”
8. Then, Click on “connected” or “Audio.”
9. Make sure the sound is set to play through the Bluetooth transmitter.

If you are using a PS5, lucky you, but you will be able to use the mic on the controller. For PS4, you will not be able to use party chat.

However, you could plug a standalone mic into the other USB. This is also where USB hubs come in handy. I recommend using the GYORGKSHI USB Hub.

Here is a great video from CTA Tech Desk on Youtube:

HOW TO: connect AirPods to your PS5 – EASILY. Tutorial

How to Use AirPods on Xbox One or Xbox Series X/S

Using AirPods on your Xbox console requires a workaround; however, things are simple once you navigate the workaround.

You need to use a third-party device that connects to your controller via the 3.5 mm jack and has a Bluetooth receiver on the other end.

All you have to do is plug the jack into your controller, switch on the Bluetooth device, pair it with your AirPods, and it should work like any other headset.

Well, many people play multiplayer games, and you can’t use chat functionality unless you find a device with a built-in mic. 

However, if you want to use the AirPods primarily for voice chat, you can connect them to your cell phone, start or join a party chat via the Xbox mobile app and play the game sound through your TV or monitor.

Can you Use Beats for Gaming?

If you are trying to decide between getting AirPods or beats, I highly recommend reading that article after reading this one. Hopefully, we can try and persuade your decision.

However, for now, we can say that Beats by Dre do work well for mobile gaming and PC. You don’t get the same experience you would get with premium headsets on a gaming PC, but on mobile, they can work wonders with their excellent sound quality for games like COD mobile.

One factor that sets the AirPods apart from Beats is portability. See, with Beats, you run into the same problem of having bulky headsets wherever you go.

Most people don’t mind this, but if you like to be more discreet, AirPods is the best choice for you.

Conclusion

In my honest opinion, AirPods are best suited to mobile and cloud games, but if you are on PC and console, you want to get a gaming headset because they offer a lot more than what AirPods do.

However, because of the sound quality and stereo sound, you can definitely game with AirPods regardless of your device. If you are looking to partner them with high-quality headphones under $100 check out our guide here.