These wireless earbuds could actually replace your gaming headset

a pair of true wireless earbuds next to a smartphone and nintendo switch
(Image credit: Genki)

Gaming headsets are an essential bit of kit in any gamer's arsenal, but they can feel a little bulky during long sessions. Luckily, these new crowdfunded wireless earbuds from Genki could be the perfect solution for anyone that prefers the smaller form factor of a pair of in-ear headphones. 

There are already lots of true wireless earbuds on the market for gamers to choose from, but the Genki Waveform Wireless Earbuds come with a special trick that could make them perfect for gaming: they're the first wireless earbuds that can play audio from two devices at the same time. 

That means you could be playing a game on your PC and take a phone call through the earbuds, while still being able to hear your gameplay – or, you could sneakily listen to music from your smartphone while attending a boring Zoom meeting on your laptop. 

As Genki points out on the earbuds' Kickstarter page, this DualStream feature could be particularly useful for Nintendo Switch players. To engage with voice chat on Switch games, you need to have a smartphone wirelessly tethered to the console via Wi-Fi using Nintendo’s Switch Online app. The Waveform Wireless Earbuds would allow you to connect to your smartphone and your Switch at the same time, and hear audio from both devices as you play your game.

The earbuds also come with aptX Adaptive for hi-res audio support, low latency to avoid lag between your games visual and audio output, and a 30-hour battery life. According to the company, 10mm dual hybrid drivers should deliver deep bass and a "rich soundstage without distortions", while noise cancellation means you should be able to block out some of the outside world as you game.


Are these earbuds as innovative as they seem?

the genki waveform wireless earbuds

(Image credit: Genki)

While there are wireless earbuds that are capable of connecting to two devices simultaneously thanks to multipoint Bluetooth pairing, we aren't aware of any that can play audio from two separate devices at the same time, which makes the Waveform Wireless Earbuds a very exciting prospect.

Saying that, even the Genki earbuds aren't capable of natively delivering two Bluetooth streams simultaneously. For the DualStream feature to work, you'll need to connect the earbuds' charging case to one of your audio devices via a cable. Like the Bowers & Wilkins PI7 true wireless earbuds, this means the charging case acts as an audio retransmitter, and allows you to connect wirelessly to devices that may not even come with Bluetooth support. 

That may not be quite as impressive as a pair of earbuds that can play audio from two devices without needing any kind of physical connection, but it should be easy enough to hook the charging case up to one of your devices, with AUX, USB-C, and Lightning connectivity supported.

The Genki buds are much cheaper than B&W's $399 / £349 / AU$599 PI7 earbuds, too. Early bird pledges for the Waveform Wireless Earbuds costs $199 (about £150 / AU$270), with delivery estimated for August 2022.

Before you rush to buy the Genki Waveform Wireless Earbuds, it's worth bearing in mind that they're part of a crowdfunding campaign – and that means there's no guarantee that they'll actually come to market. Still, Human Things – the company behind Genki – has a good track record when it comes to crowdfunding, having launched a number of products this way in the past.

Via Gizmodo

Olivia Tambini

Olivia was previously TechRadar's Senior Editor - Home Entertainment, covering everything from headphones to TVs. Based in London, she's a popular music graduate who worked in the music industry before finding her calling in journalism. She's previously been interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live on the subject of multi-room audio, chaired panel discussions on diversity in music festival lineups, and her bylines include T3, Stereoboard, What to Watch, Top Ten Reviews, Creative Bloq, and Croco Magazine. Olivia now has a career in PR.

Read more
Best gaming earbuds
Best gaming earbuds in 2025: great portable sound from Sony, SteelSeries and more
Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed with case on table with pink and plant in background
I like the look of the Razer Hammerhead Pro HyperSpeed gaming earbuds, but I think they suffer from a case of style over substance
Sony Inzone Buds vs PlayStation Pulse Explore buds side by side on a green/pink background
Sony Inzone Buds vs PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds: comparing price, features, performance, and more
Honor Earbuds open, in early testing
The top 3 ground-breaking earbuds innovations we saw at MWC 2025
Best wireless gaming headset buying guide header image
The best wireless gaming headsets in 2025
best PC gaming headsets
The best PC gaming headsets in 2025: stellar audio from SteelSeries, Corsair, and more
Latest in Earbuds & Airpods
Close-up of woman using AirPods Pro 2
AirPods could catch up with Samsung buds with a live translation free upgrade in iOS 19
The Apple AirPods 4 on a blue background with text saying Lowest Price.
AirPods 4 are down to $99 again, but there's a better AirPods Pro 2 deal that I'd buy
AirPods Pro 2 out of their case on a wooden surface
Camera-toting AirPods with Apple Intelligence said to be in active development – but the idea may be too flawed to take off
A screen shot from a promotional video showing the HealthBuds fitness tracking earphones from Synseer
These mysterious wireless earbuds claim to monitor your heart and hearing health simultaneously, but there’s a catch
The Apple AirPods 4 on a blue background with text saying Lowest Price.
Quick! The Apple AirPods 4 are back down to under $100 at Amazon
The Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro on a bronze table.
I tested the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro and they're better, but never twice as good as the non-Pro 5 – and sadly, they're double the money
Latest in News
A man getting angry with his laptop.
Windows 11 bug deletes Copilot from the OS – is this the first glitch ever some users will be happy to encounter?
Huawei Watch Fit 3
The Huawei Watch 3 is a decent Apple Watch alternative, and its successor could be close at hand
An image of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra from a hands-on event
Samsung's latest software upgrade could mean Galaxy phones beat iPhones for gaming – but you can't get it yet
God of War 20th Anniversary Graphic.
Sony has unveiled some goodies to celebrate God of War’s 20th anniversary, but it's not the remaster I was hoping for
person at a computer
Many workers are overconfident at spotting phishing attacks
Apple iPhone 16 Plus Review
The iPhone 17 Air could have an affordable price, and better battery life than you might have expected