Most gaming headsets are just that: headsets. They’re big, over-ear headphones with boom mics that offer plenty of power and clear voice communication. Logitech offers an alternative to that design in the G333. The company frames the G333 as a $49.99 set of wired “gaming earphones,” part of the Logitech G gaming accessory brand. The earphones are inexpensive, come bundled with a USB-C adapter for phones that lack headphone jacks, and features a good-sounding mic. Unfortunately, the G333 sorely lacks bass power, and doesn’t stand out from other similarly priced wired earphones.
Simple, Wired Earphones
The G333 looks like an ordinary set of wired earphones, available in black with blue eartips, white with lavender eartips, or purple with yellow eartips. The earpieces are simple, aluminum capsules with small Logitech G logos on the backs, and they connect to each other and your devices via a flat cable that terminates in a four-pole, 3.5mm plug. A three-button remote with a pinhole microphone sits a few inches down from the right earpiece.
The earphones lack stabilizing fins or other design elements, but the three included sets of differently sized silicone eartips ensure a reasonably comfortable and secure fit. Besides the eartips, the G333 comes with a 3.5mm-to-USB-C adapter and a small, mesh, zip-up pouch. The adapter is a welcome addition, considering how many phones have dropped the headphone jack.
Connectivity Options
As a set of 3.5mm earphones, the G333 works with any current game console when you plug it into a controller’s headset jack (or directly into the Nintendo Switch in handheld mode). It also works with any PC with a headset jack, though you’ll need a Y-adapter if your computer has separate headphone and microphone ports. And, of course, the G333 works with any phone with a headphone jack, or an adapter that houses a 3.5mm jack. I had no issue connecting the earphones to a Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Plus with the adapter.
The earphones lack simulated surround processing or other tricks. Any audio effects or tweaks must be made on the device end, whether through your console, computer, or phone.
The G333’s Microphone Performance
Test recordings made with the Galaxy Note 20 Plus and the G333’s inline microphone sounded surprisingly clear. My voice featured plenty of detail, more than I usually get with pinhole mics. The mic doesn’t do much to block outside sounds, though; it picked up my computer’s fan when I sat close to it, which came through as a bit of audio fuzziness. Still, the G333 has better audio-capture capabilities than many other wired earphones.
If you really want to make your voice stand out, though, a conventional gaming headset with a boom mic will sound better. We also recommend buying a dedicated USB microphone if you’re serious about recording or streaming.
The G333’s Music Performance
Each earphone uses two dynamic drivers, measuring 5.8mm and 9.2mm. The two drivers individually provide bass and mids/highs, instead of covering the full audio range with one driver.
The G333 won’t overwhelm you with bass power, but it handles low frequencies without distorting the audio. The kick drum hits and bass synth notes in our bass test track, The Knife’s “Silent Shout,” came through the earphones with modest, low-end force, but without a hint of crackle.
The Crystal Method’s “Born Too Slow” sounded balanced and clear, too, with the bass not overwhelming the other instruments. The backbeat packed enough pop to drive the track, but wasn’t particularly forceful or ominous. The guitar riffs and vocals contained plenty of presence, with strong clarity.
Yes’ “Roundabout” sounded similarly satisfying through the G333. The opening acoustic guitar plucks carried only a bit of resonance, but received crisp, clean string textures in the higher frequencies. When the track properly kicked in, the bassline settled into the background as the vocals stood out.
The G333’s Gaming Performance
Fortnite on the Xbox Series X sounded full and clear through the G333. It was easy to pick up nearby footsteps, as well as distant gunshots. The storm lacked a thunderous rumble, but the rustling grass produced a clean, well-balanced sound.
The stereo panning lacked directionality, though; you can determine the sound effects’ general directions, but not with the subtle precision offered by the Xbox Wireless Headset. Windows Sonic works through the headset port, as well as with wireless connections, so I think the limited sense of directionality comes from the earphones’ generally lower dynamic range.
Doom Eternal really exposed the G333’s weak bass. The game’s industrial soundtrack had almost none of its gritty thump. The shots and explosions lacked low-end presence; they sounded more poppy than booming.
Not Much Stands Out
The Logitech G333 frames itself as an in-ear gaming headset, but at heart it’s simply a solid set of in-canal earphones with a high-and-mids-focused audio balance. Sounds come through clearly, and the microphone is quite good for its type, but the G333 doesn’t otherwise offer anything that distinguishes itself as particularly good for gaming. It’s weak bass is disappointing, too.
We aren’t totally sold on the idea of gaming earbuds, and generally recommend over-ear headsets. Good ones can cost a bit more than the G333’s $50, but the improved sound and even better microphone quality is worth it. We suggest checking out the Astro Gaming A10 and Razer BlackShark V2, Editors’ Choice picks that are 3.5mm, stereo headsets compatible with any device the G333 works with.
If you really want wired earphones and don’t want to spend more than $50, the G333 is a decent choice, but it simply doesn’t impress. While we haven’t reviewed it yet, Astro Gaming offers its own take on the in-ear wired headset with the A03. Astro’s offering costs the same as the G333, and based on preliminary testing, it offers significantly stronger bass (but lacks the included USB-C adapter).
