The Sanwear GT arrives with one clear promise: give gamers the quick reactions of a wired headset without the cable. It’s bold, brash, and unapologetically gamer — from the angular case to the breathing LEDs on each bud — and, more importantly, it actually backs up the look with sensible performance.
After having an opportunity to test, I can say the GT isn’t a gimmick. It’s a serious attempt to move pro-level gaming audio into a truly wireless form factor.
That said, it’s not flawless: the finish picks up fingerprints, the case orientation is odd unless you use the lanyard, and the price sits well above what most people expect for earbuds.
If you’re shopping for absolute low-latency wireless audio for games or video editing, though, the GT is worth a hard look.
Also see: Monster XKT16 Review: Gaming Earbuds on a Budget
Key Specs and Features
- Drivers: 8mm “Hyper Dynamic” single driver
- Water Resistance: IPX6
- Bluetooth: Version 5.2 with SBC, AAC, and LC3 codecs
- Battery Life: 6 hours per charge, up to 33 hours with case
- Latency: ≤20ms in SoundSync mode
- Noise Reduction: Passive up to 30dB + AI Environmental Noise Cancellation
- App: Soundscape (iOS & Android)
- Charging: USB-C (no wireless charging)
Unboxing and first impressions
Sanwear put effort into the packaging. The box opens with a clever tab mechanism that reveals accessories laid out neatly — ear hooks on one side, tips on the other, and the case in the center. It feels premium out the gate, which matters for a product with this kind of positioning.
Inside, you get the charging case, the earbuds, a USB-C to USB-A and USB-C cable, a small USB-C dongle for SoundSync, a travel pouch and a lanyard. The dongle is an important inclusion — more on that in a second.
Design and comfort
The GT’s case and buds are plastic, but not cheap-feeling. Design-wise they’re chunky, with hard edges and prominent gamer lighting. If you want discreet, keep the LEDs off — you can do that in the app.
Fit is good once you try the supplied hooks and tips. Sanwear bundles enough options that most ears will get a secure, comfortable seal; that seal is actually critical to how the GT’s spatial processing performs. On extended sessions I didn’t get ear fatigue, and the earbuds stayed secure in active use.
One awkward hardware detail: the earbuds sit in the case in a crisscross layout. If you pick the case up without the lanyard and pop a bud out, you’ll probably put the left bud in the right ear until you get used to it. Hang it from the neck with the lanyard and the orientation makes sense — but that feels like a workaround rather than a smart default.
SoundSync and latency — the game-changer
SoundSync is the GT’s headline feature. You can use it two ways: plug the supplied USB-C dongle into a compatible device (PC, phone) and pair the buds to it, or connect the case to the device with the included USB-C cable and let the case act as the dongle.
Either way the result is the same: sub-20ms latency, which is effectively imperceptible. What that means in practice is you can edit video, watch movies, or play shooters without the tiny but maddening delay you usually get with Bluetooth.
For creators who edit on laptops or for casual gamers who want wireless with wired responsiveness, this is the GT’s biggest selling point.
Audio performance — more heft than you’d expect
Sanwear’s tuning here surprised me. The GT uses a single 8 mm “hyper dynamic” driver per bud, and yet the low end is deep and authoritative — there’s real sub-bass rumble that gives explosions and movie scores weight. If you like a fun, powerful low end, the GT delivers.
- Bass: Thick, punchy and controlled. Not bloated, and it doesn’t drown the mids when dialed in carefully. I nudged the EQ up a bit in the app to suit my taste and found a very satisfying balance.
- Mids: Natural and present. Vocals don’t get lost, and dialogue in movies is clear even when explosions are happening.
- Highs: Sparkly without being harsh. Detail retrieval is good; the treble is tuned to be enjoyable rather than fatiguing.
Where the GT really stands out is spatial imaging. Footsteps, movement and directional cues are rendered clearly, which makes a genuine difference in games.
The GT creates a sense of soundstage that is more open than many earbuds; it won’t replace open-back headphones for absolute “out-of-head” staging, but it’s one of the best I’ve heard on truly wireless buds.
The app: Soundscape
The Soundscape companion app has come a long way. Initially a bit basic, it now offers a cleaner UI, firmware updates, battery readouts for each bud, LED settings, and three main audio modes: Music, Movie and Game (Combat). Music mode unlocks a simple EQ (three bands) while movie and game presets are locked but clearly tuned for their use cases.
A few notes:
- You can turn LEDs off or change their breathing timing. No RGB, just two color options.
- The EQ changes you make in Music mode surprisingly affect Game and Movie presets indirectly — it’s an odd quirk, but it means you can still influence those presets.
- Firmware updates over the app have improved clarity and EQ responsiveness since launch, which is encouraging.
Microphone and call quality
Sanwear combines environmental noise cancellation with AI processing on the mic side. In practice that means callers hear you clearly even in noisy places.
The processing can sometimes make the voice sound slightly processed or “slick,” but intelligibility is high and background noise is significantly reduced. For in-game comms and casual calls, the mics are more than adequate.
Battery life and charging
Expect around 6 hours from the buds on a single charge and roughly 33 hours total with the case — typical for this class.
Charging is via USB-C; unfortunately, there’s no wireless charging option on the case, which feels like a missed convenience for a product at this price.
Things that could be improved
Finish durability: the glossy case picks up scuffs and fingerprints quickly. Over months of use I noticed wear that slightly cheapened the look.
Price: positioned as a premium gaming product, the GT launched at a high price and even the discounted levels leave it in the upper tier for earbuds. That’s a lot to justify unless you specifically need low latency and top-tier spatial audio.
Codecs: SoundSync uses LC3, and otherwise the GT handles SBC and AAC. If you’re chasing the absolute highest Bluetooth audio fidelity (for music purism) there are better codec-equipped options.
Controls: the initial firmware lacked volume control via the touch areas (later updates have added more gesture options), and there’s no onboard way to change playback volume without touching your source in some setups. This is fixable in software, and Sanwear has already pushed meaningful updates.
Sanwear GT Garmin Earbuds: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Exceptional spatial audio and imaging
- True 20ms ultra-low latency via SoundSync
- Strong bass and natural mids
- Excellent passive noise isolation
- Polished app with customization and updates
Cons
- Expensive for earbuds
- No wireless charging
- Glossy case attracts scratches
- Missing LDAC support
Who should buy the Sanwear GT?
Buy the GT if:
- You play shooters or competitive games and want wireless with wired responsiveness.
- You edit video or do content work and want an easy wireless setup with negligible audio lag.
- You value strong spatial imaging and a weighty bass response in a small package.
Skip it if:
- You want a pair of everyday earbuds primarily for music and you care deeply about high-res codecs.
- You prefer minimalistic styling and a scratch-resistant finish.
- The price is a hard limit — there are cheaper earbuds that sound very good for music alone.
Nick, the Co-founder of Earbuds Arena, is a seasoned freelance tech journalist with over ten years of experience covering wearables, apps, headphones, and gadgets. When he’s not immersed in the tech world, you’ll likely find him unwinding with video games, going for a run, or enjoying a game of soccer on the field.
