Asus just released new open earbuds... for gaming?

Date:
Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:00:00 +0000

Description:
Asus has released the ROG Cetra Open Wireless open gaming earbuds.

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Asus has launched the ROG Cetra Open Wireless gaming earbuds They cost $199 / 174.99 and boast an open design The brand advertises them as "perfect" for gaming and fitness Asus has launched a new pair of gaming earbuds, the ROG Cetra Open Wireless. They're the first open gaming earbuds from a major hardware brand and are billed as "perfect for gaming, music, and active lifestyles."

Open (or open-ear) earbuds are a relatively recent creation that have become increasingly popular in the last few years thanks to popular models from big audio brands like Bose and JBL. They hook around your ears with drivers that sit a few millimetres further away than regular in-ear earbuds, which usually fully seal the ear canal using a silicone tip.

This leaves your ear open, allowing for almost complete situational awareness and massively reducing fatigue. They're very comfortable to wear, and the ability to hear outside sounds like traffic makes them a good pick for
outdoor sport and fitness. Article continues below You may like Soundcore unveils open earbuds that can also be ear-sealing ANC buds The best open earbuds, all real-world tested by our experts The best feature of Sonos' headphones is coming to earbuds at last (Image credit: Asus) They're not without some compromises though. The lack of a seal inevitably means that the ability to produce bass takes a massive hit and (although a few models like the Honor Earbuds Open do offer some form of active noise cancellation) the fact they let in so much sound can be a double edged sword if you want an immersive listening experience in a loud environment. That's why it's so surprising to see a model geared towards gaming, a market where strong noise cancellation is the norm. A good fit? (Image credit: Asus) The Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless boast 14.2mm diamond-like carbon coated drivers and support for the brand's 2.4GHz ROG SpeedNova technology via an included wireless dongle.

Bluetooth is offered as well, with dual-mode connectivity for seamless platform switching. Each earbud has a physical button on it, which Asus says will keep them fully responsive in the rain or "intense workouts." An
included detachable neck strap even helps keep them in place while you're running. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

The idea of a product that's geared towards both gaming and fitness is certainly unusual, and there don't actually seem to be that many gaming-specific features here.

Four microphones are built-in for chatting and there's customizable RGB lighting, of course, with an illuminated ROG logo on each bud. New browser-based Gear Link software that allows you to up the bass via a Phantom Bass setting or enable a more immersive sound mode but that seems to be your lot.

With battery life of roughly 16 hours, with an additional 48 hours in the charging case, you do at least get much more listening time than cheap non-gaming alternatives like the Huawei FreeArc .

The $229.99 / 174.99 asking price, right up there with the cost of some of
the best wireless gaming headsets and substantially more than most of the
best gaming earbuds , is definitely a tall order and I'm curious to see whether the benefits of an open design are enough to convince gamers to
splash out. The best gaming earbuds

Read our full guide to the best gaming earbuds 1. Best overall: SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds 2. Best budget: Turtle Beach Battle Buds 3. Best wired: 1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones 4. Best for PS5: Sony Inzone Buds 5. Best for PlayStation Portal: PlayStation Pulse Explore 6. Best for audiophiles: 1MORE Quad Driver In-Ear Headphones 7. Best mic: SteelSeries Tusq Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/gaming/gaming-accessories/asus-just-released-new-ope n-earbuds-for-gaming


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