I’ve covered a fair few earbuds; in-ear, over-ear, noise-cancelling, wired, wireless, cupped...and all have had their pros, some becoming my go-to for months or even years, but never before have I been so smitten as with these bad boys.
Designed for gaming, I’ve used them for various reasons, from gaming through to podcasts in work through to ASMR / relaxation ‘tapes’ in bed and even for listening to mixes of my own upcoming album.
With incredible comfort, battery life, style, and robustness – the only downside that I found was that, being open-ear – they aren’t particularly practical in windy areas (I live by the sea), although they do handle things surprisingly well in areas of general noise such as offices, city streets and the like. As I said. I love them.
The plastic, matte black case is quite chunky and a pleasingly decent weight. Inside this is a USB-C adapter that connects to various devices (PS5, Switch etc.) and features pass-through power so you can charge whilst gaming / listening.
The plastic, matte black case is quite chunky and a pleasingly decent weight. Inside this is a USB-C adapter that connects to various devices (PS5, Switch etc.) and features pass-through power so you can charge whilst gaming / listening.
The earbuds themselves are incredibly comfortable, I’ve previously used in-ear EPOS buds that have a cracking sound, but there’s no denying the ear fatigue that sets in when your ear is fully plugged. Here, as the speaker sits just outside your ear, there’s no such issue, and I found that the ROG Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds were so comfortable as to almost feel invisible, and on several occasions I’d fall asleep with them in, walk home from work forgetting I had them in, and even wander around our flat, forgetting I was wearing them until my son asked me if “I was listening to someone”*.
With this level of comfort and practicality, you may think that the battery life suffers, but this isn’t the case, as the earbuds alone can hold up to an impressive 16 hours of life, with the case backing them up to another 48 hours – although this can be affected dependent on the brightness / effects of the RGB lighting.
With this level of comfort and practicality, you may think that the battery life suffers, but this isn’t the case, as the earbuds alone can hold up to an impressive 16 hours of life, with the case backing them up to another 48 hours – although this can be affected dependent on the brightness / effects of the RGB lighting.
There’s an accompanying Gear Link app, which allows you to alter the visuals of the lighting, power settings, gesture impact on the earbuds themselves, as well as updating the firmware, when needed. I have long hair, so I must admit that I relish the extra longevity over breathing effects that no can appreciate under my flowing locks anyway, but should you have a cool home RGB-heavy gaming setup, these will fit right in.
The USB-C adapter is ultra low latency, and that pass-through charging can be a godsend, especially when using these for the purpose of gaming, for which they are ultimately designed. On that note, I did note that when used with the PS5 there was a dip in volume that I couldn’t ramp up, but this has happened with other wireless earbuds I’ve used on Xbox / PS5, so I’m wondering if there’s an internal Bluetooth volume cap that is hard-locked, as it does seem to be a universal issue when not using purely wired accessories.
Honing into the more gaming-focused aspects of the earbuds, the ROG Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds feature a quad-mic with AI noise cancellation, and this combined with the hefty battery life and feather-light touch (each air buds weight just 11-grams) when in use means that gaming has never been more comfortable, and I genuinely mean this. Also, should they give out because you’ve forgotten to charge them, just 15 minutes of charging with the included USB-C will give you up to 3 hours of audio action, ensuring that you can get straight back onto Landstalker on the Mega Drive, like a real man..or lady.
The box also includes a neck strap, should you decide to use the ROG Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds in the gym,or whilst out running. I say this because you clearly won’t need to use them otherwise, because they are so well-designed when on the ear. I reckon they could hold up to a solid slap from a shinobi shozoku sporting assailant.
SUMMARY
I’ve covered a lot of earphones over the years here at GF, and whilst the price point of the ROG Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds isn’t shy, you absolutely get what you pay for.
The USB-C adapter is ultra low latency, and that pass-through charging can be a godsend, especially when using these for the purpose of gaming, for which they are ultimately designed. On that note, I did note that when used with the PS5 there was a dip in volume that I couldn’t ramp up, but this has happened with other wireless earbuds I’ve used on Xbox / PS5, so I’m wondering if there’s an internal Bluetooth volume cap that is hard-locked, as it does seem to be a universal issue when not using purely wired accessories.
Honing into the more gaming-focused aspects of the earbuds, the ROG Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds feature a quad-mic with AI noise cancellation, and this combined with the hefty battery life and feather-light touch (each air buds weight just 11-grams) when in use means that gaming has never been more comfortable, and I genuinely mean this. Also, should they give out because you’ve forgotten to charge them, just 15 minutes of charging with the included USB-C will give you up to 3 hours of audio action, ensuring that you can get straight back onto Landstalker on the Mega Drive, like a real man..or lady.
The box also includes a neck strap, should you decide to use the ROG Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds in the gym,or whilst out running. I say this because you clearly won’t need to use them otherwise, because they are so well-designed when on the ear. I reckon they could hold up to a solid slap from a shinobi shozoku sporting assailant.
I’ve covered a lot of earphones over the years here at GF, and whilst the price point of the ROG Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds isn’t shy, you absolutely get what you pay for.
These are wonderful earbuds that cover a lot of ground, and have some serious customisation options under their belt. Great audio, great build, great customisation.
Just maybe don’t buy them if you live in an island-based lighthouse and like to game outdoors in high winds.
We don’t swear here at GF, but if I did, I’d say that these were blinking brilliant.
* Well, if I was, it would have been https://themenwhotalk.podbean.com, natch.
From the ROG website:
ROG Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds with dual-mode Bluetooth® and ultra-low-latency ROG SpeedNova 2.4 GHz connectivity with USB-C one-way pass-through charging, 14.2 mm Diamond-Like Carbon Drivers, open-ear design, detachable neck strap, Quad-Mic with AI Noise Cancellation.
Open-Ear Comfort:
* Well, if I was, it would have been https://themenwhotalk.podbean.com, natch.
ROG Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds with dual-mode Bluetooth® and ultra-low-latency ROG SpeedNova 2.4 GHz connectivity with USB-C one-way pass-through charging, 14.2 mm Diamond-Like Carbon Drivers, open-ear design, detachable neck strap, Quad-Mic with AI Noise Cancellation.
Open-Ear Comfort:
Skin-friendly ear hook and ensure pressure-free comfort for marathon gaming or all-day use
Dual-Mode Wireless Connectivity:
Dual-Mode Wireless Connectivity:
Bluetooth® 6.0 and ultra-low-latency ROG SpeedNova 2.4GHz modes, plus USB-C one-way pass-through charging
14.2mm Diamond-Like Carbon Drivers:
14.2mm Diamond-Like Carbon Drivers:
Delivers crystal-clear, detailed sound with deep, dynamic bass
Personalized Sound Modes:
Personalized Sound Modes:
Phantom Bass enhances low-end perception, and Immersion Mode gently reduces background noise for a more focused and immersive listening experience
Quad-Mic with AI Noise Cancellation:
Quad-Mic with AI Noise Cancellation:
Four built-in microphones with AI noise cancellation to capture your voice with exceptional clarity
Fully Customizable:
Fully Customizable:
Gear Link and Gear Link apps enable EQ fine-tuning, lighting options, and more to create truly personalized listening experiences
Extended Battery Life:
Extended Battery Life:
Up to 64 hours of playtime with fast charging
*Playback time in Bluetooth mode with muted mic, RGB lighting off, and on-board audio modes turned off
ASUS Aura RGB Lighting: Offers up to 16.8 million colours and includes four preset effects
*Playback time in Bluetooth mode with muted mic, RGB lighting off, and on-board audio modes turned off
ASUS Aura RGB Lighting: Offers up to 16.8 million colours and includes four preset effects
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