- Hardware
- Headsets & Headphones
The Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless earbuds launch today
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Asus ROG)
- Copy link
- X
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, 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.You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
Want to add more newsletters?
Every Friday
GamesRadar+
Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.
Signup +
Every Thursday
GTA 6 O'clock
Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.
Signup +
Every Friday
Knowledge
From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.
Signup +
Every Thursday
The Setup
Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.
Signup +
Every Wednesday
Switch 2 Spotlight
Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.
Signup +
Every Saturday
The Watchlist
Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.
Signup +
Once a month
SFX
Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!
Signup + An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletterCES 2026 was a few months ago now, but we're finally seeing its shiny tech reveals hit the online shelves, including the Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless earbuds.
These contenders for the best gaming earbuds are the brand's first ever delve into open-back design, a style typically reserved for high-end headsets and headphones. In the case of these $229.99 (Amazon) buds, it means that they sit outside your ear canal and direct sound towards your ears, rather than entirely sealing them off from the rest of the world. It's mainly for comfort and, if earbuds have put you off in the past due to the worry of ear aches and pains, you can grab these from today.
Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds | $229.99 at AmazonAvailable today, the Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless earbuds feature dual Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless, including USB-C charging passthrough via the low-latency dongle included with the buds. They also provide everything from AI noise cancellation, onboard audio modes including a Phantom Bass to enhance the low-sound frequencies of games, and an up to 64-hour battery life (16 hours playback.)
View DealAsus states that having the buds rest outside your ear canals helps "eliminate pressure points" common to in-ear designs. That alone has intrigued me enough to give these a whirl as soon as possible as I still prefer the best gaming headsets for day to day play.
The buds have also been developed using "skin-friendly" materials and feature an ergonomic ear hook to ensure a comfortable and secure fit. With that in mind, a lot of the official marketing imagery of these buds is centred around sports and fitness activities. However, there are plenty of features keep up that gaming ethos, such as their 14.2mm Diamond-like carbon diaphragm audio drivers and dual-mode connectivity.
The ROG Cetra open earbuds are equipped with dual Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless, making them compatible with everything from the brand's own Asus ROG Xbox Ally X handheld, the PS5, PC and other consoles and your smartphone at the same time. That means you don't have to pop down Pokemon Pokopia if you have an incoming call, and you can carry on playing with your with Pokemon pals interrupted.
The 2.4GHz dongle also marks the brand's first stab at one-way passthrough charging. A USB-C port on the buds provides up to 16 hours of playback while you're actively using them to play games at the same time. Out of all these gaming earbuds have to offer, this is the feature I'm most excited about testing once my sample arrives.
At the moment, the SteelSeries Arctis Game Buds are my day-to-day buds, but I have to remove them and pop them into their wireless case whenever they need more juice. The buds, which currently sit at the top of my recommendation list, remain fantastic, but it'd be a dream to not have to unplug them from my ears each time they need a recharge - especially as I've been blazing through their battery life while building habitats in Pokopia this past weekend.
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ NewsletterContact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.It'll still be a while until my review is ready to go, but if you're eager to make them yours, the Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless gaming earbuds are now available directly from the Asus eStore, and other notable US retailers from Amazon, Best Buy, Micro Center, and Newegg.
- View all Asus ROG earbuds at Amazon
- View all Asus ROG gaming headsets at Amazon
SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds
$199.99 $159.99ViewSee all prices
Turtle Beach Scout Air
$49.95ViewSee all prices
Epos GTW 270 Hybrid $129.30ViewSee all prices
Razer Moray $129.99ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best pricesIf you prefer a traditional pair of cups instead, I've rounded up all the best PS5 headsets, the best PC headsets for gaming, and the best Nintendo Switch headsets worth your time and attention.
TOPICS Asus CATEGORIES PC Gaming Platforms
Rosalie NewcombeSocial Links NavigationHardware EditorEver since I first held a NES controller in my hand I've been obsessed with gaming, and the hardware it runs on. I could hook up a NES and SNES to a telly, without instructions, before I could walk. Even now, nothing is more exciting then taking a console, or handheld, out the box for the first time and setting it up. This obsession transformed into a love of games and game music, which lead to my music degree and dream of becoming the Scottish Nobuo Uematsu. After sharing my love of games through music, I began to share my love through words on sites like TechRadar and iMore. This lead to becoming a Hardware staff writer for PCGamesN, and later the Senior Tech Writer for Dexerto, covering all things Steam Deck, PlayStation and Nintendo. With that experience, I was able to level up as Hardware Editor for GamesRadar+, where I'm still just as Nintendo, PlayStation and gaming tech obsessed as ever.
View MoreYou must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
Logout LATEST ARTICLES
1Pokemon and Palworld clones are officially out of hand, as fans react to "lawsuitmaxxing" new game Pickmon and its "straight up rip-offs" of iconic 'mons like Charizard- 2After years of torturing myself over NES color accuracy, it turns out there is no consensus for how the retro console should look
- 3Kinda sounds like Elijah Wood WILL be in Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, as he admits he "wouldn't want anybody else to play Frodo"
- 4Resident Evil Requiem Grace actor says Capcom wanted more "cinematic performances" to keep pace with the devs "leveling up" the technical side of the horror game
- 5How many areas there are in Pokemon Pokopia?
