Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds: A Comfortable Alternative to Traditional Headsets

Daily Technology

19/03/2026

Asus has entered the growing market of open-style wireless earbuds with their ROG Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds. Aimed at gamers, these earbuds promise comfort and the ability to stay aware of your surroundings without sacrificing audio quality or mic performance. The review suggests they offer a compelling alternative to traditional gaming headsets, particularly for extended play sessions.

Key Takeaways

Comfortable, open-ear design that doesn't block your ear canal.
Excellent microphone quality for in-game communication.
Low-latency audio via a 2.4GHz USB-C dongle for seamless gaming.
Ability to hear ambient sounds while still enjoying game audio.
Decent battery life, though features like RGB and bass boost can impact it.

Comfort and Awareness

The standout feature of the Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds is their comfort. Unlike traditional earbuds that seal your ear canal, these wrap around the ear with speakers positioned externally. This design allows for natural conversations and, crucially for safety and convenience, lets users remain aware of their environment. This open-ear approach is a significant departure from typical gaming earbuds and is lauded for making long gaming sessions more tolerable.

Gaming Performance

For gamers, the inclusion of a 2.4GHz USB-C dongle is a major plus, providing low-latency audio essential for fast-paced games. The earbuds performed well across various titles, offering clear game audio. The microphone quality is also a strong point, with an AI-noise-canceling array ensuring clear voice communication even in noisy environments. The dongle also features charging passthrough, a convenient addition for mobile devices.

Sound and Features

While the sound quality is good for gaming, it may not rival dedicated audiophile earbuds for music. The companion Gear Link app offers some customization, including RGB lighting and EQ presets. The "Immersion Mode" aims to reduce ambient noise but is noted as less effective than active noise cancellation. However, the "Phantom Bass" feature provides a noticeable bass boost that enhances in-game cues like footsteps.

Battery Life and Limitations

The Cetra earbuds offer a solid battery life, with Asus claiming up to 16 hours on a single charge (without features like RGB or bass boost enabled), and an additional 48 hours from the charging case. The charging case itself is noted as being quite large. While versatile across many devices, they are not compatible with Xbox consoles due to Microsoft's specific codec requirements. The earbuds can also be used via Bluetooth, but this connection results in higher latency and slightly diminished sound quality compared to the dongle.

Conclusion

The Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless Gaming Earbuds present a compelling option for gamers who prioritize comfort and situational awareness. While they may not replace high-end ANC earbuds for music listening, their gaming-centric features, excellent mic, and comfortable design make them a strong contender in the evolving landscape of gaming audio.

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