Asus Unveils New Open Earbuds Perfect for Handheld Gaming

The Cetra Open Wireless earbuds stand out from the crowd of gaming audio gear. With their larger, open-style design, they sit just outside your ears, allowing game sounds to blend with your surroundings. This feature enhances immersion, provided your environment is relatively quiet. However, cranking up the volume might let others catch a glimpse of your audio experience.

While open-style headphones have their charm, they aren’t always the best fit for every situation or user. That said, the Cetra Open are among the most comfortable and feature-rich gaming earbuds I’ve encountered. The sound quality is impressive, even if the bass doesn’t quite match that of earbuds that create a tighter seal. Plus, they come with an excellent USB-C 2.4GHz audio transmitter, which includes a passthrough USB-C port for charging your device or accessories while you enjoy your games.

Before diving into the Cetra Open, I was primarily using the SteelSeries Arctis Buds and Sony InZone Buds for gaming. Both of these options feature active noise cancellation, a snug fit, and good sound quality, along with USB-C transmitters that make gaming on my Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch 2 a breeze. However, once I started using the Cetra Open, I found it hard to go back. I’ve been fully immersed in games like Silent Hill F and Esoteric Ebb on my Steam Deck without feeling like I was missing out on their incredible sound design. They also perform well with my PlayStation 5.

The USB-C transmitter that comes with the Cetra Open is a game-changer for anyone who frequently plays on handhelds like the Switch 2 or Steam Deck. While it has some limitations—such as only supporting power passthrough and not video or data—it’s still a must-have accessory. It supports up to 60W one-way charging, which is more than sufficient for modern gaming handhelds.

In terms of audio performance, the Cetra Open deliver a rich sound experience with surprisingly good bass and mids, thanks to Asus’ Phantom Bass feature, which is enabled by default. I often use them during my workday for music, but they shine the most when gaming at night on the couch while my wife reads. I can enjoy game audio at a comfortable volume while still engaging in conversation without needing to remove an earbud.

The charging case, which connects via USB-C (though it lacks wireless charging), can recharge the earbuds multiple times before needing a power source. Asus claims the earbuds can last up to 16 hours per charge in Bluetooth mode with the RGB LEDs and mics off, though my testing showed about 10 hours in 2.4GHz mode. I’ve only had to recharge the case twice during my testing, and the earbuds charge quickly, going from 70% to fully charged in under 20 minutes.

The Cetra Open also feature multipoint connectivity, allowing you to connect to two Bluetooth devices simultaneously or one Bluetooth device while using the 2.4GHz transmitter. Switching between sources is mostly seamless and doesn’t require any button presses, although simultaneous audio from two sources isn’t supported.

Asus provides several options for customizing earbud settings when connected to the USB-C transmitter. You can use the Armoury Crate app on your phone or access the browser-based Gear Link site on PC for adjustments—no downloads necessary. Both platforms allow you to tweak various audio and mic settings, as well as lighting effects. You can also customize the functions of the top-mounted buttons for single, double, triple, and quadruple presses, and even choose between English and Chinese audio prompts or opt for sound effects instead of a voice.

While there were already great wireless earbuds for gaming before the Cetra Open, such as the InZone Buds and Arctis Buds, which excel in snug fit and active noise cancellation, Asus’ new offering is impressive for different reasons. They provide comfort and a non-isolating experience, along with a USB-C transmitter that adds flexibility for charging while gaming.