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The Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless is worth considering only if you specifically want open-ear gaming audio, low-latency 2.4 GHz connectivity and awareness of your surroundings. At the current US ASUS Store price of $229.99, it is expensive for earbuds whose open design limits bass and isolation, but it solves a real problem for players who need to hear a doorbell, traffic, teammates in the room or conversation while gaming. Its strongest use case is competitive or portable play where positional separation and comfort matter more than cinematic low-end impact.
ASUS announced the earbuds on January 6, 2026, with Bluetooth, ROG SpeedNova 2.4 GHz wireless, a USB-C dongle with one-way passthrough charging, 14.2 mm diamond-like-carbon-coated drivers, soft ear hooks, physical controls and a detachable reflective neck strap. The central trade-off is straightforward: you get awareness and broad device support instead of sealed-ear isolation and powerful bass.
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What are the ROG Cetra Open Wireless earbuds?
The ROG Cetra Open Wireless are open-ear gaming earbuds. Their speakers sit near the ear canal rather than sealing inside it, so outside sound remains audible. That makes them fundamentally different from conventional in-ear gaming buds: they are designed for players who need environmental awareness, not for maximum isolation.
ASUS combines two wireless paths. Bluetooth handles phones, tablets and ordinary device connections, while the included ROG SpeedNova 2.4 GHz USB-C dongle is intended for lower-latency game audio. The dongle also supports one-way passthrough charging, allowing a USB-C device to charge while the receiver remains connected, a feature ASUS describes as a first for its USB-C 2.4 GHz dongles in the launch announcement (ASUS Pressroom).
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The design is closer to a lightweight ear-hook headset than a sealed true-wireless earbud. Soft hooks hold each unit in place, a physical-button control scheme avoids touch-control mistakes, and a removable reflective neck strap adds security for movement. RGB lighting, Immersion Mode and Phantom Bass are configurable features rather than reasons to buy the product by themselves.
Are the ROG Cetra Open Wireless worth $229.99?
For most buyers, no: the price is difficult to justify if you mainly want strong bass, isolation or the best value. For the narrower audience that wants open ears, gaming-focused 2.4 GHz wireless and the ability to hear the room, the Cetra Open can be a sensible specialist purchase.
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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The current US reference price is $229.99 on ASUS’s specification page (ASUS ROG USA specifications). Older review pages show different review-era figures: SoundGuys lists a $199.99 MSRP, PC Gamer lists $230/£185, and TechRadar lists $229.99/£174.99. Those numbers should not be treated as a universal current price because currencies, promotions and publication dates differ.
At this price, the purchase makes the most sense when open-ear awareness is a requirement rather than a curiosity. A sealed gaming headset or conventional in-ear model will generally provide more convincing bass and passive noise reduction. The Cetra’s value improves for a player who games in a shared room, cycles or walks while listening, needs to monitor nearby sounds, or dislikes having ear canals blocked for long sessions.
What do you get in the box?
ASUS lists the following contents:
- ROG Cetra Open Wireless earbuds
- USB-C ROG SpeedNova 2.4 GHz wireless dongle
- Detachable neck strap
- 0.6 m USB-C-to-USB-A charging cable
- Quick-start guide
- Warranty booklet
The cable is a standard included accessory, not a required extra purchase. A spare or replacement USB-C-to-USB-A cable could be useful if the original is lost, but the headset does not depend on a proprietary charging lead.
ROG Cetra Open Wireless specifications
| Specification | ROG Cetra Open Wireless |
|---|---|
| Driver | 14 mm DLC-coated driver on the ASUS specification page; the launch announcement describes a 14.2 mm diamond-like-carbon-coated diaphragm |
| Frequency response | 20 Hz–20 kHz |
| Impedance | 16 ohms |
| Microphones | Omnidirectional with AI noise cancellation |
| Wireless modes | Bluetooth and ROG SpeedNova 2.4 GHz USB-C dongle |
| Controls | Physical buttons; remappable in Gear Link |
| Lighting | RGB |
| Water resistance | IPX5 earbuds; IPX2 charging case; USB dongle is not water-resistant, according to SoundGuys |
| Listed weight figures | 11 g / 116 g on ASUS’s specification page |
| Software | Gear Link for web and mobile |
| Supported platforms | PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android; Tom’s Guide also reports use with Switch 2 and Steam Deck |
The driver-size wording differs slightly between ASUS’s announcement and its detailed specification page, so the safest description is a 14 mm-class DLC-coated driver. The published 20 Hz–20 kHz response is a specification range, not a guarantee that every frequency will sound equally strong in an open-ear fit.
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The open construction is the product’s defining advantage and limitation. It leaves the ear canal unobstructed, allowing nearby speech, alarms and traffic to remain audible without removing the earbuds. That can be safer and more comfortable in shared or outdoor environments than sealed buds.
The cost is almost no passive isolation. SoundGuys reports little to no passive noise reduction, and Immersion Mode only reduces some continuous ambient sounds such as air-conditioning or road noise. It does not turn the Cetra Open into sealed noise-cancelling headphones, and it cannot reliably suppress voices, sudden sounds or a loud television.
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For gaming, SoundGuys reports good separation that helps competitive play, while Tom’s Guide highlights dialogue-heavy and stealth games where footsteps and spoken cues matter. Those strengths are easiest to appreciate in a reasonably quiet room. In a noisy environment, the same openness that lets you hear the game also lets competing sounds cover it.
How does the sound quality compare with the price?
The Cetra Open is tuned more for gaming clarity than for critical music listening. SoundGuys found under-emphasized bass relative to its preference curve and recorded a 1.7 mean opinion score from its simulated MDAQS panel. Tom’s Guide likewise describes weak bass and overly strong treble, despite finding the drivers useful for dialogue and stealth-game details.
That means explosions, bass-heavy music and cinematic rumbles will not have the physical weight of a sealed in-ear or over-ear headset. Footsteps, voices and positional cues can remain intelligible, especially when environmental awareness matters more than immersion. Whether that trade-off feels acceptable depends on your library: competitive shooters and narrative games with lots of dialogue fit the design better than bass-driven music or blockbuster soundtracks.
Gear Link provides a 10-band equalizer, so you can adjust the tonal balance rather than accepting the default tuning. Equalization cannot create the isolation or sub-bass reinforcement that a sealed chamber provides, however. Raising low frequencies may improve perceived warmth while also reducing headroom or making the open presentation sound less clean.
How good are the microphones?
The earbuds use omnidirectional microphones with AI noise cancellation. Tom’s Guide calls the microphone performance good, while SoundGuys reports clear speech in many conditions but clipping when loud sounds overwhelm the microphones. That is a reasonable result for team chat and ordinary calls, but it is not a guarantee of broadcast-quality voice in a loud room.
Gear Link adds microphone controls including a noise gate and “perfect voice” processing. These settings can help tailor how much background sound reaches teammates, but aggressive processing may remove quiet word endings or make speech sound less natural. If your room contains sudden loud noises, the physical microphone limitations remain even with software enabled.
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How long does the ROG Cetra Open Wireless battery last?
ASUS rates the earbuds for up to 16 hours of continuous use from a full charge when sound modes and RGB lighting are off and the microphone is muted. ASUS also says a 15-minute quick charge provides up to three hours of listening (launch specifications).
Independent measurements are lower under active use. SoundGuys reports nine hours over Bluetooth and six hours 29 minutes through the USB dongle with Immersion Mode enabled. Its review used firmware 4.0.8 and Gear Link 1.0.1.13. Treat the 16-hour figure as a best-case manufacturer rating, not a universal session length.
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PC Gamer lists 64 hours of total rated battery life, defined as 16 hours from the earbuds plus 48 hours from the charging case. SoundGuys says the case does not support wireless charging. The case therefore extends time between wall charges, but you must use a cable and should not expect a Qi charging pad to work.
Real-world runtime will vary with the connection mode, microphone activity, RGB lighting, volume and sound features. If you routinely use the low-latency dongle and Immersion Mode, the SoundGuys result is the more useful planning figure than the headline 16-hour claim.
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Can you use them on PS5, Switch 2 and Steam Deck?
Yes. ASUS lists PC, Mac, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, iOS and Android compatibility. Tom’s Guide reports successful use with PS5, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, macOS, PC, iOS and Android.
On a USB-C-equipped device, connect the included dongle and select the earbuds as the audio output. The passthrough port is particularly useful on phones and handhelds: it allows charging while the dongle remains attached. On a device that cannot accept the dongle conveniently, Bluetooth is the fallback, although the latency and codec behavior differ from the 2.4 GHz mode.
Tom’s Guide also reports simultaneous use of the 2.4 GHz dongle with a phone’s Bluetooth connection. This can let game audio arrive through the dongle while the phone remains connected, but exact call, notification and mixing behavior depends on the device and application. Configure priorities in the operating system and Gear Link rather than assuming every platform will mix both sources identically.
How do the controls and Gear Link software work?
Physical buttons handle playback and calls, avoiding accidental taps from hair, hats or movement. Gear Link, available through the web and mobile app, can remap those controls, adjust EQ, change RGB lighting and configure microphone settings.
The software exposes a 10-band EQ, noise gate, “perfect voice” processing and Immersion Mode. It is worth checking firmware and app versions before troubleshooting: SoundGuys identified firmware 4.0.8 and Gear Link 1.0.1.13 in its review. Feature names and available controls can change with updates, so the current app presentation may not exactly match older screenshots.
Phantom Bass and Immersion Mode should be understood as processing options, not physical transformations. Phantom Bass may change the perceived low end, while Immersion Mode targets continuous ambient noise. Neither changes the fact that the speakers remain open to the room.
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Are they comfortable for long sessions and exercise?
Open ears can feel less fatiguing than sealed tips because there is no plugged-canal pressure or occlusion. TechRadar describes the model as one of the few options aimed at both gaming and sport, and SoundGuys found that five of six office testers had no fit issues.
Fit is nevertheless ear-shape dependent. The same SoundGuys review reports pressure points for one tester, showing why an open hook that feels weightless to one person can press uncomfortably on another. The neck strap secures the earbuds during movement, but SoundGuys notes that it can catch on shirt collars.
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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteThe earbuds are rated IPX5, which SoundGuys says protects them against water jets, while the case is only IPX2 and the USB dongle has no water-resistance rating. Keep the case and receiver away from rain and sweat, and dry the earbuds before placing them in the case. IPX5 is not a promise of submersion protection.
How should you set them up for low-latency gaming?
- Charge the earbuds and case with the supplied USB-C cable. The case has no wireless charging, so plan to use a cable.
- Install or open Gear Link. Use the web or mobile version to check firmware, remap buttons and choose an EQ profile.
- Connect the USB-C dongle to the console, computer or handheld. On a phone or handheld that needs power, use the dongle’s one-way passthrough arrangement so charging can continue.
- Select the dongle as the system audio output. Use the 2.4 GHz path for game audio when low latency is the priority.
- Pair Bluetooth separately when needed. Bluetooth is useful for phones and devices where the dongle is inconvenient; Tom’s Guide reports simultaneous dongle and phone-Bluetooth use.
- Fit the ear hooks and adjust the neck strap. The speakers should sit consistently near the ear without pressing painfully. A poor fit changes bass and positional balance.
- Set microphone processing conservatively. Start with the noise gate and voice processing at moderate settings, then ask teammates whether words are being clipped.
- Choose Immersion Mode only for steady background noise. Disable it when you need maximum battery life or when the room is quiet.
What are the biggest drawbacks?
- Limited isolation: Nearby sounds compete directly with game audio, and Immersion Mode is not full noise cancellation.
- Weak or variable bass: SoundGuys and Tom’s Guide both identify bass as a weakness, with treble that can sound too prominent.
- Fit variability: Ear-hook pressure and collar-catching strap behavior will depend on anatomy and clothing.
- Battery depends heavily on mode: The manufacturer’s 16-hour claim falls to six hours 29 minutes in SoundGuys’ dongle-and-Immersion measurement.
- No wireless case charging: Charging requires a cable.
- Premium price: $229.99 is a lot to pay for a niche format when sealed alternatives can deliver fuller sound.
- Dongle vulnerability: The USB receiver is not water-resistant, so outdoor use requires care even though the earbuds have an IPX5 rating.
How does the Cetra Open compare with other gaming earbuds?
The right comparison starts with the design question, not the feature count. TechRadar places the Cetra Open alongside SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds, Sony Inzone Buds and PlayStation Pulse Explore, emphasizing battery life, noise cancellation or spatial audio, companion software and price. Tom’s Guide suggests considering ROG Delta II, Alienware Pro Wireless or SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds when open-ear listening is not essential.
| If you prioritize… | The Cetra Open makes sense when… | Look at sealed alternatives when… |
|---|---|---|
| Awareness | You need to hear people, traffic or room sounds while playing. | You want the game to mask external noise. |
| Latency | You want the included USB-C 2.4 GHz path across console, PC and handheld use. | Your device works best with another receiver standard or Bluetooth is sufficient. |
| Sound signature | You value dialogue, footsteps and separation over sub-bass impact. | You mainly play cinematic games or listen to bass-heavy music. |
| Comfort | You dislike sealed tips and the hooks fit your ears. | Any pressure point or collar snag is unacceptable. |
| Value | $229.99 is acceptable for a specialized open-ear gaming tool. | You want the most sound quality, isolation or battery per dollar. |
Prices checked November 2026.
Do not compare advertised battery totals without checking how they are defined. The Cetra’s 64-hour figure includes 48 hours from the case, while the 16-hour earbud claim assumes disabled features and a muted microphone. Compare measured dongle runtime, charging methods and whether a case is included, not just the largest number on a product page.
Who should buy the ROG Cetra Open Wireless?
Buy it if all or most of these statements are true:
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- You need to hear household, workplace or outdoor sounds.
- You prefer low-latency 2.4 GHz audio to Bluetooth for games.
- You play competitive, dialogue-heavy or stealth titles where separation matters.
- You can accept lighter bass and little passive isolation.
- Your ears tolerate the hook shape and detachable strap.
- You are comfortable paying $229.99 for a specialist design.
Skip it if you want powerful bass, quiet-room isolation, wireless case charging, the longest practical dongle runtime or maximum value. A sealed in-ear or over-ear gaming headset is the safer choice for noisy rooms and cinematic listening.
Final verdict: a convincing niche solution, not a universal gaming earbud
The Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless succeeds at a specific job. It combines open-ear awareness, physical controls, broad platform support and a low-latency USB-C dongle in a package that can work for gaming and light sport. Competitive separation, clear dialogue and the ability to hear the room are genuine advantages.
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Those advantages do not erase the compromises. Independent reviews report weak bass, strong treble, little passive isolation, fit variability and runtime well below ASUS’s best-case claim when the dongle and Immersion Mode are active. The case cannot charge wirelessly, and the $229.99 US price puts the product alongside conventional gaming headsets that may sound fuller.
Choose the Cetra Open because you specifically need open-ear gaming, not because it is the most technically complete earbud. For that audience, it is a credible and unusually focused option. For everyone else, the price is better spent on a sealed model with stronger isolation and a more satisfying low end.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wear the ROG Cetra Open Wireless without the neck strap?
Yes. The strap is detachable, so you can use the earbuds on their own when you do not need extra retention. Keeping it attached is more sensible for walking or sport, but remember that it may catch on a shirt collar.
Does Immersion Mode cancel voices and sudden noises?
No. It is intended to reduce some continuous sounds, such as air-conditioning or road noise. Voices, abrupt sounds and loud nearby audio can still reach the open ear and cover game details.
Is the charging case safe to take into rain?
The earbuds are rated IPX5, but SoundGuys lists the case as IPX2 and the USB dongle as not water-resistant. Keep the case and receiver protected from rain and dry the earbuds before storing them.
Can the earbuds play game audio and stay connected to my phone?
Tom’s Guide reports simultaneous use of the 2.4 GHz dongle with a phone’s Bluetooth connection. The exact handling of calls, notifications and audio priority depends on the connected device and its operating system.
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What should I adjust first if the sound is too bright?
Use Gear Link’s 10-band equalizer to reduce the upper bands gradually and avoid pushing bass too aggressively. Equalization can rebalance the presentation, but it cannot provide the isolation or sub-bass pressure of sealed earbuds.
