CES 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 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.
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.
If 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.
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