Sony is copying SteelSeries homework with the launch of its new retro-inspired 'Glass Purple' Inzone Buds, and I'm a fan

Sony just unveiled a brand new batch of products to its Inzone line, and it seems to be taking after SteelSeries with its new Inzone Buds. The newly unveiled model of its earbuds hasn't undergone any kind of hardware upgrade to shake up the best gaming earbuds, but instead they're rocking a new 'Glass Purple' colorway. A design that's not only stylish, but harkens back to the colorful see-through tech of the late 90s and early 00s.

The new Glass Purple Inzone Buds are available now for $239.99 in the US, and will launch later for £180 on May 1 in the UK. They feature a translucent purple chassis that lets you see the inner workings inside. Those inner workings, by the way, are entirely the same as the original Inzone Buds, with their Sony Dynamic Driver X audio drivers and Bluetooth and 2.4GHz audio support. This new iteration is instead all about that retro-inspired colorway.

Sony Glass Purple Inzone Buds: $239.99 at Amazon

Sony's new Inzone Buds feature the same ANC, Bluetooth LE, and low-latency 2.4GHs wireless connectivity as before, but they now sport a new retro-inspired colorway. With these new $239.99 buds, you'll still get access to spatial audio support, tap controls, an AI-assisted microphone, and support with the Inzone Hub software to tailor the sound, and tap controls, to your liking.

UK: £180 at Amazon (Pre-order)

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This isn't the first time a big-name brand has given its buds a retro look. Just last summer, SteelSeries gave the Arctis GameBuds a 'Glorange' transparent orange makeover. If you ever owned those Fire Orange Funtastic Nintendo 64 back in the 90s, then you'll be more than familiar with the exact see-through shade of orange the brand picked.

Yet as much as I adore the 'Glorange' buds, which are a permanent part of my gaming setup, I have to admit, I'm much more of a fan of the 'Glass Purple' look. Nostalgia is 100% to blame in this case. The new Inzone Bud's design instantly conjures up memories of the Atomic Purple Game Boy Color, with its see-through purple chassis, which one of my best friends had growing up. While I was stuck with the plain purple-blue handheld, I used to dream of owning the Atomic Purple version, as it felt so high-tech and new.

Whenever any new hardware likes to call back to Nintendo's stylish Game Boy Color of the past, I can't help but be a fan. Whether it's CRKD's Atomic Purple Atom controller, Turtle Beach's Airlite Fit Ghost Purple headset, or now, the upcoming new Glass Purple Sony Inzone buds. It helps too, that what lies underneath this new retro call-back color is a great quality pair of gaming earbuds.

The new Inzone Buds are the same as before, boasting compatibility with PC gaming platforms, the Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, the PS5, and smartphones. Just like previous models, the Glass Purple buds are also equipped with ANC, touch controls, an up to 12-hour battery life (48 hours in the case), and spatial audio, including support with the PS5's Tempest 3D Audio tech.

Whether they'll run fine with the best retro handhelds remains to be seen, as I'd need to get my hands on the nostalgia-fueled buds and do some testing myself. But as they're kitted out with Bluetooth audio, there's bound to be plenty of matching transparent portable devices that pair perfectly. Time to take my new Anberic RG Cube XX for a spin.

• View all Sony Inzone Buds at Amazon
• View all gaming earbuds at Amazon

I've also rounded up the best PC headsets for gaming, the best Nintendo Switch headsets, and the best PS5 headsets if you prefer a pair of cups to a pair of earbuds for your gaming setup.