As someone who often uses earbuds in transparency mode, I recently reviewed the Asus ROG Cetra Open Wireless Earbuds. This growing product category positions a tiny driver right outside your ear, allowing you to hear the world around you while still enjoying your music or podcast. Ideal for hearing traffic during a run or catching up with neighbors, they’re particularly useful in outdoor settings.

However, as a gamer who needs open gaming buds, I was excited but not entirely impressed by their performance outside of games. The RGB lighting on the sides is a nice touch, and the USB-C dongle ensures lower latency for devices like PC, PS4/5, Nintendo Switch, and iOS/Android gadgets. While they fit well and sound great in-game, playing Steely Dan through them felt less engaging.

The Sound: There’s a crisp, crunchy quality that works well for games requiring dedicated headphones, such as Call of Duty: Mobile and Destiny: Rising. They feel closer to over-ear gaming headsets than expected, though with less distinct spatial audio. For casual games like Minecraft, they offer an immersive experience akin to being at home, but not necessarily more engaging.

While these earbuds are designed for lockdowns where you can’t fully escape the world, their primary appeal lies in the gaming realm. They might be a bit of a compromise if you prioritize sound quality and immersion over transparency features.