For many years, ASUS has made a name for themselves producing various computer related hardware such as motherboards, gaming cases, laptops etc. The ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless earbuds are a new product from ASUS targeted at gamers. Do they have the right mix to fit in with the constantly growing competition of gaming earbuds?
Unboxing the earbuds is your average experience, a colourful matchbox style box. Upon opening the box, you are greeted by the earbud case with the buds inside surrounded by foam. Beneath that, you find extra earbud tips in different sizes, an adequately long USB-C charging cable and instruction/warranty booklets.
The case for the ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless earbuds is made of sturdy matte black plastic with glossy black ROG logo. The lid stays closed with a magnet and in return, keeps the buds very securely in place. The front of the case has a blue charging indicator light, while the back has a USB-C port for charging. Although if you don’t want to carry a cable everywhere, thankfully, ASUS has incorporated wireless charging into the case. Users with smartphones with wireless power share will greatly appreciate this feature. Inside the case, you find the buds and an RGB lit ROG logo that cycles through colours.
The earbuds themselves are made of a lightweight but sturdy matte black plastic with silver ROG branding. While wearing the ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless earbuds, I found they are comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. ASUS has feature packed the earbuds with a number of features that any user is sure to appreciate. From on-board ANC to a number of different touch sensitive controls, even an IPX4 rating, the earbuds make a great addition to anybody’s daily carry. Unfortunately, there is no option to control the volume from the earbuds.
“…the ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless earbuds put out an amazing sound…”
While listening to music, the ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless earbuds put out an amazing sound when compared to other earbuds I have tested. Bass filled music delivers a satisfying deep punch and pound which I personally enjoy hearing. Mids and treble tones deliver clear and crisp sound and help to truly immerse you into what you are listening to. All the music I have tested the buds with has made the experience much more enjoyable and has me wanting to listen for even longer than I normally would.
During my time watching movies, the earbuds deliver a sound that draws you more into what you’re watching and makes you feel like you’re a part of the surroundings. From crashing waves, to passing cars and conversations, everything comes through sounding crystal clear. All sounds deliver a 3D surround sound, making for a very pleasant listening experience.
In my testing with my small selection of games I play regularly, the earbuds have made my time much more enjoyable, and I have come to find that I have been able to improve my skills upon wearing them. In games such as Fortnite or GTA 5, I can hear directions in which opponents/enemies are coming from in order to take them down. In various racing games, hearing the roar of engines or the scraping of metal on metal when rubbing against other racers. The ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless earbuds deliver a truly immersive experience to help hone your skills and make your time playing much more enjoyable.
“For every use I have put the ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless earbuds through, they deliver flawlessly and perform incredibly well.”
For those looking to further improve or intensify their experience with the earbuds further, ASUS offers a companion app for iOS and Android. On the app, you can view the available battery life on each earbud, a handy feature not all manufacturers offer. You can also set the EQ to your liking and tune various settings such as whether you wish to use them in gaming mode, virtual surround sound etc.
While not a typical use for gaming earbuds, I found the buds delivered great performance when it came to making phone calls. As someone who drives a fairly loud truck for work, I need something that can tune out background noise while still being loud enough for me to hear the person I am having a conversation with. ASUS has definitely done a great job in this situation. Calls both sounded great on my end while callers said I sound clear as well with minimal background sound in part to the ANC technology built into each earbud.
Battery life is fairly modest as ASUS rates the buds at around 5 hours of use each, however in my testing, I was regularly able to get more than that if I kept my volume to a reasonable level. The case delivers up to an additional 27 hours of charge meaning you can likely take these on a long weekend trip without having to worry about bringing a charger.
Overall, I feel ASUS has delivered an incredible performing set of earbuds. For every use I have put the ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless earbuds through, they deliver flawlessly and perform incredibly well. These would make a great addition for anyone who needs a set of earbuds for gaming or recreational use.
