We were able to get our hands on the ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless earbuds. They’re a pair of ANC Gaming Headphones targeted toward those who want a stylish device that matches looks with excellent performance. Their aim here is to be as versatile and flexible, in order to be the number one choice for competitive mobile gamers as well as those who game casually. Either way, the end goal is to fulfill the need for a reliable, on-the-go audio solution. We’ll go into our 5 favorite things about these and explain why.
Unique case with RGB Lighting
Without a doubt, the case of these earbuds is unconventional, to say the least. It stands out in a sea of conventional squarish designs with its curves. It almost looks like a pebble.
Not much can be seen on its sleek exterior save for a minimalistic Republic of Gamers (ROG) logo, a USB Type C port on the rear, and a strip that runs across one of its sides.
The party only starts when you open up the hatch. Another ROG emblem takes shelter between the left and right earbuds, although this time it glows in a variety of colors. The repeated flashing is smooth, further supported by the aforementioned bottom strip now emanating a blue hue and even the buds contributing to the lighting effects. It certainly feels like an occasion every time you open these up to take the Cetras out.
This is a neat party trick that has definitely caught attention on the tabletop.
Supreme comfort and fit
The ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless earbuds come in the conventional TWS form factor, inspired by the segment’s originator: the Apple AirPods. They have a stem-like design that connects to the part that comes into your ear. As these are in-ear models, ASUS provides two extra pairs of rubber eartips should the default ones that come installed in the box fail to fit your canals.
These immediately fit like a glove. Awkward wiggles, insertions that felt too deep or too shallow, or just an overall lack of wearer confidence were nowhere to be found here. They’re relatively light due to the plastic construction. Besides being light, ASUS has also balanced the weight equally throughout the buds’ chassis. As a result, these don’t feel like they’re pulling your ears down like some other TWS earbuds do.
We wouldn’t mind wearing these for hours on end.
Daily practicality
Due to the previous points, we’d be able to say that these are a very useful pair for everyday use. Their long-term comfort almost tricks you into believing that you no longer have them in your ears, only to be surprised when the music begins to play.
Doing errands around the city in these should be less boring and hassle-free. You can keep your hands on your groceries or pets without worrying about readjusting these frequently. The touch controls are effective and responsive, giving you what you need at a tap of a panel.
Headed to the gym or run into some rain while outdoors? An IPX4 rating protects your buds from breakage due to sweat or water exposure.
With ANC on, they are advertised to achieve around 5 hours on a single charge with 17 hours from the case. You can bring this up to a total of up to 27 hours with ANC toggled off. You won’t be worried about bringing these with you, whether that be a short trip to the gym or a journey across the continent. It is truly a go-anywhere, do-anything type of audio accessory.
Customizable ANC modes
Expectedly, the Active Noise Cancelling (ANC) features take a bit of a hit on the battery life. The type of ANC found here is the Hybrid variety, which takes things one step further than the conventional type. To put it simply, these take noises both from outside and inside the buds in order to best balance the listener’s experience.
These improve the performance of the ANC and do work well to block out constant sounds, such as the hums of an engine and machine noises. You can surely tell the progress of ANC technology through the years after wearing these.
However, with ANC slowly finding its way into even budget TWS models, ASUS decides to kick things up a notch with the ROG Cetra True Wireless earbuds. As the popular saying goes, “there are levels to this.” Indeed, tapping on the left earbud twice toggles between light and heavy noise-canceling modes. A voice assistant calmly reminds you which setting you’re currently in. What’s more surprising is that ASUS has chosen to distinguish between Ambient Mode and ANC off.
A lot of manufacturers choose to just install one of these: but on the ROG, Ambient Mode will purposely amplify outside noises to allow you to hear more while ANC off simply shuts all cancellation features down. Those with hearing problems but still want to be alerted when someone talks to them may select the ambient mode, while more sensitive individuals who don’t want loud sounds from the outside can select the latter option.
Immersive Sound with Low Latency
Since these are earbuds, the primary concern many will surely have besides any of those mentioned above will be sound quality-related. Let’s face it: when gaming companies release audio peripherals, they’re meant to target the mainstream looking for the “cool” factor; which is the furthest demographic away from the audiophiles. Wireless audio quality will also be limited when compared to those connected by wire.
Despite all these, the ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless earbuds come with friendly and warm sound courtesy of its 10mm Neodymium magnet drivers. The sound is not specifically accurate, but the deviations from the standard sound curve make these a fun listen. We let a multitude of people try these on – from casual tech fledglings to seasoned musicians, and none of them found the sound nearly offensive. Some were even thoroughly impressed by it, which is a pass with a stamp of approval in our books.
As this is a gaming device, an aptly-titled Gaming Mode reduces latency to provide as much of a competitive advantage as it can to its user.
All-in-all, these are quite the interesting pair of earbuds for those who want a balance of the gamer aesthetic, ASUS ROG clout, and a performer.
ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless Earbuds Price Philippines
The ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless earbuds retail for a price of PHP 4,490 on Lazada. Click here if you want to learn more about its technical specifications, and feel free to join the ASUS Switch It Up Giveaway for a chance to win some ROG goodies!
