ASUS ROG Cetra O701 Open

The ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless is a comfortable open-ear gaming headset with a unique low-latency 2.4GHz connection and excellent mic quality. But the music sound quality is among the worst we've tested, and the $230 price tag is hard to justify. Buy it only if you're a gamer who hates in-ear tips and needs lag-free wireless audio.

Let's talk numbers. The battery life is 16 hours on a single charge, which puts it in the 67th percentile for true wireless earbuds. That's solid, middle of the pack territory. A 15-minute quick charge gets you 3 hours of use, which is handy if you forget to plug them in before a session. The comfort score is where this thing shines, hitting the 94th percentile. The soft ear hooks and 11g weight make them easy to forget you're wearing, even during long gaming sessions or workouts.

The mic setup is a standout too. Four mics with noise cancellation put it in the 91st percentile for mic quality. That's one of the best on the market for calls and in-game chat. The ANC score is also strong at the 81st percentile, which is impressive for an open-ear design. But here's the catch: ANC on open-ear buds is fighting a losing battle. It can reduce some low-frequency hum, but it can't block out the world the way a sealed in-ear bud can. The sound quality is the real problem. At the 8th percentile, it's one of the worst we've seen for music playback. The 100Hz-8kHz frequency response means you're missing the deepest bass and the highest highs. For gaming, the low-latency 2.4GHz connection helps a lot, but the overall gaming score of 61.6 out of 100 is just okay. The fitness score of 67.4 is better, thanks to the secure fit and water resistance.

The ROG Cetra Open Wireless goes head-to-head with some heavy hitters, and it's a mixed bag. Against the Sony WF-1000XM6, the Sony wins on sound quality by a landslide. The Sony's in-ear design and better drivers deliver a full frequency range, while the ROG's open-ear design and 100Hz-8kHz response leave music sounding thin and hollow. But the ROG fights back with comfort and the 2.4GHz connection, which the Sony lacks. For pure gaming, the ROG is the better pick.

Compared to the Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation, the story is similar. The AirPods have better sound, better ANC, and a more polished overall experience. But the ROG's ear-hook design is more secure for workouts, and the 2.4GHz dongle is a unique feature for PC and console gaming. The Samsung Galaxy Buds3 Pro also beats the ROG on sound and ANC, but again, no low-latency dongle. The JLab JBuds Pods ANC is a budget option that actually delivers better music sound quality for a fraction of the price, though the build quality and mic are nowhere near the ROG's level. If you want the best of both worlds, the Technics EAH-AZ100 is worth a look, it has excellent sound and solid connectivity, but it's an in-ear design.

At $230 USD, the ROG Cetra Open Wireless is a tough sell for most people. You're paying a premium for the 2.4GHz low-latency connection and the ROG branding. But the core audio experience is weak, and that's a problem for a $230 pair of earbuds. For comparison, the Sony WF-1000XM6 and Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation are in a similar price bracket and deliver dramatically better sound quality, though they don't have the 2.4GHz dongle. If you're a gamer who specifically needs low-latency wireless audio and hates in-ear tips, this is one of the only options out there. But if you just want good earbuds for music and calls, there are much better values available. The Technics EAH-AZ100, for instance, offers superior sound for a similar price.

The ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless is a bit of an odd duck in the true wireless earbuds world. It's an open-ear, ear-hook style headset aimed squarely at gamers who want low-latency audio without jamming silicone tips into their ears. At $230 USD, it's priced like a premium gaming accessory, not a budget pair of workout buds. The big selling point is the dual-mode connectivity, you get standard Bluetooth 5.4 plus ROG's SpeedNova 2.4GHz connection for lag-free gaming. That's a feature you won't find on most mainstream earbuds like AirPods or Galaxy Buds.

So is the ROG Cetra Open Wireless good for gaming? On paper, yes. The 2.4GHz dongle connection is the whole reason this thing exists. It also packs a 14.2mm DLC-coated diaphragm driver, which is a fancy way of saying the driver is stiff and light, theoretically giving you cleaner highs and tighter bass. But the frequency response only goes from 100Hz to 8kHz, which is a pretty narrow range. That low-end roll-off means you're not getting sub-bass rumble, and the high-end cutoff means some sparkle and air are missing.

For everyday use, the open-ear design is a double-edged sword. You get all-day comfort and situational awareness, which is great for commuting or working out. But you also get zero passive isolation, and the sound quality takes a hit because the drivers are just sort of floating near your ear canal. The IPX5 rating means sweat and light rain won't kill them, and the 16-hour battery life is solid. But the music score in our database is rough, landing in the 8th percentile. These are not for audiophiles.

Skip the ROG Cetra Open Wireless if you care about music quality at all. The sound is thin and lacks bass extension, which is unacceptable at this price. If you want great audio, get the Sony WF-1000XM6 or Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation instead. Also skip these if you don't need the 2.4GHz dongle, you're paying a premium for a feature you won't use. And if you're on a budget, the JLab JBuds Pods ANC delivers better music sound for a fraction of the cost.

Should you buy the ASUS ROG Cetra Open Wireless? Only if you're a very specific type of person. You need to be a gamer who wants low-latency wireless audio, hates in-ear tips, and doesn't care much about music quality. If that's you, this is one of the only open-ear gaming earbuds with a 2.4GHz connection, and it does that job well. The comfort is excellent, the mic is great for chat, and the battery life is solid.

But for everyone else, this is a hard pass. The sound quality is a real letdown, especially at this price. You can get much better audio from the Sony WF-1000XM6, Apple AirPods Pro 3rd Generation, or even the budget JLab JBuds Pods ANC. The ROG Cetra Open Wireless is a niche product that nails its niche but falls flat everywhere else.