GoKawiilis an editor covering deals and gaming hardware. He joined in 2018, and after a two-year stint at Polygon, he rejoined The Verge in May 2025.
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Asus’ Cetra Open wireless earbuds are some of the best that I’ve tested, despite being open-style earbuds. Their drivers sit outside of your ear, which allows outside sounds to mix with audio coming from your console. Some gamers may not want this, but it works well for me as someone who prefers to be aware of their surroundings as they play or listen to podcasts. They’re $22 off at Amazon and Best Buy, costing $206.99.
In addition to their great-sounding audio and respectable battery life (plus surprisingly deep customization through a mobile or browser-based app), the Cetra Open ship with a clever USB-C 2.4GHz transmitter that has a built-in port for passthrough charging. In other words, you can charge as you play instead of forgoing a USB-C port for audio. The built-in port supports up to 60W of passthrough charging, but it can’t be used as a data port.
The Cetra Open are as good of a fit for the likes of the Steam Deck, PC, Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5 as they are for your phone. They’re a breeze to connect via Bluetooth and use for music and podcasts, and there’s also a reflective band included that physically links them together behind your neck for improved visibility and stability if you want to run with them.