My favorite gaming earbuds got their first discount
Asus’s Cetra Open wireless earbuds are currently discounted by $22 at Amazon and Best Buy, bringing the price to $206.99. The open-ear design positions drivers outside the ear to let ambient sound mix with playback, and the kit includes a USB-C 2.4GHz transmitter with a passthrough charging port that supports up to 60W.
Why It Matters
The Cetra Open combine open-ear situational awareness with features usually reserved for gaming headsets, like a dedicated low-latency transmitter and device customization, making them appealing to gamers who also want to hear their surroundings while playing. The current price cut gives buyers a chance to get these features for less than the listed retail price.
Key Facts
- Discounted price: $206.99
- Discount amount: $22 off
- Original/list price: $229.99
- Retailers offering discount: Amazon, Best Buy
- Manufacturer listing price: $229.99 at Asus
Asus’s Cetra Open wireless earbuds are on sale for $206.99 at Amazon and Best Buy, a $22 reduction from the usual $229.99 listing. The earbuds use an open-ear design in which the drivers sit outside the ear canal, allowing environmental sounds to mix with whatever is playing. That design choice may not suit every listener, but it’s intentionally aimed at users who want to remain aware of their surroundings while gaming or listening to podcasts.
Beyond their unconventional fit, the Cetra Open include a USB-C 2.4GHz transmitter that plugs into a console or handheld for low-latency audio. That transmitter also houses a passthrough USB-C port so you can charge a device while using the dongle; the passthrough supports up to 60W of power but does not function as a data port. The earbuds offer what The Verge describes as respectable battery life and provide detailed sound and control customization via a mobile or browser-based app.
The Cetra Open are positioned as versatile companions for a range of devices — including Steam Deck, PC, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and phones — and pair easily over Bluetooth for music and podcasts. Asus also bundles a reflective neck band that links the two earpieces behind the neck to improve visibility and keep them stable during activities like running.
The Verge’s hands-on coverage of the Cetra Open was written by Cameron Faulkner. Current retailer listings show the discounted $206.99 price at Amazon and Best Buy, while Asus lists the earbuds at the full $229.99 MSRP.
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