The Asus Cetra Open wireless earbuds are on sale for the first time, dropping to $206.99 at Amazon and Best Buy. That $22 reduction sharpens a question that has always sat behind this product: open-style earbuds are a deliberate bet, where drivers placed outside the ear let ambient sound mix directly with game audio. Some players want exactly that. Many do not.
The case for the Cetra Open runs through its hardware. Audio quality and battery life hold up against the original $229.99 retail price, and a companion app (available on mobile and in-browser) offers customization that goes deeper than most gaming earbuds at this price. The more interesting unit-economics argument is the USB-C 2.4GHz transmitter. It ships with a built-in passthrough port rated to 60W of charging, so the transmitter can occupy a USB-C slot while the connected device still charges. On a Steam Deck, Nintendo Switch 2, or PlayStation 5, every port is finite, and giving one up permanently for audio has a real cost. The passthrough port cannot handle data, which is a ceiling worth knowing, but for charging it works as described. Bluetooth connectivity adds phone support, and Asus includes a reflective neck band that links the earbuds behind the neck for runners who want stability and road visibility alongside audio.
The counterargument is the one that follows every open-style product into the premium tier. Drivers outside the ear mean outside sound is always present in the mix. That is the point for players who want situational awareness while gaming or listening to podcasts. The risk is buying into the form factor without that preference clearly in mind: at $206.99, it is still a considered purchase, and returning earbuds is friction. For anyone who needs focus or competes where immersion matters, the design is a hard stop.
On balance, the discount closes the gap between price and use case. The charging transmitter was the headline spec at full price, and compatibility across Steam Deck, PC, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and phone gives the Cetra Open a wider addressable base than most gaming earbuds aimed at a single platform. The line to watch: Asus's own storefront still lists the product at $229.99, and the $22 reduction is currently an Amazon and Best Buy position only.