Compare Shokz OpenFit Pro vs Asus ROG Cetra Open

Sound is unusually full, clear, and detailed for an open-ear design, with many calling it the best Shokz has produced. It still cannot match sealed flagship earbuds for depth in every environment.

Sound quality is good for many gaming-focused users, especially for dialogue and positional cues, but it is not a universal win. Some reviewers hear clean, detailed audio while others describe the presentation as thin, compressed, or harsh.

Open-ear noise reduction works surprisingly well on steady office, café, gym, fan, and HVAC noise. It is far weaker than sealed ANC on planes, trains, traffic rumble, and sharp sounds, and some people feel uncomfortable pressure.

Immersion Mode only softens steady background noise and is nowhere near full ANC. A few users notice a small benefit, but most reviewers treat noise reduction as secondary to the open-ear design.

Leakage is modest at lower volumes but becomes obvious when volume rises to fight outside noise. Private EQ helps only a little and may sacrifice bass or vocal clarity.

Leakage is better controlled than some open-ear designs, though nearby people may hear faint audio in quiet rooms or at higher volumes.

Bass is the standout upgrade: punchier and fuller than most open-ear rivals, especially with Bass Boost. Deep sub-bass remains limited, and a few listeners noticed fuzziness or vibration on bass-heavy tracks.

Bass is the most divisive part of the tuning. Phantom Bass can add useful punch, but many reviewers still hear weak sub-bass or thin impact compared with sealed earbuds, while a smaller group finds the low end surprisingly satisfying.

Video playback showed no obvious lip-sync delay, and a low-latency mode helps with games and multimedia.

Low-latency gaming is one of the clearest strengths. The 2.4GHz dongle repeatedly delivers near-wired responsiveness and excellent sync for shooters, rhythm games, handhelds, and console play.

The open fit creates a naturally wide, speaker-like soundstage with convincing stereo placement. Spatial processing can stretch it further without collapsing dynamics.

The open design generally creates a spacious presentation, with several reviewers praising the wide soundstage and stereo image.

Dolby Atmos adds convincing width, height, and immersion, especially for movies and supported music. Head tracking works smoothly for many but feels distracting or gimmicky to others.

Positional performance is strong for games, especially footsteps and directional cues. A few tests find rear localization or Dolby Atmos rendering less convincing.

Background suppression often keeps chatter, appliances, and street noise away from the caller’s voice. Wind handling is inconsistent, with some excellent results and some complete breakdowns.

Noise suppression works well in many tests, keeping speech understandable while reducing fans, background media, and ambient chatter.

Most connections behave normally, but scattered reports mention static, glitches, stutters, false pauses, and repeated Apple Music disconnects.

Reliability is the biggest technical concern. Multiple customer reviews report disconnects, one-sided audio, distortion, failed updates, beeping, or erratic behavior, although some users find later firmware dramatically improves performance.

The overall balance was described as lively and fairly even, though the open fit still limits deep bass extension.

Default tuning was described as reasonably clean and usable, though one reviewer still preferred the flatter EQ setting.

Alexa worked cleanly for one buyer, with strong clarity and reliable activation.

Manual voice-assistant activation via a triple press was viewed as redundant and not a good use of the control scheme.

Pairing and everyday setup are generally fast and intuitive, with most controls easy to find in the app. A few users needed time to learn the button combinations.

Setup experiences vary sharply. Some users get simple plug-and-play operation, while others encounter hidden apps, multiple utilities, web-only controls, or convoluted firmware update steps.

The Shokz app is clean, feature-rich, and easy to navigate, putting noise reduction, EQ, controls, battery, multipoint, and finding tools in one place. A pre-release build showed minor stability issues.

Gear Link is polarizing: several reviewers love the browser/mobile flexibility and deep controls, while others find it buggy, hidden, web-dependent, or awkward during firmware setup.

The 10-band EQ offers meaningful control and can noticeably improve the sound for different music and spoken content.

The EQ is highly useful and often materially improves the sound. Several reviewers say tuning or Phantom Bass turns a mediocre out-of-box presentation into something much better.

Call quality ranges from crystal clear in busy places to muffled or unreliable in wind and heavy noise. Indoor and moderate-noise calls are usually the safest bet.

Mic quality is mixed but generally usable. Many reviewers find voice chat clear and good for earbuds, while several customers report thin, robotic, or poor-sounding voice transmission.

Pairing is usually quick and connections are generally stable across phones, computers, and watches. A minority of users reported short range, stutters, static, or repeated disconnects.

Bluetooth works well for ordinary listening in several reviews, but reliability is inconsistent. Some owners report slow pairing, disconnects, or worse sound than the 2.4GHz dongle.

Physical buttons are more dependable than touch controls with sweat, gloves, or movement and are easy to find once learned. The small size and multi-click combinations can feel fiddly.

Physical buttons are easy to find and tactile, but the default multi-press scheme is contentious. Four presses for volume and three presses for mute or assistant functions feel unnecessarily cumbersome to several reviewers.

Codec support is limited to basic SBC and AAC, which feels underpowered for a premium audio product.

AAC and SBC are considered adequate for the gaming-focused use case, though one expert would have preferred higher-bandwidth codec options.

One long-term owner praised Shokz’s support team for consistently taking good care of past issues.

ASUS acknowledged a reported Steam Deck issue and said it was being investigated, but did not promise a fix.

The premium sound, comfort, battery, and noise reduction can justify the price for committed open-ear users. Many still see the cheaper OpenFit 2/2+ or sealed ANC earbuds as better value.

Price is the most consistent purchasing objection. Even positive reviewers often call the $230 class price steep, and several experts say cheaper gaming earbuds or headsets offer better overall value.

Two-device pairing works well for most people and switching is usually smooth. One customer found that playback would not automatically hand off until the first device was stopped.

Multipoint is excellent when it works, with fast switching and useful dual-device behavior. Several reviews, however, criticize unpredictable switching or the lack of simultaneous audio in certain setups.

Android and Pixel use is broadly smooth, with easy connection and full app compatibility reported.

Android use is generally workable, though one test still found the volume curve aggressive. The earbuds remain usable on Android without the sharper low-volume problem being quite as severe as on iOS.

The earbuds work well across iPhone, Android, Windows PCs, and other Bluetooth devices, making them practical for mixed-device routines.

The dongle works across a wide range of PCs, handhelds, phones, and consoles, but platform-specific quirks appear on Steam Deck, Mac, and PS5 in some reviews.

The hook-shaped case is wider than typical earbud cases but remains slim and reasonably pocketable. It is easier to carry than over-ear headphones, though not truly compact.

Portability is a recurring weakness because the charging case is unusually large and thick. Several reviewers say it is barely pocketable or not pocket-friendly at all.

Overall enthusiasm is high, especially among runners and people who dislike in-ear tips. Price, long-wear comfort, microphone inconsistency, and limited true isolation are the recurring reasons some buyers returned them.

Overall opinion is polarized but leans positive for the right niche. Fans love the comfort, awareness, and gaming responsiveness, while critics are pushed away by price, sound compromises, or software instability.

Wear detection and auto-pause are useful additions and generally respond accurately. One customer experienced false removal detection when changing head position.

Wear detection is a useful convenience, automatically stopping playback when the earbuds are removed.

Most people can wear the hooks with glasses, caps, helmets, or beanies without trouble. Some glasses wearers feel pressure where the hook and frame overlap.

Glasses compatibility is consistently excellent, with thin hooks and low pressure working well alongside frames. One expert also found the fit comfortable with hats and sunglasses.

The earhooks stay planted through running, HIIT, cycling, and head movement for most users. Ear shape matters, and a minority experienced looseness, falls, or poor fit even with stabilizers.

Physical fit is highly secure for most users. The hooks stay put during running, workouts, and active movement, though a few ear shapes struggle with fit.

Treble carries plenty of detail and crispness, but tuning opinions vary. Brighter recordings can sound harsh or uneven, while Treble Boost may become fatiguing.

Treble is another polarizing area. Some reviewers praise crisp detail, but many hear excessive brightness, sibilance, or piercing highs at louder levels.

Optional stability bands are a useful backup for smaller ears or anyone wanting an extra contact point during exercise.

The dongle and charging cable are useful additions, while the reflective neck strap is more mixed because some find it stiff or uncomfortable.

One customer found that clarity deteriorated as volume increased, with the sound thinning out rather than staying composed.

At high levels, clarity can break down with sharp treble or bass distortion. The earbuds have plenty of headroom, but pushing them hard is not their best use.

Layered tracks are easy to pick apart, making individual parts and textures more distinct than expected from open earbuds.

Game-audio separation is consistently strong. Reviewers can distinguish footsteps, dialogue, and competing sounds clearly enough for competitive play.

The case usually feels premium, sturdy, and slim for an earhook design, with metal reinforcement and wireless charging. Its larger footprint, occasional scuffs, and isolated condition complaints keep it from being universally praised.

The case draws mixed reactions. Some owners like its quality and dongle storage, but many reviewers criticize its bulky size, plasticky feel, or missing premium touches.

Vocals and spoken content generally come through clean and intelligible, with the Vocal preset helping weaker default mids. Some measurements and listening notes found the lower midrange slightly recessed.

Mids are usually a strength, with clear dialogue, vocals, and footsteps. A few reviewers hear lower-mid thinness, but speech intelligibility remains strong.

IP55 protection and secure silicone-covered hooks make the earbuds dependable for sweat, rain, running, and gym sessions, though they are not swim-ready.

IPX5 earbud protection is viewed as well suited to workouts, sweat, and light rain, supporting the product’s gaming-and-fitness crossover use.

The open design excels at keeping traffic, voices, announcements, and workout surroundings audible while music plays. Noise reduction softens distractions without fully disconnecting the listener.

Situational awareness is nearly universally praised. Reviewers can hear conversations, doorbells, traffic, children, and room activity without removing the earbuds.

Bass Boost is the most consistently praised preset, adding fuller low-end without burying vocals. Private mode can reduce leakage at quiet levels, but its benefit is limited and may dull clarity.

Presets and Phantom Bass can improve the listening experience, but results vary. Some users call Phantom Bass essential, while others find presets subtle or dislike the default communication profile.

Volume is strong enough for most workouts and busy streets, though very loud settings can still overpower the open design. A few buyers wanted more output or had to push volume uncomfortably high.

The earbuds get very loud, but the volume curve is uneven. Several reviewers complain that even low settings are too loud, while others appreciate the strong headroom.

Two customers received packaging with strong fragrance or visible residue, creating a poor first impression despite the earbuds themselves appearing intact.

One customer received a unit that appeared used or refurbished, with misaligned protective films and a dead earbud.

The metal-and-silicone design looks polished, premium, and sporty. It is more visible than discreet clip-style earbuds, and the larger form can feel bulky on smaller ears.

The styling splits opinion. Some like the flashy gaming look and RGB accents, while others call the buds chunky, angular, oversized, or unattractive.

The weight is well distributed and often feels light in use, but the Pro is heavier than earlier OpenFit models. Some long-session users found that extra mass tiring.

Low weight is consistently praised and helps the earbuds disappear during long sessions despite their visibly chunky shape.

Comfort is one of the strongest qualities, with many people forgetting the earbuds are on during long workdays and workouts. Fit pressure, cartilage contact, ANC pressure, and fatigue still affect a notable minority.

Comfort is the product’s strongest consensus advantage. Most reviewers can wear the buds for hours without ear-canal pressure, though a minority experience cartilage pain or poor fit depending on ear shape.

Materials and construction feel premium and robust, with aluminum accents and a secure titanium core. A small number of customers reported static, overheating, or a failed earbud.

The earbuds themselves are generally seen as solid or premium, but impressions are less consistent around the plastics. Several reviewers think the materials feel good, while others say parts of the package feel cheaper than the price suggests.

A ten-minute top-up can provide about four hours, and wireless charging adds convenience. One customer warned that the case became very hot when left on a wireless pad.

Charging is a strong part of the package, especially the USB-C passthrough on the dongle and quick top-ups. One defective unit failed to charge, but most reviewers praise the convenience and speed.

Battery life is excellent in open mode, commonly lasting a full day and up to 50 hours with the case. Noise reduction roughly halves endurance, and several customers found the six-hour range disappointing.

Battery life is usually strong, often lasting through long gaming sessions and in some tests approaching the advertised figures. Heavy use of RGB, Immersion Mode, Phantom Bass, or the mic can cut runtime substantially.

The lack of aptX was specifically called disappointing at this price, especially for buyers seeking higher-quality wireless playback.

The included charging cable received a positive mention and was viewed as a useful part of the package.

The 2.4GHz USB-C dongle is central to the appeal, delivering excellent low-latency gaming and useful passthrough charging. A few units show disconnects or awkward port blocking, so reliability is not universal.

The rounded arm allows useful rotation around the ear, making it easier to dial in a comfortable position.

The in-app finder is handy for locating a misplaced bud nearby. Its Bluetooth-only range and very quiet alert limit usefulness outdoors.

The built-in microphones are considered decent for an earbud design, especially for casual chat rather than broadcast-quality recording.

The open design provides a very natural ability to hear your own voice during chat, which one reviewer particularly appreciated.

The matte case hides marks reasonably well, though it can still pick up scuffs and surface wear.

One video describes the controls as responsive and intuitive, giving them a very positive usability assessment.

The open-ear effect was judged more natural and effective for hearing surroundings than typical electronic transparency modes.

USB-C implementation is excellent where discussed, particularly the case-friendly dongle plug and passthrough charging that keeps handhelds or phones powered.

Xbox support is absent, which one reviewer flags as a concrete platform limitation even while noting the broader USB-C ecosystem constraint.

Auracast is missing, which feels like a missed opportunity for earbuds built around shared spaces and environmental awareness.

The ear-hook design applies little pressure for at least one reviewer, helping the buds stay comfortable during long sessions.

Long hair or hats can brush against the earbud and create a noticeable scratching sound during movement.

Passive isolation is essentially nonexistent by design. That is useful for awareness, but it makes noisy environments and fully immersive gaming poor fits.

RGB controls are extensive and easy to personalize, with effects, brightness, and colors available. Some reviewers enjoy the style, while others see lighting as garish or unnecessary battery drain.