How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want marathon battery life, a battery display you can actually read at a glance, and multi-point pairing that juggles two devices at once, choose Groovz Open-Ear Plus True; if you need low-latency 2.4GHz gaming connectivity, swappable immersive audio modes, and a tougher water-resistance rating, choose ASUS ROG Cetra Open.
• Groovz Open-Ear Plus True — biggest strength: up to 42 hours of total playtime with an LED battery display on the case, plus Bluetooth 5.4 multi-point pairing on two devices at once.
• Groovz Open-Ear Plus True — biggest trade-off: IPX4 durability and no active noise cancellation, so it's fine for sweat and light rain but not a downpour or a noisy commute.
• ASUS ROG Cetra Open — biggest strength: dual-mode Bluetooth plus low-latency ROG SpeedNova 2.4GHz via a USB-C dongle, with 14.2mm DLC-coated drivers and smart audio features like Phantom Bass and Immersion Mode.
• ASUS ROG Cetra Open — biggest trade-off: up to 16 hours of playtime is a fraction of the Groovz figure, and it leans on physical buttons instead of touch controls.
• Who each pick is for: the Groovz is for listeners who want all-day audio and clear calls without thinking about charging. The ASUS is for gamers and active users who want low latency and a more feature-dense audio toolkit.
The Groovz Open-Ear Plus True is built around one idea: you should never have to wonder how much charge is left. The charging case carries an LED battery display, and the numbers behind it are generous — up to 42 hours total, split into 32 hours from the case and 10 hours from the buds themselves. That's a full work week of listening for most people, and it means the case lives in your bag rather than on your charger.
Under the hood it's Bluetooth 5.4 with multi-point pairing on two devices simultaneously, so you can take a laptop call and still catch a phone notification without repairing anything. Touch controls handle playback, calls and volume. Dual microphones with noise reduction handle the talking side, which is the part that matters if you spend your day on calls. The ear hooks are described as secure, ergonomic and flexible, and the whole thing is designed and engineered in the USA with a 1-year warranty. A dynamic driver handles the audio, and the finish here is Oil Slick.
Who should buy it: remote workers, walkers, runners and anyone who takes a lot of calls and wants an open-ear fit that doesn't seal off the world. The IPX4 rating covers sweat and light rain. Multi-point pairing is the quiet hero for hybrid workers juggling a phone and a laptop.
Who should skip it: if you want active noise cancellation, this isn't that product — noise control is listed as None, which is normal for open-ear designs but worth knowing. If you game competitively and latency matters, the lack of a 2.4GHz dongle puts it behind the ASUS. And if you regularly train in heavy rain, IPX4 is a modest ceiling.
The ASUS ROG Cetra Open is the more specialized tool. Its headline trick is dual-mode connectivity: standard Bluetooth when you're out and about, and low-latency ROG SpeedNova 2.4GHz through the included USB-C dongle when you need audio to keep up with what's happening on screen. That one feature changes the calculus for anyone who games, watches video, or does anything where lip-sync and reaction timing matter.
The audio hardware is the other half of the story. You get 14.2mm DLC-coated diaphragm drivers, a 20Hz–20kHz frequency range and 16-ohm impedance, with smart features layered on top: Phantom Bass to push the low end and Immersion Mode for noise reduction. Note that the noise control field lists Active Noise Cancellation, so it's doing more on that front than the Groovz. Battery life is up to 16 hours of continuous use, and a 15-minute charge gets you 3 hours — a fast top-up for people who forget to plug things in.
Physically it's a light 11.4g per bud with soft ear hooks, tactile physical buttons instead of touch surfaces, IPX5 water resistance, a customizable Aura RGB logo, and a reflective detachable neck strap to keep the buds from hitting the floor. The bundle includes a charging case, the neck strap, a USB-C to USB-A cable, the 2.4GHz dongle and documentation, all backed by a 1-year warranty.
Who should buy it: gamers, gym-goers, runners and outdoor users who want low latency, a secure fit, and buttons they can find by feel mid-workout. The IPX5 rating and reflective strap are genuinely thoughtful for night runs and sweaty sessions.
Who should skip it: if you mainly want maximum unplugged time and don't care about a dongle, the Groovz stretches much further per charge. And if you prefer touch gestures over physical buttons, that's a personal-fit call worth weighing.
• Best for battery life → Groovz Open-Ear Plus True. Up to 42 hours total versus up to 16 hours on the ASUS.
• Best for gaming and low latency → ASUS ROG Cetra Open. The ROG SpeedNova 2.4GHz dongle is the deciding factor; the Groovz is Bluetooth-only.
• Best for calls and hybrid work → Groovz Open-Ear Plus True. Dual microphones with noise reduction plus Bluetooth 5.4 multi-point pairing on two devices at once.
• Best for workouts and wet weather → ASUS ROG Cetra Open. IPX5 versus IPX4, plus soft ear hooks, physical buttons and a reflective detachable neck strap.
• Best for audio customization → ASUS ROG Cetra Open. Phantom Bass, Immersion Mode, and 14.2mm DLC-coated drivers give you more knobs to turn.
• Best for charging convenience → ASUS ROG Cetra Open. A 15-minute charge yields 3 hours of use, and USB-C passthrough charging powers your phone without cutting the audio.
• Best for charge visibility → Groovz Open-Ear Plus True. The LED display on the case tells you exactly where you stand.
• Best for a distinctive look → your call. The Groovz comes in Oil Slick and is sold on color variety; the ASUS is black with a customizable Aura RGB logo.
In my opinion, the Groovz Open-Ear Plus True is the safer buy for most people. Up to 42 hours of playtime, a battery display, multi-point pairing and a 1-year warranty cover the everyday job of listening and calling without babysitting a charger. I'd pick the ASUS ROG Cetra Open only if low-latency 2.4GHz gaming audio, IPX5, or the extra driver and sound-shaping features are things you'll actually use — and if so, it's the stronger specialist of the two. If you're still unsure, check the current price on Amazon and let your budget settle the tie.
FAQ
Yes, by a wide margin on the published figures: up to 42 hours total for the Groovz (32 from the case, 10 from the buds) versus up to 16 hours for the ASUS. If charging is your main annoyance, the Groovz wins.
Yes — it runs standard Bluetooth as well. But the low-latency advantage comes from the ROG SpeedNova 2.4GHz USB-C dongle, so plug that in when timing matters.
The Groovz Open-Ear Plus True is the better fit for me: dual microphones with noise reduction, Bluetooth 5.4 multi-point pairing on two devices, and touch controls for muting and volume. The ASUS is more oriented toward play than the desk.
That depends on whether you'll use its extras. If you game, run in the rain, or want Phantom Bass, Immersion Mode and a customizable RGB logo, yes. If you just want long battery life and clear calls, the Groovz covers it for less complexity.
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