Amazon has both white and black Sony Inzone Buds on sale for $178.
By Steven PetiteTwitter on August 23, 2024 at 2:43PM PDT
Sony Inzone Buds – Wireless Noise-Canceling Gaming Earbuds
Sony Inzone H9 Wireless Noise-Canceling Gaming Headset
If you prefer earbuds over gaming headsets, our favorite pair of wireless gaming earbuds are on sale for a limited time. Both the white-and-black and all-black models of Sony’s Inzone Buds are discounted to $178 (was $200) at Amazon. This matches the lowest price since launch last holiday. Amazon hasn’t listed an end date for the deal, but if the retailer sells out, you can grab a pair of Inzone Buds from Best Buy for $180.
Made by Sony Electronics–not PlayStation–the Inzone Buds are designed for PC gaming, but they are fully compatible with PS5, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, Android, and iPhone 15 via the 2.4GHz dongle. They offer more bang for your buck than PlayStation’s Pulse Explore earbuds ($200). Since they’re equipped with the same drivers as the popular WF-1000XM5 earbuds that carry a list price of $300 (on sale for $52 off at Amazon) and implement Sony’s excellent noise-canceling tech, they’re an easy recommendation at full price. PlayStation’s Pulse Explore wireless earbuds do well in the sound department, and while they do a good job isolating noise, they aren’t equipped with true ANC.
Sony Inzone Buds are available in a white/black combination or all-black. These models are part of a current promotion on Amazon. They provide outstanding active noise cancellation and have a battery life of up to 12 hours, or 24 hours including the charging case. PC users can tailor the earbuds’ performance via the Inzone Hub software, syncing settings such as one of 256 sound profiles which are also compatible with PS5 and other devices that support Tempest 3D Audio and Dolby Atmos.
The Inzone Buds feature tap controls that are reliable for various functions including toggling ANC, adjusting volume, and altering the sound mix. Their low 30ms latency over a 2.4GHz connection ensures a smooth and stable audio experience. These earbuds also incorporate an AI-enhanced microphone that optimizes voice clarity for communication with teammates.
With less competition in the gaming earbud market compared to the traditional gaming headset market, the Inzone Buds stand out as the best option available, benefiting from Sony’s expertise in high-end earbud manufacturing. They are designed to be comfortable for prolonged usage, and come with four different sizes of silicone eartips within the package.
The main disadvantage of the earbuds is their compatibility with mobile devices using the included USB-C dongle, as many devices do not support Bluetooth LE Audio. While some new Android phones are equipped with Bluetooth LE, none of the Apple iPhones are integrated with this feature. iPhone 15 users can utilize the USB-C dongle directly, but older iPhone models require a Lightning to USB-C adapter for audio, potentially impacting sound quality and introducing additional latency, though this varies by adapter and phone model.
If you want to read more about Sony’s gaming earbuds, check out our Sony Inzone Buds review.
Amazon also has discounts on over-ear Inzone gaming headsets, including the premium Inzone H9 wireless headset, which takes cues from Sony’s flagship WH-1000XM5 headphones, for $228 (was $300). Speaking of the WH-1000XM5 headphones, they are on sale for $100 off at Amazon.
The H9 uses the same leatherette and memory foam cushions as the WH-1000XM5. It features ANC, full support with Inzone Hub for customization, and is fully compatible with all PS5 audio features. It includes 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity, although it utilizes a USB-A dongle, not USB-C. It has broader Bluetooth compatibility, without relying on Bluetooth LE, allowing for easier syncing with devices such as iPhones, Android phones, Switches, Steam Decks, etc.
The mid-range wireless Inzone H5 headset without noise-canceling technology is available for $128 (was $150).
Here’s a list of all of the Sony Inzone audio deals available now at Amazon:
The Inzone Buds are the best earbuds we’ve tried in the still-small gaming category, but they aren’t your only solid option. Asus has two different models of its ROG Cetra: the high-end SpeedNova with 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.3 for $190 (was $200) and the Bluetooth-only ROG Cetra for $80 (was $100). Both support Bluetooth connections on a wider array of devices, including iPhone, Android, Nintendo Switch, and Steam Deck.
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