If you prefer in-ear headphones to 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 on sale for $178 (was $200) at Amazon. That's the lowest price they've been since they launched over the holidays. Amazon hasn't listed an end date for the deal, but if the retailer is selling out, you can pick up a pair of Inzone Buds at Best Buy for $180.
Made by Sony Electronics (not PlayStation), the Inzone Buds are designed for PC gaming, but they’re fully compatible with the PS5, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, Android, and iPhone 15 via the 2.4GHz dongle. They’re a better value than PlayStation’s Pulse Explore earbuds ($200). Since they feature the same drivers as the popular WF-1000XM5 earbuds that retail for $300 (on sale for $52 off at Amazon), And PlayStation's Pulse Explore Wireless Headphones are very good sounding, and while they isolate noise well, they don't feature true ANC.
$178 (instead of $200)
The Sony Inzone Buds are available in a white/black or black color combination. Both models are eligible for the current Amazon offer. In addition to superb active noise cancellation and up to 12 hours of battery life (24 with the charging case), PC users can use the Inzone Hub software to fully customize their performance. These settings, including one of 256 sound profiles, can be synced to the earbuds and used on the PS5 and other devices. PS5 audio features like Tempest 3D Audio and Dolby Atmos are fully compatible with the Inzone Buds.
Like most wireless earbuds, the Inzone Buds have touch controls that work well. You can use the controls to turn ANC on or off, adjust the volume, change the sound mix, and more. The touch controls can be programmed for different functions. If you're worried about latency with wireless headphones, the 2.4GHz connection has just 30ms of latency, which helps create a smooth and reliable listening experience. An AI-assisted microphone enhances your voice so your words resonate clearly with your teammates.
The gaming earbuds market isn’t as competitive as traditional gaming headsets, but the Inzone Buds are the best we’ve used so far. Sony’s experience in making premium earbuds certainly helped when designing the Inzone Buds. They’re comfortable to wear for hours of continuous use, and inside the box you’ll find four sets of silicone eartips in different sizes.
The biggest downside to the earbuds is that many users will be using the included USB-C dongle on their phone, as its Bluetooth LE Audio connection isn't supported by many devices. Some newer Android phones have Bluetooth LE, but Apple's iPhones aren't part of this small ecosystem. iOS users with an iPhone 15 can simply plug in the USB-C dongle for playback, but if you have an iPhone with a Lightning port, you'll need a Lightning to USB-C adapter that supports audio (including the iPhone). This $15 adapter works great in our experience, but it obviously adds a cord that dangles from your iPhone and introduces the risk of decreased sound quality and increased latency — we've never noticed this, but different adapters and phones can lead to different results.
If you want to know more about Sony's gaming earbuds, check out our Sony Inzone Buds review.
$228 (instead of $300)
Amazon is also offering discounts on Inzone over-ear gaming headsets, including the Inzone H9 premium wireless headset, which is inspired by Sony's flagship WH-1000XM5, for $228 (was $300). Speaking of the WH-1000XM5, it's on sale for $100 off at Amazon.
The H9 uses the same leatherette and memory foam ear cushions as the WH-1000XM5. It has ANC, full support for Inzone Hub for customization, and is compatible with all of the PS5's audio features. It has 2.4GHz and Bluetooth for wireless connectivity, though it's worth noting that the dongle is USB-A, not USB-C. On the plus side, it offers wider Bluetooth compatibility, as it doesn't use Bluetooth LE – so it'll sync via Bluetooth to your iPhone, Android phone, Switch, Steam Deck, etc.
The mid-range Inzone H5 wireless headphones without noise-canceling technology are on sale for $128 (was $150).
Here's a list of all the Sony Inzone audio deals currently available on Amazon:
The Inzone Buds are the best earbuds we've tried in the still-small gaming earbud category, but they're not your only solid option. Asus offers 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 range of devices, including iPhone, Android, Nintendo Switch, and Steam Deck.