When the MacBook Neo arrived last month, I knew Windows laptop makers were in trouble. For $599, the Neo offers fantastic build quality and solid performance in a sleek and ultra-portable package. Windows laptops in this price range tend to be ugly, cheap-feeling, and a little slow.

Despite years of rumors, the MacBook Neo still seemed to take the Windows world by surprise. I expect proper competitors to pop up just as soon as the companies can manage, but I wanted to see what the competition in the PC space is like now.

So I asked a bunch of laptop manufacturers to send me their best answers to the MacBook Neo.

The MacBook Neo is a 13-i …

Read the full story at The Verge.

The Cetra Open Wireless aren’t like most other gaming earbuds. They’re large, with an open-style design that rests just outside of your ears, letting game audio mix with sounds in your environment. These allow for immersion, but only if your environment is quiet enough. And turning them up might let those nearby hear what you’re listening to.

Even if you love open-style headphones as much as I do, you will probably agree that they are not the best choice for every listening scenario or all people. However, the Cetra Open are some of the most comfortable and feature-packed gaming earbuds I’ve tried, and the sound quality — while lacking in bass compared to earbuds that get a tight seal — leaves little to be desired. Plus, they ship with the best USB-C 2.4GHz audio transmitter available, one with a passthrough USB-C port that lets you charge your device or an accessory as you listen.

Asus Cetra Open Wireless earbuds

Where to Buy:

• $229.99 at Amazon
• $229.99 at Newegg
• $229.99 at Asus

Before I started testing the Cetra Open, I spent most of my time alternating between the SteelSeries Arctis Buds and Sony InZone Buds while gaming, both of which come with active noise cancellation, a snug fit, good sound, and USB-C transmitters of varying sizes that make listening to games on my Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch 2 a breeze. However, I didn’t consider switching back to either once I started using the Cetra Open for numerous reasons. I’ve been playing Silent Hill F and Esoteric Ebb on my Steam Deck without feeling like I missed out on their phenomenal sound design. They work great with my PlayStation 5, too.

I imagine several companies wish they had been the first to make the USB-C transmitter that Asus packages with the Cetra Open, as it elevates them to a must-own gadget if you play a lot of games on handhelds like the Switch 2 or Steam Deck. The transmitter has its limitations, though, such as only allowing for power passthrough — not video or data. Asus spokesperson Katie Grayum recently told The Verge that it supports up to 60W one-way charging, which, thankfully, is more than enough for modern gaming handhelds.

Sound-wise, the Cetra Open deliver full-bodied performance with surprisingly solid bass and mids thanks to Asus’ Phantom Bass feature (it’s on by default). I use them a lot during my workday to listen to music, but I enjoy using them most to game at night on the couch near my wife as she reads. I’m able to hear game audio at a reasonable volume and stay connected by hearing every part of our conversation, instead of yanking an earbud out and asking, “What’d you say?”

The hefty case charges via USB-C (it lacks wireless charging) and can charge the earbuds multiple times before running out of power. Asus claims the buds can last up to 16 hours per charge in Bluetooth mode with the RGB LEDs and mics off (fewer in 2.4GHz mode, which yields about 10 hours per charge in my testing). I’ve only had to charge the case twice while testing, and the buds themselves charge very quickly. I was able to take them from 70 percent capacity to fully charged in less than 20 minutes.

The Cetra Open boast multipoint connectivity, too, letting you connect to two Bluetooth devices at once or to one Bluetooth device while connected to its 2.4GHz transmitter. Switching between sources is mostly seamless and requires no buttons, though listening through two audio sources simultaneously isn’t supported.

Asus offers multiple ways to adjust earbud settings when you’re connected to the USB-C transmitter. On your phone, you can download the Armoury Crate app to dive into the options. On PC, you can simply use its browser-based Gear Link site — no download required. Both let you customize a host of audio and mic settings, as well as brightness and lighting effects. You can also change what happens when you press each of the earbud’s top-mounted buttons (custom commands can be set for single, double, triple, and quadruple presses). You can even switch the audio prompts between English and Chinese, or set it to play sounds instead of a prerecorded voice.

Great wireless earbuds for gaming already existed before the Cetra Open. The InZone Buds and Arctis Buds are the better choice if you value snug-fitting earbuds and active noise cancellation. However, Asus’ new earbuds are a fantastic set for different reasons. They’re comfortable and non-isolating, and their USB-C transmitter gives you more flexibility to charge your gadget while you game.

Photography by Cameron Faulkner / The Verge

The MacBook Neo is here, and it took no time at all for an executive from a major PC manufacturer to put their foot in their mouth trying to discuss this new competition from Apple's $600 laptop. On Asus' latest earnings call, CFO Nick Wu said that the Neo and its aggressive entry-level pricing were "certainly a shock to the entire market." Wu also disclosed that Asus had some knowledge of Apple developing the Neo back in 2025, much as many of us had heard rumors of a MacBook with an iPhone chip for months - and yet, Asus and other PC makers seem to have been caught flat-footed.

What's worse is these company executives don't even seem to r …

Read the full story at The Verge.