Inzone Buds Review - A High-End Wireless Gaming Experience
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Sony introduces the Inzone Buds, wireless earbuds meticulously crafted for gaming. After a couple of weeks of usage, it became evident that earbud technology had significantly advanced. These earbuds prove that headsets are not the sole choice for top-notch audio peripherals, especially for PC or console gaming, particularly on the PlayStation 5.
Key Specs
Connection: 2.4GHz (USB-C) / Bluetooth LE
Microphone: inbuilt
The package contains: multiple ear tips for different sizes with one installed on the device, USB -C cord, and a dongle
Controls: touch controls on both buds
Battery: 12 hours outside the case using 2.4 GHz (roughly around 24 through Bluetooth). Charging case provides roughly 24 - 48 hours
Compatibility: PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Android devices (varies)
Type: In-ear
The Inzone Buds is now available in the Philippines and is priced at P13,995 in some retail stores. The Inzone Buds was released in October 2023.
INZONE Wireless Buds Review
While wireless earbuds are not a novel concept, catering to a specific niche in the PC and PS5 space with a price tag of approximately P13,999 presents a formidable challenge. This is especially true considering the dominance of headsets for years - it’s the preferred setup for many gamers who seek momentary isolation from the outside world to immerse themselves in a game’s environment.
However, as earbuds gradually establish a presence in the gaming sphere, the Inzone Buds prove to be a compelling choice by hitting all the right notes. Despite their compact size, this device offers a plethora of features to enhance the gaming experience.
Ideal comfort
As I delved into the usage of the Inzone Buds, my primary concern was comfort. The significant advantage of earbuds lies in the freedom they offer, allowing your head to feel unencumbered compared to traditional gaming headset setups. While some may find comfort in the conventional headset arrangement, the minimalistic design of wireless earbuds emphasizes comfort that could be ideal for certain consumers, a feature immediately noticeable during my initial session with the Inzone Buds. The design is cleverly crafted to minimize contact with other parts of your ears, with most of the interaction occurring through the ear tips.
This unique design ensures that the Inzone Buds provide unparalleled comfort during extended gaming sessions, allowing you to forget you're even wearing them. Throughout my extensive review process involving multiple gaming sessions lasting over 4 hours each, I experienced minimal to no ear strain. The only instance I needed to readjust the buds was when accidentally triggering the touch controls while changing certain device options. The elongated design effectively prevents accidental presses, and the inclusion of multiple ear tips of various sizes provides consumers with ample options for achieving the best fit straight out of the box.
The Inzone Buds boast an impressive design that seamlessly combines visual appeal with comfort. Available in either black or white variants, these earbuds feature a simple yet elegant layout. The touch-based controls on the top portion of the device eliminate the need for physical buttons on the buds. When you open the charging case, the buds promptly search for any device with the included USB-C dongle. However, before using the device, you must manually switch the dongle to the desired platform, be it PC or PS5. This design choice contrasts with the PS5's Pulse 3D headset, released in 2020, which features a USB dongle that is plug-and-play on both PC and PS5/PS4 without the need for manual switching. The Inzone Buds' additional step on the dongle for platform selection might seem unusual, especially when compared to the seamless functionality of the 3D Pulse Headset.
A battery life fit for daily and long gaming sessions
The Inzone Buds offer a battery life suitable for both daily use and extended gaming sessions. Upon receiving the buds, I charged the buds and their case to full capacity before the initial use and integrated them into my routine, using them nearly every time I sat down at my PC for work or gaming on either PC or PS5. During a dedicated week of mixed PC and console use, I found myself needing to charge the Buds charging case only on the 6th day, which is something I’m not fairly used to.
The buds, on their own, deliver an impressive battery life, allowing for multiple hours and sessions without ever needing to touch their charging case. The claim of over 12 hours of battery life outside the case is accurate, and when resting inside the case, the battery found in a fully charged case can give over 24 hours of battery life to the buds. Those familiar with wireless buds and their accompanying charging cases will feel at ease and will rarely face the need to interrupt their PC or PS5 activities due to the Buds running out of power mid-session.
Impressive noise canceling, forgettable mic
The Inzone Buds prove their worth in games where audio precision is crucial. I tested the Buds on games such as Hunt: Showdown, Cyberpunk 2077, Marvel’s Spider-man 2, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and it delivered crisp audio, perfect directional awareness, and an immersive gaming experience. The audio quality remains pristine even during work sessions with Spotify music or YouTube videos serving as background noise.
The standout feature, however, is the impressive noise-canceling capability of the Inzone Buds. Activating this feature creates a near-airlocked environment, muffling external noises to the point of disappearance once the audio from the buds starts playing. The noise-canceling feature effectively minimizes disturbances from usual room noises such as air conditioning or electric fan noises. Users have three options for sound settings – noise canceling, ambient sounds, and off. These options can be effortlessly switched using the left bud's touch controls (the right bud manages volume control). For further customization, the Inzone app, installable on the PC, offers control over touch settings, allowing users to dictate the actions associated with different touch gestures, such as three presses or a hold. You can even customize the Bud’s audio levels depending on your preference for audio quality.
The accompanying app for the Inzone Buds adds a personalized touch to the overall experience, allowing users to customize touch controls. However, I found it lacking an audio cue to confirm the activated setting, which could be helpful, particularly when accidentally pressing touch controls. While some features are self-evident, having a clear indication, especially for settings like noise canceling, would be beneficial to a user. On PC, users can check the current settings through the Inzone app, but on the PS5, one must rely solely on auditory cues from the device.
Regarding the built-in microphone, it proves serviceable but falls short of expectations. The audio carries a hollow sound, lacking significant noise canceling in environments with various sounds. It suffices for PS5 use but may not be the ideal choice for PC users, especially those that rely on separate high-quality microphones.
Focused on PC and PS5 gaming
Primarily designed for PC and PS5 gaming, the Inzone Buds excel when used with the provided dongle, seamlessly switching between platforms. However, it's important to note that the device has limited Bluetooth capabilities, supporting only Bluetooth 5.3 with LE audio. This restriction means that older devices, such as my Samsung A50, couldn't pair with the Inzone Buds. While it makes sense to prioritize compatibility with newer devices, this limitation might frustrate those who tend to hold on to older devices.
The absence of regular Bluetooth support positions the Inzone Buds as less versatile for everyday use, particularly considering their higher price point. Nevertheless, the real standout features of these buds are the remarkable battery life and the comfort they offer during extended usage. The noise-canceling capabilities and audio quality, though strong, take a back seat as they are expected standards for a device priced above P10,000. Despite the limited Bluetooth connectivity and the average built-in microphone, the Inzone Buds remain a compelling choice for those seeking wireless Buds specifically for gaming.
Verdict: 4 / 5 (Fantastic)
PROS
Crisp and accurate audio for various games
Impressive battery life
Comfortable for long gaming sessions
CONS
Limited Bluetooth compatibility
Forgettable built-in mic
This review is based on a review unit sent over to us by Sony to test and use for two weeks
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