Sony's Inzone Buds are great-sounding gaming earbuds with top-notch active noise-canceling. Compatible with PC, mobile, and PS5, these earbuds are a solid choice for those looking for multi-platform gaming earbuds with good battery life - though their Bluetooth connectivity leaves much to be desired.
For
- Near-perfect active noise canceling
- Excellent overall sound quality
- Long-lasting battery life
Against
- Bluetooth connectivity can be unreliable
- Lower, bassier audio is fairly muddy
PlayStation's Pulse Explore earbuds offer rich, detailed sound and a robust mic, making them the perfect portable companion for your PlayStation Portal and a solid choice for your PS5, PC, or mobile. If you're after a long battery life of active noise canceling, though, you won't find them here.
For
- Incredible sound and detailed audio
- Magnetic planar drivers are a dream
- Perfect for PlayStation Portal
- Robust mic
- Distinct design and tidy charging case
Against
- Middling battery life
- No ANC
- Extra tips needed for a better fit and sound
Gaming headsets may be the go-to for many gamers, but gaming earbuds can offer just as good an experience - if not better at times. However, not all gaming earbuds are equal, even when they're from the same manufacturer. Case in point: the Sony Inzone Buds and the PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds.
Both earbuds are from the Sony powerhouse and have benefits and drawbacks, but which best suits you depends on a few factors, including price, features, performance, and what devices you plan to use them on. Fortunately, if you're in the market for a new set of gaming earbuds, we're here to help.
Below, we've broken down the key similarities and differences between the Sony Inzone Buds and the PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds, to help you decide between the two.
Want to expand your search? Check out our top picks of the best PS5 headsets and the best gaming earbuds.
Sony Inzone Buds vs PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds: Price and Value
These gaming earbuds have almost identical price tags. The Sony Inzone Buds cost $199.99 / £179.99 / AU$249.95, while the PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds cost $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$249. However, we have seen the latter slip in price consistently in the months after their launch.
The list prices remain premium pricing for gaming earbuds, though, in line with the price of Apple AirPods 3 and coming in higher than some of our other favorite picks, such as the SteelSeries Arctis GameBuds and the 1MORE Triple Driver In-Ear Headphones. While more affordable options are available, both earbuds offer a solid audio experience for those who don't mind the higher price tag. We have seen discounts on both sets, though - so keep your eyes peeled for sales if this is a bit above your price range.
Both earbuds are available from third-party retailers, like Amazon, and the PlayStation Store directly, so you shouldn't have issues getting your hands on them.
Sony Inzone Buds vs PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds: Specs
Here's the full list of specs for the Sony Inzone Buds and the PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds.
| Row 0 - Cell 0 | Sony Inzone Buds | PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds |
| Price | $199.99 / £179.99 / AU$249.95 | $199.99 / £199.99 / AU$329 |
| Weight | 0.2oz / 6.5 g (per bud) | 0.2oz / 6.5g (one earbud with medium tip) |
| Compatibility | PS5, PC, Mobile | PS5, PlayStation Portal, PC, Mobile |
| Connection type | Wireless USB-C dongle (2.4GHz), Bluetooth LE Audio | PlayStation Link wireless, Bluetooth (mobile) |
| Battery life | 12 hours and 12 hours from the charging case | 5 hours with 10 hours from the charging case |
| Features | Active noise canceling, 360 spatial sound, AI microphone, 6 sets of various size tips | Planar Magnetic Drivers, AI-enhanced noise rejection, Dual Device connectivity, 3 sets of ear tips |
| Software | Optional Inzone Hub (PC) | N/A |
Sony Inzone Buds vs PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds: Design
Both the Sony Inzone Buds and PlayStation Pulse Explore keep with PlayStation's modern aesthetic and range of PS5 accessories. While the PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds come in the PS5's matte white and black design, the Sony Inzone Buds are available in this color scheme or a more subtle pure black.
The Sony Inzone Buds come in a sturdy, magnetically-sealed, charging case, which features a pairing button, a rear USB-C charging port, and an LED light that signifies paring and battery life. The case is quite wide, however, so you may struggle to easily put it in your pocket for on-the-go use. Alongside the earbuds themselves, the Sony Inzones come with a USB-C 2.4GHz dongle - which features a switch with two settings that separate PS5 and mobile use from PC - six additional earbud tips of varying sizes, and a USB-C cable for charging.
Similarly, the PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds come in a charging case, with an LED light signifier and three additional tips - but we do wish it had more with varying sizes. However, while the Sony Inzone's aren't overly pocket-friendly, the Pulse Explore buds are chunky but not too much so. During testing, we found they could fit inside a PlayStation Portal case, allowing for convenient portability.
Overall, both earbuds provide a comfortable fit and sleek design and come with a tidy charging case which is a plus point for both in the design column.
Sony Inzone Buds vs PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds: Features & Performance
While these buds have a lot of similarities, it's their features and performance that separate them.
The Sony Inzone Buds offer a spectacular listening experience, with rich audio detail, making them perfect for gaming or more casual listening -though the sound becomes a bit muddy with very loud and bassy sounds. This listening experience is enhanced by the buds' active noise canceling, which we found to be near-perfect. The Inzone Buds also support 3D audio, including Sony's Tempest 3D audio and Dolby Atmos, which somewhat improves the sound, but we didn't find the spatial audio as impressive as we expected. You can improve the spatial audio experience via the Inzone Hub app on PC, which allows for more customization, but the process can be a bit tedious as you need to take pictures of your ear - and we didn't think it was ultimately worth it.
Other drawbacks of the Inzone Buds include the temperamental Bluetooth connectivity, the inability to adjust volume while using Bluetooth, and the performance of its AI microphone, which works well for calls but leaves much to be desired when gaming. We do love the battery life of these earbuds, though, with a single charge providing 12 hours of battery and 24 hours available through Bluetooth.
The PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds also offer impressive, detailed audio, largely thanks to the planar magnetic drivers. We found the listening experience superb, with these earbuds capturing everything from smaller details to rich, bassy sounds, while its robust microphone allows for easy game comms. You also have the option to customize EQ on PS5 if you want to tweak things a bit.
While the Pulse Explore earbuds provide great sound out of the box, they may require experimentation to get the best comfort and sound, as the limited number of extra tips may not provide the right fit for you.
If you're worried about messing around with connectivity, you needn't with these earbuds. Connectivity with PS5 and PlayStation Portal is simple, with PlayStation Link making the process seamless - though the buttons can take some getting used to.
The Pulse Explore buds' battery life is perhaps their biggest drawback. You can expect five to six hours of battery life from a charge, with 10 hours of extra charge from the case, but compared to the Inzone's 12 hours, it's a bit disappointing - especially at this price.
Ultimately, both earbuds provide an excellent audio experience, but the Pulse Explore has more of an edge as it can handle those bassy and loud sounds that the Inzone buds can't. The Pulse Explore buds also have more stable and accessible connectivity than the Inzone buds, plus connect directly to the PlayStation Portal which the Inzones cannot do. However, if you tend to have long gaming sessions, and comfort and battery life are key, and the Inzone provides a better experience in this department.
Sony Inzone Buds vs PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds: Verdict
With both buds at the same price point, which you should choose comes down to their performance and features. It's worth considering what you plan to use your earbuds for and what elements are most important to you.
While both earbuds provide an excellent audio experience, the PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds offer more detail and rich sounds. The PlayStation Pulse Explore earbuds are also the best choice for those who want a good case, a solid microphone, and own a PlayStation Portal - for which they are the perfect companion.
On the other hand, if you value battery life and comfort for long gaming sessions most, the Inzone Buds are the best choice. While the audio of these earbuds can be muddy at times, it's solid overall, and the noise canceling is superb - a boon if you plan to use them on public transport or other noisy environments.
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