While the INZONE Buds offer longer battery life, noise cancellation, and ambient sound mode, the PULSE Explore stands out with its planar magnetic drivers for higher-quality audio and dual connectivity options.
Sony INZONE Buds vs PS5 PULSE Explore: Gaming Earbuds Comparison
By Naila Syifa
Updated December 2023
Gaming earbuds have become increasingly popular among gamers due to their portability and convenience. Sony, a leading electronics company, has released its first gaming-focused wireless earbuds, the INZONE Buds. How does it compare to PlayStation 5's official gaming accessory, the PULSE Explore wireless earbuds, which are also specifically designed for gaming? Let's find out!
Key Takeaways
While the INZONE Buds offer longer battery life, noise cancellation, and ambient sound mode, the PULSE Explore stands out with its planar magnetic drivers for higher-quality audio and dual connectivity options.
Sony INZONE Buds
Low Latency Gaming Earbuds
✓ Personalized 360 Spatial Sound
✓ Noise Cancellation
✓ 30ms Low Latency
✓ 24 hours of battery life
PlayStation PULSE Explore
Console Gaming Earbuds
✓ Planar Magnetic Drivers
✓ 3D Audio
✓ Dual Device Connectivity
✓ 15 hours of battery life
#1 Price
Sony INZONE Buds
Sony INZONE Buds and PlayStation PULSE Explore are priced quite similarly at US$199. This similarity in price makes it difficult to distinguish between the two based on cost alone. Read more to find out which one offers better value for the price.
#2 Design
PlayStation PULSE Explore
Both the Sony INZONE Buds and PlayStation PULSE Explore come with a sporty look featuring a black and white dual-tone color scheme. The design of both earbuds looks significantly different from each other, but they both look stylish and modern to suit the preferences of most gamers.
Both models come with a charging case that is compact in size and easy to carry around. The PULSE Explore's charging case is more elongated with a sliding cover that reveals the earbuds inside. Meanwhile, the charging case of the INZONE Buds is rounded in shape and has a flip-open lid. It also features a special compartment for the included USB-C dongle, making it more convenient for storage and transportation.
Sony and PlayStation claim that both earbuds are lightweight and comfortable. However, it may be worth noting that the INZONE Buds come with four different sizes of ear tips to ensure a more secure and comfortable fit for different individuals, while the PULSE Explore earbuds only come with three sizes of ear tips.
#3 Audio Quality & Features
Sony INZONE Buds
Sony INZONE Buds feature a dome-shaped Dynamic Driver X typically found in most earbuds, while the PULSE Explore features flat-shaped Planar Magnetic Drivers that produce a higher quality sound. Compared to dynamic drivers, planar drivers are known for their faster response times, lower distortion levels, wider soundstage, and enhanced realism, making them ideal for gaming and music.
However, the INZONE Buds are equipped with some important features that are not present in the PULSE Explore earbuds, such as Noise Cancellation, which can help block out external sounds to provide a more focused gaming experience. When you want to hear your surroundings while playing, you can also switch to the Ambient Sound Mode, which amplifies external sounds and voices so you can stay alert to what's happening around you.
Despite those differences, the INZONE Buds and PULSE Explore share some common audio features. Microphones supported by AI-enhanced noise reduction technology are present in both earbuds to provide a clear and uninterrupted voice chat during gaming sessions. In addition, both earbuds also support 3D Audio for an immersive surround sound that makes you feel like you're inside the game.
#4 Battery Life
PlayStation PULSE Explore
In terms of battery life, the Sony INZONE Buds offer a better deal. The earbuds can last for up to 12 hours of continuous playback, and the charging case further extends the battery life to a total of 24 hours of playtime. The INZONE Buds also support quick charging, allowing you to get an hour of playback with just 5 minutes of charging.
On the other hand, the PULSE Explore has a battery life of 5 hours per charge, with a total of 15 hours of playtime when combined with the charging case. Fully charging the earbuds is quick and easy, taking only about 40 minutes to reach full capacity. And if you're in a hurry, charging them for 10 minutes will give you an hour of playback time.
#5 Connectivity
Sony INZONE Buds
Sony INZONE Buds connect to PCs, consoles, or mobile devices via the included USB-C dongle. This 2.4 GHz wireless connection delivers low-latency audio of less than 30 ms, ensuring that you can enjoy lag-free gaming sessions for a better chance of winning.
Similarly, the PULSE Explore earbuds connect to your PlayStation 5 consoles, PC, or Mac via the included USB adapter, known as the PlayStation Link USB Adapter. This wireless connection provides lossless and ultra-low latency audio, ensuring that you can enjoy your games with no lag or stuttering.
PlayStation PULSE Explore
However, one difference between both models is that the PULSE Explore also supports Bluetooth connectivity, so you can wirelessly connect it to your mobile devices without the USB adapter. Moreover, the Dual Device Connectivity feature allows you to simultaneously listen to audio from a PlayStation Link USB adapter and Bluetooth-enabled devices. If you have multiple PlayStation Link USB adapters, you can even connect to both adapters simultaneously and switch between them seamlessly.
Both the INZONE Buds and PULSE Explore are compatible with PlayStation 5. However, the PULSE Explore is also PlayStation Portal Remote Player ready, allowing you to listen to your game's audio on your PS5 over your home Wi-Fi.
Sony INZONE Buds vs PlayStation PULSE Explore
Final Thoughts
Sony INZONE Buds
Overall, both the Sony INZONE Buds and PlayStation PULSE Explore are great choices for gaming earbuds, with each having its unique features and advantages. Ultimately, it comes down to personal preferences and priorities when choosing between these two gaming earbuds.
Sony INZONE Buds offer an extended battery life and more advanced features like noise cancellation and ambient sound mode. Meanwhile, the PlayStation PULSE Explore stands out with its high-quality audio with the Planar Magnetic Drivers and greater flexibility in connectivity options.
If you like to read more about Gaming Earbuds/Headsets, check out our other relevant guides here:
Sony INZONE Buds vs WF-1000XM5
Sony INZONE Buds vs INZONE H9
Sony INZONE Buds vs Razer Hammerhead HyperSpeed
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