PlayStation Earbuds for PS5: price, release date and everything you need to know
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PlayStation Earbuds for PS5: price, release date and everything you need to know
Sony's new PS5 earbuds will offer lossless audio, but the price exceeds some of its current headphone options for PS5
The PlayStation Earbuds for PS5 now have an official name – the Pulse Explore wireless earbuds. They’re designed for PlayStation 5 gamers who want to take advantage of Sony’s critically acclaimed wireless earbuds technology but with PS5 gaming in mind.
Sony’s current WF-1000XM4 earbuds and WF-1000XM5 earbuds can work with PlayStation 5, but you need to purchase an extra Bluetooth adapter to connect to both the PS5 Disc and PS5 Digital Edition consoles. And while that might be a decent solution for those who already own a pair of earbuds, it can’t compare to the native experience the Pulse Explore wireless earbuds will offer.
Not only will the PlayStation Earbuds allow you to voice chat with your friends, but you’ll also get other advantages such as console notifications when it comes to battery life and other perks such as lossless audio.
Announced alongside the Sony Project Q handheld – now known as the PlayStation Portal – the PS5 earbuds promise to bring all the benefits of Sony’s wireless earbuds that consumers already enjoy, albeit with audio fine-tuned for the needs of gamers. And there’s clearly strong demand for a pair of PS5 earbuds in addition to having the option of the Sony PS5 Pulse 3D headset that launched alongside the console.
The PlayStation-branded wireless earbuds can be used with PS5, mobile, and PC, and feature a “new wireless technology developed by SIE (Sony Interactive Entertainment),” called PlayStation Link, which promises to deliver lossless audio with low latency. You can also switch between devices like the PS5 and PlayStation Portal with ease.
Here’s everything you need to know about the PlayStation Earbuds, or the Pulse Explore wireless earbuds as they’re officially known.
PS5 Earbuds price
We predicted the PS5 earbuds price would be between $99 to $199, and it turns out it’s the top end of our estimate. The Pulse Explore wireless earbuds cost $199.99, which is more expensive than the PS5 Pulse Elite wireless headset, a new over-ear pair of PS5 headphones that offer similar features but cost $149.99.
Thankfully, they’re still cheaper than the Sony WF1000-XM5 earbuds and the Sony INZONE H9, which both cost $299, but the Pulse Explore earbuds are the only wireless earbuds you can get straight from Sony that work flawlessly on PS5.
PlayStation Earbuds specs
The PlayStation Earbuds’ specs are impressive, to say the least. We already knew they’d use a new wireless technology to deliver “outstanding sound quality while you’re playing” via lossless audio – but now we know they’re powered by planar magnetic drivers.
Put simply, unlike typical cone-shaped drivers found in the majority of headsets and earbuds, planar drivers are flat and can convey a wider range of nuanced sounds. Combine this with PlayStation 5’s 3D audio and players should be in for a crisp, immersive experience. Planar magnetic drivers are usually reserved for high-end, over-ear headphones, so to see them included in the PS5 earbuds is a nice surprise and goes some way to justify the $299 price point.
The earbuds also include an AI-enhanced, noise-rejecting microphone. The Pulse Explore wireless earbuds will be able to smooth away repetitive background noise, like an air conditioner unit, so your friends on the other end don’t have to suffer.
In terms of battery life, our best point of comparison is the Sony XM4 earbuds. They offer eight hours of play and the case can supply a further 16 hours of charge. While it remains to be seen what the PlayStation Earbuds will offer, anything less than at least six hours of playtime per charge would admittedly be disappointing. We’ll be sure to judge and report back in a final PlayStation Earbuds review when they launch.
While you’ll have to wait for our PlayStation Earbuds unboxing, we already know that they come with a sleek charging case. Even at a distance, the wireless charging case doesn’t look very pocketable compared to other competing products on the market. That’s not a deal breaker by any means, as many will just use the PlayStation Earbuds while at home.
PS5 earbuds release date
We can make an educated estimate that the PS5 earbuds’ release date will be in November. We now know the PlayStation Portal will be released on November 15, 2023 – its Remote Play streaming device that lets you play some of the best PS5 games over WiFi – so Sony will want to make sure its compatible PS5 wireless earbuds are available for users to buy around the same time.
The PlayStation Earbuds could be released alongside or close to Sony’s PS5 Slim, too. Rumors suggest that Sony is preparing to announce a smaller, cheaper, and sleeker PlayStation 5, and it could be released around the same time as the PlayStation earbuds.
PlayStation Earbuds pre-order date
The PlayStation Earbuds pre-order date will happen in advance of their actual release date, according to our experience with every major product launch from Sony’s gaming brand. That’s where known PS5 tracker Matt Swider on X will take the lead to alert you when they’re available to pre-order.
Currently, we estimate that the pre-order date could fall between September and October 2023. As evidence, Sony provided plenty of time between the PS5 DualSense Edge controller and PSVR 2 headset releases for pre-orders, and the PlayStation Portal which releases on November 15 is now up for preorder. However, we’ll have to wait and see whether Sony will use its official PlayStation Store to sell the device exclusively at launch or allow other retailers to sell them too like it did with the Spider-Man 2 PS5 bundle.
Sony has veered towards selling its products directly for a timed period, before opening up sales to other retailers like Walmart, Amazon, Best Buy, and GameStop. While that ensures Sony can maximize its profits on early adopters, it does stunt sales in the long term and can often lead to some gamers missing out.
Should you buy the PlayStation Earbuds?
If you’re not a fan of over-ear headsets like the PlayStation 3D Pulse or if you want something that you can take with you on your commute, the Sony PS5 earbuds will be an attractive proposition. The fact they promise to deliver lossless audio will also please audiophiles who care about sound quality, and the PS5 branding means they won’t look out of place with the best PS5 accessories.
Apple has proven that in-ear headphones can have mass appeal with the AirPods, so expect Sony to bundle in a couple of replaceable tips so users can find the right fit.
Like anything, the PlayStation Earbuds’ price will make it less of an impulse buy than something like the PS5 Pulse 3D audio headset which was only $99, but the demand for a pair of wireless earbuds designed for PlayStation is certainly there and means they could become one of the best PS5 headsets in 2023. Stay tuned for more.
Last updated: September 18, 2023