Sony already has its own range of accessories linked to the PlayStation 5, but the manufacturer also wanted to diversify the approaches with another brand, less gaming oriented, which would be likely to speak to an audience ready to pay slightly higher sums. in higher quality high-tech equipment, and above all less confined to a single device. Inzone launched in 2022 with premium-priced headsets and displays that offered performance that justified their prices. A few months ago, the group wanted to expand its offering by offering Inzone Buds in-ear headphones which were surprisingly released in the same window as the Pulse Explore headphones. Two pairs of headphones from the same manufacturer for the same use, which is not necessarily smart at first glance. Fortunately, the Inzone Buds have qualities to spare that make you forget this detail and which will appeal to those who want the cream of the crop of headphones from Sony.
Test conditions: We were able to test the Inzone Buds for several weeks in different configurations, whether on the go on an Android phone or on PS5 during long gaming sessions.
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An attractive look
The first detail that we can notice when unboxing the Inzone Buds is the size of the case, which immediately reminds us of the screen of a piece of jewelry that would be a little too imposing. With its just over 4 centimeters in height and 5 centimeters in width, the device is not necessarily the most practical for carrying in a pocket, even if it still fits. We will also regret that unlike the rest, the case itself remains rather simple despite a small foam above each earphone so as not to damage them when closing the flap, or even a button on the back to facilitate pairing . Upon opening, we see that this prominent size comes from two things: the presence of a Bluetooth sensor and the imposing shape of the headphones themselves.
A particular choice which is however not visible when they are in our ears. Because it is ergonomics that was first thought of for this design, and on this point, the Inzone Buds are flawless. Even after several hours, you barely feel them thanks to their shape which fits the ear well as well as their relatively light weight, without them falling off at the first shake of the head. Naturally, we find several tips in the packaging of the headphones so that they embrace the shape of your ears in the best possible way.
Connectivity that can be debated
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But before returning to what they offer once installed, let's talk about the Buds' connectivity, which in our opinion is its biggest drawback. The headphones feature Bluetooth LE connectivity which certainly offers very good performance, but few people will be able to realize this given that few devices have this compatibility. On a smartphone for example, if your model is not compatible, you will have to use the connector included in the box to pair your headphones. Rather thin even if it is quite wide, this connector is not very problematic in itself, but it necessarily occupies a UBS-C port on your phone, which could be taken by something else (like your charger). A rather curious decision, even if the presence of this connector allows the Inzone Buds to be easily and quickly connected to a whole range of devices, including your PC or your PS5. There is also a switch to activate depending on the device on which you use your headphones.
We thus feel Sony's desire to make these headphones accessories of choice for its flagship console, even if there are also the Pulse Explore. And when you connect the Buds to the PS5 (via the small USB-C accessory), the magic really happens. The in-game sound reproduction is at the level of the best mid-high-end gaming headsets, with very little latency (unlike a lot of Bluetooth accessories) as well as a lot of clarity in both the treble and bass.
For example, we were able to test the headphones by playing many hours of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, which works wonders with its dynamic soundtrack that constantly varies the rhythms. The Inzone Buds were ideal companions for feeling all these nuances, with a very correct spatialization that also did the job, even if it is not in this type of game that we need it most. To immerse yourself even more, you can take advantage of the active noise reduction which is rather gentle and which covers the surrounding sounds well without completely cutting you off from the world. We would prefer to activate it on fairly noisy games like Rebirth precisely, so as not to feel the muffled effect that each noise reduction device provides.
A complete application to configure everything
Like shortcuts via the touch zones of each earphone. Each of them has four different shortcuts (tapping one to three times or holding down), so there's plenty of room for your preferences. Between lowering or increasing the volume, activating noise reduction, touching the chat volume and many other possibilities, the experience is à la carte. In short, a perfect application, which has only one fault: that of being only available on PC. You will certainly need it very little once the settings that suit you have been saved, but having it on a smartphone, or even having some settings integrated into the PS5, would not have been a luxury. Between this and the imposing case, we see that these headphones have mainly been designed for fairly sedentary use.
However, they have autonomy geared towards the nomad since it is possible to use them for around twelve hours. The fast charge included in the case also allows you to recharge in a few minutes. Suffice to say that you will have time to recharge your DualSense several times before doing the same with your Buds. Note also that these devices have an integrated microphone, of fairly good quality. Let's say instead that it has the merit of being there and offering a sufficiently clear sound to the extent that it can help you out for a few games. In terms of length, we would prefer a more efficient headset, but that was not the focus of the Inzone Buds.
Technical sheet
- Shape: In-Ear
- Weight: 6.5 grams per earphone
- Connectivity: 2.4 GHZ; LE Audio
- Battery life: 12 hours, 24 hours with case
- Latency < 30 ms
- Noise reduction
- Compatible devices: PC, PS5, tablets, Switch, mobiles
- Built-in microphone
- Color: Black – White