After a few weeks with the PlayStation Pulse Explore wireless earbuds, I’ve got some clear thoughts. These are Sony’s first official in ear buds made specifically for the PS5 and PlayStation Portal. While they offer some standout features, they also come with a few compromises. If you’re thinking about picking them up, here’s what stood out and what didn’t.
Design and Comfort
The design is… different. They’re chunkier than most wireless earbuds, and at first glance, I thought they’d feel awkward. But once in, they stayed put even during long gaming sessions. They’re not exactly discreet though. You’ll definitely notice them, and the charging case is bulky too. Forget about slipping it into your pocket.
Sound Quality
Now, here’s where they shine. Sony packed in planar magnetic drivers, which you rarely see in earbuds, let alone gaming ones. The result? Crisp, detailed sound. In games like Call of Duty or Battlefield, I could hear footsteps and reloads with way more clarity than usual.
But there’s a catch these aren’t built for bass lovers. The sound leans clean and precise, not deep or booming. For music or action-heavy scenes, the low-end can feel a little thin.
Connectivity and Features
These use PlayStation Link for a low-latency connection on PS5 and Portal, and it works great no lag at all. You can also pair them via Bluetooth, which means you can connect to both your console and phone at the same time. That’s genuinely useful if you want to take a call or play music mid-game.
One issue: there’s no way to adjust volume from the earbuds when you’re using Bluetooth. You have to do it from your device, which gets old fast.
Battery Life
Battery life is fine, not great. You get about 5 hours on a charge, with the case adding around 10 more. It’ll get you through short sessions, but if you’re gaming all night, you’ll need to recharge.
Microphone Quality
The built-in mics are decent. Sony uses some AI tech to block background noise, and it works well enough for party chat or quick calls. Don’t expect studio-level clarity, but they get the job done.
Price vs. Value
Here’s the hard part: these cost $199 (or R3,499 in South Africa). That’s premium pricing. While the sound is clean and the PlayStation integration is solid, the bulky design, lack of bass, no active noise cancelling, and average mic make the price harder to justify.
Looking around Reddit, feedback’s mixed. Some love the sound quality for gaming. Others feel the build is underwhelming and the features don’t match the price tag.
Final Verdict
Would I recommend the Pulse Explore earbuds? It depends. If you’re all-in on the PlayStation ecosystem and prioritize clear game audio over booming bass, they’re worth considering. But if you’re after something more balanced for gaming and music alike there are better, cheaper options out there
