ROG Strix Go Core Moonlight White

Over the last couple of months, we here at Gamereactor have been busy sampling a whole range of peripherals from the Republic of Gamers catalogue. The manufacturer has created a full spectrum of products for gamers over the years, and for the most part, we have been really impressed with the quality. The latest device from ROG that we have been able to get our hands on is the ROG Strix Go Core Moonlight White, which is a £69.99 headset that is predominantly targeted towards those on a budget.

The first thing to note before we delve into the headset's appearance is that it's also available in black. The white variant, however, is the one we will be directly commenting on within this review. The design here is pretty minimalistic, as the outer frame of the headset is purely white and the only variation is the shades of grey seen under the headband and on the inside of the earcups. Other than that there are Republic of Gamers logos etched onto both earcups and the company's name is displayed in writing across the top of the headband. The headset suffers the same woes as other white-coloured products though, as it is quick to display dirt and any imperfections to the paint are instantly noticeable.

Whilst we had mixed thoughts over its presentation, the ROG Strix Go Core scores top marks when it comes to comfort. The device weighs a featherlight 246g and it can be easily adjusted to suit a range of different head types, as its cups can be rotated and its headband extended. It's also cushioned with foam-like material on both of these areas and we often forgot that we were wearing it when listening to music or gaming over long durations. The main fault we have with its design is that the outer plastic coating does have a bit of a budget feel to it (which is pretty understandable giving its price point), and we don't think it could handle everyday accidents like being dropped or stepped on.

In terms of connectivity, you'll, fortunately, be able to use these with a variety of devices including Nintendo Switch, mobile, PC, PS5, and Xbox One. For PC use, a 3.5mm mic/audio split cable is included in the box, enabling you to sit at an ample distance away from your set-up. Sadly though, the headset is purely wired and there is no way to replace the cable if it is damaged. This is a common observation on more budget models, but it's worth highlighting as it could lead you to need a replacement.

The unidirectional boom microphone here is completely detachable and it's made from a flexible material that can easily be adjusted to find the right position. Additionally, there's also a handy mute switch and volume slider that are located on the rear of the left ear cup. When it comes to the quality of the microphone's sound, we found it to be lacking in punch in the lower frequencies and our voice sounded pretty tinny when hearing it upon playback. A microphone of this quality is, of course, passable for making phone calls or talking to friends within a party, but we wouldn't at all recommend it for professional use.

The quality of the audio playback, however, was another area where the ROG Strix Go Core knocked it out of the park. When sampling it for review, we listened to a variety of genres from funk to metal and ambient music and we found it to feel balanced across the whole frequency spectrum with playback never feeling too muddy or noticeably top-heavy. With it outperforming our expectations for a gaming headset, we found ourselves gravitating to it for casual listening even when we were sitting without a controller in our hands.

The ROG Strix Go Core is another quality peripheral to fall under the Republic of Gamers banner. It does have some of the trappings of other low-cost devices with its build not feeling too durable and its cable being irreplaceable, but it punches well above its weight when it comes to comfort and overall sound quality. It's a great choice for simple tasks like listening to music and speaking with friends, but if you're after a product equipped for streaming or conducting interviews, for example, we'd urge you to look elsewhere.