Listening to music on the go is part of daily life for many people. For those who work out regularly, it is part of the routine, and some fitness fans say it helps them stay focused and motivated. There are many kinds of earbuds on the market, from plain everyday models to glowing earbuds with built-in LED lights.

Glowing earbuds have a small but loyal following. Some people simply think they look cool. Others like them for night jogging or cycling, or as part of a gaming setup. The market has changed since this list was first written. The wired light-up earphones that used to fill it, from Spark, LightingCool, iLive and the Zipper glow earbuds, are no longer sold. Today, most glowing earbuds are wireless models with RGB lighting, many of them aimed at gamers. This article covers five you can buy right now.

Updated September 2026: product availability, specs and prices re-checked.

1. ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova

The ASUS ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova is the premium pick on this list. The earbuds have ASUS Aura RGB lighting, with up to 16.8 million colors and four preset effects. You set them up in ASUS’s Armoury Crate software. They glow while you wear them, so they suit anyone who wants lighting that others can see.

The lighting sits on top of a serious set of features. They connect over Bluetooth or through an included USB-C dongle using ROG SpeedNova 2.4 GHz wireless for low-latency gaming. That mode works with PC, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch. They also have adaptive active noise cancellation, bone-conduction microphones for clearer voice pickup and an IPX4 splash rating. ASUS publishes battery figures with the lights on and off. In Bluetooth mode with ANC off, it rates the buds at 11.5 hours with RGB off and 10 hours with RGB on, plus about three times that from the case.

Pros of ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova

• Fully customizable RGB lighting on the earbuds themselves
• Low-latency 2.4 GHz dongle plus Bluetooth
• Adaptive ANC and IPX4 splash resistance

Cons of ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova

• By far the most expensive earbuds on this list
• Lighting cuts battery life, especially with ANC on

2. ONIKUMA T302

The ONIKUMA T302 is a playful budget option, at about $43 on ONIKUMA’s store (September 2026). It has RGB lighting in a “space capsule” style case, and its shells are detachable. You can swap on different character covers to change the look, which could make it a fun gift.

It uses Bluetooth 5.3 and connects as soon as you open the case, thanks to a Hall-effect switch. A low-latency game mode helps keep audio in sync with the screen. ONIKUMA rates the earbuds at about 5 hours per charge. The case holds a 500 mAh battery and takes about 2 hours to recharge. The drivers are 10 mm.

Pros of ONIKUMA T302

• Fun, customizable look with swappable shells
• Instant pairing when the case opens
• Low price

Cons of ONIKUMA T302

• Short rated battery life per charge
• The cartoon-style look may not suit everyone

3. ONIKUMA T35

The ONIKUMA T35 is a gaming-styled pair with what ONIKUMA calls an RGB “cracking” lighting effect. It costs about $43 on ONIKUMA’s store (September 2026). It looks more aggressive than the T302, with lighting built into the design rather than a cute case.

It uses Bluetooth 5.1 with a JL6983 chip, and ONIKUMA quotes 60 ms latency in game mode. It has touch controls and a noise-canceling microphone for calls. The noise reduction is for your voice, not active noise cancellation for music.

Pros of ONIKUMA T35

• Eye-catching RGB effect
• Low-latency game mode
• Budget price

Cons of ONIKUMA T35

• Older Bluetooth 5.1 design
• ONIKUMA publishes few battery details for this model

4. Lenovo Legion E510 RGB Gaming In-Ear Headphones

If you prefer a wire, the Lenovo Legion E510 is the closest thing on this list to the wired glowing earphones of the past. They plug in over USB-C and have an in-line controller with an RGB light. You can play, pause and mute from the controller, and it includes a microphone for calls and team chat.

Lenovo pairs a 10 mm dynamic driver with a balanced armature driver in each earbud and adds virtual 7.1 surround sound. The USB-C plug works with PCs, phones and tablets that have a USB-C port. A wired connection also means no charging and no Bluetooth lag.

Pros of Lenovo Legion E510

• No battery to charge and no wireless latency
• Dual drivers and virtual 7.1 surround
• In-line controls and mic

Cons of Lenovo Legion E510

• The light is on the controller, not the earbuds
• Needs a USB-C port; no 3.5 mm plug

5. Transformers T23 Wireless Earbuds

The Transformers T23 is a licensed pair of earbuds with a zinc alloy charging case. The case has what the maker calls “Star Ring” RGB breathing lights. The version checked for this update has a Megatron Black finish, so it is aimed squarely at fans of the franchise.

It uses Bluetooth 5.4, has a low-latency gaming mode and 13 mm dynamic drivers, and charges over USB-C. The maker pitches the metal case as a more premium alternative to the plastic cases on most budget earbuds.

Pros of Transformers T23

• Striking metal case with RGB lighting
• Bluetooth 5.4 and gaming mode
• Large 13 mm drivers

Cons of Transformers T23

• The lights are on the case, so the earbuds don’t glow while you wear them
• The maker gives no exact battery figures

Related reading

• Best Budget Bluetooth Headphones in 2026: 5 MPOW 059 Alternatives
• 10 Best Bone Conduction Headphones in 2026

Conclusion

Glowing earbuds have moved from wired novelty earphones to wireless RGB models, most of them made with gamers in mind. The ROG Cetra True Wireless SpeedNova is the one to get if you want lights on the earbuds and premium features. The two ONIKUMA models bring RGB style for a small budget. The Lenovo Legion E510 suits anyone who wants a wire, and the Transformers T23 is a fun pick for fans. One word of caution for runners and cyclists: these lights are small and mostly decorative, so don’t rely on them to make you visible to traffic. Wear proper reflective gear or a clip-on safety light for that.