Elver Active Gen One neckband. Photo: Elver
India’s gaming sector has rapidly evolved into a thriving ecosystem over the last few years. A report by venture capital firm Lumikai stated that the gaming industry in the country generated $3.8 billion in revenue in the financial year 2024, and is projected to reach $9.2 billion in the next five years.
India’s gamers—whether on phone, console, or PC—are levelling up fast, with some even going global in the eSports arena. Many serious players deck out their setup with everything from gaming mice to ergonomic chairs, while audio gear like earphones play a key role in multi-player battles. But for those just testing the waters and trying to build their way up from the most kills to the most headshots, there’s now a whole range of affordable, starter-level gear made here in India.
Elver’s Active Gen One neckband earphones are among them. Priced at ₹999 online, they’re made by Indian D2C electronics company Elver, which launched in 2024. Promising “lag-free, immersive gaming experience,” their biggest boast is a dedicated gaming mode, in addition to 10MM audio drivers and playtime that lasts up to 50 hours, all equipped with “AI Environmental Noise Cancellation (ENC) technology.”
When you get down to it, the Active Gen One seems built to last, which is great for any gamer on the move, whether they’re locked in on a mission or want to dramatically rage-quit mid-match. Even if you yank out your earphones, they’ll still hang around your neck thanks to the neckband design and magnetized buds. Once you’re plugged in, the three buttons (two for volume adjustment, one multi-functional button for power, pairing and gaming mode) are easily accessible, and it’s only a matter of remembering how long to hold down on the multi-functional button for the desired action.
From the whir of engines to the shuffling footsteps of a rival team shooter to the rancorous sound of gunshots, the in-ear Active Gen One amplifies it all pretty well with its low-latency promise. We tested it out on Roblox offerings in the racing and RPG space and Battlegrounds Mobile India. While we didn’t get a chance to test run the mic function in-game, Active Gen One does a fairly decent job on calls, if you need a point of comparison.
Also designed for music, movies and podcasts, the neckband’s light and simple design is great for the outdoorsy type, including hikers, joggers and daily commuters. When it comes to noise-cancelling, the Active Gen One only offers that in its Gaming Mode, even if you’re listening to music or watching a film. While a 10-minute charge can apparently provide up to 20 hours of playback, music playback alone can give you 40 hours of usage at 80 percent volume. The dual pairing connectivity, which lets you stay connected to two devices via Bluetooth, is a nice addition at this price point.
The clarity and punch is dynamic enough for basic music listening, but it’s by no means the best in its price range for that. CMF By Nothing’s neckband (at ₹1,999) is certainly worth looking into if you’re keen on more music-focused earphones.
That said, Elver Active Gen One neckband is a great starter unit for anyone just getting into gaming who doesn’t mind earbuds that offer a half-decent music playback and hands-free voice-calling pair of earbuds as well.
Get the Elver Active Gen One neckband here.
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