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The 4 Best HyperX Headsets of 2024 Reviews

Updated
Best HyperX Headphones

We've tested 16 pairs of HyperX headphones. They mostly make mid-range gaming headsets with a couple of higher-end models. They're known for their great microphones and good overall audio reproduction, but they're generally somewhat lacking in active features and customization options.

Updates

Best HyperX Headphones


  1. Best HyperX Headset

    The best HyperX headset we've tested is the ΗyperX Cloud III Wireless. These headphones are the next generation of the HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II Wireless and offer some improvements. They have a wireless dongle that works with PlayStation and PCs and offers low latency, so your game audio and video stay in sync. Their default sound profile makes instruments and vocals sound clear and natural and has a bit of extra punch that helps bring out sound effects like footsteps. It lacks some thump and rumble, but unlike the Cloud II, their companion software offers a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization. They also support DTS:X Spatial Sound, which is meant to create a more immersive soundstage, although you have to play a compatible game for it to work.

    Their 123-hour continuous battery life is much longer than the previous generation's, so you don't need to recharge your headset daily. The headphones are sturdy and have a comfortable fit that won't cause fatigue for most people, even if you're gaming for hours. Their boom mic offers pretty good performance, but if you mostly game online and will use the mic often, you might still prefer the previous generation. The Cloud II's mic makes your voice sound more natural and clear-bodied and has a similar noise-handling performance, so you won't be drowned out by moderate background noise. Unfortunately, both headsets are wireless-only, so you can't use an analog connection with Xbox or when you're out of battery.

    See our review

  2. Best Mid-Range HyperX Headset

    Check out the HyperX Cloud III if you want something more affordable. HyperX released these headphones in 2023 to replace the popular HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II, which were first released in 2015, but they are still a great option if you can find them in stock. However, if you're looking for the newest product, the Cloud III are very comfortable and well-built. Their boom mic does a better job of making your voice sound more clear and natural than the previous generation but has slightly worse noise handling, although it's still decent enough to separate your voice from moderately noisy backgrounds.

    Overall, their sound profile is balanced, with a detailed mid-range that helps bring out dialogue in cutscenes. However, their bass response is underemphasized across the entire range, so sounds like explosions will lack rumble and boom. Fortunately, unlike the previous iteration, these headphones are compatible with HyperX's NGENUITY software, which lets you modify the sound to your liking. This software is only available on the Windows store; you'll need to sync it to a PC via USB. There are additional controls for adjusting chat and game audio levels and activating a 7.1 virtual surround sound feature. These headphones are also compatible with most consoles via an analog connection.

    See our review

  3. Best Budget HyperX Headset

    The HyperX Cloud Stinger are the best HyperX headphones in the budget category we've tested. These cheaper headphones aren't as well-built or comfortable as the previous picks but offer a solid overall performance for gaming. Their boom mic makes your voice less bright and open than the HyperX Cloud III's mic but performs similarly overall, so they're a good choice if you play many online games. The ear cup padding doesn't feel as plush as some other headsets, but they still have a comfortable fit suitable for long gaming sessions. Their wired design makes them compatible with PCs and PlayStation and Xbox consoles.

    Their bass-heavy sound profile lends extra rumble, punch, and boom to your audio. They may sound a little muddy, but elements like voices are still clear and present. Like most ΗyperX headsets we've tested, their sound is dependent on the headphones' fit and positioning on your head, so you need to adjust them to get the same sound every time you wear them. They don't work with an app or have sound customization features, so you can't tweak their sound to your preferences. If you're looking for headphones that provide a more customizable listening experience, the HyperX Cloud Stinger S are slightly more expensive and support virtual surround sound. However, their mic has more trouble separating your voice from ambient sound.

    See our review

  4. Best HyperX Headset for Bass

    The HyperX Cloud Alpha S are the perfect fit if you want more bass to add warmth to your in-game mix. Unlike the HyperX Cloud III Wireless, these comfortable and sturdy headphones have bass sliders on either ear cup so that you can adjust the amount of bass in each ear cup separately. With the sliders turned all the way up, they have a warm, boomy sound profile that can help emphasize sound effects like footsteps and explosions in games. They also come with leather or cloth ear cup padding, so you can choose which is more comfortable.

    The boom mic has a good performance, so you'll sound natural and easy to understand when gaming with friends, and moderate background noise won't drown out your voice. They're fully compatible with most consoles via analog connection but also come with a USB dongle that provides a low latency connection with PCs and PlayStation consoles. The dongle has physical buttons for volume control, channel mixing, mic mute, and surround sound, so you have some controls within easy reach when gaming. The headphones are compatible with HyperX NGENUITY software, which offers surround sound and microphone level controls but is otherwise simple in design.

    See our review

Compared To Other Brands


  • Durable build quality.
    HyperX makes sturdy headphones durable enough to withstand constant and repeated use. Even their lower-end models feel like they'll survive getting dropped a couple of times.
  • Versatile gaming designs.
    HyperX headsets are good not only for gaming but most also have a detachable microphone for more casual use with your mobile devices on the go. None of the models we've tested have an in-line mic for taking calls on your phone, but some have a detachable cable, so any in-line remote will do.
  • Great microphone quality.
    The microphone quality of most of the HyperX headphones we've tested is excellent. They reproduce your voice accurately and separate noise from speech well enough to use at competitions and in louder environments.
  • Lack active features.
    Although HyperX has some wireless headsets and a couple of models that support extra features like surround sound or wireless charging, they don't have headphones that do it all like what some competing brands offer.
  • Few customization options.
    Unfortunately, these headphones don't have many customization options, especially compared to gaming headsets from other brands like SteelSeries, Razer, or Logitech.

HyperX vs Logitech

Logitech and HyperX make similarly priced gaming headsets, although HyperX generally produces better-built products. Some are even Xbox compatible, and their mics have better recording quality, too. However, thanks to their companion software support, Logitech's headsets are much more customizable. Some also support Bluetooth, which is uncommon in HyperX headsets, so it's worth considering Logitech's best headsets.

HyperX vs Razer

Razer offers a more diverse lineup of headphones than HyperX, and some of their products are even designed for hybrid casual and gaming use. Some of Razer's best headsets also have features like noise cancelling, haptic bass, or customizable RGB lighting. You can generally expect robust sound customization features, too. Conversely, HyperX may be more barebones regarding extra features, but they produce strictly gaming headphones that are more comfortable and have a better build quality.

HyperX vs Corsair

Corsair and HyperX make many similarly performing headsets at different price points. HyperX headsets tend to be more comfortable, and some of their headphones even come with a second pair of ear cup padding. In comparison, many Corsair headsets have companion app support, which makes them more customizable. A couple of models also support Bluetooth, which is good if you want to stay connected to your console and smartphone simultaneously.

Overall, HyperX makes durable and sturdy gaming headsets at an affordable price with excellent noise-filtering microphones. Most of their headsets are wired, which is great if you prefer to plug and play without worrying about latency, but they also have some good wireless options. However, they lack features, like programmable commands and integrated channel mixing, that are present in popular headsets like the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019, the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless, or the Logitech G933 Wireless. Their lineup is worth looking at if you prefer simpler yet well-rounded designs.

It's worth noting, though, that HyperX were sold by Kingston Technology to HP in 2022. The manufacturer claims that, beyond minor cosmetic differences, there have been no changes to the performance of their headsets. While we haven't tested any of the headsets produced after the acquisition, some users have reported differences in aspects like comfort and sound profile.

Lineup

HyperX offers a few different lineups at different price points with wired and wireless designs. It can be confusing to sort through all of their products, as they all start with 'Cloud,' and many look nearly identical. There's also a distinct 'Cloud' lineup:

  • Cloud = A lineup of well-known gaming headsets at different price points. They have an aluminum hinge design and flexible boom mic. Some also come with a USB card.
  • Stinger = Mid- to budget-range headsets.
  • Flight = Wireless upper mid-range headsets.
  • Alpha = High-end headsets.

Recent Updates

  1. Feb 13, 2024: We've replaced the HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II with the HyperX Cloud III as our best overall pick. The HyperX Cloud Alpha S is now our pick for the best bass. We've also updated the text to ensure it remains relevant and checked the prices of all our picks.

  2. Nov 15, 2023: Replaced the HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II Wireless with the ΗyperX Cloud III Wireless, which offer better battery performance and more customization features.

  3. Aug 18, 2023: No new HyperX headphones tested since our last update. Minor text updates for clarity.

  4. May 24, 2023: We've replaced the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless with the HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II Wireless as the Alpha Wireless have higher latency. Several users have also experienced issues using the companion app.

  5. Feb 17, 2023: We've added more information regarding HyperX's lineup and brands that they're often compared to.

Conclusion

HyperX makes mostly wired gaming headsets with excellent microphones and sturdy build quality. They're affordable and sound moderately well-balanced, and their wired models offer a great low-latency gaming experience. Not everyone finds a wired design as convenient, though. Their headsets also lack customization options compared to other brands.

Test Results