We've tested 13 pairs of HyperX headphones. They make mostly 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
- 12/08/2022 HyperX Cloud Stinger 2 reviewed
- 05/09/2022 HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless reviewed
- 02/10/2021 HyperX Cloud Revolver + 7.1 reviewed
- 01/15/2021 HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II Wireless reviewed
- 09/25/2020 HyperX Cloud Stinger S reviewed
Best HyperX Headphones
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Best HyperX Headset
Neutral Sound7.9Commute/Travel6.0Sports/Fitness6.1Office7.3Wireless Gaming7.9Wired Gaming6.1Phone Calls7.2Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless YesTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic YesThe ΗyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless is the best Hyperx headset we've tested. These headphones are impressively comfortable, well-built, and stand out from the pack because of their long continuous battery life. They last for more than 300 hours off of a single charge, which is an exceptionally long battery life, and are equipped with an auto-off timer to save power when you're not using them. Their detachable boom mic has a very good performance, so your voice sounds clear when gaming with friends, even with some noise in the background. They support DTS:X Spatial Sound virtual surround sound, which can help make your gameplay more immersive.
Unlike many headsets we've tested from this manufacturer, they also work with a very good companion app that includes a graphic EQ and presets to adjust their sound and a few microphone customization options. They're on the higher end of the price range for HyperX headsets, so if you're looking to save money, you may prefer the HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II Wireless. They perform pretty similarly and have a better mic recording quality, but they don't come with sound customization options and have shorter continuous battery life.
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Best Upper Mid-Range HyperX Headset
Neutral Sound7.2Commute/Travel4.9Sports/Fitness5.6Office6.2Wireless Gaming5.7Wired Gaming7.6Phone Calls6.8Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless NoTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic YesThe HyperX Cloud Alpha S is the best HyperX headset with a wired connection we've tested. You might prefer a wired headset if you don't want to worry about battery life or latency. These headphones have a comfortable, sturdy design. They have basic sound customization features in the form of bass sliders on either ear cup so that you can adjust the amount of bass in each ear cup separately. With the sliders turned up all the way, they have a warm, boomy sound profile that can help emphasize sound effects like footsteps and explosions in games. They also come with a choice of leather or cloth earcup padding, so you can choose which is more comfortable for you.
The boom mic has a good performance, so you'll sound natural and easy to understand when gaming with friends and your voice won't be drowned out by moderate background noise. 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 you're gaming. The headphones are compatible with HyperX NGENUITY software, which offers surround sound and mic level controls. Unlike the app for the HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless, it doesn't include sound customization features.
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Best Mid-Range HyperX Headset
Neutral Sound7.4Commute/Travel5.1Sports/Fitness5.6Office6.4Wireless Gaming5.6Wired Gaming7.6Phone Calls7.4Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless NoTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic YesThe best mid-range HyperX Headset is the HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II. These wired headphones were released in 2015 and are still one of the brand's better-known offerings. They're just as comfortable and well-built as the HyperX Cloud Alpha S and offer a better microphone performance. Their boom mic makes your voice sound clear and natural and has better noise handling than our previous pick, so your voice won't be drowned out by moderate noise like people talking in the same room or traffic outside your window.
Their sound profile adds boom to your audio, which can help make action-packed games feel more immersive. Instruments and voices are present in the mix but lack a bit of detail. Unlike the pricier headsets listed here, they don't come with sound customization features like an EQ or onboard sliders and don't have app support. However, the included USΒ dongle provides a low latency connection with PCs and PlayStation consoles and includes controls for adjusting chat and game audio levels as well as activating a 7.1 virtual surround sound feature. These headphones are also compatible with most consoles via an analog connection.
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Best Budget HyperX Headset
Neutral Sound7.5Commute/Travel4.8Sports/Fitness5.4Office6.1Wireless Gaming5.4Wired Gaming7.4Phone Calls7.3Type Over-earEnclosure Closed-BackWireless NoTransducer DynamicNoise Cancelling NoMic YesThe HyperX Cloud Stinger are the best HyperX headphones in the budget category we've tested. These cheaper headphones aren't as well-built or as comfortable as the previous picks but offer a solid overall performance for gaming. Their boom mic makes your voice sound a little less bright and open than the HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II's mic but performs similarly overall, so they're a good choice if you play a lot of 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.
They have a bass-heavy sound profile that lends extra rumble, punch, and boom to your audio. You may find they 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 a slightly more expensive option and support virtual surround sound. However, their mic has much more trouble separating your voice from ambient sound.
Compared to other brands
- Durable build quality. HyperX makes sturdy headphones that feel 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 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.
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. Their headsets lack features compared to popular headsets like the Astro A50 Gen 4 Wireless 2019, the SteelSeries Arctis Pro Wireless, or the Logitech G933 Wireless Gaming Headset. Their lineup is worth looking at if you prefer simpler yet well-rounded designs.
Recent Updates
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Nov 21, 2022: Reorganized article to help you find the product you're looking for. Added the Cloud II as the 'Best Mid-Range' headset.
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Jun 09, 2022: Replaced the HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II Wireless with the ΗyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless as the 'Best HyperX Headphones'.
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Mar 10, 2022: Checked our picks for accuracy and product availability. There hasn't been a change in our recommendations.
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Dec 10, 2021: We've checked our picks for product availability and accuracy. There hasn't been a change in our recommendations.
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Oct 08, 2021: Checked our picks for product availability and accuracy. However, there hasn't been a change in our picks.
Conclusion
HyperX makes mostly wired gaming headsets with excellent microphones and sturdy build quality. They're affordable, tend to 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.
