Note: The model we tested is the Kingston variant of the HyperX Cloud II, which was produced prior to the HP acquisition of HyperX in 2021. Its performance and design will differ from those of newer variants produced by HP.
The HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II is a good gaming headset with a balanced sound and a casual design that ensures they aren't limited to indoor use. Once you remove the mic, they can easily pass as regular headphones, although their color scheme is quite unique. They're well-built, sturdy, and comfortable. Their wired design and low latency make them suitable for gaming and watching movies. However, their lack of noise cancellation makes them less than ideal for commuting or traveling.
Our Verdict
The HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II are decent for neutral listening. The gaming headset has good bass and a balanced mid-range but a poor treble reproduction. They lack a bit of detail while sounding slightly sharp on some tracks due to the inconsistent treble range. They also don't have the most spacious soundstage since they're closed-back headphones. On the upside, they're comfortable and sound good enough for casual listening.
- Negligible latency.
- Good audio reproduction and microphone.
- Well-built and comfortable design.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Slightly bulky.
- Can sound sharp on some tracks.
- Bass delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
The HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II are inadequate for commuting. Although they have a more outdoor-friendly design than other gaming headsets, thanks to their detachable mic, good build quality, and comfortable design, they don't block enough noise to be ideal for public transit.
- Negligible latency.
- Good audio reproduction and microphone.
- Well-built and comfortable design.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Slightly bulky.
- Can sound sharp on some tracks.
- Bass delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
Although the HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II are a bit more compact than other gaming headsets, they're still a bit too bulky and unstable to be suitable for running or working out. They will also make your ears a bit warm after a couple of minutes of exercising.
- Negligible latency.
- Good audio reproduction and microphone.
- Well-built and comfortable design.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Slightly bulky.
- Can sound sharp on some tracks.
- Bass delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
The headphones are mediocre for office leak. They don't leak much but don't block a lot of noise, so you'll still be able to hear the ambient chatter if you're not playing any music.
- Negligible latency.
- Good audio reproduction and microphone.
- Well-built and comfortable design.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Slightly bulky.
- Can sound sharp on some tracks.
- Bass delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
These headphones aren't suitable for wireless gaming.
The HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II headset is good for gaming. They have low latency, a wired USB connection, a fairly well-balanced audio reproduction, and a great noise filtering mic. They're comfortable enough to wear for long gaming sessions but, unfortunately, have no software support for added customization options, unlike some of the other popular gaming headsets. Their design is also not the most breathable, so your ears may get a little warm after gaming for a while.
- Negligible latency.
- Good audio reproduction and microphone.
- Well-built and comfortable design.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Slightly bulky.
- Can sound sharp on some tracks.
- Bass delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
- Negligible latency.
- Good audio reproduction and microphone.
- Well-built and comfortable design.
- Poor noise isolation.
- Slightly bulky.
- Can sound sharp on some tracks.
- Bass delivery varies significantly across users. Sensitive to glasses.
Changelog
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Updated Jan 05, 2026:
We've updated both the introduction and variants section of this review to clarify that the version we tested is the Kingston version, prior to the HP acquisition of the HyperX brand.
- Updated Nov 27, 2023: We've corrected 'Detachable Cable' from 'Yes' to 'No' in Wired.
- Updated Nov 23, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.6 , which updates how we measure latency. We've updated and renamed the following test groups: Wired Connection, Bluetooth Connection, and Wireless Connection (Dongle). We've also added new codec latency measurements and provided an audio sample of recorded latency.
- Updated Sep 12, 2023: Added a note that the new generation of these headphones, the HyperX Cloud III, come with app support.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II is available in one color variant: 'Black and Red'. The model we tested is the Kingston version, from before the HP acquisition of the HyperX brand in 2021. We haven't tested the HP variant, but user reviews online indicate there are differences in both design and performance. If you encounter another variant of these headphones, please let us know in the comments.
Popular Headphones Comparisons
The HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II is a wired gaming headset with durable build quality and a well-balanced sound. These headphones are also more outdoor-friendly, as you can remove the mic and use them as casual, everyday headphones, unlike some competing gaming headsets at a similar price, such as the Astro A10 Gen 2. They're very comfortable with spacious ear cups. However, their wired design won't be as convenient as some of the other wireless gaming headsets that we've tested.
See our recommendations for the best gaming headsets, the best gaming headsets under $100, and the best gaming headsets under $50.
The HyperX Cloud Alpha and HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II are comparable headphones with different strengths. The Cloud II and the Cloud Alpha have a very similar design with a detachable boom mic, so you can use them casually for day-to-day use, though the mic on the Cloud II performs better. The Cloud II also support channel mixing. That said, while both pairs of headphones look and feel very similar, the Cloud Alpha feel a bit more durable, and you can detach their 3.5mm audio cable.
The HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II are better gaming headphones than the HyperX Cloud Core since they have controls. These two headphones are practically the same, but the Cloud II have an in-line remote that gives you access to a mic mute, volume control, and channel mixing, while the Core model is simple and will be good for people who don't care much for controls.
The HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II and HyperX Cloud Revolver have an almost identical performance for gaming, but the Cloud II are a bit more versatile overall. The Cloud II are slightly more comfortable with better-padded ear cups than the Cloud Revolver. The Cloud II also have a sturdier and more durable build quality that does not have as many moving parts, and they come with a USB dongle that gives them audio over USB on PC as well as a bit more controls. On the other hand, the Revolver have a better-balanced sound and unique design that some may prefer.
The Logitech G Pro X Gaming Headset is more versatile than the HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II. The Logitech have a more neutral sound out of the box, an app to customize their sound to your liking, and easier to use controls. On the other hand, the HyperX have a slightly better microphone, channel mixing, and build quality. They can often be found a little cheaper than the Logitech, too.
Our How We Test Headphones article takes you behind the scenes in our lab. You'll learn how we choose and purchase products and dive into the details of our review philosophy, from testing and scoring to writing and editing.
You can also discover how we produce recommendations like this one so that you can find the best headphones (or earbuds!) for your needs.
Test Results
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