HyperX, which is now owned by HP, has used Cologne’s massive Gamescon expo to unveil the third version of the company’s popular Cloud Wireless Gaming Headset. They’re calling it the Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset.
The Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset follows on from the popular Cloud II Wireless Gaming Headset which was the second in the series started by HyperX’s initial Cloud Wireless Gaming Headset.
The new model pushes battery life to 120 hours and will launch in Australia on September 8 (and in New Zealand on September 15).
The Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset claims to high-quality audio with comfort again and, having used the previous versions, we reckon it probably wont become uncomfortable and have low-quality audio in version three. Unless, HP wants to Torpedo the brand. But we know they don’t having just spent a week with them in Japan, gushing about how HyperX is going to help with their Omen gaming laptops and how the top models of those will have built in HyperX wireless chips that won’t require you to have a separate dongle.
Other features include 53mm angled drivers for improved sound precision, DTS Headphone:X Spatial Audio technology (aka surround sound) and HyperX’s NGENUITY software.
Some spokesperson said, “The Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset encapsulates the hallmark attributes of HyperX: comfort, sound quality and durability. Our aim has always been to enhance the user’s gaming experience, making every session engaging and seamless.”
The headset has a metal frame, including a steel headband and aluminium forks for robustness and durability. The headset also features premium leatherette and plush memory foam ear pads. We’re a little concerned about the leatherette as, in our experience, it’s the opposite of durable and, after a couple of years, flakes off onto your head, hair and face – especially if you haven’t shaved for a while, in which case your stubble can make this problem worse and increase the speed of its onset. We’ll ask if the cans will have (easily) replaceable covers or even proper-leather upgrades, as we’re sick of this happening with other people’s headphones and it’s annoying.
The Cloud III is (once again) equipped with a 10mm, detachable microphone with an LED mute indicator so you don’t accidentally swear at your teammates for making a mistake with them being able to hear you. Or your boss for being a git while on a web conference and you’re not about to use a separate headset after investing in one of these, which is likely more comfortable than some corporate equivalent anyway. The internal metal mesh filter on the microphone removes the need for an external pop filter, which is good as we’re always losing those and it gives us anxiety should we ever need to recite tongue twisters that begin with the letter P.
The Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset also has volume controls, which are good for not defeaning you. Except for those times where the volume is set to max because the last person you listened to was whispering or something, or you knocked the volume right up when you finally stopped putting off going to the toilet mid-game and then you put the headset on as an explosion or something happens and it makes the tinnitus you got from attending too many loud rock concerts much worse for a while and hurts your head and you try and remember to check next time but you forget because you’ve ADHD and you hurt your ears again and get annoyed with yourself.
In terms of connectivity, the Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset supports a 2.4GHz wireless connection, for a ‘lag-free audio experience.’
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It’s also compatible across the multiple peasant platforms: PS5, PS4, and Nintendo Switch. Actually, is that even a saying any more? Sorry, if you’re a console gamer. You shouldn’t have to cop insults like that. We do tend to be a bit PC Master Race here, but we’re still trying to grow as people. Besides, my daughters are playing Mario games on the Nintendo Switch and I’ve been joining in and it’s been fun. The headset also comes with a USB-C wireless dongle and a USB-A adapter. This is a good thing as some laptops simply don’t have USB-A anymore. However, they’re not really gaming laptops. But, you can still do some gaming on them if you want. But it needs to be basic competitive or casual game type stuff. Not what you see in our Best Gaming Laptop monthly group test. More like our Best Business Laptop group test. Although, like we said, you can use the Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset on a corporate machine but it’s probably best not to have the webcam on or stuffy types will probably put you on the to-be-fired list and you’ll lose your job some months later under some BS pretense and, after a few months of dwelling on the matter, you’ll realise you were probably set up to fail. So, don’t do that.
Aussies and those who live here but aren’t Australian, or are just visiting, will be able to purchase the Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset via JB Hi-Fi and Amazon AU from September 8 for $279 which is kinda reasonable for premium gaming headset, really.
Kiwis can get it on September 15 from something called a MightyApe, priced at NZ$289. For more info, have a look at HyperX’s website bugger I’m late. Bye.
Last Updated on 24 August 2023 by Nick Ross
