HyperX Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset Review

Introduction & Specification Details and Close-up

As we saw with the recent wired HyperX Cloud III Gaming Headset, the successor or next installment in the popular Cloud gaming range didn't change the formula. We noted that at a glance, you wouldn't be alone in thinking that it looked identical to the HyperX Cloud II. The approach taken with the latest generation of HyperX Cloud audio is born from the "if it ain't broke" school of design, which is good and bad.

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Interestingly, going from the HyperX Cloud III Gaming Headset to the HyperX Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset results in going completely wire-free with no analog or wired compatibility, and the wireless itself is limited to a single 2.4 GHz signal - so no Bluetooth.

It's a little limiting, even though not having Bluetooth in a wireless gaming headset is not uncommon. Still, it is a feature that has become increasingly common because smart devices like tablets and smartphones are as much gaming devices as they are anything else, especially when you can stream directly to a handheld.

So, the versatility is stifled, even though you're looking at an impressive 120 hours of battery life. An area where the HyperX Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset shines is in the department it has remained relatively the same - sound quality and comfort. With larger 53mm drivers and a wide frequency response, the Cloud series's crisp, detailed, and natural sound is still here - which works well for gaming and other forms of media. Let's dig in.

Specifications & Close Up

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• Product Type:Wireless Gaming Headset
• Model: HyperX Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset
• Interface: 2.4 GHz Wireless
• Form Factor: Over Ear Closed
• Drivers: 53mm with Neodymium magnets
• Headphones Frequency Response: 10 - 21,000 Hz
• Microphone Pick-up Pattern: Uni-directional, Noise-cancelling
• Surround: DTS Headphone:X Spatial Audio (PC)
• Cable: USB Charge Cable
• Weight: ~ 330 grams
• In the Box: HyperX Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset, Detachable Microphone, Wireless Dongle, USB-C to USB-A Adapter, USB Charge Cable, Quick Start Guide

Kosta's Test System Specifications

• Motherboard: MSI MPG X670E Carbon Wi-Fi
• CPU: AMD Ryzen 9 7900X
• GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition
• Cooler: Corsair iCUE H100i RGB PRO XT Liquid CPU Cooler
• RAM: 64GB (2x32GB) Corsair DOMINATOR PLATINUM RGB DDR5 DRAM 5200MHz
• SSD: Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus-G M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD 4TB, Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus Plus M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD 8TB
• Power Supply: Thermaltake Toughpower GF1 850W
• Case: Thermaltake Core P3 Tempered Glass Snow
• OS: Microsoft Windows 11 Pro 64-bit

HyperX Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset

	Today	Yesterday	7 days ago	30 days ago
	$115.99	$115.99	$114.70	$147.08	Buy
	-	-	-	-	Buy
* Prices last scanned on 4/26/2024 at 10:10 pm CDT - prices may not be accurate, click links above for the latest price. We may earn an affiliate commission.

Design & Software and Support

Design

The HyperX Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset looks the same as what has come before, with a black and red aesthetic and instantly recognizable shape, including the red-colored hinges of previous versions. Some changes have been made to improve the overall look and comfort, from the removal of the red stitching on the headband, which gives the HyperX Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset a more modern style, to the angled 53mm drivers and cups to improve the sound delivery and wearability. The overall build quality is excellent (which is what you'd expect from the USD 169.99 price point), and it's durable, flexible, and ready to go the distance.

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Weighing at around 330 grams, it's also lightweight, and when you throw in the memory foam cushions on the ear cups, the HyperX Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset is supremely comfortable from the word go. Coming off of the Cloud II, which has been praised for delivering when it comes to comfort, this is unsurprising but still worth celebrating. There's a lot to be said about a headset that feels light and comfortable the moment you put it on - with that story not changing even after an extended session of working your way up the ranks of the Crimson Fleet in Starfield.

As is the trend with most modern headsets, the microphone is detachable and arrives with in-built noise cancellation and a larger 10mm driver compared to the Cloud II's 6mm microphone. Is it enough to elevate chat and voice recording to the heights of a dedicated microphone? Not exactly, but there's certainly more clarity on offer.

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With a single function, that is, as a 2.4 GHz wireless headset, it's a shame that the HyperX Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset isn't all that versatile - it's a single device audio solution limited to the PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Granted, this covers the most popular gaming platforms on the market. However, adding wired functionality and Bluetooth would have added extra value to the headset, as the default sound profile is impressive and full, thanks to the well-tuned 53mm drivers.

Software and Support

Although you can use third-party software to make audio adjustments or utilize Windows' inbuilt spatial audio to add some surround sound to your gaming - the biggest problem when it comes to using the HyperX Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset on PC, is the company's NGENUITY software and the temperamental nature of the DTS Headphone:X Spatial Audio implementation.

The DTS here is prone to glitches. That's not something I've encountered very often on a headset, the sound glitching out due to software audio processing, but it is a problem here - and looking online, it seems that I wasn't alone either. It isn't related to the wireless signal, which is stable and impressive.

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The plus side is that the DTS implementation isn't all that great, and you'll get the best results by simply using the default sound profile or one of the NGENUITY presets available. The fact that it can glitch the audio even though its features and customization options are bare-bones (at best) - makes you wonder why HyperX hasn't moved away from NGENUITY or overhauled it to bring it in line with the competition.

The gaming headset market is highly competitive, so falling behind in an area like this is disappointing - namely because the HyperX Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset does deliver when it comes to sound quality and comfort.

Performance & Microphone

Performance

Like the wired version, the audio is balanced and crisp, without harsh tones or an overly zealous bass response. The larger 53mm drivers add some low-end to the bass, but it doesn't overpower or overshadow the other frequencies. The default tuning is fine for most games, and even though the stereo separation isn't quite as wide sounding as some other headsets, the plug-and-play sound you get on PC, the Switch, and PS5 is always decent.

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From Diablo IV's chaotic action to the quieter moments in town to exploring a vast and desolate planet in Starfield, there's an immersive richness and detail here. On PlayStation 5, playing Marvel's Spider-Man Remastered with Sony's 3D Tempest Audio, the sound becomes fuller and more nuanced with clear directional audio. The HyperX Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset is also fine for music and watching movies, thanks to the balanced tuning that leaves room for fine-tuning. It's a shame this is best left to third-party apps because some decent controls, better-realized presets, and customization would have gone a long way.

For those who play competitive shooters like Call of Duty and Apex Legends, weapon fire, sound effects, and chatter all come through clear and crisp - highlighting the natural sound of the HyperX Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset.

Microphone

HyperX claims that the new 10mm microphone in the HyperX Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset provides a noticeably better chat experience than the Cloud II - which is true. The voice quality here is mostly the same as the wired version in that it's decent enough for in-game chat, but there's a lack of depth, so it's nothing special. In-built noise cancellation is nice and detachable, so it's not a step behind the competition. More so, nothing to write home about.

Microphone and chat quality is one area many companies are looking to improve, thanks to the rise of streaming and the new work-from-home culture that has emerged in recent years. If chat quality is important to you, know that the HyperX Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset's microphone is average for this price range.

Final Thoughts

With its MSRP of USD 169.99, the HyperX Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset sits in a very competitive pricing bracket for wireless gaming headsets. Even though it excels in out-of-the-box sound and overall comfort, that's not enough to make it feel like a worthy next-gen successor to the popular Cloud II. In fact, with lackluster PC software and spatial audio that is not worth turning on, we'd recommend picking up the wired version over the HyperX Cloud III Wireless.

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And then there's the fact that you're limited to a single 2.4 GHz connection with an average microphone (for a gaming headset in this price range), and the result is a good gaming headset but not quite great. However, with its 120 hours of battery life, the HyperX Cloud III Wireless will go the distance.

At its core, you've got a great natural and balanced sound to suit any number of games, music, and other forms of media - and if this is something you're considering pairing with a PS4 or PS5, the story becomes far more compelling.