HyperX Cloud III review: Cost

Jul 07, 2023

Updated July 31, 2023

Exclusively wired gaming headsets aren’t the sexy selling point they once were, but HyperX is doing its part to correct that narrative. Armed with powerful 53mm drivers and a much-improved microphone system, the new HyperX Cloud III (available at Amazon for $99.99) reinvents a classic design with modern performance. At only $100, it’s an excellent value to boot.

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About the Hyper X Cloud III Gaming Headset

Should you buy the HyperX Cloud III Gaming Headset?

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Good sound quality

Stellar microphone

Comfortable

Bulky

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The HyperX Cloud III are a legitimate gaming headset option at just $100.

The first thing that jumps out at you about the HyperX Cloud III is sound. Whether it’s music—from country ballads like Zac Brown Band’s “Colder Weather” to more dynamic selections like Childish Gambino’s “Summertime Magic”—a YouTube video, gameplay (in my testing, mainly sports like NBA 2K or first-person shooters like Call of Duty), or a movie or TV show, the Cloud III are spectacularly adept at delivering detailed audio from start to finish.

The headset’s 53mm dynamic drivers do a lot of the heavy lifting, providing ample bass while toeing the line with solid mid's and decent highs.

The Cloud III don’t hold a candle to some of the better gaming headsets I’ve tested, such as the more expensive Logitech G Astro A30. But at $100, they don’t have to. The Cloud III represent a fraction of that level of sound quality. In fact, they do stumble through their share of missteps if you listen long enough, sometimes exposing muddy bass notes or tinny highs.

Despite that, they’re still an unmistakable bargain in the audio department, especially when you consider the headset comes equipped with DTS Headphone: X, a feature that promises accurate (simulated) 3D audio specialization.

I was also impressed by the Cloud III’s microphone. After clearly taking note of the HyperX Cloud II’s mic deficiencies, HyperX went back to the drawing board for the next iteration. The final product is a 10mm detachable boom arm microphone with noise cancelation and an internal mesh pop filter. It was plenty accurate for gaming, but the best example of this new microphone’s prowess was during Microsoft Teams calls for work.

On multiple occasions, I dealt with dogs barking in the background while trying to conduct an important call. Each time, the other individuals on the call didn’t hear anything. I had to double check, but they were insistent that they heard only my voice, free of distraction.

For $100, the HyperX Cloud III are an intriguing value. But they are not without fault. While relatively comfy, they are quite bulky. With the Cloud III being strictly wired headphones, this isn’t a blunder on HyperX’s part. After all, how far do you really plan on traveling with these powerful, heavy gaming headphones?

The secret to that comfort may be in the headphones’ memory foam headband, or perhaps their leatherette ear cushions. Both feel soft pressed against your ears and head, which makes for a comfy wearing experience overall.

That said, excess weight in headsets accentuates ear fatigue, and after hours of testing or wearing them for long work calls, it felt delightful to finally take them off and not have to support those extra ounces.

The HyperX Cloud III captures high-quality audio for clear voice chat and calls.

Let’s be honest: $100 doesn’t always get you far in the gaming headset world, or the headphones space, for that matter. The cross-section of the two can be even trickier to pin down, with finding a valuable pair often akin to pulling a needle from a haystack.

The HyperX Cloud III break that frustrating mold. They offer solid, albeit slightly flawed sound while making significant strides when it comes to microphone quality. Performance is its selling point, and it performs well enough for you to forget just how heavy they are and save a few bucks compared to pricier alternatives like the Logitech A30.

Of course, the HyperX Cloud III still faces competition from its predecessor, the Cloud II. The elder pair of HyperX headphones has been popular for its combination of quality and cost since it first released in 2015. That seems to have been plenty of time to retool the Cloud III, however, as the new set features an improved sound signature and a better microphone. It’s worth the $20 to get the latest model from HyperX.

The HyperX Cloud III are a legitimate gaming headset option at just $100, which isn’t something that can be said lightly. If they aren’t already on our list of best gaming headsets, they soon will be.

The HyperX Cloud III has good sound quality, a stellar microphone, and is comfortable.

Nick Woodard

Contributor

Nick Woodard is a tech journalist specializing in all things related to home theater and A/V. His background includes a solid foundation as a sports writer for multiple daily newspapers, and he enjoys hiking and mountain biking in his spare time.

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