Tech Up! HyperX Cloud III Wireless Gaming Headset Review

The HyperX has just two buttons on the underside of the left ear cup: a power button and a mute button. The 2.4GHz wireless connection means that no connectivity button is necessary, which comes at the cost of bluetooth's universality. On the right ear cup, a volume wheel occupies a similar position. Both the buttons and the volume wheel feel sturdy enough to withstand a long time of regular use, and they're positioned so thoughtfully that the Cloud III requires virtually no time to adjust to for users who've never owned a HyperX headset before. 

The aforementioned 2.4GHz wireless connection is achieved via a USB dongle. The dongle itself offers a USB-C connection, but a USB 2.0 adapter is thoughtfully included in the box to accommodate older units like the Nintendo Switch or PlayStation 4. It's worth noting that the Cloud III Wireless is only advertised to work with PC, PS4, PS5 and the Switch — sorry, Xbox owners — but the 2.4GHz dongle makes connecting to the supported hardware a breeze, even if it feels somewhat archaic.

Every great mid-range headset has one or two areas where it excels in order to attract would-be users. For the Cloud III Wireless, it's a mightily impressive battery life of up to 120 hours. Indeed, over the course of this review, a recharge wasn't even close to necessary, with the onboard battery monitor announcing there was still 80% capacity after a dozen or so hours of usage on a full charge. This is undeniably a boon for players who tend not to be proactive with recharging wireless accessories after every usage. 

When it comes to the crucial audio performance, this reviewer is pleased to report that the Cloud III Wireless performs as expected from a competitive mid-range gaming headset. The audio profile is well-balanced and crisply clear at every range, offering great feedback in multiplayer and singleplayer experiences alike. Nothing stands out as overly revolutionary but the performance is largely in line with expectations at this price point, and the 2.4GHz connection means there's virtually no discernible audio lag. The microphone runs without a hitch as well, with great quality audio that, again, is to be expected from a modern gaming headset — no more, no less.

Overall, the HyperX Cloud III Wireless updates the HyperX's reliable Cloud model to a tee, bringing it in line with current expectations from reliable mid-range headsets. It fits into this category effortlessly when many of its peers too easily fade into obscurity, and as such it's very easy to recommend — as long as it's for a PC, PlayStation or Nintendo Switch player, of course. 

7/10

Very Good - Bronze Award

The HyperX Cloud III Wireless doubles down on HyperX's reliability, offering a mid-range headset that feels great, sounds great and has virtually no caveats to report outside of the lack of bluetooth. It doesn't rewrite the playbook and the limited formats it supports will be a letdown for some, but it does offer crisp gaming audio and a comfortable fit — not to mention the insanely good battery life. This is a frustration-free gaming headset for those who just want something that works, and works well.