When it comes to the best gaming headsets and the best wireless headphones, HyperX is a brand name that comes up regularly – and the HyperX Cloud III Wireless is a contender in both of those categories, following on from several previous entries in the Cloud series.
We've got 53mm audio drivers here, DTS Headphone:X Spatial Audio support, 2.4GHz connectivity, and – perhaps most impressively – up to 120 hours of battery life (depending on how demanding your needs are). On paper this is an impressive-sounding package.
In this HyperX Cloud III Wireless review, we'll give you all the information you need to decide whether or not this is the gaming headset upgrade for you. If you need more help with your gaming setup, check out our best gaming chair guide for extra inspiration too.
HyperX Cloud III Wireless: price & availability
You can buy the HyperX Cloud III Wireless headphones right now: the widgets embedded on this page will show you the best current prices online, but you're looking at a retail value of around £130 / $170. In the UK, you can pick up the headset from retailers including Amazon and Currys.
HyperX Cloud III Wireless review: design & setup
Getting the HyperX Cloud III Wireless headset connected up to a source couldn't be much easier: you plug the 2.4GHz USB-C dongle into your relevant source, turn on the headphones, and away you go. The dongle is your only connection option though, as there's no Bluetooth support (which we're assuming helps to boost battery life).
In the box you've got the headphones, the dongle, a USB-A adapter for the dongle, a USB-C charging cable, and a soft carry bag (that's a little basic but still welcome). The device will work fine with Windows, macOS, the PS4, the PS5, and the Switch, but it's only on Windows that you get to use the Ngenuity software for making audio tweaks.
As for the aesthetic: you can pick up the HyperX Cloud III Wireless with red accents, which is the version we're reviewing here, or in a completely black design. The overall look of the headphones is unfussy but elegant enough, while the metal brackets that connect the headband to the earcups add a touch of premium quality.
There's a volume dial on the right earcup which works as advertised, and we didn't notice any problems with lag or indeed range when using the wireless dongle – we weren't able to test the maximum range of the 2.4GHz connection, but it can cope with crossing a couple of medium-sized rooms, no problems at all.
HyperX Cloud III Wireless review: features & performance
In the official marketing blurb, the HyperX Cloud III Wireless are described as having "angled 53mm drivers tuned by HyperX audio engineers to provide an optimised listening experience that accents the dynamic sounds of gaming" – and although we weren't completely blown away by the audio quality here, it's certainly solid enough.
We tested the headset with music, movies, games, podcasts, and even a few YouTube clips, and we didn't hear anything but rich, pleasant audio. You don't get the same soundscape range and fidelity as you do on the very high-end headset competitors out there, but these headphones certainly hold their own, and represent good value for money.
The headphones do tend to perform better with the quieter, more delicate sounds, rather than the louder and more intense ones – but performance is good across the board. There's a detachable mic for gaming and video calls, too, and we didn't find any problems there either – with audio transferred crisply and clearly.
When it comes to the claim of 120 hours of battery life, we tested the headset on and off for a couple of weeks, and didn't have to recharge it once. Unless you're seriously testing the HyperX Cloud III Wireless in terms of volume and intensity, this is going to last you days and days between charges – which is reassuring.
A word too on the comfort factor: the combination of leatherette and foam materials make this a pair of headphones you can wear without issue for hours at a time. Which is a good job, considering how epic that battery life is!
HyperX Cloud III Wireless review: Verdict
While the HyperX Cloud III Wireless can start to struggle at certain sonic extremes, and certainly doesn't offer the depth or breadth of more premium gaming headsets, it's still an enjoyable audio experience that represents good value for money.
While more advanced features lack – there's no active noise-cancelling (ANC), for example – there are plenty of big positives from this headset. The connection range and stability, and of course the epic battery life, are the real stand-out features.
Also consider
If you're after versatility in your gaming headset, then you're not going to do much better than the Logitech Astro A50 X: they work across PCs, PlayStations, and Xbox consoles, and you can even switch between them at the touch of a button. They cost significantly more than the HyperX headphones we've reviewed here, but they might be worth it.
Those of you ready to pay more money for superior sound will definitely be interested in the Audeze Maxwell Wireless. It's a gaming headset that's premium in every sense of the word, from the audio that reaches your ears to the style of the hardware. The price will put some people off, but the headphones do enough to justify it.
