HyperX Cloud II Wireless Review

HyperX originally announced the Cloud II Wireless a few months ago, way back in the latter months of 2020 to be precise. The headset that builds upon the Cloud II line offers a refined version of what we've come to expect, by delivering 7.1 virtual surround sound alongside 2.4Ghz gaming grade wireless. After spending a while using the device as my go-to headset - both for gaming and regular work - I can say that the HyperX Cloud II Wireless has a lot to offer, even if it can be a little fiddly at times.

So, what do you get with your Cloud II Wireless? Well, you get the headset of course, a detachable noise-cancelling microphone with an LED mute indicator, a microphone pop filter, a USB charger cable, a wireless USB adaptor, and various guides to help you get on your way. The cables are all pretty self explanatory, and we'll dive into the intricacies of the headset itself in a moment, but the microphone is quite interesting as not only can it be detached and reattached at a moment's notice with ease, but it's handy LED mute indicator light will mean you'll never forget you are radio silent again. Considering the mic is also flexible and light, it also never gets in the way and from an appearance standpoint it suits the headset pretty well.

In terms of the headset itself, it comes sporting a black and red palette where a lot of the red accents are in a sharp metallic finish. The earcups are made from a sturdy fine plastic and are attached by an aluminium frame that can be adjusted to suit the size and shape of your head. The cups and headband that rest on your head are padded with soft memory foam wrapped in leatherette to give off a professional appearance that is backed up with supreme comfort. The only part of the headset that gives off a less than sturdy feel is the small external wire leaving the cups and entering the bottom of the headband - although I have had no issues with this at all.

As for the tech on offer, the 53mm drivers and the HyperX 7.1 surround sound delivers crisp audio that accentuates the most intricate musical details, enhances the experience of gameplay, and even makes being on a call sound better than ever. I've been privy to a variety of surround sound headsets, but this one does offer one of the best sounding experiences, at least on a gaming headset that is designed with low latency wireless also in mind. Talking about its wireless capabilities, the Cloud II Wireless uses a 2.4Ghz system that means you can wander around your room and still have low-latency input. It does also come with a 30-hour battery life when fully charged, which essentially means if you top it up every now and then, you'll never run out of battery.

The Cloud II Wireless is also quite compatible in the grand scheme of things. Not only can you use this device with your PC, but it can run with a PS4, PS5 and a Nintendo Switch when docked - it cannot be used when the Switch is in handheld mode. The Cloud II Wireless however, cannot operate on any Xbox consoles unfortunately, but with this being said, for PC, PS4, PS5 and Switch, this headset works great as a wireless competitor to what a lot of wired devices offer.

As a final note on the features of this device, the amount of buttons on the headset is very limited, but in a good way. A lot of wireless headsets fall into the trap of having too many buttons available that they almost become remote controls themselves. The Cloud II Wireless comes with a power button that beeps once when turning on and twice when turning off, a mute button that likewise has distinguishable beeps, and then also a scrollable wheel to change the volume - that's it. Some people may want a little more, but I strongly believe this is the perfect amount of buttons for a headset. They fit the design well and are easy to tell apart by touch, which works great since the device is supposed to be on your head when you're fiddling with them.

From my experience with this headset, I can safely say that it is one of the better wireless headsets on the market right now. It's light, comfortable, looks great, and is easy to use, but it isn't perfect. There have been a few occasions where I have struggled with connectivity of the device, and it can be challenging to match up with other devices, i.e. a separate standalone microphone. However, this is quite a niche problem, and where a piece of dedicated software may help alleviate this, I also believe the lack of said software benefits the majority of consumers as its much easier to pick up and use.

If you are in the market for a wireless headset, the HyperX Cloud II Wireless is assuredly a device you should consider. While regular consumer headsets by Sony or Bose might have this beat on audio quality, the low-latency Wi-Fi, battery life, and simplicity make this one of the better wireless gaming headsets you could choose from. Compared to some gaming headsets on the market these days, the Cloud II Wireless is a little on the pricier side - coming in at £149.99 - but, you get a very high quality device for that rate, which will fairly easily satisfy all of your gaming and personal audio needs.