Editor’s Note: Originally this article referenced Kingston in relation to ownership of the HyperX brand as that’s what happens to be printed on this headset, but earlier this year HyperX was acquired by HP. We have updated the article to reflect this in change in Manufacturer order to be more accurate to our readers.
A big part of every gamer’s arsenal involves having a quality headset. Most of us who would consider ourselves “core” gamers have their preferred headset for each platform they play on.
This is mostly because we don’t like money, and we love top notch overpriced nonsense that sounds incredible, but probably should have cost about $100 USD less. For casuals and those on a budget, it’s good to consider products that function like a Swiss Army Knife. HP’s HyperX Cloud II Wireless steps up to fill this role like a champ.
HyperX Cloud II Wireless Headset
Manufacturer: HP Inc.
Release Date: November 10, 2020
MSRP: $149.99 USD
I’m pretty sure they named this line the Cloud because the padding is so soft and comfortable on your head. Not only does this headset only weigh about 10.5 ounces, but the leather is soft, and feels good around the ears and across the top of the head.
The stitching around the headband feels nice and tight, like it’s meant to be durable. That’s important to mention, since the headset is fairly pliable, and will easily take the abuse of being thrown haphazardly into a backpack when on the go.
I’ve worn them for upwards of 8+ hour sessions, and not once did I feel any fatigue or irritation. Which isn’t something I can say about many other headsets.
The Cloud II Wireless features 53mm drivers, which sound great given that the audio is transmitted from a fairly straightforward plug and play USB dongle. Everything sounds clear and smooth, and while I wish the bass was just a bit punchier, it still sounds pretty good even when just listening to Spotify.
I’ll fully admit that it’s not going to give you the stunning sound performance of a headset like the Astro A50, but it’s also much cheaper and far more versatile. While I wish it would have had a USB-A to C adapter included so I could easily use it with the Switch, it’s a minor nitpick.
I had no issues at all swapping from PC, to PlayStation 5, to Xbox Series X; simply by popping this dongle in. No mess, no fuss, no headaches. It’s rated for a 30 hour battery life; and while I never consecutively wore it for 30 hours, I’d venture that I was typically charging it once a week with the volume around 70% or so- estimating around 18-22 hours on a charge.
That’s far better than other devices I’ve owned like Sony’s garbage-ass Pulse headset that not only had terrible battery life, but the worst microphone I’ve ever used. The microphone on the Cloud Wireless II is solid, though the noise cancelling did tend to make me a little bit quiet when talking to people at a normal conversational tone.
This headset is the most dust collecting-est headset I think I own. Every speck is noticeable, and it looks filthy almost all the time. Thankfully it’s easy to clean, but it’s my biggest issue with the headset. While I also like the detachable microphone, I wish it clicked or clamped into place a little bit better.
It plugs in like a standard 3.5mm jack, but not having some sort of a tactile response always makes me feel like I never quite got it to sit in place where it should be. Aside from being fairly easy to clean, it’s also stupidly easy to use. On the back you’ll find a power button, a mute button, and a volume knob. That’s it.
No overly complicated adjustments for game/audio mixing, no assortment of pre-equalized soundscapes; just a high quality, no bullshit, plug and play wireless headset. As an added bonus, it charges with a USB-C cable, so I can easily charge it with the same cord I charge my DualSense controller with.
Without question, when I don’t feel like setting up my “better” headsets, the Cloud II Wireless is my go-to for sessions where I’ll need a mic because of how quickly I can switch from my surround sound to headphones.
The HyperX Cloud II Wireless Headset is, to date, the easiest headset to use that I’ve owned. If you’re looking for something decently affordable and reliable across all of your devices, the Cloud II Wireless might be the best bang for your buck.
HyperX Cloud II Wireless was reviewed using a review unit provided by HP Inc. and the HyperX team. You can find additional information about Niche Gamer’s review/ethics policy here.
