HyperX Cloud II vs Cloud III: Comprehensive Comparison
HyperX retained and refined many aspects of the Cloud II for the newer Cloud III. While the latter is an overall improvement, there’s still a lot that’s similar about the two headsets. Both the Cloud II and Cloud III are wired with non-detachable 3.5 mm cables and they include a USB dongle for extra functionality.
Key Similarities
- The two headsets work with any device that uses a 3.5 mm connection such as PS5, Switch, Xbox, and PC. However, the USB connection does NOT work on Xbox.
- Both have similar builds including pleather ear cushions with memory foam and aluminum adjustment forks on the frame.
- Both are S tier devices when it comes to all-day use with no pain or irritation.
Main Differences
The Cloud III has its controls on the headset itself, featuring a mute button and a finite scroll volume wheel. In contrast, the Cloud II's controls are on the control box on the USB dongle. Additionally, the Cloud III is compatible with NGENUITY which has a full 10-band equalizer.
| Feature | HyperX Cloud II | HyperX Cloud III |
|---|---|---|
| Controls | On USB dongle control box | On-ear (mute button and volume wheel) |
| Microphone | Muffled and sibilant | Best sounding mic on any gaming headset |
| Software | None specified | NGENUITY (10-band EQ) |
| Ear Pads | Pleather with memory foam | Thicker memory foam, larger pads |
| Bass | Subtle boom and rumble | More detail, less impact |
Comfort and Build Quality
Minor adjustments have been made to the already comfortable and durable Cloud II. The Cloud III’s pads are slightly thicker and the headset has a bit more clamping force than the Cloud II. I prefer the Cloud III even more because of the slightly increased clamping force and thicker pads. It’s not as tight as the Cloud Alpha, so not enough to be problematic; it just makes the headset fit more snugly.
Neither device has swivel, so they can’t be rested around your shoulders. Still, they have sturdy aluminum forks that can be adjusted to change the length of the device. These two headsets are almost perfect in terms of their build, though it is worth noting the braided 3.5 mm cables are non-detachable.
Headphone Audio Quality
In short, both the Cloud II and Cloud III are incredible for FPS games, but the Cloud III’s tuning makes footsteps even more prominent than the II. HyperX went hard optimizing the Cloud III’s tuning for performance in FPS games. The Cloud II has overly sharp treble and while the lows aren’t muddy, they don’t really wow with detail. With the Cloud III, the treble is clear but not shrill.
The biggest difference is the change in texture of the bass and sub-bass. The Cloud III’s low end trades away power for extra detail. As a basshead, when I listen to music I honestly prefer the subtle boom and rumble of the Cloud II when it's EQ'd. However, for footstep awareness and pinpointing weapon fire, the Cloud III's tuning makes them stand out better than almost any headset tested.
Microphone Audio Quality
The Cloud II’s microphone has very strong background noise rejection, but it is muffled while still being sibilant, and the detail is severely lacking. In sharp contrast, the microphone on the Cloud III is far superior and it's the best sounding mic I've heard on any gaming headset. It is even better than the Corsair HS80 Wireless.
