HyperX Unveils Cloud Air Alpha: New Gaming Headset and Mouse Lineup
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The Cloud Air Alpha is HyperX’s first open-back gaming headset Any parent struggling to get their kid’s attention while they’re crushing a Fortnite lobby will probably be happy about new open-back headphones because they allow more outside noise to filter. And gamers themselves will be happy that the Cloud Air Alphas don’t sacrifice game audio quality.
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EngadgetOne of the issues for open-back headphones is that when compared to closed-backed rivals, there's often a bit of bass loss due their more airy soundstage. However, on the Cloud Alpha Air, HyperX wanted to deliver the same low-end response you get from closed-back cans to help gamers more easily pick up on sound effects like footsteps and explosions. And during my short hands-on time with the Cloud Alpha Air so far, they certainly deliver.
GizmodoThe HyperX Cloud Alpha Air includes a special “Bass Tube” that amplifies the punchiness of the sound in spite of its open-backed design. I could tell the difference as soon as I started firing off shots from Expedition 33’s ranged weapons. I would need to spend more time with the headset before I could tell if the audio experience and the mic quality were anywhere close to even more expensive headsets, like the HyperX Cloud Alpha 2. What I can say is that it felt much, much lighter than that $300 headset.
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The cups around the Cloud Alpha Air are made from memory foam covered in a suede wrap. This means they won’t flake like faux leather inevitably does, though the material will potentially absorb moisture if you’re the type who suffers from gamer sweats. These open-backed designs also lack the swappable side panels that have made the HyperX headset line so customizable.
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EngadgetAs for the rest of the Cloud Alpha Air's design, HyperX kept things really simple. The only controls on the headphones themselves are a volume wheel and a mute button for its detachable mic. The sides of the cans feature a metallic grille that hides its red 40mm dynamic drivers underneath, while big foam earcups covered in ultrasuede provide a very comfy relaxed fit that makes them extremely easy to wear for long periods of time. Meanwhile, the metal headband feels quite sturdy and it easily withstood my bend test that consists of not-so-gently torquing each cup in opposite directions.
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A splash of new color on existing headsets HyperX’s Cloud Air Alpha is the star of the show, but older headsets like the Cloud 3, Cloud 3 S and Cloud Flight 2 are receiving some cutesy pastel color options to round out the lineup. Many of these color choices add understated pink and blue metallic accents to primarily black and white headphones, but the Cloud Flight 2 is getting a totally lavender model that really pops under direct lighting.
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EngadgetThat said, the Cloud Alpha Air isn't the only pair of headphones HyperX is launching today, as the company is releasing new color combos for existing products including the HyperX Cloud III S, HyperX Cloud III Wired and HyperX Cloud Flight 2.
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Pulsefire Haste 3 Pro wireless mouse The carbon fiber Pulsefire Haste 3 Pro is the most lightweight (and most expensive) mouse in the lineup. Its buttons and grip have a rough, nearly grainy texture that creates a solid grip — it certainly feels good to hold, and though I usually prefer weightier mice, I appreciated the way the Haste 3 Pro molded to my hand.
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EngadgetAlternatively, for those looking for new input options, HyperX created its lightest mouse yet in the Pulsefire Haste 3 Pro ($130). Made out of a carbon fiber shell and weighing just 47 grams, if you didn't know better, you'd think the mouse was empty inside. That said, it features the company's new Performance Sensor which delivers up to 42,000 DPI while still providing up to 150 hours of use (at 1K polling) in wireless mode. And if $130 feels a bit steep, HyperX also made a more affordable Pro Model for $90 featuring the same sensor and general features but with a slightly heavier plastic shell. Finally, if that's still too much, there's an even more budget-friendly wired model available for just $40.
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HP might not be ready to bring any new gaming laptops or desktop computers into the fray just yet, but it debuted a healthy heaping of new peripherals under its HyperX gaming brand to keep casuals, hard-core gamers and streamers happy.
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EngadgetUnfortunately, if you're in the market for a new PC, aside from some updated AMD-based configs for the Omen 35L, it seems HyperX is waiting a bit longer to announce any new gaming laptops or desktops. But for those looking to upgrade their rig with some fresh peripherals while waiting for the price of RAM to come down, HyperX has a bunch of reasonably-priced accessories to consider this fall when these devices go on sale sometime in September.
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With wireless mice, battery life becomes a variable you need to worry about between gaming sessions. The Pulsefire Haste 3 wireless mouse performs fairly well in that department: It ekes out 150 hours of battery life at 1K polling and 35 hours of battery life at 8K polling (and frankly, the average PC gamer will be just fine operating at 1K polling speeds).
4 details only one outlet reported
Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.
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01 ZDNet Bose's midrange headphones have consistently been among the best on the market. They have better noise cancellation, comfort, and a sleeker design than competing models from the same caliber: JBL, Sennheiser, and Sony. Though Bose's midrange headphones carry an upper-midrange $359 price tag, they're better suited to mature listeners seeking a reliable, simple pair.
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02 Gizmodo The $150 HyperX Cloud Air takes after the $200 Sony Inzone H6 Air and much larger headsets like the $300 Asus ROG Kithara with their open-backed designs. This exposes the 40mm driver to the elements, but it also helps keep the headset lighter and keeps your ears cooler. What’s more, in my limited tests, I was surprised by the depth of sound coming from these headphones.
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03 Engadget However, my favorite detail about the Cloud Alpha Air is that they come with full complement of cables and adapters including a basic 3.5mm cord, a PC extension cable with separate audio and mic jacks and a USB adapter that comes with both USB-A and USB-C connectors, so you can plug the headphones into pretty much any gadget you can think of. And to round out the kit, you even get a drawstring bag to pack everything into while traveling.
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04 CNET HyperX announced its first open-back headphones and most lightweight mouse, along with a few other goodies that might upgrade your gaming experience. HyperX keeps the focus on gamers, but there are a few pieces of tech here, like the SoloCast 2 Pro mic, that I think will function best in the hands of content creators. There’s a little something for everyone, with products featured at variable prices throughout the lineup.
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Sources (4)
- zdnet
- cnet
- engadget
- gizmodo