The start of the a hew year signifies a change. People resolve to do new things; detox their home, hit the gym, clean out the pantry, read some books, and declutter their calendars. This time of year usually calls people to refresh their tech setup. Especially if you’re working from home, it’s time to look at what’s on your desk and declutter. I certainly did this; tying up all my cables, and getting rid of unnecessary USB devices that were sucking out my power.
It’s also a good chance for you to look at those peripherals and decide if you need an upgrade. Whether you’re working from home or the office, everyone needs a good headset, keyboard, mouse, and often a microphone, and camera too. HyperX has some perfect pieces for you to look at. Their Cloud III headset and Pulsefire Haste 2 wireless mouse are affordable options for almost anyone. Are they for you? Read on to find out.
HyperX Cloud III headset
Ever since COVID hit, everyone is in need of a decent headset and microphone. No longer are microphones reserved for in-game chats on Discord, or headsets designed only for gaming. Everyone now is on Facetime, Zoom, Teams, Google Meet—did I miss any? It’s important to be able to hear your colleagues, and for those in your meeting to be able to hear you. Being on video calls is probably taking up a lot of your day now too, so you’ll want something that is comfortable to wear for hours on end. Does the HyperX Cloud III headset live up to these standards?
We’ve previously reviewed the HyperX Cloud II wireless headset and the newer Cloud II wired headset just last year. I am currently still using the Cloud II wireless headset so that tells you something about how good these HyperX headsets are. So how much better is the Cloud III?
Cloud III evolution
The HyperX Cloud III is an upgrade to the Cloud II headset. The Cloud III has the same plush, memory foam headband and ear cushions as the Cloud II, making it comfortable to wear all day long. It’s also super flexible. I can’t tell you how many times I have sat on my headphones, thrown them down after a terrible call (jokes), or tossed them aside after a long night of gaming.
The new HyperX Cloud III has a much thicker headband and lacks the distinct red stitching. Whilst I think the red stitching looks great on the Cloud II, the lack of stitching and thicker bands makes the Cloud III so much more comfortable and feels lighter than the Cloud II. The ear cushions are much thicker too and provide a snuggly soft covering for your ears which is a welcome change for the amount of hours I now wear my headset.
Upgraded sound
The HyperX Cloud III featured new sound to keep you on top of your game, or meeting. The retuned 53mm drivers give you a better listening experience that is crystal clear. The built-in upgraded 10mm microphone ensures your voice is clear and crisp whether you’re talking to your raid party or your new boss.
I am also enjoying the adjustable volume via the wheel on the side and an LED indicator on the microphone to show whether I am muted or not. Like the previous version, the microphone is removable so you can choose to use the microphone on the headset or a standalone input.
Wired or wireless
Luckily, the Cloud III comes in both a wired and wireless version. Whilst I am a huge fan of wired devices—keyboard, mouse, microphone, controller, camera—my headset is the one thing I like to be wireless. I always forget to charge my devices so wired is good for me, plus it reduces latency, and I know I’m always connected. When it comes to my headset, however, I have been converted to wireless. Why? Because it’s something you wear on your person.
I can’t tell you the amount of times I’ve jumped up in excitement at a win to realise I’m connected in. Or sprung out of my chair in the middle of the meeting, rushing to the door for the postie. Or stood up to grab a cup of tea, only to discover as I’m halfway to the door I’m yanked back to my desk by these pesky wires. A wired free headset means I can comfortably continue to listen to my game of meeting whilst answering the door, grabbing a cup of tea, or sneaky a snack. That’s why I’ll be sticking to my Cloud II wired until I find time to upgrade to the Cloud III wireless.
Options
Gamers and workers have a lot of options when it comes to using the HyperX Cloud III headset. The wired version comes with USB C, USB A, and AUX cable giving you lots of ways to connect. Because of this, the headset is compatible with PC, Mac, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Mobile. You can grab the HyperX Cloud III wired for $159 AUD or $289 AUD for wireless. The headset comes in both pure black or the classic HyperX red and black—which is definitely my colour of choice.
HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 wireless mouse
Last year, I reviewed the HyperX Pulsefire Haste mouse last year, and I loved its lightweight, honeycomb look. The HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 keeps the same ultra-lightweight feel—weighing in at 61 grams—and 100 hours of battery life of the original Pulsefire Haste we looked at last year. It has the same simplistic RGB colouring on the wheel as the original mouse.
The new Pulsefire Haste however has a few upgrades, mainly in speed and performance. Let’s take a look.
Pulsefire Haste evolution
The Pulsefire Haste wireless mouse came only with 2.4GHz wireless compatibility. The new Pulsefire Haste 2 has dual wireless connectivity, meaning it still has 2.4GHz wireless and also includes Bluetooth for more versatility. The new wireless mouse also allows you to charge via the cable and still use the mouse while it’s charging.
Both the wired and wireless versions of the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 have much faster speeds than the original mouse, and glide across the mouse mat so much nicer. You can customise the mouse using the new HyperX switches which are included giving you more control over how you like to play.
Price and Availability
You can pick up the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 in either wired or a wireless version. You can also choose between black or white. You can pick up the Pulsefire Haste 2 wired for A$99 or A$149 for the wireless edition.
Both the headset and mouse can be purchased from plenty of retailers including JB Hi-Fi, MWave, Kogan, Scorptec, and many others. What will you be upgrading this year?
