Cloud Flight is the first wireless gaming headset from HyperX, known for its impressive lineup of affordable gaming headsets. It may be late to market, but this wireless headset makes a statement by boasting one of the longest battery life of 30 hours and lighting that you won’t find in any of its competitors. The HyperX Cloud Flight are good wireless gaming headphones with a fairly balanced and exciting sound profile, although their bulky over-ear headset design makes them very vulnerable in terms of fit and seal.
Unfortunately, they don’t feel as durable as some of the other HyperX models we’ve tested, but they’re not too cheap, and they’re comfortable enough. The microphone works very well overall and is able to separate your voice from background noise. They’re compatible wirelessly with PS4, PS5, and PC, but unfortunately not with Xbox One headsets or Xbox Series X consoles, and are audio only when used wired. Now you can read here this HyperX Cloud Flight review.
The detachable mic and casual design make them a good choice for everyday use, but they don’t support Bluetooth, so you’ll have to use them wired to your phone. They also don’t help with peace of mind in the office or on your daily commute, as they barely block out background noise. There’s not much to it, but the HyperX Cloud Flight Wireless strikes a good balance between well-executed basics and price. If you want something simple that works pretty much everywhere in one way or another, this might be the one for you.
HyperX Cloud Flight review: Design
The Cloud Flight has HyperX’s familiar red and black color scheme, but it’s a bit more subdued this time around. There are no contrasting red stitching or other flashes of red, save for the red cord that peeks out from the top of each ear cup. When it is turned on, the “HX” logo on the outside of each ear cup lights up or flashes red. With its detachable microphone and understated design, HyperX Cloud Flight doesn’t look out of place when used as a wired headset when you’re on the go with your phone or tablet.
The Cloud Flight works out of the box. Just plug in the included wireless USB transmitter and you’re ready to start playing. The USB dongle transmits over a 2.4GHz connection rather than Bluetooth, and the transmitter and headset pair instantly. In addition to the USB dongle, there are two cables in the box: a 3.5m audio cable with a 3.5mm jack plug for using the headset in wired mode, and a USB charging cable.
HyperX Cloud Flight review: Comfort
The HyperX Cloud Flight are a comfortable pair of headphones, but they aren’t as well padded as the HyperX Cloud 2/Cloud II or HyperX Cloud Alpha. On the plus side, they’re a little lighter than those headphones because they have a little more plastic in their construction. The headband doesn’t fit too tightly to the head and the ear cups are quite roomy.
Overall, they should be comfortable enough for most long gaming marathons without causing fatigue. The headband is elastic and fits all head sizes. The faux leather ear cushions are soft and won’t make you sweat. The size of the ear cups could be a little bigger, but still fit most ears. Also, the clamping force is just right. You can also adjust them a bit with the headband extender.
HyperX Cloud Flight review: Connectivity
HyperX Cloud Flight S uses a 2.4GHz USB RF dongle to connect to the platform of your choice. This is a better option for a gaming headset than Bluetooth, as it is lag-free and generally uses less battery. However, it also means you have to forgo a USB port, which is a valuable asset to some. HyperX claims the headset maintains connectivity up to a range of 20 meters. We found that this largely matched my experience, as it maintained a fairly stable connection from one end of my apartment to the other, with several closed doors in between.
HyperX Cloud Flight review: Noise Cancelation
These headphones are unable to block out background noise. They do not provide isolation in the bass range, where the roar of airplane and bus engines can be heard. They’re slightly better at suppressing background noise, but still below average in this regard. They’re better at higher frequencies, making them a good choice for blocking out air conditioning or fan noise. You can hear conversations at lower volumes, and you can even listen through your headset if you mute them. This is probably the best balance. You are protected from noise and can still talk if needed (by muting).
Audio Performance
The HyperX Cloud Flight is fairly basic with its frequency response of 20 Hz – 20 kHz. But its 50mm neodymium drivers are what make the headset special for console gaming, as the drivers are known for delivering pleasant and immersive sound experiences. The quality of the sound effects was so impressive that we forgot it was 15 minutes before office hours, which is a feat to say the least.
We were sucked into the game session as if we were in a movie – a testament to the almost cinematic quality of the sound. We were particularly taken with the beginning of Shadow of the Tomb Raider, when Lara Croft escapes from a collapsing tomb. The thought of being buried alive (a very real fear of mine), coupled with the crunch of rock in my ears, made me whisper “no” over and over again.
HyperX Cloud Flight review: Performance
In terms of performance, there is nothing wrong with Cloud Flight Wireless; that’s literally fine, albeit a bit light for a HyperX headset. It doesn’t have any flagship features. It only has 2.0 channel audio, which is nothing great since you can get headphones with 5.1 and even 7.1 surround sound for a similar price from other brands, as we found in my review of the Alienware AW510H, for example.
That doesn’t sound bad, but identifying horse positions in games like Valorant and Rainbow Six Siege isn’t as easy as it can be these days, and certainly with this headset’s contemporary competitors. The product page proudly claims a battery life of up to 30 hours, with the LEDs off and the volume at 50%. In my experience, this statement is very exaggerated; we had to recharge it after only half the time including listening to music at work during the day and playing video games in the evening.
HyperX Cloud Flight review: Battery Life
HyperX Cloud Flight has excellent battery life. When the LEDs are not lit, the battery lasts up to 30 hours. That’s a lot, even compared to the most expensive wireless headsets for gaming. 30 hours is enough for many days of regular play and even longer gaming marathons. And if you forget to turn off the headphones, they automatically turn off after a while to save energy. With a micro USB to USB cable, it charges in less than 2 hours. When the cable is empty, you can still use it (headphones only).
We haven’t conclusively tested the battery life of the HyperX Cloud Flight Wireless, but HyperX claims the headset can last up to 30 hours on a single charge when the headset’s LEDs are off. The headset charges in about 3 hours via the outdated microUSB port, but you can always switch to a 3.5mm wired connection if the battery is running low.
Conclusion
The HyperX Cloud Flight meets all the requirements for a wireless gaming headset: big, dynamic and lag-free sound, a comfortable design, and a versatile construction that lets you plug and unplug the microphone for mobile use. Despite its many merits, it’s only just ahead of the SteelSeries Arctis 7 as the top of the line wireless headset for gamers, since it doesn’t offer virtual 7.1 surround sound and relies on plastic. Nevertheless, it is an amazing, flexible headset that convinces in almost all respects.
