HP Cloud III - Gaming Headset (Black/Blue)
By HP · Gaming Headsets · Audio & Electronics
- 53mm angled drivers
- 10mm detachable microphone
- 3.5mm, USB-C, USB-A connectivity
- Weight: 308g (without mic)
- Frequency response: 10 Hz - 21,000 Hz
Lowest price seen
$99.99
from $99.99 at HyperX (brand store) · Checked Oct 8, 2026
- HyperX (brand store) $99.99View at HyperX (brand store)
- Beach Audio $102.43View at Beach Audio
- HPView at HP
- eBay (used) eBay: used, open-box, refurbishedView at eBay (used)
- eBayView at eBay
- AmazonView at Amazon
Prices are snapshots. Check the current price with the store.
Summary
A wired gaming headset with 53mm angled drivers, a detachable 10mm microphone and 3.5mm, USB-C and USB-A connections, sold under HP’s HyperX brand. The microphone is the standout at the price, but comfort is polarizing, so try one on before you commit.
Strengths
- The detachable mic draws the strongest praise, called outstanding for the price by two independent reviewers.
- Light at 308 g without the mic, and plusher than the older Cloud II.
- Sturdy build with metal yokes and no creaking in testing.
- Connects over 3.5mm, USB-C or USB-A, so it works with most consoles, PCs and phones.
- Strong value at $69.99.
Weaknesses
- Comfort is polarizing: one 2026 guide dismissed it for poor adjustment, slipping and pressure across head and ear sizes.
- DTS Headphone:X added strange artifacts and little useful spatial sound in one test.
- The leatherette pads are not very breathable, which matters if you run hot.
- The mic mute button is hard to find by feel and does not lock in place.
- DTS and mic monitoring need the Windows-only Ngenuity app and the USB-C connection.
- No cable clip, so the cord is unwieldy at full length.
Verified specifications
| Drivers | 53mm angled. |
|---|---|
| Microphone | 10mm detachable. |
| Connection | 3.5mm analog, USB-C, and USB-A through the included adapter. |
| Weight | 308 g without the microphone. |
| Frequency response | 10 Hz to 21,000 Hz. |
| Spatial audio | DTS Headphone:X. |
| Cables | braided 3.5mm cable of about 4 ft; the USB-C DAC adds about 4.26 ft. |
| Mute indicator | red light near the mic tip on the analog connection. |
| Software | HyperX Ngenuity app, Windows only, for EQ, mic monitoring and DTS Headphone:X. |
| Launch price | $100 (IGN, June 2023). |
Full research notes and sources
Microphone and sound
The mic is the reason to consider this headset. TechRadar singled it out as outstanding for a gaming headset at this price, and IGN called it exceptional for the price and said it cuts background noise from a mouse, keyboard and fan. The drivers give a well-rounded presentation with enough bass, though TechRadar called the soundstage good but nothing special. Buy it for games and calls, not for spatial trickery.
Comfort and fit
This is the contested part. TechRadar found the Cloud III more comfortable than the older Cloud II, with thicker, plush memory-foam ear cups and headband. Wirecutter’s September 2026 guide went the other way, listing it among headsets that are uncomfortable across head and ear sizes, adjust poorly, slide off, or press too hard. Take the spread seriously: fit depends on your head, so try one on or buy somewhere with easy returns.
Software and connections
DTS Headphone:X and mic monitoring require the HyperX Ngenuity app, which runs only on Windows, and they work only over the USB-C DAC, not the analog 3.5mm cable. The DAC ships plugged into a USB-A adapter, which is easy to overlook. In testing the spatial audio produced a slightly larger soundstage but also strange, disruptive artifacts, so do not count on it. The 3.5mm cable is analog: simple to plug into a controller or phone, but without the extra features.
Which model this is
This page covers the wired HP Cloud III Gaming Headset in Black/Blue, part of the HyperX Cloud line that moved to HP branding after HP bought HyperX in 2021. It is not the Cloud III Wireless or the Cloud III S Wireless, and not the older Cloud II or Cloud Alpha. The wireless versions power and connect differently and are separate products.
Is it worth it?
At $69.99 (Walmart, Best Buy and Newegg, as reported in May 2023) the Cloud III is strong value, mainly for the microphone. At the $100 launch price it is fair; IGN still recommended it while noting it was not the headset to end all headsets. Above $100 the wired model has to compete with wireless options and with headsets that fit more consistently, so the microphone has to matter to you. If you want wireless, the Cloud III Wireless is a different product whose audio was called more detailed by Wirecutter.
Sources
Manufacturer:
- No accessible manufacturer specification page was found for this model.
Independent reviews: