HyperX Cloud Mix true wi-fi earbuds
MSRP $150.00
“The HyperX Cloud Mix earbuds are great for gamers with a ton of devices, but they’re a bit more expensive than they should be.”
Pros
Excellent battery life
Comfortable
Solid sound high quality in video games
Work with just about any machine
Great microphone high quality
Cons
Frustrating contact controls
Expensive
No ANC
Do you want a devoted set of true wi-fi earbuds for gaming? HyperX, which is behind a few of the greatest gaming headsets you should buy, thinks so. The Cloud Mix earbuds be part of a small record of true wi-fi earbuds centered solely on gaming, which begs the query of whether or not gaming-specific true wi-fi earbuds have to exist in any respect. Although they’re nice earbuds, I’m nonetheless struggling to see what gaming earbuds try this the numerous choices from Sony, Bose, and Apple don’t.
Excellent connectivity and battery life push the HyperX Cloud Mix earbuds above earlier makes an attempt from Razer and Turtle Beach, bringing them nearer to competing with one of the best true wi-fi earbuds. HyperX hasn’t fully hit the mark but, although. The Cloud Mix earbuds are costly at $150, they usually’re missing some options like sensible assistant help and energetic noise canceling (ANC).
Design
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The Cloud Mix earbuds are fundamental, which is par for the course with HyperX. They don’t have battery-sucking RGB just like the Razer Hammerhead earbuds, they usually don’t include ANC just like the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds. The Mix earbuds are a few black sticks, and I favor them that approach.
They appear to be earbuds with the wires snipped off, just like Apple’s AirPods, with prolonged sticks that nestle into your ears to offer further help. Unlike the AirPods, although, HyperX goes for a wider case that lays the earbuds flat inside. It makes the case a lot thinner than the circumstances you usually see.
In the field, you get the earbuds, a charging case that extends battery life, a silicon shell for the case, and a low-profile USB-C adapter. This adapter is an enormous deal, permitting you to make use of the low latency connection throughout PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and even your telephone. HyperX contains an adapteor stand, too, so that you don’t have to take up a USB-C port in your PC.
Pairing and switching between Bluetooth and a pair of.4GHz is useless easy.
These platforms all work with the two.4GHz connection, however additionally they work with Bluetooth 5.2, which is constructed into the Cloud Mix earbuds. You can keep a Bluetooth and a pair of.4GHz connection on the similar time, however you possibly can’t use them concurrently. I might have favored to have each accessible — for sport audio from a console and Discord from a telephone, for instance — however pairing and switching between the connections is useless easy.
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Switching is completed by way of a button on the USB-C dongle, however the remainder of the capabilities are accomplished with contact controls on the facet of the earbuds. One press is for play/pause, two is to skip a monitor, and three is to return a monitor. You can lengthy press to interact the microphone, and HyperX says you possibly can remap contact controls utilizing its Ngenuity software program (which I haven’t have been capable of take a look at but).
The contact controls aren’t nice, although. There’s no quantity management, which is crucial, and I nonetheless battle to seek out the precise spot that picks up contact inputs. It appears to leap round every time I take advantage of the earbuds, typically triggering on the highest whereas different instances solely activating after I press within the heart. I continually activated the controls inadvertently whereas adjusting the earbuds and popping them out, too, which was irritating.
Although I’m not a fan of the contact controls, the large platform help is what stands out for the Cloud Mix earbuds. I by no means needed to fear about utilizing the earbuds on a selected platform, and I liberally swapped between gadgets due to how easy it’s.
Sound high quality
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Despite one of the best efforts, the Cloud Mix earbuds nonetheless fall sufferer to the sound points which are widespread amongst in-ear buds. The lack of bass response is what stands out most, with deep bullet hits in Destiny 2 and devastating ultimate blows in Elden Ring not ringing out like I’m used to. The bass is there, but it surely’s implied, not felt.
That’s unusual contemplating HyperX says the Cloud Mix earbuds have an prolonged frequency vary taking place to 10Hz. Most headsets solely go right down to 20Hz. This sub-bass area isn’t represented, although. Even with bombastic 808s in Kendrick Lamar’s Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers and scorching kick drum strains in Periphery’s Blood Eagle, I by no means felt the punchy low-end that earbuds just like the Apple AirPods Pro provide.
Despite the missing bass, sound high quality isn’t dangerous. There’s a bit an excessive amount of presence within the higher midrange, making some sound results in video games come off as harsh. There’s nonetheless a whole lot of element, although. Bullets, footsteps, and refined sound results all play effectively on the Cloud Mix earbuds, with glorious stereo imaging.
I notably like utilizing the Cloud Mix earbuds with the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch.
An space I wasn’t capable of take a look at was DTS:X encompass sound. This is a serious promoting level for the Cloud Mix earbuds, however HyperX didn’t have it prepared in time for this overview. I’ll replace this overview as soon as the software program is out there.
Although I’d attain for a premium gaming headset just like the SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro for an immersive gaming expertise, the Cloud Mix earbuds maintain up effectively. I notably favored utilizing them with the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch, the place I may pop one earbud out and not using a chunky gaming headset hanging off my head.
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An space the place the Cloud Mix earbuds actually shine is the microphone. There isn’t a lot noise cancellation, however the mics are nonetheless remarkably clear and detailed. You may simply talk together with your workforce utilizing this mic, which is greater than may be mentioned for even some over-ear headsets.
Battery life
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The Mix earbuds have glorious battery life, no less than so far as true wi-fi earbuds go. HyperX claims 10 hours on the earbuds alone, which you’ll lengthen as much as 33 hours over Bluetooth with the charging case. That’s just a little excessive from my expertise, although. I spent an extended afternoon enjoying on my Steam Deck over Bluetooth and the earbuds wanted a cost after about eight hours.
That’s greater than the direct competitors. The Razer Hammerhead is the subsequent highest at si-and-a-half hours on the earbuds alone, whereas the Turtle Beach Scout Air earbuds want a cost after solely 5 hours. Eight hours is identical battery life because the Jabra Elite 7 Pro, which is our prime choose for true wi-fi earbuds in the meanwhile. The Mix earbuds don’t have ANC, granted, however the battery life remains to be nice.
Comfort
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I are likely to not go for earbuds typically as a result of, frankly, they damage my ears. I even returned the top-rated Sony WF-1000XM4 as a result of they irritated my ears. Not the Mix earbuds, although. From sitting at my PC to laying on the sofa testing the Steam Deck, I used the Mix earbuds for hours on finish with out even a minor annoyance.
They’re not too giant, however the bulk on the prime would possibly irritate smaller ears. That’s true of most true wi-fi earbuds, nonetheless. The HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless nonetheless goes a good distance to enhance consolation with three completely different tip sizes and a light-weight construct that’s not too top-heavy.
Software
HyperX’s Ngenuity software program wasn’t prepared for me to check with the Mix earbuds, so I’ll replace this overview as soon as the app is out there on iOS, Android, and Windows. You can learn my HyperX Cloud Alpha Wireless overview for an summary of this easy utility.
You’ll be capable of modify a 10-band EQ, remap the contact controls, and activate DTS:X within the app as soon as it’s accessible. There isn’t an excessive amount of right here to affect my ultimate rating outdoors of DTS:X, which is a crucial side of the Mix earbuds that’s lacking in the meanwhile.
Our take
HyperX is moving into an enormous market with its first true wi-fi earbuds. Although direct gaming opponents are few and much between, firms like Apple, Sony, and Bose have been chipping away at this marketplace for years. HyperX takes notes with glorious battery life, nice consolation, and serviceable sound high quality, however some points with software program and contact controls maintain it again from attractive avid gamers to make the leap to true wi-fi earbuds.
Are there any alternate options?
The most direct opponents to the HyperX Cloud Mix earbuds are the Razer Hammerhead and Turtle Beach Scout Air Earbuds, each of that are cheaper. Outside of gaming, the Jabra Elite 7 Pros are round $50 costlier, however they arrive with ANC, wi-fi charging, and mud/water safety.
How lengthy will it final?
You may use the HyperX Cloud Mix earbuds for years. There’s nothing holding them again from working with trendy gadgets, so so long as Bluetooth and USB-C are supported, you possibly can proceed to make use of these earbuds.
Should you purchase it?
Yes. A give attention to battery life, consolation, and connectivity make the HyperX Cloud Mix earbuds extra sensible than opponents just like the Razer Hammerheads, even when HyperX’s take is costlier. Still, the earbuds are missing ANC and help for sensible assistants, making the $150 price ticket a bit powerful to swallow.
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