HyperX has finally introduced the Cloud III, replacing the popular Cloud II gaming headset. This is the company's new $99 mid-range wired gaming headset, placing it in the middle of a crowded field of gaming headsets under $100. This field also includes HyperX's own headsets.

Before getting into the review sample, we briefly checked out the Cloud III at Computex and Jacob tried it on. He said they were comfortable and sounded great. However, I was curious to see how it would hold up in a slightly messy environment like my office, rather than the hot and crowded exhibition hall in downtown Taipei.

The HyperX Cloud III follows the overall design of its predecessor, the Cloud II, with notable upgrades for comfort. With a more plush headband and slightly angled ear cups, the Cloud III offers a better fit, making it ideal for long gaming sessions. As for the rest of the headset, HyperX seems to have adhered to the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" philosophy for the past eight years since the Cloud II's release.

Personally, the memory foam ear pads covered in plush leatherette are a delight, especially when wearing glasses. I've been wearing them throughout my work shift for the past few days and surprisingly have not experienced any major issues. Usually when you wear a headset all day with bulky glasses on, you find something to complain about. The earpads strike the right balance, providing just enough softness without putting too much pressure on the head while ensuring a tight fit that doesn't compromise sound quality.

When it comes to sound, the Cloud III continues to use the 53mm dynamic drivers that HyperX has used in its standard (non-Alpha) Clouds. This driver offers a slightly wider frequency response than a typical 40mm driver headset at this price. I've played hours and hours of Diablo 4, and I love the ominous ambience of the orchestral track in the background mixed with the sound of exploding demon corpses.

The headset's soundscape can be felt better in quieter, atmospheric settings, especially when the game is not about tearing through hordes of screaming demons, as in The Last of Us or Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

I was surprised at how well the bass sounded without the help of the Bass Boost preset on the mid-range headset. This is always a sticking point for many gaming headsets, especially at this price point. While it won't captivate audiophiles, it is definitely suitable for casual music listening while gaming or working. I enjoyed the thumping bass of Kendrick Lamar's "Backseat Freestyle" and the killer bass guitar of Japanese Breakfast's "Be Sweet."

The sound was more balanced than expected, so even if you haven't heard the bass-heavy tracks, you'll be satisfied.

Unfortunately, the DTS surround sound capabilities were unimpressive. At least not a positive one. It tends to be too subtle and difficult to discern if it is even turned on. If you want a headset with outstanding directional sound, there are better options, such as the SteelSeries Arctis Nova 7, although it is nearly twice the price. That said, directional sound does add immersion to more atmospheric games, such as System Shock and the Resident Evil 4 remake. I just didn't find that here.

All of the Cloud III's settings are easily adjusted in the relatively user-friendly HyperX Ngenuity app. However, the app sometimes failed to detect the headset, which was a hit-or-miss experience from a technical standpoint. When it does work, the app enables Spatial Sound and offers easy customization options for adjusting presets and EQ. Fortunately, the Cloud III sounds great right out of the box and requires minimal adjustment. This is a relief for me, as I don't particularly like the Ngenuity app.

The wired headset has plenty of connection options. It has a convenient 3.5mm connection and is compatible with almost anything. It also comes with a USB Type-C cable and a handy Type-C to Type-A adapter, which is great if you use one headset for PC and console gaming.

We like the trend of modern gaming headsets' microphones sounding good, not like little pieces of garbage, and the Cloud III's detachable 10mm boom mic, with built-in noise cancellation, is clear and intelligible, albeit tinny.

My voice sounded clear during the call and did not pick up much keyboard noise. I mentioned earlier that the microphone recording volume is low (even with the microphone volume turned up), which may be a problem when trying to chat with a teammate during a hectic shooter or when a large group of people are talking to each other.

The HyperX Cloud III is a perfectly good headset, but it has the misfortune of being priced the same as better headsets. For example, the wired HyperX Cloud Alpha is a great headset, costs only $90, sounds great, and looks almost identical to the Cloud III. Our favorite headset, the wired Razer BlackShark V2, is also an even better headset than the Cloud Alpha, also only $99. It may not be entirely fair to compare this to older, higher-end gaming headsets, but we can't ignore the fact that they all cost this much, so we have no choice but to do so.

If the Cloud III is priced at $70, it will compete with its sibling, the Cloud Stinger 2, which sells for around $50, but is easy to recommend. At its current price, we would hesitate, as there are many better options at $99. This positioning puts the Cloud III in the rather odd situation of having to compete with HyperX headsets.

Nevertheless, the HyperX Cloud III is a modest upgrade from its popular predecessor, and the fit is surprisingly comfortable. If you need comfort above all else, the Cloud III is a great choice. But if you want great sound and a wealth of features for $99, there are better options.