“HyperX Gon’ Give It To Ya, Again…”

In collaboration with HyperX once again, the recent monthly mailers of all the new shiny toys from the peripherals arm of Hewlett-Packard Inc. has landed, and this time they’ve provided what is arguably the greatest gaming headset I’ve ever used: the HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 Wireless. Built on the solid foundations of its predecessor, the Alpha 2 boasts an impressive 250-hour battery life, a programmable RGB base station complete with a volume dial and multi-layer 53mm dual chambers with spatial/surround audio provided by HyperX’s proprietary NGENUITY software, delivering powerful audio backed up by some of the best specs money can buy. Retailing at £254.99, the Alpha 2 is by all means a premium product, with impressive specs to back up its high price tag. As usual, I’ll be going over the time I’ve spent putting the headset through its paces, detailing both the good and the bad, ultimately concluding whether it’s worth the purchase.

When it comes to key aspects of game design, nothing is arguably more important than audio. Whilst high-end graphics and FPS are usually the most important features that players look for, audio is arguably the biggest driving factor for an immersive gaming experience. If done correctly, a good soundtrack or ambient soundscape can elevate a game far beyond being a simple video game, transforming a flat image into a truly living, breathing world that can literally blur the line between reality and the digital world. Alongside a game’s score is the other side of gaming audio, which is arguably more important than it’s ever been before: Spatial Awareness. Primarily used in the competitive FPS scene, the ability to use one’s ears is an important tool than can be the deciding factor between victory or defeat, whether used to gauge the distance of a nearby gunshot (looking at you DayZ) or hearing the movement of an approaching player based on the sound of their footsteps, all can be used to give a player a competitive edge. From an unforgettable score to competitive spatial audio, audio is a arguably one of the most important aspects of a game’s design, but as important as it is, it’s also the hardware that’s being used that usually elevates it to the top. In recent years, I’ve been using the Pulse 3D headset that launched way back with the PlayStation 5 back in November 2020, and aside from the cheap PU leather ear pads that disintegrated within a year of its purchase, it’s a solid, bang-for-buck headset that delivers exceptional audio and excellent integration with PlayStation’s proprietary software and systems.  However it wasn’t until moving over to PC again in recent years that I thought it was time for an upgrade, and that was when I started eyeing up the Cloud Alpha 2 Wireless from HyperX (the gaming peripherals arm of Hewlett-Packard Inc).

The HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 Wireless released in the Christmas period of 2025, acting as a beefed-up iteration to its legendary predecessor (the OG had an insane battery life of 300 hours) opting for slightly less of a power reserve in place of added utility, most notably in the form of the RGB base station that comes with the headset that is used in conjunction with HyperX’s NGENUITY software. One of the best features of the base station is its connectivity, acting as both a 2.4GHz wireless receiver and a desktop hub. The giant RGB volume dial, as well as the six programmable buttons give you utility that would be otherwise slapped on the side of the headset under normal circumstances; pausing content, muting your microphone, changing EQ presets on the fly, all fit nicely together on the RGB station, just ensure to dim-down the lights as they’re quite vibrant in low-light conditions (I like neon as much as anyone, but it’s quite distracting in the dark). Build quality is also of note here too, remaining true to the classic HyperX design whilst offering numerous upgrades. One of the most notable is comfort, featuring a flexible steel core and earcups that can now rotate 90 degrees which can also be extended based on head shape and ear position (this was a godsend for me, as I have a huge melon). Memory foam is utilized in both the headband and the ear cups, with HyperX opting for breathable microfibre this time around, significantly reducing the likelihood of developing swamp ear, which is extremely common with PU leather ear pads.

HYPERX CLOUD ALPHA 2 WIRELESS HEADSET | 250 HOURS ON A SINGLE CHARGE

At £254.99 the HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 is by no means a cheap headset, and this is reflected in the quality of the audio, which is nothing short of exceptional. The NGENUITY software allows you to choose from pre-selected EQ presets as well as the ability to create and save up to three of your own via the base station. I found myself using this feature quite a bit during my time with the headset, opting for an FPS (footsteps) preset for when I was playing Battlefield 6, or a more cinematic soundscape preset for my recent review of Resident Evil: Requiem (check out my review for Capcom’s excellent survival horror title here). The upgraded 53mm Multi-Layer Dual-Chamber Drivers are the key to the excellent sound within the Alpha 2, separating bass frequencies which in turn results in an exceptionally clear sound that is both crisp and distinct or immersive and punchy exactly when you want it to be, fully-customisable through the aforementioned NGENUITY software. Another thing I really liked was the out of the box functionality regardless of whether the headset was used on a PlayStation 5 or PC (it’s also compatible with Nintendo Switch and Mobile) you lose the functionality of NGENUITY when used on a console, however your three custom presets follow you with the base station as they’re saved to the on-board memory. Having the ability to use across multiple platforms (even Xbox Series X if used in wired mode) as well as a regular pair of headphones that can be used on your commute to work is where the Alpha 2 really shines, being a true versatile beast right out of the box.

Further adding to this level of versatility (and quite possibly one of my favourite features of the headset) is its dual connectivity mode, allowing you to connect to both your PC/PS5 and your Mobile in tandem by making effective use of 2.4GHz and Bluetooth 5.2, albeit cutting the battery life in half to 125 hours (very easy to forget that dual mode is on, so ensure you actually want to use it). The Alpha 2 also comes with a 3.5mm detachable boom mic, with a mesh filter built into the unit itself. The mic uses AI to remove background noise on the fly, and through my own tests I’ve concluded it does this to a pretty solid standard (mechanical keyboards are notorious for noise). Voice reproduction is good, but it’s nothing special; more than okay for a casual gaming session with the lads, but if you produce any kind of content (i.e. a podcast) then you’ll definitely want to opt for a dedicated road mic as this isn’t fit for that specific purpose. Overall, the HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 is an absolute beast of a headset, improving on the original at the sacrifice of a slightly worse power reserve at 250 hours, which still beats out all of the competition. If you’re in the market for a solidly built, premium feeling gaming headset that delivers perfect audio and will very rarely run on empty, this is it, as for £254.99 there is a lot of value here.

A review unit of the HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 Wireless was provided by Edelman UK.