You’re probably tired of the "gamer" look. You know the one—massive plastic cups squeezing your skull, a microphone arm poking toward your mouth, and that inevitable "headset hair" that makes you look like you just rolled out of bed even if you're mid-stream. It’s a lot. Honestly, most of us just want to play some Valorant or Apex Legends without feeling like we’re wearing a pilot's helmet. That’s where the HyperX Cloud Earbuds 2 come in. They aren't trying to be the most high-fidelity audio experience on the planet. They’re trying to be convenient.
But here is the thing.
Most people buy earbuds for their Switch or Steam Deck and expect them to sound like a pair of $300 Sennheisers. They won't. If you go into this expecting studio-grade monitoring, you're going to be disappointed. However, if you're looking for something that fits in your pocket and actually lets you hear where footsteps are coming from, these might be the most underrated bit of gear in your bag. HyperX didn't reinvent the wheel here; they just made it a bit rounder than the first version.
What’s different this time around?
If you owned the original version, you remember the bright red cable and the somewhat finicky fit. The HyperX Cloud Earbuds 2 have tightened things up. First off, the case. It’s a hard-shell teardrop shape now. It actually protects the buds, which is a massive upgrade over the flimsy pouch we used to get.
The drivers inside are 14mm. That’s pretty big for an earbud. For context, many standard earbuds hover around 6mm to 10mm. That extra surface area on the driver means the bass doesn't just sound like a tinny "thud." It has some actual weight to it. When an ultimate goes off in Overwatch 2, you feel the vibration in your ear canal, which is a weird but satisfying sensation.
The tips are still that signature "flap" design. They don’t shove deep into your ear like standard silicon tips. They sort of sit in the concha of your ear. This is polarizing. You’ll either love it because it doesn’t feel invasive, or you’ll hate it because it doesn’t block out a single bit of room noise. If you're playing in a loud coffee shop? Forget it. You're going to hear the espresso machine.
The 3.5mm reality check in a USB-C world
Let’s talk about the plug. It’s a 90-degree 3.5mm jack. In 2026, that feels almost vintage, doesn't it? Most phones don't have the port anymore. You're probably going to need a dongle if you’re using an iPhone or a modern Android device.
But wait.
For the Steam Deck, the Nintendo Switch, and the PlayStation DualSense controller, that 3.5mm jack is still king. There's zero latency. None. You click, you hear the shot. Bluetooth still can't quite match that "instant" feeling, even with low-latency codecs like aptX. HyperX stuck with the wire for a reason. It's reliable. It doesn't need a battery. It just works.
Sound profile: Bass, Treble, and the "Muddiness" Factor
Gaming audio is usually tuned for "V-shape." This means the lows are cranked so explosions sound cool, and the highs are boosted so you can hear glass breaking or footsteps. The mids—where voices and subtle details live—usually get squashed.
With the HyperX Cloud Earbuds 2, the V-shape is definitely there, but it’s surprisingly controlled.
- The Lows: Thick. A bit messy if the game has a lot of overlapping sounds.
- The Mids: Clear enough to hear your teammates on Discord, though they might sound a bit "thin."
- The Highs: Crisp. Almost too crisp at high volumes. If you’re sensitive to sibilance (those sharp "S" sounds), you might want to dial the volume back to 80%.
I tested these with Tarkov. If you know that game, you know sound is literally life or death. Are they as good as a pair of open-back headphones? No way. But I could still tell if someone was crouching on wood versus metal. That’s the bar they had to clear, and they cleared it.
The mic isn't for podcasting (obviously)
There is an in-line microphone. It’s a tiny hole on a plastic strip on the left cable. It’s fine. Just... fine.
If you’re walking outside and it’s windy, your friends are going to hear the wind. If you’re sitting in your room, you’ll sound clear but a little bit like you’re talking through a phone line. It’s perfectly acceptable for "he's on the left!" callouts. It is absolutely not acceptable for recording a YouTube voiceover.
The button on the mic housing is a nice touch. You can use it to pause music or mute yourself depending on the device. It feels clicky and responsive, not mushy like the cheap knock-offs you find in the checkout aisle at the drugstore.
Comfort: The "Long Session" Test
I wore these for a four-hour session of Baldur's Gate 3. Usually, by hour two, my ears start to ache with standard in-ear monitors (IEMs). Because these don't create a suction seal, the pressure build-up isn't there. It’s a much "airier" experience.
👉 See also: Battlefield 6 Leaked Gameplay: What EA Is Actually Building Behind Closed Doors
HyperX includes four different sizes of ear tips. Use them. Seriously. If you use the wrong size, these will fall out the moment you tilt your head. The "medium" that comes pre-installed is a bit small for my ears, and switching to the large made a world of difference for the bass response.
Why you might want to skip these
It’s not all sunshine and rainbows. There are two big reasons to look elsewhere:
- No Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): If you travel a lot, the roar of an airplane engine will go straight through these.
- The Cable Jangle: If the cable rubs against your shirt, you’ll hear a "thump-thump" sound in your left ear. It’s called microphonics. It’s a side effect of the flat cable design. It’s annoying, but you get used to it.
Also, let's be real—the red and black aesthetic is very "2015 Gamer." If you want something subtle for a business meeting that doubles as a gaming bud, these scream "I spend my weekends on Twitch."
The competition: Razer and the IEM world
The Razer Moray is out there. It’s more expensive. It’s shaped like a professional musician's ear monitor. It sounds "flatter" and more accurate. But it’s also double the price. Then you have the whole world of "Chi-Fi" (Chinese Hi-Fi) like the Moondrop Aria or the 7Hz Salnotes Zero. Those sound better for music, hands down.
However, those "audiophile" buds don't usually come with a decent gaming mic or the specific comfort-first ear tips that HyperX uses. HyperX is betting that you value comfort and the brand's "plug and play" nature over pure frequency response graphs.
How to get the most out of them
If you decide to pick these up, don't just plug them in and go.
- Check your settings: On PC, make sure you aren't using "Windows Sonic" unless you actually like that weird artificial spatial sound. These buds have a decent enough soundstage on their own.
- Tip selection: Try the largest tips first. Even if you think you have small ears. The better the sit, the better the sound.
- The "Shirt Clip" trick: Use a small clip to attach the cable to your shirt. This stops the cable from tugging on your ears and reduces that annoying rubbing noise.
Final Verdict
The HyperX Cloud Earbuds 2 are a specialized tool. They are for the person who hates the bulk of a headset but needs more performance than a pair of $10 gas station buds. They are perfect for the Nintendo Switch. They are great for mobile gaming (with a dongle). They are "okay" for PC gaming if you’re just chilling.
They aren't "pro" gear, despite what the marketing might suggest. They are "convenience" gear. And honestly? Sometimes convenience is exactly what you need when you're just trying to squeeze in a few rounds of Fortnite before dinner.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Measure your usage: If you spend 90% of your time at a desk, buy the HyperX Cloud II or III headset instead. The comfort and mic quality jump is massive.
- Check your ports: If you're on a phone, go ahead and buy a high-quality USB-C to 3.5mm DAC (like the Apple Dongle or a budget Fiio) at the same time. It makes a difference.
- Clean the tips: Because these have a unique shape, earwax buildup happens faster than you'd think on the silicone flaps. Give them a wipe once a week to keep the audio from sounding muffled.