This new HyperX gaming headset looks fantastic, until you see the price

A gaming headset that we've loved and lost now has a sequel, and it's called the HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 Wireless. It's been a few years since we recommended the original HyperX Cloud Alpha, but the company is back with a brand new update that features a new RGB base station, improved drivers, and better wireless support.

The original Cloud Alpha might be nearly eight years old, but HyperX hasn't stopped releasing new products, and we still recommend one of its sequels, the HyperX Cloud 3, in our best gaming headset guide. This new Cloud Alpha 2 is getting some upgrades to match these newer HyperX headsets, including improved 55mm multi-layer composite drivers, although with a much heftier price tag.

Alongside those new drivers, the HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 Wireless comes with microfiber earcups and a removable 10mm microphone capsule. It's also fully wireless, with support for simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connections. That means you can play games on your PC and connect your phone or laptop at the same time without disconnecting.

Like the Cloud Alpha it replaces, the new HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 features a huge battery life, but in this case, it's a bit of a downgrade on the original. This new model reportedly has a battery life of 250 hours, down from the 300 hours supported by the original, giving you over 10 days of constant usage, at least in theory.

The headset also comes with an RGB base station, described as an "audio control hub" with programmable buttons and a media dial for your volume, along with a quick-mute button for your mic. The buttons, along with the RGB lighting, are all customizable using HyperX's software.

This all sounds great, but there's one big, black mark, and it's the price. The HyperX Cloud Alpha 2 Wireless is priced at $299.99, $50 more than the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro, which is still our favorite wireless headset. A new base station and better audio quality are surely welcomed, but it's unclear whether gamers wanted or needed this sequel, especially at this price point.

We're keen to get our hands on the new Cloud 3 to see if it can justify that price. Until then, make sure to check out Razer BlackShark V3 Pro review to see why that Razer model is our favorite for gamers right now.

Fancy upgrading your setup? Check out our best gaming keyboard guide, as well as our best gaming mouse guide, to switch up your desktop peripherals with options from big brands at a range of prices.

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