HyperX Cloud II vs Logitech G435 Lightspeed
Quick take: The Logitech G435 Lightspeed costs $20 less.
Which one to buy
The Cloud II ($60) and the G435 ($40) suit different players. The HyperX is a 320g wired headset with an aluminum frame that owners keep for five to ten years. The Logitech is a 165g wireless headset built for smaller heads, designed with teens in mind.
The mic is the biggest practical gap. The Cloud II has a detachable boom that owners call a dependable Discord mic, as long as you plug into a real 3.5mm port rather than the bundled USB dongle, which is where reports of faint or distorted audio come from. The G435 has no boom at all, only beamforming mics on the earcup that owners rate "okay, just okay", with teammates hearing more room than voice. If you talk to a squad every night, that settles it.
The G435's advantage is freedom. It has a Lightspeed 2.4GHz dongle for PC, PlayStation and Switch, plus Bluetooth for a phone, and its battery is rated at 18 hours with tests running past 24. There's no 3.5mm fallback, though, so a flat battery ends the session, and it doesn't work with Xbox in any mode. The Cloud II's analog plug works with everything that has a headphone jack, Xbox included, and never needs charging.
Fit separates them as well. Larger heads find the G435 loose even fully extended. Neither has an EQ app. Both offer virtual surround, and experienced Cloud II owners leave its 7.1 button switched off. The Cloud II's known long-term weak points are its fixed cable and leatherette pads that flake after a year or two, which cost about $10 to replace.
HyperX Cloud II
If you talk on Discord a lot, play on Xbox, or want a headset that will last for years.
Logitech G435 Lightspeed
Best if it's for a kid or a small head, or for couch gaming on Switch or PS5 where light weight and no cable matter more than a boom mic.
| Spec | HyperX Cloud II | Logitech G435 Lightspeed |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$60 | ~$40 |
| Rating | — | — |
| Type | Gaming Headsets | Gaming Headsets |
| Noise Cancelling | None | None |
| Battery (single charge) | — | 18 hrs |
| Battery (with case) | — | — |
| Quick Charge | — | — |
| Codecs | 3.5mm wired, USB audio control box | Lightspeed 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth |
| Bluetooth | — | — |
| Multipoint | No | No |
| Driver Size | 53 mm | 40 mm |
| Weight | 320 g | 165 g |
| Water Resistance | — | — |
| Wireless Charging | No | No |
| Transparency Mode | No | No |
| Spatial Audio | Yes | Yes |
| App EQ | No | No |
Pros & cons
HyperX Cloud II
- ✓Aluminum frame durability is legendary — owners report 6-10 years of daily use
- ✓Memory foam leatherette pads stay comfortable through marathon sessions
- ✓3.5mm connection works on PS5, Xbox, Switch, PC, and mobile without adapters
- ✓Warm, bass-forward 53mm drivers suit action games well
- ✓Detachable noise-cancelling mic is fine for parties and Discord
- ✓Replacement ear pads are cheap and standard-sized
- ✓Frequently on sale around $50 or less
- ✗Sound quality is dated — fine for games, mediocre for music
- ✗USB box's virtual 7.1 surround is widely considered a gimmick
- ✗No software support, EQ, or firmware updates
- ✗Leatherette pads get sweaty in warm rooms
- ✗Mic is average by modern standards
- ✗Non-detachable main cable — a snag can total the headset
Logitech G435 Lightspeed
- ✓165g — you genuinely forget you're wearing it
- ✓Both Lightspeed 2.4GHz dongle and Bluetooth in a sub-$50 headset
- ✓Works on PC, PS5/PS4, Switch (dongle) and mobile (Bluetooth)
- ✓Dolby Atmos compatible on supported platforms
- ✓Fit and colorways are ideal for kids and teens
- ✓Frequently on sale around $35
- ✓88% recycled plastic build that survives being tossed in a backpack
- ✗No Xbox compatibility at all — dongle and Bluetooth both fail
- ✗No boom mic — built-in mics are mediocre for anything beyond casual chat
- ✗No G HUB or app support, so no EQ or firmware tweaks
- ✗18-hour battery is modest by current standards
- ✗Sized for smaller heads — large heads find it tight
- ✗Materials feel cheap; sound is safe but flat
HyperX Cloud II vs Logitech G435 Lightspeed: common questions
Does the Cloud II's boom mic beat the G435's earcup mics on Discord?▾
The Cloud II, clearly, as long as it's plugged into a 3.5mm port rather than through the USB dongle. The G435 has no boom mic, and owners say its earcup mics pick up more room noise than voice.
Will the Cloud II or the G435 work on Xbox?▾
Only the Cloud II, through its 3.5mm plug on the controller. The G435 doesn't support Xbox over its dongle or Bluetooth.
Is the G435 too small for an adult?▾
For larger heads, often yes. Owners with bigger heads report a loose fit even at full extension. Smaller-headed adults are often happy with it, and its 165g weight is far easier to forget than the Cloud II's 320g.