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Updated January 10, 2024·
If you're often on calls or in meetings, enjoy Apple's ecosystem, and require active noise cancelling for a quieter listening experience during air travel or exercise, the AirPods Pro are a solid choice despite their higher price. However, they have limited battery life and no wired option. For immersive gaming and TV watching, the durable HyperX Cloud II with virtual surround and superior mic quality might be more suitable; they're favorably priced but are bulkier and not ideal for exercise or traveling. Both offer good sound quality for music, but the HyperX Cloud II is slightly superior in this aspect. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Apple Airpods Pro
Excellent for air travel
Very good for podcasts and audiobooks
Advantages of the HyperX Cloud II
Good for music
Very good for gaming
Good for TV and video
Key differences
Music
6.8/10
7.7/10
The HyperX Cloud II is good for music, while the Apple Airpods Pro is only fair.
Gaming
5.1/10
8.6/10
The HyperX Cloud II is very good for gaming, while the Apple Airpods Pro is poor.
Podcasts and Audiobooks
8.3/10
7.0/10
The Apple Airpods Pro is very good for podcasts and audiobooks, while the HyperX Cloud II is good.
TV and Video
5.7/10
7.6/10
The HyperX Cloud II is good for TV and video, while the Apple Airpods Pro is poor.
Noise Reduction
9.1/10
6.0/10
The Apple Airpods Pro is excellent for noise reduction, while the HyperX Cloud II is only fair.
Battery
5.0 Hours
N/A
The Apple Airpods Pro has 5 hours of battery life. The HyperX Cloud II does not have a battery.
Cost
$260
$64
$50
$100
$150
$200
$250
$300
$350
$400
The Apple Airpods Pro has a price of $260 and the HyperX Cloud II costs $64.
Build Quality
9.0/10
10.0/10
The HyperX Cloud II has best in class build quality, while the Apple Airpods Pro has excellent build quality.
"For just $50 USD more than the original model with the wireless charging case, this is definitely the pair of buds to get. The AirPods Pro (1st generation) sounds better than the originals and has a way better fit and active noise canceling to boot. If you have an iOS device, just get this."
"My overall impression of the HyperX Cloud II gaming headset is overwhelmingly positive. In my opinion, this is one of the best mid-priced gaming headsets currently on the market.Solid sound quality, superior comfort, and a sleek, lightweight design – this headset delivers all of the important aspects that a gaming headset should."
Get a great deal on the Apple Airpods Pro or the HyperX Cloud II
About Apple
Apple Inc. is an American technology company, founded in 1976, known for its wide range of premium products, including smartphones, computers, and audio solutions. Apple offers the very popular personal audio line AirPods, highly regarded for their wireless, smart capabilities and their seamless integration with the iPhone, iPad and Mac devices. They provide a high-quality sound, comfort and lifestyle features perfect for all users invested in their ecosystem.
About HyperX
Starting originally as a high-performance and gaming line of memory modules within Kingston and later acquired by HP, HyperX is a dedicated esports and gaming division focused on developing peripherals, microphones and headsets. Providing budget-friendly, comfortable and highly functional products, HyperX has become the go-to for many gamers around the world, resulting in sales of over 20 million headsets throughout the years.
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About the Earbuds or Headphones team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Earbuds and Headphones Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
Luis Torres
Earbuds and Headphones Expert
Luis is a Mexico-based headphones expert. He’s been making headphone recommendations for five years and has close to 100 pairs in his personal collection.