They won't blow you away, but I found that these earbuds are a great travel accessory for handheld gaming

Like many of you, I always travel with a gaming handheld when I go on a trip. However, I don't ever want to be that person. You know, the one who blasts their audio in public. So, I always take a headset or earbuds with me so I can enjoy my game sounds without disturbing others. On a recent work trip, I brought a new pair of HyperX Cloud MIX Buds 2 to use with my ROG Ally X. Then, the following week, I used these earbuds in my daily routine to get a further sense of their quality.

These active noise canceling (ANC) earbuds are far from premium offerings, but they do provide a great on-the-go experience overall. Here's what I learned after spending two weeks using them.

HyperX Cloud MIX Buds 2: Price and availability

HyperX is HP's gaming accessory sub-brand that focuses largely (but not solely) on gaming headsets and earbuds. Overall, the company has a good reputation for providing good-to-excellent quality audio devices, but as with many brands, you'll find varying degrees of quality among its different headset and earbud models.

Looking more broadly at the market as a whole, budget earbuds tend to sell for roughly $30 to $99, but their quality can be spotty, and they typically don't have as many conveniences as more costly options. Going up from there, mid-range earbuds tend to cost around $100 to $200, and they usually offer better sound quality as well as touch controls, active noise canceling, and other useful features. Then, there are more premium earbud offerings that can sell for a few hundred to a few thousand dollars. They also can have really nice features like hi-res support, more touch controls, better audio, and god-tier comfort.

So, where do ANC HyperX Cloud MIX Buds 2 fit into this scale? Well, they have an MSRP of $149.99 at Amazon and can also be found selling for this same price on the HyperX website. In addition to supporting Bluetooth 5.3 LE and touch controls, they come with a dongle and an adapter, which makes it easier to pair them with PCs, gaming handhelds (Steam Deck, ROG Ally, Legion Go), PlayStation consoles, and Android phones. The pricing and included features firmly put them in the well-priced mid-range category.

HyperX Cloud MIX Buds 2 - What's in the box?

When I opened the Hyper X Cloud MIX Buds 2 box, I found the charging case with the earbuds inside, three sets of ear tips, a USB-A to USB-C cable, a manual, and a dongle and adapter combo. This provides you with everything you need to set your earbuds up with various devices. You will just want to download the free HyperX NGenuity App on your phone, PC, or gaming handheld to have better control over the Cloud Mix Buds 2.

HyperX Cloud MIX Buds 2: $149.99 at Amazon US

HyperX Cloud MIX Buds 2 use hybrid active noise cancelling technology, in-ear detection, and touch controls for added convenience. You can connect them via Bluetooth 5.3 LE or the included dongle and adapter combo that comes with it.

👀 See at: Amazon

Back to the top ^

HyperX Cloud MIX Buds 2: What I like

Image 1 of 2

During the two weeks that I've been testing the Cloud MIX Buds 2, I've used them with my gaming laptop, main work PC, ROG Ally X gaming handheld, and my Pixel 8. I had a few hiccups, which I'll discuss later in this review, but connecting with my phone mainly just required going into my Bluetooth settings and making the connection. However, I did have to take advantage of the dongle and/or adapter to use the earbuds with my Windows devices. By the way, there is a peel-away adhesive at the bottom of the adapter if you want to permanently stick it to a gaming tower or desk for your convenience.

Overall, the Cloud MIX Buds 2 look very similar in design to most other earbuds on the market today, including their predecessor, the original HyperX Cloud Mix Buds. This newer earbud version has a slim, minimalist shape and comes with three sets of silicon ear tips to help you find the best fit. I personally find the default installed size comfortable and easy to wear for long music or gaming sessions.

The included charging case is rather compact and sturdy, so I didn't feel worried at all when tossing it into my backpack and taking it on the plane with me. Of course, these charging cases also lengthen battery life. Typically, gaming earbuds tend to offer up to 20 to 24 hours total (which is shorter than non-gaming earbuds), but the MIX Buds 2 last slightly longer than average gaming earbuds at up to 26 hours, with the earbuds needing to recharge after roughly seven hours of use. That's a really good length for this kind of device.

Touch controls are relatively basic but effective on the Cloud MIX Buds 2. When listening to music, I just tap either side once to pause/play, tap twice to skip a track, and tap three times to go back a track. Each time my finger makes contact with the touch control area, a slight click issues from that speaker to let me know that the earbud registered the input. Long holding a single tap switches between ANC and Ambient Mode, so I can choose which is better in any given situation. For instance, whenever I wanted to know what the pilot was saying on my flight, I long held the earbud so I could have a more transparent hearing experience before blocking everyone out again.

As for calls, if someone calls me, I just have to tap once to answer or double tap to refuse the call. Then, during a call, I can tap once to mute/unmute and double-tap to hang up. Swapping between ambient mode and ANC is once more available if I long hold a single tap when on the line with someone. As another convenience, removing one earbud from my ear automatically pauses any music thanks to the in-ear detection feature. This means I don't have to fiddle with my phone, PC, or handheld when someone suddenly tries to talk to me. However, sometimes, this method of pausing does take a second or two rather than being instantaneous.

Overall, these controls work very well. I never had any issues where they didn't respond to me the way they should have. But as with any touch controls, it can be easy to accidentally tap the earbud and send a command when all I want to do is adjust them.

Decent sounds quality for your gaming, music, or phone call needs

The HyperX Cloud MIX Buds 2 aren't going to blast you away with phenomenal sound quality, but they do offer a clear listening experience overall. I found that they produce decent treble and mid-range tones. Unsurprisingly, they don't give the full oomph to bass that you could get with a nicer headset, but that's expected with earbuds. They do, however, get decently loud and can get quiet enough to be helpful without being imperceptible.

The ANC isn't as effective as with more costly headphones, but it does reduce the amount of distracting noises from my surroundings so I can focus on my audio better. During the few calls I took while wearing them, they also carried my voice clearly to those I talked with.

A free companion app for Windows or Android

To get the best experience with these earbuds, I downloaded the free companion app HyperX NGenuity. It doesn't provide as many features as some other audio apps out there, but it has an intuitive layout and is easier to interact with for people who don't want to use touch controls. Within this program, I adjust the speaker volume and mic volume. I can also swap between the noise-canceling options and different Audio Presets. It's worth noting that my Windows devices (PC, laptop, ROG Ally X) wouldn't detect the earbuds in NGenuity unless the dongle and/or adapter were being used.

HyperX NGenuity also makes it possible to adjust RGB lighting on devices that support it. However, the Cloud Mix Buds 2 does not have any colorful lighting to customize.

Back to the top ^

HyperX Cloud MIX Buds 2: What I don't like

I take my dog for an hour-long walk or a trip to the dog park every day, and I use this time to either listen to music or to an audiobook. As such, I was able to get several hours of using the HyperX Cloud Mix Buds 2 in during the one week I was at home testing them. Things went smoothly overall, but there were a few times when connected to my phone that I had some bad connectivity issues.

First off, there was one time when I went to the dog park, and the entire time I was there, the earbuds provided an inconsistent sound experience, with the dialogue cutting out every few words. I attempted to restart my phone to fix the issue, but the problem persisted even so. This also happened on a few other outings but not for nearly as long, and it wasn't something that happened every time.

Secondly, there was another time when I grabbed the earbuds and headed out the door to go on a long walk, only to find that they were having issues connecting to my phone. After a while, I attempted to fix the issue, but a notification eventually popped up on my phone telling me that I had to restart the earbuds in order to repair the connection. This was something I couldn't do since I was far from my house and away from the charging case at this point. So, I had to go without any audio until I got back home. It's worth noting that I haven't had this problem again since then.

Whether these issues are common to this model or something odd that I randomly experienced, I'm not sure. But I figured it was worth mentioning.

Back to the top ^

HyperX Cloud MIX Buds 2: Competition

Any quick search at an online retailer will show you that there are hundreds of earbuds and plenty of gaming earbuds out there to choose from, but not all are created equal. If you're looking for a great pair of budget gaming earbuds, then you should check out my colleague Jennifer Young's PrismXR Vega T1 wireless gaming earbuds review. She says, "the overall performance and affordability make the PrismXR Vega T1 a compelling choice and one that I've come to enjoy using on a daily basis." You can find the PrismXR Vega T1 selling for $69.99 at Amazon.

As you can see from my colleague Jez Corden's EPOS GTW 270 review, these earbuds are a decent choice for gaming. They are a little on the older side at this point, so they support Bluetooth 5.1 and only have up to a total of 20 hours of battery life with the case. Jez also notes that the sound profile is good out of the box, but the treble and mid-tones need to be tweaked a bit. They sell for $85.25 at Amazon.

Now, unless you specifically want earbuds, I also suggest you check out our list of the best PC gaming headsets. You can read my own HyperX Cloud III Wireless review to see my personal best pick. This headset offers a detachable microphone, comfortable cushioning, great sound quality, excellent mic quality, and up to 120 hours of battery life. You can get the wireless one for $149.99 at Walmart or the cheaper wired version for $89.00 at Walmart.

Now, if you're interested in a premium gaming headset, you can read our SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro review. It's a bit more costly than the earbuds I've previously listed, but it also provides more features, such as a hot-swap dual battery, simultaneous 2.4GHz and Bluetooth wireless audio, and an OLED base station. It sells for $349.99 at Best Buy and is available in black or white.

Back to the top ^

HyperX Cloud MIX Buds 2: Should you buy it?

✅ You should buy this if...

• You want a well-priced pair of earbuds.
• You're looking for something with a decent audio profile.
• You'd prefer gaming earbuds with long battery life.

❌ You should not buy this if...

• You're looking for a premium audio experience.
• You'd be better served by a gaming headset rather than earbuds.

As a tech reviewer, I've tested countless earbuds and gaming headsets over the years, and believe me, I've seen everything from quality products to cheap junk. In this instance, the ANC HyperX Cloud MIX Buds 2 are decent gaming earbuds that serve as a great companion for gaming handhelds and Xbox Game Pass xCloud mobile gaming. They're also good for PC gaming if you take advantage of the included dongle and adapter. I found the silicon ear tips comfortable and easy to wear for long stretches. Soundscape-wise, the audio quality is decent for earbuds, with the speakers producing relatively good treble and high notes while also being able to get relatively loud. Bass, of course, isn't the best, but that's pretty standard with earbuds.

Of course, over-ear gaming headsets can offer a much fuller listening experience, especially hi-res ones. If you think a headset would suit your needs better, you can check out HyperX's headsets at HyperX.com.

As far as added conveniences go, the MIX Buds 2 touch controls made it very easy to interact with incoming calls or make adjustments when listening to music. I've also appreciated the in-ear detection since I don't have to pause my audio separately when I suddenly need to pull an earbud out. There are other non-gaming earbuds that can last longer, but the Cloud MIX Buds 2's ability to reach up to 7 hours of battery life on their own and up to 26 hours with the charging case is really good.

If you want a well-priced pair of gaming earbuds, then these are definitely ones to consider.

Back to the top ^