HP Introduces First HyperX Open-Back Headset, Lightweight Carbon Fiber Mouse and More

HP might not be ready to bring any new gaming laptops or desktop computers into the fray just yet, but it debuted a healthy heaping of new peripherals under its HyperX gaming brand to keep casuals, hard-core gamers and streamers happy.

HyperX announced its first open-back headphones and most lightweight mouse, along with a few other goodies that might upgrade your gaming experience. HyperX keeps the focus on gamers, but there are a few pieces of tech here, like the SoloCast 2 Pro mic, that I think will function best in the hands of content creators. There’s a little something for everyone, with products featured at variable prices throughout the lineup.

The Cloud Air Alpha is HyperX’s first open-back gaming headset

Any parent struggling to get their kid’s attention while they’re crushing a Fortnite lobby will probably be happy about new open-back headphones because they allow more outside noise to filter. And gamers themselves will be happy that the Cloud Air Alphas don’t sacrifice game audio quality.

I tried out HyperX’s first open-back headphones in a dedicated testing room at a press event in New York, and I’ll attest to the fact that it’s easier to hear people in the real-world than when I was wearing the Cloud 3 headset. My colleagues’ voices still sounded a bit too quiet for my liking, even when I was trying to focus on what they were saying, but my awareness was cranked up: With the Cloud Air Alphas on, I have no doubt that it’s easier for someone to get your attention.

I couldn’t shake the urge to remove one of the headphones when I wanted to engage with the conversation, but maybe that’s something that can only be remedied with time, patience and muscle memory as one grows used to the Cloud Air Alpha headphones.

• First HyperX headset with open earcup design
• Integrated bass tube to boost low-end audio
• USB-C, USB-A, 3.5mm audio jack and USB dongle connectivity
• HyperX Ngenuity software provides audio customization capabilities
• Price: $150
• Release date: September 2026

A full suite of new mice: The Pulsefire Haste 3 collection

HP will be releasing three new HyperX Pulsefire Haste 3 mice, targeting different subsets of casual, hobbyist and hard-core gamers (with a price to match).

Pulsefire Haste 3 wired mouse

The Pulsefire Haste 3 wired mouse is the entry-level product in the new mouse lineup. It clocks in at 68 grams with its cable, and feels fairly weightless despite always being wired up to your setup. Despite not having the highest sensitivity or mouse acceleration speeds, the wired mouse is able to achieve more than enough precision mouse movement for the average gamer — especially at its low $40 price.

• 68 grams including non-detachable USB-A cable
• Up to 16,000 DPI sensitivity, 300 IPS speeds, 35G acceleration
• Price: $40
• Release date: September 2026

Pulsefire Haste 3 wireless mouse

The Pulsefire Haste 3 wireless mouse features pretty massive DPI sensitivity, IPS speed and acceleration gains over its wired counterpart, and it’s slightly lighter to boot.

With wireless mice, battery life becomes a variable you need to worry about between gaming sessions. The Pulsefire Haste 3 wireless mouse performs fairly well in that department: It ekes out 150 hours of battery life at 1K polling and 35 hours of battery life at 8K polling (and frankly, the average PC gamer will be just fine operating at 1K polling speeds). 

This is the midrange mouse in HyperX’s new lineup, coming in at a respectable $90 price.

• Weighs 52 grams without cable and 78 grams with cable
• Up to 42,000 DPI sensitivity, 800 IPS speeds, 70G acceleration
• 150 hours of battery life at 1K polling, 35 hours of battery life at 8K polling
• Optional glass skates to reduce friction
• Price: $90
• Release date: September 2026

Pulsefire Haste 3 Pro wireless mouse

The carbon fiber Pulsefire Haste 3 Pro is the most lightweight (and most expensive) mouse in the lineup. Its buttons and grip have a rough, nearly grainy texture that creates a solid grip — it certainly feels good to hold, and though I usually prefer weightier mice, I appreciated the way the Haste 3 Pro molded to my hand.

The mouse touts a 150-hour battery life at 1K polling and glass skates to reduce friction — it’s very similar to the regular wireless Pulsefire Haste 3 aside from its physical form. 

At its $130 price, the Pulsefire Haste 3 Pro is a more premium product than most folks will need, but will likely find its niche among hard-core PC gamers.

• 47-gram carbon fiber shell
• Up to 42,000 DPI sensitivity, 800 IPS speeds, 70G acceleration
• 150 hours of battery life at 1K polling, 35 hours of battery life at 8K polling
• Price: $130
• Release date: September 2026

The SoloCast 2 Pro desktop mic offers quality-of-life bumps

At a glance, the SoloCast 2 Pro looks strikingly similar to the existing SoloCast 2 desktop microphone: It still has the rubberized bottom that holds firm to your desk, the tap-to-mute button at the top and boom arm connection capabilities. But those with a more astute eye will notice the 3.5mm audio jack on the back and additional RGB light features that indicate when your vocals are peaking and not being picked up by the mic properly.

The big change inside the SoloCast 2 Pro is that it is changing from a single condenser capsule design to a dual condenser setup, which will convert vocals into clearer sound for anyone listening on the other end. All of these features make the Pro 50% more expensive than the original SoloCast 2, though, and I’m not sure the average person will spend an additional $30 on a desktop microphone — this $90 peripheral is almost certainly aimed at streamers and content creators.

• Two-capsule condenser setup
• 3.5mm audio jack
• Built-in pop filter
• Bottom RGB light communicates peaking audio and mute status
• Can connect to boom arm
• Price: $90
• Release date: September 2026

New silicon options for the Omen 35L gaming desktop

One of HyperX’s high-end gaming PCs is getting a few new configurations. The Omen 35L desktop computers have been tapping into Intel’s processing power for a couple years, with top-of-the-line models toting Core Ultra 9 CPUs. Now you’ll have the option to purchase your Omen 35L gaming desktop with AMD silicon.

The most powerful new models include an Ryzen 9 9950X3D processor, a 16-core, 32-thread desktop processor built on AMD’s Zen 5 architecture. All of the other specs are on par with the Intel versions — the only other new customization option here is a white-colored case. These new configurations will be released throughout fall 2026.

A splash of new color on existing headsets

HyperX’s Cloud Air Alpha is the star of the show, but older headsets like the Cloud 3, Cloud 3 S and Cloud Flight 2 are receiving some cutesy pastel color options to round out the lineup. Many of these color choices add understated pink and blue metallic accents to primarily black and white headphones, but the Cloud Flight 2 is getting a totally lavender model that really pops under direct lighting.

Tyler is a writer for CNET covering laptops and video games. He’s previously covered mobile devices, home energy products and broadband. He came to CNET straight out of college, where he graduated from Seton Hall with a bachelor’s degree in journalism. When Tyler’s not asking questions or doing research for his next assignment, you can find him in his home state of New Jersey, kicking back with a bagel and watching an action flick or playing a new video game.

You can reach him at tgraham@cnet.com.

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