If you want more detailed PC game audio and a broadcast-style microphone for hiking, choose Corsair HS80; if you need a lighter headset with longer battery life and Bluetooth, choose Corsair HS55. Neither is a clip-on earbud or a purpose-built hiking headphone: both are over-ear gaming headsets, so the better match depends on whether you prioritize audio features or portability and endurance.
Corsair HS80 vs Corsair HS55 at a Glance
• Corsair HS55’s biggest strength: a lighter 266 g design, Bluetooth support, and up to 24 hours of battery life. Trade-off: its listed driver range is 20 Hz–20 kHz, and it does not include the HS80’s broadcast-grade microphone description.
• HS80 microphone: an omni-directional mic with flip-up muting and a built-in LED mute indicator.
• HS55 microphone: an omni-directional mic with flip-to-mute functionality.
• Choose the HS80 if PC audio features and microphone clarity matter more than weight and battery duration.
• Choose the HS55 if you want a lighter headset with Bluetooth and more stated battery life for gaming and mobile use.
The HS80 is the more feature-focused choice for PC gaming. Its 50mm neodymium drivers are listed with a 20 Hz–40 kHz frequency range, and it supports Dolby Atmos on PC for three-dimensional game audio. Corsair also specifies low-latency SLIPSTREAM wireless, a useful combination for players who want responsive sound while gaming without a cable.
Its microphone is a notable part of the package. The omni-directional mic flips up to mute, and a built-in LED indicates mute status. That makes the controls easy to understand during a call or multiplayer session. The stated weight is 367 g, so the HS80 is the heavier of these two headsets; its listed battery life is 20 hours.
I’d consider the HS80 if PC gaming audio and a clearly signaled microphone mute matter most. It is less compelling for someone who wants the lightest option or expects to prioritize battery duration. For hiking, its gaming-focused features may be more than you need, and its over-ear design is not the same category as open, lightweight clip-on earbuds.
The HS55 takes a more portable approach within this comparison. At 266 g, it is lighter than the HS80, and it supports both low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth. The product information lists up to 24 hours of battery life. Bluetooth support also gives it a straightforward role beyond a PC gaming setup, including use with mobile devices.
For gaming audio, the HS55 uses 50mm neodymium drivers and supports Dolby Audio 7.1 surround sound on PC and Mac, as well as Tempest 3D audio on PS5. Its omni-directional microphone flips to mute. The listed driver frequency range is 20 Hz–20 kHz, narrower than the HS80’s stated range, while its lighter weight and longer stated battery life are practical advantages.
How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
I’d lean toward the HS55 if you value lower weight, Bluetooth, and longer battery life more than the HS80’s PC-specific Dolby Atmos feature and more detailed microphone specification. It is still an over-ear headset, however. If your goal is the best spatial audio ear clip headphones for hiking, neither model fits that description: these are gaming headsets, not ear-clip headphones.
• Best for PC Dolby Atmos → Corsair HS80. Its listed Dolby Atmos support is specifically for PC.
• Best for lighter wear → Corsair HS55. It weighs 266 g, compared with 367 g for the HS80.
• Best for stated battery life → Corsair HS55. Its listed battery life is up to 24 hours, versus 20 hours for the HS80.
• Best for a microphone with a visible mute indicator → Corsair HS80. Its flip-up microphone includes a built-in LED mute indicator.
• Best for Bluetooth support → Corsair HS55. It lists Bluetooth alongside low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless.
• Best for PS5 spatial audio support → Corsair HS55. It lists Tempest 3D audio support on PS5; the HS80’s Dolby Atmos feature is specified for PC.
• Best for the wider stated driver range → Corsair HS80. Its range is listed as 20 Hz–40 kHz, compared with 20 Hz–20 kHz for the HS55.
• Best match for on ear headphones for hiking → neither is an exact fit. Both are over-ear headsets, so shoppers specifically seeking on-ear or clip-on designs should look beyond this pair.
I’d choose the Corsair HS55 for hiking if I had to pick between these two: it is lighter, supports Bluetooth, and lists four more hours of battery life.
That is a relative recommendation, not a claim that it is a dedicated outdoor headset; both models are over-ear gaming designs.
For PC gaming at home, I’d instead choose the HS80 for its Dolby Atmos support and microphone mute indicator.
For hiking, I would not mistake either headset for the best clip on earbuds for hiking.
The HS55 is lighter at 266 g and lists up to 24 hours of battery life; the HS80 weighs 367 g and lists 20 hours. Both are over-ear gaming headsets, so neither is a clip-on or purpose-built hiking design.
The HS55 lists up to 24 hours of battery life, while the HS80 lists 20 hours. The HS55 is also the lighter model.
The HS55 explicitly lists Bluetooth support alongside 2.4 GHz wireless.
The HS80 supports Dolby Atmos on PC. The HS55 lists Dolby Audio 7.1 on PC and Mac, plus Tempest 3D audio support on PS5; which feature matters more depends on the platform you use.
If you want PC-focused spatial audio and a microphone with a mute indicator for hiking, choose Corsair HS80; if you need a lighter headset with Bluetooth and longer stated battery life, choose Corsair HS55. For hiking specifically, I’d favor the HS55 between these two, though neither is an ear-clip or purpose-built hiking headphone.
• Corsair HS80’s biggest strength: Dolby Atmos on PC, SLIPSTREAM wireless, and a listed driver range of 20 Hz–40 kHz. Trade-off: it weighs 367 g and lists 20 hours of battery life.
• Corsair HS55’s biggest strength: a lighter 266 g design, Bluetooth support, and up to 24 hours of battery life. Trade-off: its listed driver range is 20 Hz–20 kHz.
• HS80 microphone: an omni-directional mic with flip-up muting and a built-in LED mute indicator.
• HS55 microphone: an omni-directional mic with flip-to-mute functionality.
• Choose the HS80 for its PC audio features and microphone details.
• Choose the HS55 for lower weight, Bluetooth, and longer stated battery life.
The HS80 is the more feature-focused pick for PC gaming. Its 50mm neodymium drivers have a listed frequency range of 20 Hz–40 kHz, and it supports Dolby Atmos on PC for three-dimensional game audio. Corsair also specifies low-latency SLIPSTREAM wireless, making it a strong option for someone who wants wireless audio designed for responsive gameplay.
The microphone is another point in its favor. It flips up to mute, and a built-in LED shows when it is muted. That gives the HS80 a useful, visible cue during calls or multiplayer sessions. The listed weight is 367 g, and its battery life is 20 hours.
I’d pick the HS80 if PC audio features and a visible microphone mute indicator matter more than weight and battery life. For hiking, its gaming-oriented strengths may be unnecessary, and its over-ear design is not the same as a lightweight clip-on style.
The HS55 is lighter and supports both low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless and Bluetooth. It weighs 266 g, and its listed battery life is up to 24 hours. Bluetooth makes it the more straightforward choice for someone who wants a headset that can also connect to mobile devices.
Its 50mm neodymium drivers support Dolby Audio 7.1 on PC and Mac, as well as Tempest 3D audio on PS5. The omni-directional microphone flips to mute. The listed driver range is 20 Hz–20 kHz, narrower than the HS80’s stated range, but the HS55 has the edge on weight and stated battery duration.
I’d consider the HS55 if those practical advantages matter more to you than the HS80’s PC-specific Dolby Atmos support and more detailed microphone specification. It remains an over-ear gaming headset, not an open clip-on design. If you’re searching for the best spatial audio ear clip headphones for hiking, neither model matches that description.
• Best for Dolby Atmos on PC → Corsair HS80. Its Dolby Atmos support is specified for PC.
• Best for lower weight → Corsair HS55. It weighs 266 g, compared with 367 g for the HS80.
• Best for stated battery life → Corsair HS55. It lists up to 24 hours, versus 20 hours for the HS80.
• Best for a microphone with a visible mute indicator → Corsair HS80. Its flip-up mic has a built-in LED mute indicator.
• Best for Bluetooth support → Corsair HS55. It lists Bluetooth alongside low-latency 2.4 GHz wireless.
• Best for PS5 spatial audio support → Corsair HS55. It lists Tempest 3D audio support on PS5.
• Best for the wider stated driver range → Corsair HS80. Its range is 20 Hz–40 kHz, compared with 20 Hz–20 kHz for the HS55.
• Best fit for on ear headphones for hiking → neither is an exact match. Both are over-ear gaming headsets, so shoppers looking specifically for on-ear or clip-on headphones should consider a different design.
My Verdict
I’d choose the Corsair HS55 for hiking if I had to pick between these two: it is lighter, supports Bluetooth, and lists longer battery life.
For PC gaming at home, I’d choose the HS80 for Dolby Atmos and its microphone mute indicator.
For hiking, neither is my pick for the best clip on earbuds for hiking.
The HS55 is lighter at 266 g and lists up to 24 hours of battery life; the HS80 weighs 367 g and lists 20 hours. Both are over-ear gaming headsets, not clip-on or purpose-built hiking headphones.
The HS55 lists up to 24 hours, while the HS80 lists 20 hours. The HS55 is also the lighter model.
The HS55 explicitly lists Bluetooth support alongside 2.4 GHz wireless. The HS80’s listed wireless feature is SLIPSTREAM wireless; Bluetooth support is not specified in the product details provided here.
The HS80 supports Dolby Atmos on PC. The HS55 lists Dolby Audio 7.1 on PC and Mac, plus Tempest 3D audio support on PS5. The more relevant option depends on your platform and the audio feature you want.
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