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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-20 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• HyperX Cloud III — biggest strength: Angled 53mm dynamic drivers, a detachable noise-cancelling boom mic and a flexible aluminum frame, all over a wired 3.5mm/USB-C/USB-A connection that keeps latency out of the equation.
• HyperX Cloud III — biggest trade-off: It's a wired headset at 308 g. No Bluetooth, no active noise cancellation, so it's tethered to your desk or console and won't block a plane cabin on its own.
• CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active — biggest strength: Bluetooth 5.4 with LDAC and Hi-Res certification, adaptive ANC up to 40 dB, and up to 50 hours of playtime with ANC on (100 hours with it off).
• CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active — biggest trade-off: No boom microphone and a 120 ms Bluetooth latency figure, both of which matter if your main job is competitive voice chat.
• Pick HyperX Cloud III if you game on PC, PS5, Xbox or Switch and talk to teammates constantly.
• Pick CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active if you want one wireless pair for commuting, travel, study and music, with ANC and a case in the box.
The Cloud III is a gaming headset first and everything else second, and the spec sheet says so plainly. The drivers are angled 53mm dynamic units, the largest figure in this comparison, tuned by HyperX's audio engineers. Angled drivers are usually about pushing the soundstage slightly outward and forward, which matters when you're trying to place footsteps and gunfire. HyperX bundles a lifetime activation of DTS Headphone:X Spatial Audio with it, so virtual 3D positioning is part of the package rather than an extra you chase later.
The physical design is the other half of the story. The frame is aluminum and described as flexible, which is the kind of build you want if your headset lives in a backpack or gets yanked off a head in frustration. Memory foam in the headband and leatherette-wrapped ear cushions are there for long sessions. It weighs 308 g, which is on the heavier side of this pair, but that's the price of the metal and the bigger drivers. Impedance is 64 ohm and sensitivity is 100 dB, a combination that's easy enough to drive from a controller or phone jack.
The mic is detachable, noise-cancelling, and has a mesh filter plus an LED mute indicator, so you can see at a glance whether you're live. Volume and mute controls sit right on the earcup. Connectivity is the part I'd underline: you get 3.5mm, USB-A and USB-C in the box, and the headset is listed as compatible with PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mac and mobile. A 2-year manufacturer warranty covers it.
Who should buy it: anyone whose headset is a voice-chat tool as much as a listening device. Console players, PC players, people who jump between platforms and don't want to think about pairing. Who should skip it: if you want to walk around the house, take calls on a train, or silence a noisy office without wires, the Cloud III simply isn't built for that job.
The CMF Headphone Pro is the opposite philosophy. It's a wireless over-ear built around Bluetooth 5.4 with LDAC and dual Hi-Res certification, using custom 40mm nickel-plated dynamic drivers. The frequency range reaches up to 96 kHz, which is the Hi-Res side of the spec. Sound tuning isn't fixed either: there's a bass and treble slider, a custom EQ, and a Personal Sound Profile, all handled through the Nothing X app. There are also Cinema and Concert spatial modes if you want a wider, deeper stage for films.
Then there's the noise side. It uses hybrid active noise cancellation rated up to 40 dB, described as adaptive, with a one-press Transparency Mode when you need to hear the room. That's the feature the HyperX simply doesn't have, and for a commuter or an open-plan office it's the difference between usable and not.
Battery is the headline number: up to 100 hours of playback, or 50 hours with ANC on. A five-minute charge is quoted as giving four hours of listening, and you can top it up from a phone or laptop. Weight is 283 g, slightly lighter than the Cloud III, and it ships with memory foam earpads, a cap-friendly headband, a protective case, a cable and a manual. The enclosure is faux leather and plastic in Dark Grey.
The trade-offs are real. There's no boom mic here, so voice pickup relies on the headset's built-in mics. Audio latency is listed at 120 ms, fine for music, podcasts and video, less ideal for split-second competitive play. Bluetooth range is 10 m, so you're free within a room but not through a whole building. The warranty is a limited one starting from the invoice date, which is less specific than HyperX's 2-year term.
Who should buy it: commuters, students, travelers, remote workers, and anyone who wants one wireless pair to cover music, movies, calls and focus time. Who should skip it: competitive gamers who live on a boom mic and can't tolerate Bluetooth latency.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for battery life → CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active. Up to 100 hours without ANC and 50 hours with it on, versus a headset that draws power from your device.
• Best for noise cancellation → CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active. Adaptive ANC up to 40 dB plus Transparency Mode. The Cloud III has no ANC.
• Best for platform flexibility → HyperX Cloud III. 3.5mm, USB-A and USB-C in the box, listed for PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, Mac and mobile.
• Best for commuting, travel and open offices → CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active. Wireless, lighter at 283 g, and supplied with a protective case.
• Best for sound customization → CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active. Bass and treble slider, custom EQ, Personal Sound Profile and spatial modes via the app.
• Best for physical durability → HyperX Cloud III. Aluminum, flexible frame with a 2-year manufacturer warranty.
• Best for lower latency → HyperX Cloud III. Wired always wins that argument; the CMF lists 120 ms over Bluetooth.
• Best for movies and music on the move → CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active. LDAC, Hi-Res certification and Cinema/Concert modes.
If I were buying for myself and my priority was talking to people while I play, I'd take the HyperX Cloud III. The boom mic, the wired connection and the aluminum frame solve the three things that actually annoy me in a gaming headset, and DTS spatial audio is included for the life of the product. If I wanted a single pair for the commute, the flight and the workday, I'd take the CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active — the ANC and the battery figures make it the more versatile everyday headphone. In my opinion these aren't competitors so much as two different tools, so buy the one that matches your desk or your bag. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit, since that's the tiebreaker I can't settle here.
For competitive gaming with teammates, the HyperX Cloud III. It has a detachable noise-cancelling boom mic, a wired connection with no Bluetooth latency, angled 53mm drivers and DTS Headphone:X spatial audio. The CMF has spatial modes too, but it's a Bluetooth headset with a 120 ms latency figure and no boom mic.
Yes. It uses hybrid adaptive active noise cancellation rated up to 40 dB, with a Transparency Mode you toggle with the ANC button. The HyperX Cloud III does not offer active noise cancellation.
Up to 100 hours of playback, or up to 50 hours with ANC switched on. A five-minute charge is quoted as giving four hours of listening, and it can be charged from a phone or laptop. The HyperX Cloud III is wired and has no battery to charge.
Yes. It ships with 3.5mm, USB-A and USB-C connectors and is listed as compatible with PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Mac and mobile devices. The CMF BY NOTHING Headphone Pro Active connects over Bluetooth 5.4, LDAC or AUX and supports iOS, Android, macOS and Windows.
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