HyperX — Your Next Specs?
More Than Gamers’ Glasses
Hey folks! It’s me, Tom, again serving up another screen-staring solution. I do it, you do it — we all stare at screens. Did mama nature pop you out with the right tools for doing so? Sure, but it’s gonna wear out those eyeballs. A few months back, I reviewed Felix Gray fashion-computer glasses. Today I’m typing away with a pair of HyperX’s new so-called “Gaming Eyewear.” I can tell you this right off the bat — these glasses are more than gamers’ glasses.
Here’s another giant photo of me (I shaved this time). The HyperX glasses match the palette of the company’s other products, shipping only in “Black Cherry.” Red may not be everyone’s go-to, but accessories are always encouraged to add a pop of color — I personally own a pair of completely red glasses for just that reason. The Hyper’s fade from black just subtly enough that any worries about matching or color-loudness shouldn’t be an issue. Utilitarian-wise, you’re wearing these in front of a glass pane, not to a hot date (although you could!).
Let’s talk about fit. Weighing in at 26g and measuring 54mm (eye), 16mm (bridge), and 145mm (temple), the Hyper’s fit me perfectly. Like a glove. A face glove. Now take note of the rather tall nose bridge —around the same height of the glasses’ arms. This area accumulates oil nearly every time I slide them on, resulting in a steady slide-off. For fellow oily-fellows, you’re all too familiar with such slippage. I’m a fan of this discreet, permanent, and effective solution.
Before we get down to practicality, i.e., the screen-staring magic, we’ll peek at the package. Be prepared for quite the Matryoshka!
A picture of the product is paired with some shelf-marketing text that doesn’t really make sense when its sole retailer is Amazon — forward-thinking? Also a little thrown off by the color notice in the top corner. It makes me think that there are/were other choices. The smokey background feels somewhat male-centric, a quality which is reaffirmed by the white male model on the landing page. On that note, there wasn’t really much diversity to be found in their marketing materials. I did come across some cosplayers (sex appeal?) and the back of one woman’s head. Just something to consider. Open up, shall we…
The hardshell case definitely feels a bit cheap, but will certainly do the job. It’s cumbersome for the slender glasses within and I don’t know what purpose that grippy dimple serves. If tossing in a backpack, I’d use the soft bag it comes with or swap the hard case for one with a slimmer profile.
I don’t use Press Kit photos for reviews because they don’t show what I truly received. It’s like expecting chain restaurants to serve you what’s in the commercials — pass the painted styrofoam, please!
The soft pouch is pretty standard with nylon drawstrings and a logo stamp. I half expected there to be a shammy inside, but alas, the Hyper’s are shammy-less. Apparently, “Their anti-reflective coating repels water, oil, and dust.” Was the omission of a microfiber square a bold statement to back this claim? Nah, all lenses need a good wipe now and then.
Here they are, up close and personal. See any yellow? I don’t. Not even when looking through them. That’s a major difference I’ve noticed between screen glasses with a hefty price tag and a pair you might pick up on Amazon from some obscure Chinese brand for a tenner. Speaking of China, HyperX frames are manufactured there. Does that really matter anymore? So is your iPhone. The lenses, however, are Japanese MR-8™, which piqued my interest immediately. I’m always skeptical of name-dropped tech specs because companies will often make up some fancy-sounding BS to cover up seriously embarrassing, cost-cutting components.
The MR lens monimer series comes from Mitsui Chemicals, Inc. and MR-8™ is truly the best of their lineup. I can perform color-sensitive work (e.g. graphic design) wearing the Hyper’s with zero issues. I also notice a reduction in eye fatigue — the bread and butter. A point I will reiterate from my Felix Gray review: You have to realize that you’re paying for the style and practicality rather than practicality alone. Cheaper blue-blockers will also reduce eye fatigue. The reasons to splurge are if you’re looking for something a little more fashionable and if you want minimal color distortion.
Either way, investing in some screen specs will make your eyes feel less like this…
And more like this…
All in all, HyperX specs have proven to be pretty typical for their price range in the computer eyewear department. At $99.99, Hyper’s are right up alongside Gunnars and Grays. It made sense for HyperX to come up with their own brew of face-shield following a hefty lineup of other gaming gear, including: headsets, keyboards, mice, and memory/storage. When they asked me to test out the new glasses, I was curious as to how they’d stack up against other products in the same space. My favorite interview question is What makes you different? And according to the HyperX FAQ, there’s no one aspect that beats out the other details put into the glasses.
Final take? They successfully reduce eye strain while retaining color clarity. The single style option won’t be for everyone, though it adds a nice red pop. Marketing could be more inclusive and a higher-quality case would make me feel like I got my money’s worth.
Check out HyperX media and let me know your take on the gamers’ glasses that suit more than just gamers. Cheers!
