CORSAIR HS80 vs HS80 Max: What’s the difference?

The CORSAIR HS80 Wireless has been one of our most popular headsets since it launched way back in 2021. Since then, it’s provided reliable service to gamers worldwide, be it on PC or console. So, it was only a matter of time until we released the follow-up to improve on it, the HS80 MAX WIRELESS.

So, today we’re going to go over the differences and improvements we’ve made for the new version. Let’s take a closer look.

One of the main bits of feedback we received for the HS80 Wireless was that people were hungry for more stamina from the battery. So, for the HS80 Max, we’ve tripled the battery life to 65 hours on 2.4GHz. With almost 3 straight days of battery life, you can rest assured that the HS80 MAX is far less likely to die at a critical moment. This is vital for your K/D, and your interpersonal relationship with your teammates.

Additionally, when the inevitable time comes to charge the HS80 MAX, you’ll be able to enjoy fast charging over USB, so you’ll only be tethered to your PC for a short period. Overall: Less downtime, more showtime.

Another addition we’ve made to the HS80 MAX over the previous HS80 is Bluetooth connectivity. While most desktop gamers will probably stick with the 2.4GHz dongle, laptop gamers will be relieved to hear about the presence of Bluetooth. Even top of the line gaming laptops like the CORSAIR VOYAGER a1600 have few USB ports, meaning that connecting peripherals can be a hassle.

With the HS80 MAX, however, you can enjoy flexible connection options regardless of the device and save precious ports with Bluetooth.

Of course, with the previous HS80, you could customize the EQ using iCUE, which was a perfectly affective, albeit manual process.

So, we decided to implement SoundID sound personalization from our friends over at Sonarworks. It sounds complex, but really, it’s a simplistic process that takes a few minutes to complete, and you can do it right in the iCUE software.

Once you’ve completed the process, you’ll be rewarded with a personalized EQ made directly from the results of the test. If your left ear is less sensitive than your right, or you’re not that keen on bass, or any other audio limitations or preferences, they’ll all be considered by SoundID.

Given the HS80’s reputation as one of the comfiest headsets out there, we kept the floating headband design, and the general shape remains the same. This means that fans of the original HS80 Wireless or HS80 USB can rest easy as the HS80 MAX feels just as great. We’ve also modified the on-ear controls slightly, making the buttons easier to find and more tactile thanks to additional knurling.