You may first encounter HyperX, the gaming product division from Kingston, for its great Cloud gaming headset. Since then, HyperX has expanded its lineup to more peripherals, like mechanical keyboard and mouse. Price-to-performance seems to be the motto of HyperX, with its new addition, Pulsefire Surge RGB Gaming Mouse.
Unboxing
The Pulsefire Surge comes in a very standard and compact packaging. A big photo of the mouse is printed at the front, showing the 360 degree RGB LED light strip. A short description, written in a few different languages, about the programmable lighting effects, buttons and sensor settings using the NGenuity software is located at the back.
There is a brief specification list at the side, stating the mouse’s PIXART 3389 optical sensor, supported DPI, weight, etc. The minimum requirements for using the mouse are also shown at the bottom.
The overall design of the packaging looks attractive and modern. The mouse is well-protected without any damage.
Inside the box, you will get the Pulsefire Surge mosue (of course) and a quick start guide to teach you about the basic information, such as the button layouts. You will also receive two more pieces of paper. One is a welcome letter from the HyperX team, the other one has the contact for tech support, if you have any issues.
HyperX Pulsefire Surge RGB Gaming Mouse
The mouse does not feature an aggressive angled design. It is relatively subtle and stealthy appearance. The top piece is constructed from black textured plastic, which feels smooth and premium. The sides are fitted with rubberized surfaces for better grip and control.
The HyperX logo and the side stripes are made of translucent white plastic in order to allow the RGB LED light to shine through.
The physical dimensions of the mouse are 120 mm x 63 mm x 41 mm (length x width x height).
The RGB LED light stripe runs all the way around the mouse to give you the 360 degree light effect. At the left side, there are two buttons, made of glossy plastic. Behind the scroll wheel is the DPI button. All buttons can be re-programmed later in the software. The scroll wheel area is slightly recessed to prevent accidental clicks.
At the back, the Pulsefire Surge has two large Teflon feet to ensure it can move freely on most surfaces. There is a sticker with information like model number, serial number and power consumption on top. Right in the center is the Pixart PMW3389 optical sensor.
The included 1.8 meters USB cable is not detachable and is braided for extra strength and durability. A red sticker reminds you to download the NGenuity software to get the most out of the Pulsefire Surge.
Review
Sensor
The PIXART 3389 optical sensor is one of best sensors in the market. It can support up to 16,000 DPI, 450 IPS and 50 G of acceleration. The polling rate is 1000 Hz or 1 ms.
In my usage, I generally set the mouse at around 1000 DPI to 1200 DPI. The sensitivity of the mouse is fast and precise. I can accurately flick my cursor without unwanted acceleration. I personally do not experience any jitter or stutter when using the mouse.
User Experience
The Pulsefire Surge feels super comfortable to use, even in a prolonged period of gaming/working. The mouse should work slightly better with claw grips than palm grips because of its smaller footprint. I have no problem moving the mouse, which weights in at 100 grams.
The two main buttons are very clicky and responsive. They are equipped with Omron switches, that are rated for 50 million clicks. The side and DPI buttons are also decent enough. But the forward button recesses a little too much, which is sometimes hard to press.
Earlier models has the two primary left and right buttons resting too close, which may cause them to rub/collide against each other during intense gaming sessions. Fortuantely, HyperX took actions quickly, relaunching with the new design. There is a larger gap between the two buttons. (*Our review sample is the new design.)
Software
The Pulsefire Surge mouse uses HyperX’s own NGenuity software for configurations. It is a relatively new software when compared with other manufacturers’, such as Corsair iCue and Logitech Gaming software. But, the NGenuity is easy enough to use with an intuitive user interface.
There are a total of three different profiles to edit. You have three main categories to choose, Lighting, Performance and Macros. You can change the RGB lighting effect of the mouse, as well as saving up to five DPI levels.
You can also use the software to reassign all the buttons and create a group of macros. All changes for the profile will be saved to the onboard memory of the Pulsefire Surge mouse.
RGB Lighting
Behind the 360 degree light stripe on the mouse, there are 32 RGB LEDs, which can all be individually addressed using the NGenuity software.
You can either choose from the five preset lighting effects, (including Solid, Color Cycle, Breathing, Wave and Trigger) or pick your desired colors for each LED. You have a huge amount of customization with different lighting combinations.
The RGB lighting of the Pulsefire Surge is bright, vivid and beautiful. The transitions and movements between each LED are smooth and fluent. In my opinion, it is one of the best-looking RGB gaming mouse in the market, especially at this price range.
Conclusion
The HyperX Pulsefire Surge mouse is a fully featured gaming peripheral, with high-quality optical sensor and switches. It can track the mouse movement accurately without stuttering. Using the NGenuity software, you can customize both the DPI and buttons with ease. Not to mention the gorgeous RGB lighting, the performance alone makes it a decent enough mouse to purchase.
The Pulsefire Surge costs you $69.99 USD (MSRP) and is backed by a 2-year warranty. The design of the mouse is elegant and suitable for almost anyone, not limited to gamers only. At $69.99 USD, it is priced relatively competitive in the market with great performance and features. You would not be disappointed, if you decide to get one for yourself.
You can purchase the mouse from your local/online resellers or the links below from Amazon and Newegg.
- Amazon US: HyperX Pulsefire Surge RGB Gaming Mouse
- Newegg US: HyperX Pulsefire Surge RGB Gaming Mouse
Thanks HyperX for providing us the mouse for review. (Review Sample)
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