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HyperX Pulsefire Surge Mouse Review

Tested using Methodology v1.0
Reviewed Jun 22, 2021 at 10:13 am
HyperX Pulsefire Surge Picture
7.3
Office/Multimedia
7.4
Video Games (FPS)
7.3
Video Games (MMO)
6.7
Ultra-Light Gaming
5.4
Travel

The HyperX Pulsefire Surge RGB Gaming mouse is a decent option if you're on a budget. It has a wide CPI range, a CPI you can adjust precisely in increments of 50, and a very low lift-off distance. It has an ambidextrous design with two buttons on its left side and a CPI switching button behind the scroll wheel. It feels very well-built, with nice rubberized side grips, and it's well-suited for all grip types; however, it may be too small for extra-large hands to comfortably use a palm grip and too big for small hands to use a fingertip grip. There are 32 independent RGB lighting zones in the strip that wraps around the entire mouse and one zone within the HyperX logo in the palm area. You can customize the lighting in the HyperX NGENUITY software, remap keys, and set macros. Unfortunately, the click latency is fairly high for a gaming mouse and may not feel responsive enough for fast-paced games.

Our Verdict

7.3 Office/Multimedia

The HyperX Pulsefire Surge is decent for office use. It feels very well-built, although its mouse feet only glide decently well and feel scratchy on desks. It has a good number of programmable inputs, but the customization software is available on Windows only. Unfortunately, you can't use it wirelessly, and its scroll wheel doesn't have L/R tilt buttons or a free-scrolling feature.

Pros
  • Feels very well-built.
  • All default controls work on macOS and Windows.
Cons
  • Wired-only.
  • Scroll wheel has no L/R tilt buttons or free-scrolling.
7.4 Video Games (FPS)

The HyperX Pulsefire Surge is decent for FPS games. It has a wide CPI range, a CPI you can adjust precisely in increments of 50, and a very low minimum lift-off distance. While the mouse feels very well-built, its braided cable isn't very flexible, and the mouse feet don't glide as well when used directly on desks. Unfortunately, the click latency is fairly high for a gaming mouse. Also, its sensor is a bit inconsistent and tends to undershoot more during fast cursor movements than during slow ones. Also, the mouse is heavy, so it isn't an ideal choice if you prefer lighter mice.

Pros
  • Adjustable CPI in increments of 50.
  • Feels very well-built.
  • Very low lift-off distance.
Cons
  • Heavy.
  • Cable isn't very flexible.
  • Fairly high click latency.
7.3 Video Games (MMO)

The HyperX Pulsefire Surge is decent for MMO gaming, although it doesn't have nearly as many buttons as dedicated MMO gaming mice. However, you can remap all of the buttons it does have through its customization software. It has a wide CPI range, a CPI that you can adjust in increments of 50, a very low minimum lift-off distance, and a high polling rate. Unfortunately, despite the mouse feeling very well-built, its cable isn't very flexible, and its mouse feet don't glide as well directly on a desk. Also, the click latency is fairly high for a gaming mouse, and it may not feel responsive enough to some people.

Pros
  • Adjustable CPI in increments of 50.
  • Feels very well-built.
  • Very low lift-off distance.
Cons
  • Doesn't have as many buttons as dedicated MMO mice.
  • Cable isn't very flexible.
  • Fairly high click latency.
6.7 Ultra-Light Gaming

The HyperX Pulsefire Surge is an okay ultra-light gaming mouse, but it's significantly heavier than what we consider a light mouse. Unfortunately, the cable quality feels only decent, and the PTFE mouse feet don't glide as well when used on a desk. Also, the click latency is fairly high for a gaming mouse, and it may not feel responsive enough for fast-paced games.

Pros
  • Adjustable CPI in increments of 50.
  • Feels very well-built.
  • Very low lift-off distance.
Cons
  • Heavy.
  • Cable isn't very flexible.
  • Fairly high click latency.
5.4 Travel

The HyperX Pulsefire Surge isn't designed for travel. It's a heavy, wired mouse that you can't use wirelessly, so its cable may be cumbersome in tight spaces. On the bright side, it feels very well-built, and it's compatible with both Windows and macOS.

Pros
  • Feels very well-built.
  • All default controls work on macOS and Windows.
Cons
  • Heavy.
  • Wired-only.
  • Cable isn't very flexible.
  • 7.3 Office/Multimedia
  • 7.4 Video Games (FPS)
  • 7.3 Video Games (MMO)
  • 6.7 Ultra-Light Gaming
  • 5.4 Travel
  1. Updated Jun 22, 2021: Review published.
  2. Updated Jun 16, 2021: Early access published.
  3. Updated May 17, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
  4. Updated May 13, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  5. Updated Apr 17, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

The HyperX Pulsefire Surge RGB is available in black only and doesn't have any variants. You can see our unit's label here.

Compared To Other Mice

The HyperX Pulsefire Surge is a decent budget gaming mouse. It has a similar performance to many other gaming mice in this price point, with a wide CPI range and a CPI that you can adjust in increments of 50. It has a very low lift-off distance, which is better than some other budget mice; however, its click latency is fairly high and may not feel responsive enough to some gamers.

For other options, see our recommendations for the best gaming mouse, the best wired mouse, and the best cheap gaming mouse.

HyperX Pulsefire Haste

The HyperX Pulsefire Haste is an excellent ultra-light gaming mouse, while the HyperX Pulsefire Surge is a decent FPS gaming mouse. The Haste has a honeycomb design, making it extremely lightweight. It has a better cable, smoother-gliding feet, much lower click latency, and a more consistent sensor. However, you can't adjust the CPI as precisely on the Haste as you can on the Surge.

Razer Viper Mini

The Razer Viper Mini and the HyperX Pulsefire Surge are FPS gaming mice, but the Razer performs slightly better. It has much lower click latency, smoother-gliding feet, and a more flexible cable. It's also significantly lighter, thanks in part to its smaller size. On the other hand, the HyperX has a much wider CPI range, a more precisely adjustable CPI, and a lower lift-off distance. While the Razer is best suited for a fingertip grip, the HyperX is suitable for all grip types for almost any hand size.

SteelSeries Rival 3

The SteelSeries Rival 3 and the HyperX Pulsefire Surge are both wired gaming mice with ambidextrous shapes. The SteelSeries is much lighter, and it has smoother-gliding PTFE feet with no sharp edges. It also has a lower click latency, a more consistent sensor, and, unlike the HyperX, its customization software is compatible with macOS. On the other hand, the HyperX has a wider CPI range, a CPI that you can adjust more precisely, and a lower lift-off distance. Also, it's better suited for large hands when used with a palm grip.

Razer DeathAdder V2

The Razer DeathAdder V2 is a better gaming mouse than the HyperX Pulsefire Surge. The Razer has a significantly lighter weight, a more flexible cable, and smoother-gliding feet. Also, you can set a HyperShift button to give you a second layer of controls. It has much lower click latency, a wider CPI range, and its sensor is slightly more consistent. The Razer has a right-handed design that is best suited for a palm grip for any hand size. On the other hand, the HyperX is an ambidextrous-shaped mouse best suited for a claw grip for any hand size.

GLORIOUS Model O

The GLORIOUS Model O is an excellent ultra-light gaming mouse, whereas the HyperX Pulsefire Surge is a decent FPS gaming mouse. Both have an ambidextrous shape with two buttons on their left side, but the GLORIOUS has a honeycomb body; this makes it significantly lighter and a better choice for fans of ultra-light gaming mice. Also, it has a better cable and smoother-gliding PTFE feet. On the other hand, the HyperX's body has a sturdy-feeling build, a wider CPI range, and a CPI you can adjust more precisely.

GLORIOUS Model D

The GLORIOUS Model D is an excellent ultra-light gaming mouse, while the HyperX Pulsefire Surge is a decent FPS gaming mouse. The GLORIOUS is a better choice if you like very lightweight mice. Also, it has smoother-gliding mouse feet, a more flexible cable, and lower latency. It has a slanted, right-hand design that's well suited for larger hands. On the other hand, the HyperX has a wider CPI range, a more precisely adjustable CPI, and a lower lift-off distance. It has an ambidextrous shape with two buttons on its left side, and it's well suited for smaller hands using a palm or claw grip.

MSI CLUTCH GM30

The HyperX Pulsefire Surge and the MSI CLUTCH GM30 are good wired gaming mice, but the HyperX performs slightly better overall. The HyperX has a higher maximum CPI, a more precisely adjustable CPI, and a lower lift-off distance. It also feels sturdier. On the other hand, the MSI is marginally lighter. Both mice are well-suited for all grip types and most hand sizes, but the HyperX is marginally more accommodating for more hand sizes.

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Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Type
Standard
Lighting Color RGB

The strip that wraps around the HyperX Pulsefire Surge RGB has 32 independent RGB zones, and there's another zone in the HyperX logo.

Design
Shape
Length 4.8" (121 mm)
Height 1.6" (41 mm)
Width 2.5" (63 mm)
Grip Width
60 mm
5.7
Design
Portability
Volume
18.73 in³ (307 cm³)
Cable/Receiver Storing
No
Design
Weight
Maximum Weight With Wire
136 g
Maximum Weight Without Wire
106 g
Minimum Weight Without Wire
106 g
Weight Distribution
Centered
Extra Weights
No

If you want lighter and straightforward mouse, check out the Vaxee ZYGEN NP-01.

8.5
Design
Build Quality
8.5
Design
Comfort Of Use
Right-handed
No
Left-handed
No
Ambidextrous
Yes
Coating
Matte
Finger Rest
No

For a wired gaming mouse with similar performance but a right-handed shape, check out the Redragon COBRA M711-FPS. Or, for a mouse with an added thumb rest, check out the ROCCAT Kone AIMO Remastered.

Design
Palm Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
Small Hand
Yes
Medium Hand
Yes
Large Hand
Yes
X.Large Hand
No
Design
Claw Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
Small Hand
Yes
Medium Hand
Yes
Large Hand
Yes
X.Large Hand
Yes
Design
Fingertip Grip: Hand Size Recommendation
Small Hand
No
Medium Hand
Yes
Large Hand
Yes
X.Large Hand
Yes
0
Design
Wireless Versatility
Bluetooth
No
Receiver
No
Battery Type
No Batteries
Use When Charging
No
On/Off Activation
None
Receiver Extender
No
Battery Indicator No

If you're interested in a similar gaming mouse that you can connect wirelessly with a USB receiver, check out the ROCCAT Kain 200 AIMO.

7.0
Design
Cable
Connectivity Wired
Cable Length 5.9 ft (1.8 m)
Cable Type
Braided
Permanent Kink
Yes
Port Type: Mouse End
No Port
Port Type: PC End
USB
7.0
Design
Mouse Feet
Gliding Experience
Ok
Material
PTFE
Extra Included
No
Design
In The Box

  • HyperX Pulsefire Surge RGB Gaming mouse
  • Manuals

Control
Control
Sensor Specifications
Sensor Technology
Optical (LED)
Sensor Model
PixArt PMW3389
Works On Glass
No
Minimum CPI (DPI)
200 CPI
Maximum CPI (DPI)
16,000 CPI
CPI (DPI) Adjustment Steps
50 CPI
CPI (DPI) Variation
9%
Minimum Lift Off Distance
1.2 mm
Maximum Polling Rate
1000 Hz

The polling rate options on the HyperX Pulsefire Surge are 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, and 1000Hz. Unfortunately, the sensor is slightly inconsistent and tends to undershoot during fast cursor movements more than when moving slow.

6.7
Control
Buttons
Buttons Activation
Mechanical
Total Number Of Buttons
6
Number Of Side Buttons
2
Number Of Programmable Inputs
6
Profile Switching Button
No
CPI (DPI) Switching Button
Yes
Gesture Support
No

For a similar mouse but with a pair of buttons behind the scroll wheel to adjust CPI up or down on the fly instead of a single button to cycle CPI profiles, check out the ASUS TUF Gaming M3 or the HyperX Pulsefire Core. Or, if you're interested in a gaming mouse with an additional mouse button on the top to the left-hand side of the left-click button, check out the DELUX M625.

Control
Mouse Wheel
Scroll Wheel
Notched Wheel
Scroll Wheel Steps
24 Steps
Scroll Wheel Tilt
No
Thumb Wheel
No
Thumb Wheel Steps
No Thumb Wheel
Control
Noise
Click Noise
Quiet
7.2
Control
Click Latency
Click Latency: Receiver
N/A
Click Latency: Bluetooth
N/A
Click Latency: Wired
20 ms

For a mouse with lower latency, check out the Gigabyte AORUS M5.

Operating System And Software
8.0
Operating System And Software
Compatible Software Option
Software Name NGenuity
Software Windows Compatibility
Yes
Software macOS Compatibility
No
Account Needed
No
On-Board Memory
Yes
CPI (DPI) Adjustment
Yes
Polling Rate Adjustment
Yes
Profile Configuration
Yes
RGB On/Off
Yes
10
Operating System And Software
Mouse Compatibility
Windows Compatibility Fully
macOS Compatibility Fully