Pulsar X2  Mouse Review

Reviewed Feb 02, 2023 at 09:47am
Tested using Methodology v1.5.1 
Pulsar X2
7.2
Work 
9.0
Video Games (FPS) 
7.8
Video Games (MMO) 
9.3
Raw Performance 
 0
Notice: This mice was replaced by Pulsar X2V2

The Pulsar X2 is a lightweight, wireless gaming mouse with a symmetrical shape. Available in several different color options, this mouse has a solid plastic shell, which is noteworthy because it's a bit lighter than previous Pulsar releases despite them having cutouts in their bodies to help reduce their overall weight. Regarding internal components, this mouse uses Kailh GM 8.0 main button switches and PixArt's flagship sensor, the PAW 3395, one of the most accurate and consistent sensors on the market. There's also a smaller version of this mouse called the Pulsar X2 Mini.

Our Verdict

7.2
Work 

The Pulsar X2 is decent for work, though it isn't designed specifically for this use. It feels very sturdy, and you can remap buttons using the customization settings. Unfortunately, while it connects wirelessly, it doesn't support multi-device pairing. Also, its scroll wheel lacks left/right tilt inputs and doesn't unlock for free scrolling.

Pros
  • Comfortable symmetrical shape.
  • Excellent build quality.
Cons
  • Scroll wheel lacks tilt inputs and a free-scrolling mode.
  • Lacks a storage compartment for its USB receiver.
  • Many owners report the battery needs more frequent recharging than advertised.
9.0
Video Games (FPS) 

The Pulsar X2 is an outstanding FPS gaming mouse. It's extremely lightweight with a comfortable symmetrical shape well-suited for most hand sizes. Performance-wise, It has excellent click latency and an exceptionally accurate and consistent sensor. It also has excellent build quality, and its feet glide very smoothly on mousepads and desks.

Pros
  • Extremely lightweight.
  • Excellent click latency.
  • Comfortable symmetrical shape.
  • Excellent build quality.
Cons
  • Lightweight bottom plate design means the inside is open to dust and debris.
  • Many owners report the battery needs more frequent recharging than advertised.
7.8
Video Games (MMO) 

The Pulsar X2 is good for MMO gaming, but it doesn't have nearly as many side buttons as a dedicated MMO gaming mouse. It feels very well-built, and you can reprogram buttons and customize sensor settings using the customization software. The click latency and sensor performance are also excellent and more than capable of delivering a consistent and responsive feeling in-game.

Pros
  • Excellent click latency.
  • Comfortable symmetrical shape.
  • Excellent build quality.
Cons
  • Not nearly as many side buttons as a dedicated MMO gaming mouse.
  • Lightweight bottom plate design means the inside is open to dust and debris.
  • Many owners report the battery needs more frequent recharging than advertised.
9.3
Raw Performance 

The Pulsar X2 has superb raw performance. Its sensor delivers exceptional accuracy and excellent motion latency performance. Its click latency is also very low, providing a responsive-feeling experience more than adequate for gaming in any genre at any competitive level.

Pros
  • Excellent click latency.
  • Accurate and consistent sensor performance.
Cons
None
  • 7.2
    Work
  • 9.0
    Video Games (FPS)
  • 7.8
    Video Games (MMO)
  • 9.3
    Raw Performance
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Sep 05, 2025: 

      We've added a link to the VXE R1 Pro in the Popular Mouse Comparisons section.

    2.  Updated Aug 19, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.5.1. This update removes less relevant or redundant elements, including several videos. We've also adjusted our Sensor Latency testing, resulting in minor score changes. See our full 1.5.1 changelog for details.
    3.  Updated Sep 23, 2024: We've added new text to Our Verdict and Wireless Versatility sections following online feedback from owners who report needing to recharge the battery much more frequently than the advertised maximum of 70 hours.
    4.  Updated Jan 05, 2024: We've updated the CPI graph displayed in the Sensor Latency section of this review. Our results remain the same, but these graphs have two new columns with results from the Delay At Half Movement and Delay To End Of Movement tests.

    Check Price

    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    The Pulsar X2 comes in several standard colorways and has several limited edition versions.

    Name Size Colorways Switch Type
    Pulsar X2 Regular Available in Black/White/Red Mechanical
    Pulsar X2 Founders Edition Regular Green Mechanical
    Pulsar X2 Bruce Lee Edition Regular Yellow with black accents Optical
    Pulsar X2 Mini Mini Available in Black/White/Red Mechanical
    Pulsar X2 Mini Rotobox Edition Mini Gray with colored accents Mechanical

    There's also a smaller version of this mouse called the Pulsar X2 Mini, which we've included in the table above. We expect this mouse to be better suited for smaller hands and to offer similar performance. We purchased the full-size Pulsar X2 mouse in black. You can see the label for our unit.

    Popular Mouse Comparisons

    The Pulsar X2 is an extremely lightweight wireless gaming mouse with a symmetrical shape. For its manufacturer, Pulsar, this mouse marks a departure from their earlier models, which had small cutout shapes in their bodies to help reduce their weight. This mouse has a solid plastic shell and a subdued look similar to flagship competitors like the Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT or the Razer Viper V2 Pro. That said, newer releases such as the similarly shaped VXE R1 Pro also feature solid shells and deliver slightly better performance at a lower price, which makes the Pulsar X2 less competitive than it was at launch.

    For more recommendations, see our picks for the best FPS mouse, the best gaming mouse, and the best lightweight mouse.

    LAMZU Atlantis

    The Pulsar X2 and the LAMZU Atlantis are lightweight wireless gaming mice with similar shapes. The Pulsar is slightly smaller and delivers somewhat better sensor performance. On the other hand, the LAMZU is a bit bigger, and its back end is a little wider. Each mouse is available in various colors, but the LAMZU has more colorway options.

    Pulsar X3

    These two mice offer very similar performance. The Pulsar X3 has a right-handed ergonomic shape suited for claw or palm grips. It features a newer sensor that provides minor benefits, like tracking on transparent glass and slightly better stability at higher polling rates. It also uses optical switches, which are generally more durable than the mechanical switches on the Pulsar X2. In comparison, the X2 has a symmetrical shape that's versatile but best suited for claw or fingertip grips.

    Pulsar Xlite V2

    The Pulsar X2 and the Pulsar Xlite V2 are lightweight, wireless gaming mice. The X2 has a somewhat smaller, symmetrical shape. It's also somewhat lighter and has a solid plastic shell. On the other hand, the V2 is bigger and has a right-handed shape. It has better sensor latency performance. However, its body has pill-shaped cutouts on its palm rest and small sections on the sides to help reduce the overall weight of the mouse.

    Ninjutso Sora

    The Ninjutso Sora and the Pulsar X2 are wireless gaming mice with similar symmetrical shapes and comparable gaming performance. On the one hand, the Ninjutso is slightly more lightweight. On the other hand, the Pulsar feels somewhat sturdier and is available in a wider range of color options.

    Show more 

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
    Sort:
    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    Style
    Type
    Standard
    Coating
    Matte
    Lighting ColorNo Lighting

    This mouse has a straightforward look with a black, matte plastic body and side buttons. The scroll wheel is also black and has a glossy finish and a rubberized grip. There isn't any RGB lighting, and rather than having a traditional solid plastic baseplate, it has a minimal plastic framework that leaves the interior open. If you want a similar wireless gaming mouse with a conventional solid baseplate design, check out the Endgame Gear XM2we.

    Shape
    Length4.7" (120 mm)
    Width2.5" (63 mm)
    Height1.5" (38 mm)
    Grip Width
    60 mm
    Ambidextrous
    Shape Only
    Left-Handed Friendly
    Yes
    Finger Rest
    No

    The baseplate of this mouse isn't a solid piece of plastic but a plastic frame that leaves open spaces revealing the interior of the mouse. The 3D scanning tool used for this test has a limited ability to capture open spaces, so some of the interior spaces appear shallower than they are in reality. For comparison, you can see a photo of what the underside of this mouse looks like here.

    8.5
    Build Quality

    Thie Pulsar X2 mouse has excellent build quality. Its plastic body feels sturdy and has a slightly textured matte finish that feels good in your hand. There are no wobbling parts or rattling sounds when you shake the mouse, but there's very minor flexibility in the sides of the mouse if you apply a significant amount of pressure. However, this doesn't present any issues during normal use.

    9.2
    Weight
    Lowest Weight
    55.6 g
    Default Weight
    55.6 g
    Weight Distribution
    Centered
    Extra Weights
    No

    This mouse is extremely lightweight, making it easy to move quickly and accurately. Impressively, despite having a solid plastic shell, it's somewhat lighter than previous Pulsar releases like the Pulsar Xlite V2, which had small cutouts in its body to help reduce its weight. If you're interested in a very similar wireless mouse that's slightly more lightweight, check out the Ninjutso Sora.

    There's also a smaller variant of the Pulsar X2 mouse called the Pulsar X2 Mini. Pulsar indicates on its product page that this smaller version is about 4g lighter.

    Hand Size Recommendation
    Palm Grip Hand Recommendation
    Claw Grip Hand Recommendation
    Fingertip Grip Hand Recommendation

    The Pulsar X2 mouse is medium-sized with a gentle hump in the center and a somewhat wide rear end that fills out your palm. The buttons are well-placed and easy to differentiate between, and the overall shape is best suited for a claw or fingertip grip for most hand sizes.

    There's also a size variant of this mouse called the Pulsar X2 Mini, which is better suited for smaller hands.

    7.2
    Wireless Versatility
    Maximum Of Paired Devices
    1
    Bluetooth
    No
    Receiver
    Yes
    Battery Type
    Rechargeable
    Use When Charging
    Yes
    On/Off Activation
    Auto Off And On/Off Switch
    Receiver Extender
    Yes
    Receiver Storing
    No
    Battery IndicatorYes

    The Pulsar X2 mouse has a 300 mAh capacity battery, which Pulsar advertises can last up to 70 hours. However, Pulsar doesn't provide further details on how they determined this estimate or what sensor settings were used to produce it.

    Unfortunately, many owners report experiencing significantly less than 70 hours of use from a full charge. More commonly, users estimate around 20-30 hours of continuous movement at a 1000Hz polling rate, which typically requires recharging every two to three days for most people.

    A small LED light next to the front side button blinks red when the battery reaches 25%. There are widespread reports from users online that the battery level indicator in the companion software isn't very accurate, but this doesn't affect the battery life itself. If you're interested in a similar lightweight wireless gaming mouse with a longer advertised battery life that supports a Bluetooth connection, check out the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless.

    Cable
    ConnectivityWireless
    Cable Length
    6.1 ft (1.9 m)
    Cable Type
    Paracord-like
    Permanent Kink
    Yes
    Port Type: Mouse End
    USB-C
    Port Type: PC End
    USB-A

    This mouse has a lightweight and flexible paracord-like charging cable that produces minimal drag across desks and mousepads. However, it retains some permanent kinks from how it's packaged.

    9.0
    Mouse Feet
    Gliding Experience
    Very Good
    Material
    Virgin Grade PTFE
    Extra Included
    No

    This mouse has exceptional feet that glide very smoothly across mousepads and desks. The corners of the feet are mostly rounded, but there are two small sharp corners on the top foot. There's a minor scratching sound when gliding directly on desks, but this doesn't impact the gliding performance.

    In The Box

    • Pulsar X2 mouse
    • USB-A to USB-C charging cable
    • USB receiver
    • USB receiver extender
    • Stickers
    • User documentation
    Control
    Main Button
    See details on graph tool
    See details on graph tool
    Switch Type
    Mechanical
    Switch Model
    Kailh GM 8.0

    The left- and right-click buttons use Kailh GM 8.0 mechanical switches. Check out the Pulsar X2V2, the new version of this mouse, if you're interested in a mouse that uses optical switches.

    6.9
    Additional Buttons
    Total Number Of Buttons
    6
    Number Of Side Buttons
    2
    Number Of Programmable Inputs
    5
    Profile Switching Button
    Yes
    Gesture Support
    No

    You can program all the buttons on this mouse except for the scroll up/down inputs and the CPI button on the underside. You can also configure four custom CPI profiles using the customization software. The side buttons use Huano White mechanical switches, which are quiet and satisfying but have a 'hollow' feel.

    8.4
    Click Latency
    See details on graph tool
    Expected Connection
    6.4 ms
    Wired
    4.9 ms
    Receiver
    6.4 ms
    Bluetooth
    N/A

    This mouse has excellent click latency. It provides a consistent and responsive-feeling experience for playing games in any genre.

    9.8
    CPI
    See details on graph tool
    SRAV @ 1600 CPI
    -0.15%
    SRAV @ 800 CPI
    -0.08%
    SRAV @ 400 CPI
    -0.08%
    SRAV @ Fixed CPI
    N/A
    Precision Error Between Speeds
    0.14%
    Precision Error Between CPI
    0.15%
    Worst Tracking Error
    -6.00%
    Minimum CPI
    50 CPI
    Maximum CPI
    26,000 CPI
    CPI Adjustment Steps
    50 CPI

    This mouse has outstanding CPI performance, which means its sensor is remarkably accurate at tracking the physical movements you make with your mouse and converting them to cursor movements on screen.

    8.7
    Sensor Latency
    See details on graph tool
    Delay To Start Of Movement
    13.2 ms
    Delay At Half Movement
    4.7 ms
    Delay To End Of Movement
    5.7 ms

    This mouse has excellent sensor latency performance, which means the sensor reacts extremely quickly to the physical movements you make with your mouse so that it closely matches the timing of your cursor movement on-screen.

    Sensor Specifications
    Sensor Technology
    Optical (LED)
    Sensor Model
    PixArt PAW3395
    Works On Glass
    No
    Minimum Lift Off Distance
    1.2 mm
    Maximum Polling Rate
    1000 Hz

    This mouse allows you to adjust the polling rate settings between 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, and 1000Hz. It also has adjustable lift-off settings of 1mm or 2mm. Like other mice using this sensor, this mouse has a Motion Sync feature enabled by default. This feature attempts to synchronize sensor readings with polling events which can produce a smoother, more consistent motion-tracking experience in-game. However, Pulsar notes that this setting may cause added motion latency (less than 1 ms), so you can disable this feature using the companion software. If you're interested in a lightweight mouse with a higher maximum polling rate of 8000Hz and don't mind giving up wireless connectivity, check out the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2.

    Mouse Wheel
    Scroll Wheel Type
    Notched Wheel
    Scroll Wheel Tilt
    No
    Thumb Wheel Type
    No

    The mouse wheel has a grooved rubber surface and uses a TTC gold encoder which operates quietly with pronounced step definition. The scroll click is also satisfying and doesn't feel too heavy to actuate.

    Noise
    Click Noise
    Loud
    Operating System And Software
    Configuration Software
    Software NamePulsar Fusion Wireless Mice
    Software Windows Compatibility
    Yes
    Software macOS Compatibility
    No
    On-Board Memory
    Yes
    CPI (DPI) Adjustment
    Yes
    Polling Rate Adjustment
    Yes
    Profile Configuration
    Yes
    Profile Auto-Switching
    No
    RGB On/Off
    No RGB

    This mouse uses Pulsar Fusion software which is easy to use and well-laid out. It doesn't feel as bloated as software options from some of the larger mouse manufacturers and lets you adjust all the expected options, including polling rate, CPI, lift-off distance, debounce time, sleep settings, and Motion Sync.

    10
    Mouse Compatibility
    Windows CompatibilityFully
    macOS CompatibilityFully

    All default button functions work in Windows and macOS, but the software is only available for Windows.