The HyperX Pulsefire Surge burst onto the gaming mice scene in late 2018, turning heads with its unique 360-degree RGB lighting ring. As part of HyperX‘s popular lineup of gaming peripherals, it promised accuracy, customization, and flair at a budget-friendly price point.
But with countless gaming mice competing for your desk space in 2023, should you invest in the Pulsefire Surge? Does its performance and features justify the price tag?
As a tech product reviewer and lifelong gamer, I put the Pulsefire Surge to the test across a variety of games and daily use cases. Here is my detailed, hands-on assessment of whether this mouse is worthy of a spot in your rig.
Overview and Key Features
The Pulsefire Surge stands out with its circular RGB light ring that creates captivating effects as it glows across the mouse‘s edges. The lighting is highly customizable through HyperX‘s NGENUITY software, allowing you to program colors, effects, and adjust brightness. Gamers who care about aesthetics will appreciate the flair it adds to their setup.
But fancy lights alone does not make a great gaming mouse. Here are the Pulsefire Surge‘s key features and specs:
- Pixart 3389 optical gaming sensor with up to 16,000 DPI
- Omron switches rated for over 50 million clicks
- Six programmable buttons
- Ergonomic, medium-sized symmetrical design
- Five onboard memory profiles to save customizations
- Braided cable for durability
Release Date and Pricing
The Pulsefire Surge launched in October 2018. Four years later, it remains readily available from most major electronics and gaming retailers like Amazon and Best Buy.
Its retail price of $49.99 represents fantastic value, undercutting many similarly specced gaming mice. The sub-$50 price point makes it very appealing if you‘re seeking quality on a budget.
How It Compares to Other HyperX Mice
HyperX has several gaming mouse models to choose from, most retailing for around the same $50 price point. The Pulsefire Surge is somewhat middle-of-the-pack regarding its capabilities.
The Pulsefire Haste offers a lower weight honeycomb design for faster flicks and movements suited to competitive FPS gameplay. The Pulsefire Dart charges wirelessly for more flexibility.
However, the Pulsefire Surge‘s RGB ring remains a uniquely defining, eye-catching element. For those wanting striking aesthetics merged with strong performance fundamentals, the Surge strikes an excellent balance.
Design and Build Quality
The Pulsefire Surge sports an ambidextrous, medium-sized design well-suited for various grip styles, including palm and claw grips. I found it comfortable to use for extended periods without any fatigue.
Its plastic construction feels solid and durable. The matte coating provides a quality feel and grip. At 105 grams, it has some heft but glides smoothly across pads during fast swipes.
The braided cable is surprisingly flexible and didn‘t snag during use. It connects securely into the mouse via a USB-A connector.
Gaming Performance and Tracking
Packing a 16,000 DPI optical sensor, the Pulsefire Surge should deliver responsive and accurate tracking critical for gaming. I assessed its capabilities playing various FPS, MOBA, and RPG titles.
The Pixart 3389 optical sensor and adjustable DPI ensured smooth cursor control and tight tracking even during quick movements and flick shots. Whether hastily building structures in Fortnite or clicking heads in Valorant, the Surge kept up and enabled precise aim.
I didn‘t experience any noticeable acceleration, jitter, or lag even benchmarking it at high speeds. The mouse tracked superbly across various mousepads.
Buttons, Clicks, and Latency
The Pulsefire Surge uses durable Omron switches rated for over 50 million clicks. In testing, I found the main left and right mouse buttons offered a pleasing, tactile feedback on each click. They register cleanly without any mushiness.
Their click latency measured impressively fast – virtually instantaneous button presses. This level of responsiveness gives a noticeable edge in games where reaction time and click speed matter. The side buttons also exhibit the same responsive clicks.
For FPS titles, the Sniper button located below the scroll wheel allows temporarily dropping to lower DPI for pixel-perfect aim – a very useful feature.
Customization Software
Like all HyperX mice, the Pulsefire Surge works with the NGENUITY software for accessing customization options and additional features. It detected and connected to the Surge instantly for me.
NGENUITY makes the RGB lighting highly configurable – you can choose from various effect styles, dynamic modes, and color options to personalize its appearance. It also allows tweaking the sensitivity, button functions, macros and more.
Saving up to 3 profiles onboard is handy for retaining all your settings for use on different PCs. The software is intuitive with a clean interface.
Pricing and Value
Available from $40-50 from major online and local electronics retailers, the Pulsefire Surge delivers outstanding value. The sub-$50 price point is lower than many comparable gaming mice in its class regarding sensor specs, performance quality, and features.
For budget-conscious gamers or those entering PC gaming, getting feature-rich, customizable kit without overspending is essential. The Surge nails this while still conveying a premium, high-performing feel.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Excellent value price
- Striking customizable RGB lighting
- High-grade Pixart sensor offers accurate tracking
- Low click latency and tactile switches
- Onboard profile storage
- Comfortable, versatile medium size
- Durable build quality
Cons
- No Bluetooth connectivity
- Wired design limits portability
- Only for right-handed gamers
- No wireless charging capabilities
Conclusion
Four years from its launch, the HyperX Pulsefire Surge remains a compelling option that balances performance, customization, and striking aesthetics. It‘s ideally suited for right-handed FPS gamers wanting accurate and responsive aim on a budget.
The Surge gets all the gaming mouse fundamentals right while dazzling with its signature 360-degree RGB ring. For under $50, it outperforms many pricier competitors – delivering precise and enjoyable gameplay that punches well above its cost.
If eye-catching illumination and budget-friendly quality are priorities alongside FPS gaming excellence, then yes – the HyperX Pulse Surge easily warrants an enthusiastic buy recommendation.