The HyperX Pulsefire Surge RGB Gaming Mouse (henceforth, just “Pulsefire Surge”) provides a more specialized experience compared to the original Pulsefire mouse. In eschewing plug-and-play (a term that means the peripheral is fully functional out of the box without any required software), it offers more customizability, both in terms of aesthetics and functionality.
The Pulsefire Surge is the latest peripheral release from HyperX and their second mouse to date. Back in May, I reviewed the first HyperX mouse (the Pulsefire FPS), praising its light weight and comfortable grip. The biggest drawback I identified was its limited DPI settings. While the Pulsefire FPS only had four, unmodifiable DPI settings (400, 800, 1600, and 3200), the Pulsefire Surge introduces peripheral software where users can customize all sorts of settings, including DPI.
Peripheral software is actually a point of departure from standard HyperX accessories. All previous peripherals I’ve reviewed from them (headsets, mice, and keyboards) have been fully plug-and-play, though I know that their most recently released keyboard (the HyperX Alloy RGB) also has accompanying software. It certainly makes sense to provide additional options for gamers who want to customize their colors, set up macros, or finely tweak settings that are important to them. Enter the Pulsefire Surge.
The software for the Pulsefire Surge (entitled “NGenuity” and the same software used for the Alloy Elite RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard) isn’t anything flashy, but it’s functional and intuitive overall. There are three different customization categories: lighting, performance, and macros. When customizing lighting, you can choose from one of six lighting methods (solid, color cycle, breathing, wave, trigger, or none), selecting the speed and color(s) from a standard color wheel. If you’re so inclined, you can even individually set the color of the 32 differentiated light points along the edge of the mouse. Performance customization allows users to select their DPI settings, allowing anywhere from 1 to 5 different different configurations in the cycle. For each of these individual loadouts, users can choose anywhere between 100 and 16000 DPI (yes, really - 16000!). They can also set colors for each DPI setting which corresponds to the color the mouse lights up when switching to a new option.
The macros category allows for creating macros as well as configuring key assignments to 5 out of 6 of the buttons on the mouse (left click is not changeable). Interestingly enough, this is also where you can switch the mouse to left-handed, as it is an ambidextrous model; however, if one were to switch to left-handed, the side buttons would be on the outside of the mouse (requiring the pinky finger to use) instead of the inside (utilizing the standard thumb usage). All of your settings are saved to a profile and you can create different profiles for different games. Changing between them is as simple as selecting a new one within the software and hitting “apply.”
While the Pulsefire FPS and Pulsefire Surge are both fairly minimalistic mice, there are some notable physical differences between them. The most obvious one is the lighting strip around the sides of the Pulsefire Surge, it’s also a bit heavier than the Pulsefire FPS (100g to 95g) and doesn’t have the same tapered top. The texture of the plastic along the side of the Pulsefire Surge is a bit less smooth and it feels a tad smaller in hand. The Pulsefire Surge, like the Pulsefire FPS before it, also has the same six buttons: left click, right click, middle mouse/scroll wheel, two side buttons (defaulted to forward and back), and a small button under the scroll wheel (defaulted to DPI cycling).
As a full package, the Pulsefire Surge ends up being a great mouse. It’s easy to pick up and use (I had absolutely no issues using it in my Smite games) and the software is fairly user-friendly, meaning players can get their desired customizations with few frustrations. Even as someone who isn’t usually impressed by LEDs, I have to admit I dig the lighting options. Ignoring the existence of the Pulsefire FPS for a moment, I wholeheartedly recommend this mouse for players who don’t require more than six buttons. The big question, however, is how it compares to its predecessor.
To answer this question, it all boils down to a series of slight pros and cons for me. On the one hand, I like the shape and weight of the Pulsefire FPS more - the Pulsefire Surge feels just a tad too small and a tad less ergonomic. On the other hand, though, I love the customization that the NGenuity software provides, especially in regard to the DPI settings. If the Pulsefire Surge had the same shape as the Pulsefire FPS, I think it would have been a near-perfect mouse for me; I wish I could smash them together, honestly. Since that is sadly not a possibility, I give the slight edge to the Pulsefire Surge.
As it is, HyperX’s Pulsefire FPS and Pulsefire Surge are still two of the best gaming mice I’ve had the pleasure to use. They are alike in their high degree of precision and extremely smooth surface tracking, but they differ in their customization options and physical shape/weight. If it’s a question between the two, I’d recommend the Pulsefire FPS for players who don’t care about the LED options and think the four DPI pre-sets (400, 800, 1600, 3200) will suit their daily needs. For players who highly value color customization, macro set-up, and control over their DPI settings, then the Pulsefire Surge would be more appropriate.