The new Pulsefire Raid is the first MMORPG– or MOBA-focused gaming mouse from HyperX, which sports a total of eleven programmable buttons, high-end optical sensor and (of course) RGB lighting. Let’s check it out.
Unboxing
Typical packaging design for HyperX products can be found with the same white and red color scheme. You get a glimpse on the appearance of the Pulsefire Raid from the few photos on the cardboard box.
The detailed specifications and system requirements of the mouse are printed on the side. In order to use the NGENUITY (Beta) software, it is necessary to have Windows 10 installed.
Apart from the usual Thank you card and quick start guide, there is no other accessories in the box.
HyperX Pulsefire Raid RGB Gaming Mouse
As a MMO mouse, the Pulsefire Raid is actually relatively compact and light. It has physical dimensions of 128 mm x 71 mm x 41.5 mm (L x W x H) and a weight of 95 grams. The ergonomically-shaped body is intended for right-handed users. Buttons are located only on the left side.
The mouse is constructed from standard black matte plastic. The scroll wheel and the HyperX logo are made translucent to allow the RGB lighting to shine through. Two massive rubber feet are placed above and below the sensor.
The Pulsefire Raid has a wider and taller base at the back to accommodate for your thumb and pinky finger. The sloped front portion is there to provide a more comfortable grip and reach for the primary buttons.
All eleven buttons, including the DPI switch, can be re-programmed through the NGENUITY (Beta) software. HyperX equips the two main buttons with genuine Omron switches, which are rated for at least 20 million clicks.
There are a total of five side buttons on the Pulsefire Raid. They are shaped differently with four standard buttons in a 2 x 2 grid and one sniper button at the front. Textured rubber pads are fitted on both sides to increase grip and handling.
Both primary buttons are distinctly separated to prevent accidental misclicks and side wiggles. In addition to the usual middle click for the scroll wheel, it can be tilted left or right for more actions, which are defaulted to horizontal scrolling.
Review
Sensor
The Pulsefire Raid is outfitted with the currently top-of-the-line PixArt PMW3389 optical sensor, which is capable of achieving up to 16,000 DPI, 450 IPS and 50 G of acceleration. The polling rate can be set from 125 Hz (8 ms) to 1000 Hz (1 ms).
We tested the Pulsefire Raid’s CPI/DPI divergences with MouseTester v1.5.3. The differences between the measured and nominal CPI ranged from +3.44% to +8.2%. Larger discrepancies were found at 1000 DPI and 2500 DPI, which has the two highest number at 8.2% and 7.56% respectively.
The sensor managed to keep the polling rate reasonably stable without sudden spike or drop during mouse movements.
I normally set the Pulsefire Raid at around 1200 DPI. I did not experience any hardware acceleration and jittering that affects the tracking and accuracy in games, such as Rainbow Six Siege and Apex Legends.
User Experience
The ergonomic shape and asymmetrical design of the Pulsefire Raid should work great with both claw and palm grips, for right-handed users. It feels a lot more maneuverable than the famous Logitech G502 HERO, because of the less bulky and heavy body.
Despite the five side buttons are closely packed together, the shapes and positions of them are easily distinguishable. Paired with the tactile click and feedback, I really enjoy using them for quick actions. Depending on your grip styles and hand sizes, you may need to shift slightly forward to press the front sniper button.
The 1.8-meter braided USB cable and stock Teflon feet do an acceptable job in reducing cable drag and glide friction. But with the very competitive gaming mouse market in 2020, it would be awesome to see HyperX implements more flexible, paracord-like cable and smoother 100% pure PTFE feet in the future.
Software
The Pulsefire Raid can be customized via the new NGENUITY (Beta) software. The user interface is separated into three major sections, including Lights, Buttons and Sensor.
All 11 buttons can be re-assigned to perform different functions or macro actions, which can be used to open specific applications and Windows shortcut. You can add up to five DPI settings in a single profile, from 200 DPI to 16,000 DPI at a 50 DPI interval.
The profile/preset menu is a bit confusing and unintuitive. Once you have completed changing the settings in the software, you will need to press “Sync” to save the updated profile into the onboard memory. Otherwise, the mouse will revert back to the old one, after the NGENUITY software is closed.
RGB Lighting
Two RGB lighting zones are available on the Pulsefire Raid, located on the scroll wheel and HyperX logo. The effects, brightness and speeds can be adjusted through the NGENUITY (Beta) software. There are five RGB lighting effect presets, such as breathing and trigger. The LEDs on the mouse get very bright with vivid colors.
Conclusion
The HyperX Pulsefire Raid is a decent mouse with great performance and utility. The extra side and tilt buttons offer more functionality and key bindings. The slimmer and lighter body allows it to not only suitable in MOBA or MMORPG games, but also fast-paced FPS games. Compared to the competitions, it does not sacrifice maneuverability or agility of the mouse with the added buttons.
The NGENUITY (Beta) software can be improved with simpler and more straightforward user interface. It provides enough amount of customization in key assignments and RGB lighting effects.
The Pulsefire Raid is priced at $59.99 USD (MSRP) with a 2-year warranty. In comparison, the Logitech G502 HERO and SteelSeries Rival 500 cost $74.99 USD and $79.99 USD (MSRP), which is around $20 USD more expensive. I think you should consider the Pulsefire Raid, if the additional buttons can be beneficial in games or even daily uses.
For more information, you can visit the HyperX product page. The mouse can be purchased from your local/online resellers or the links below from Amazon or Newegg.
- Amazon US: HyperX Pulsefire Raid RGB Gaming Mouse
- Newegg US: HyperX Pulsefire Raid RGB Gaming Mouse
Thanks HyperX for providing us the mouse for review. (Review Sample)
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