Product: HyperX Pulsefire Core
Type: Gaming Mouse (Wired)
Price: $79.00
Availability: Out Now
Link: hyperxgaming.com/en/mice/pulsefire-core-rgb-gaming-mouse

Last year was a great one for HyperX, not only in terms of the quality of the peripherals and products it put out to the market, but also thanks to the positive response and support the company got from a sizable portion of gamers. Naturally some of that had to do with clever marketing, esports partnerships, and the overall product design. With the now recognisable black, red, and sleek RGB look defining HyperX as we head into 2019. Releasing late last year, the HyperX Pulsefire Core offers a budget-oriented RGB gaming mouse to gamers that once unpacked and plugged in performs in a lot of ways like its more premium brethren.

Grip It

First of all, the HyperX Pulsefire Core definitely fills a gap in the HyperX peripheral line-up – a budget gaming mouse that doesn’t lean heavily toward FPS players and those that dabble mostly in shooters. Sporting a symmetrical design one can immediately pick up on the less-than-premium feel to the Pulsefire Core. A gaming mouse that doesn’t include rubberised grips or RGB lighting outside of the HyperX logo. For the most part it’s hard plastic through and through. Cost-cutting measures that we’ve seen before in other mice mind you, but as it weighs in at a slender 87g and is overall quite sturdy in terms of the quality of build – the Pulsefire Core is far from uncomfortable to use. No, this is simply to highlight that HyperX put most of the overall effort here in Pulsefire Core’s performance. Which is the way it should be when it comes to the more affordable peripherals.

Specs

• Sensor: Pixart 3327
  
• DPI: 6200 DPI
  
• LED Color: RGB
  
• Polling Rate: 1000 Hz
  
• Buttons: Seven
  
• Weight: 87g
  
• Cable: USB 2.0/braided

From our own past experience and testing here, the Pixart 3327 sensor used performs great and on par for regular usage and day-to-day less-intensive gaming than some of the more higher end gaming mice. In fact the click feel is almost identical to HyperX’s more premium mice too, with Omron switches that feel natural to the touch. Throw in the braided cable it’s clear that HyperX has created a pretty impressive and affordable gaming mouse. One that doesn’t sacrifice performance for a lower price-point. Something that if mishandled, could potentially tarnish the brand.

Point-and-Click

One of the main innovations and welcome additions that HyperX brought to its line-up of peripherals and various other hardware bits and pieces was the introduction of its own HyperX NGenuity software. Which offered up all the basic tools and features that one might expect for its gaming mouse line-up; full DPI and button customisation, profile switching, and the ability to change up those pretty RGB lights. It’s a neat bit of software too, one that changes its UI depending on what peripheral device(s) are connected. But even after several months our main complaint still rings true. It’s quite large in file size compared to some of the competing applications from other hardware makers. Although a budget-oriented gaming mouse, the Pulsefire Core takes full advantage of the NGenuity software – in a clear and simple fashion.

With the added software it means being able to set the exact feel and movement that you’re most comfortable with when simply browsing or using your PC, or playing various styles of games. It gives the Pulsefire Core a premium feel wrapped up in an affordable and mostly unassuming package. From the quality parts that ensure both reliability and performance from application to application, to the detailed and intuitive NGenuity software, the Pulsefire Core is another great effort from HyperX. And something we’d recommend for taking on-the-go as well as everyday PC gaming.