A decent choice for simplicity – Review Geek

The complexity of modern video games often requires advanced, feature-rich peripherals. So it’s surprising that HyperX, a brand built for gamers, has gone a simpler route with the Pulsefire Haste 2, a comfortable and responsive wireless mouse that could benefit from a few more buttons.

In the last year alone, I’ve tested and reviewed a number of mice, from the Logitech G502 X to the diminutive CHERRY MW 9100. Each brought something unique to the table, whether it was their hefty weight with a multitude of buttons or a diminutive design geared for gamers. Travellers. The HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless Gaming Mouse falls somewhere in between those two extremes, giving you a comfortable, average-sized build with minimal customization and features.

If you’re expecting something too fancy or upgraded, you won’t find it here. What you’ll find is HyperX’s high standard of quality and a comfortable mouse that offers a smooth RGB glow and a rich, responsive click.

For what it should be, an all-in-one wireless gaming mouse that supports an entire gaming ecosystem, the Pulsefire Haste 2 comes at an affordable price.

A mouse for comfort, not features

The first thing I noticed about the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 is its visual simplicity. And then I realized that it’s because it’s a simple six-button mouse. For a gaming mouse, it feels strange to not have more than two extra side buttons. It’s a pretty standard layout, and the buttons are definitely placed appropriately, but the mouse could use another set below them.

However, by not going overboard with customizable buttons, HyperX is able to achieve a simple design that fits well in most hands. It’s nothing you haven’t seen or likely not had before, and that familiarity is truly welcome in a market awash with gaming mice that look like spaceship controls. My Logitech G602 overcompensates with eight custom buttons that make it bulky and awkward. I just want to be somewhere in the middle.

I didn’t get a chance to test the Haste 2’s predecessor, the Pulsefire Haste, but I’m not entirely heartbroken by it. I’m really glad HyperX went with a completely different design because the trypophobia-inducing honeycomb pattern of the Pulsefire Haste was unappealing in my opinion.

The Pulsefire Haste 2 sports a much cleaner, sleeker look, and the white version I tested was striking against my all-black desktop. I saw the black version in person at CES 2023, and the RGB pops out a bit better against the darker mouse.

Battery life and connectivity

I put my mice to the test, often wearing them for more than 10 hours a day during the week. With the Logitech G502 Lightspeed that I was using before the Pulsefire Haste 2, I was getting around 90 hours of use before it needed to be charged.

With the HyperX Pulsfire Haste 2, it took just over a week for the low battery indicator to kick in, and that’s with RGB enabled and a constant 3200 DPI. Recharging from 20% to full took just under two hours, which is nice considering Mind you, you could be up and running in half that time if needed.

While you can get longer battery life and faster charging time with other gaming mice on the market, you’ll also be paying a bit more.

The battery is charged via a USB-C cable that doubles as a connector for the 2.4G wireless hub. You will need this connection if you want to use Pulsefire Haste 2 on your Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One, as the consoles do not support native Bluetooth connections. If you own a PS4 or PS5, you can simply connect via Bluetooth without the need for a dongle.

gaming performance

With Bluetooth and 2.4G, even on my Xbox Series S, I enjoyed smooth gameplay with virtually no latency. The Pulsefire Haste 2 hits a polling rate of 8000 Hz which really proves that despite the lack of extra buttons, this mouse is for gamers. Its high performance, coupled with a remarkably lightweight build, allows for enhanced control even in the heat of battle.

I run my mouse at 3,200 DPI for office work and lower it to 2,000 for gaming, but the sensor can be increased to 26,000 float. It’s unlikely you’ll ever get that high, though it’s nice to have the option if that’s your preference. At higher ranges, the Pulsefire Haste 2 moves around as expected, covering quite a bit of ground in an instant.

The few buttons that the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 has are responsive and tight. I find Logitech’s G500 series a bit shaky and am more prone to click errors. I like having to put a bit of weight on him before he responds.

My favorite feature, which isn’t even technically part of the mouse mechanics, is the sheet of rubber grip tape that you can add to the main buttons and along the side. As much as I enjoyed the pure white mouse aesthetic, the tape has a nice texture and feel that kept my fingers in place during highly chaotic combat.

HyperX NGENUITY

Customizing the available buttons and changing the RGB settings is done through the HyperX NGENUITY app (available on Windows). Assigning macros, key-ins, Windows commands, and more is easily done, as long as the app behaves.

Although the app never crashed, it frequently lost connection to my mouse and my 25-inch Armada monitor. That never affected my macros, and the mouse worked normally regardless, it just got tedious having to close and reopen NGENUITY.

Should You Buy the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless Mouse?

Unless a gaming mouse is just plain bad overall, whether or not it will work for you will largely depend on personal preference. HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 is the opposite of bad, so you have to ask yourself if you’re okay with a simpler design and minimal customization. I can get away with just two extra buttons, and I really like the simplicity of the Pulsefire Haste 2, so this addition from HyperX is more than adequate.

Elevating the experience is the mouse’s performance, which didn’t waver during the many hours I used it. The DPI range accommodates all play styles, and that 8000Hz polling rate helps achieve lag-free input whether you’re connected to your PC, PS5, or Xbox console.

HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 is a great addition to the HyperX ecosystem, although a few tweaks could have made it better. Two additional buttons would make the mouse feel more suitable for a wider variety of gamers. As it stands, having only two doesn’t align with any genre, as even straightforward first-person shooters can use four. It might be a hindrance for you if you like more complex titles; otherwise it can be passed over in favor of the overall high quality of the Pulsefire Haste 2.