For the longest time, mouse development has been about one-upmanship. Manufacturers are constantly bringing new designs to the table, or in this case, the desk, with all sorts of bells and whistles to woo customers to their brand. Extra buttons, asymmetrical shapes, thumb rests, and RGB all add cosmetic and functional flair to what was once a utilitarian device. At the same time, they’ve pushed the technical limits, with polling rates, acceleration, and resolution that are absurdly impressive. However, the average gamer will probably never come close to reaching those thresholds. Last but not least are the quality of life improvements like going wireless and adding onboard memory to store multiple configurations.
Over the last few years, though, a new paradigm has manufacturers rethinking mouse design. Instead of going bigger and better, the new challenge is to cut out the fluff and go lighter. By reducing the mouse's weight, you reduce fatigue while offering precision and control. More control means more kills, and more kills mean more wins. And that is precisely what HyperX is aiming for with the Pulsefire Haste Wireless.
Specifications
- Current Price: $79.99 (Amazon)
- Shape: Symmetrical
- Sensor: Pixart PAW3335
- Resolution: Up to 16000DPI
- Speed: 450 IPS
- Acceleration: 40G
- Polling Rate: 125, 250, 500, 1000Hz
- Buttons: 6
- Left / Right Button Switches: TTC Golden Micro Dustproof Switches
- Left / Right Button Durability: 80 million clicks
- Light Effects: Per-LED RGB lighting
- Onboard Memory: 1 Profile
- Connection Type: 2.4GHz Wireless / Wired
- Cable Type: Detachable HyperFlex USB Cable
- Battery
- Battery Type: 370mAh Li-ion polymer battery
- Battery Life: Up to 100 hours
- Dimensions
- Length: 38.2mm
- Width: 66.8mm
- Weight: 61g
Targeted at the first-person-shooter crowd, the Pulsefire Haste Wireless is nearly identical to the original Pulsefire Haste, minus the cord. The exterior dimensions and internal hardware remain unchanged. The only physical differences are a USB-C port where the cord used to be permanently attached to the mouse and the addition of the internal battery to power the mouse. The battery adds an extra 2 grams to the mouse's weight, but the ability to go cordless is well worth the minimal weight gain. And at just 61g total weight, the Haste Wireless is still one of the lighter mice you can find.
The Pixart PAW3335 is capable of 40G acceleration, 1000Hz polling, and 16000 DPI resolution. None of these specs are bleeding edge.
Some may notice that the Pulsefire Haste Wireless uses TTC Golden switches instead of the popular Omron switches found in most gaming mice. This is more about a need for dustproof switches than a sacrifice of quality. The TTC switches are rated at 80 million clicks, and the tactile feel and sound are on par with the other commonly used switches. On the wireless front, the Haste Wireless is equipped only with 2.4GHz wireless, skipping the addition of Bluetooth compatibility to save on weight. The extra input lag from Bluetooth makes it more a convenience than anything else, and most gamers won’t notice its absence anyway.
For some, there is one more thing that the Pulsefire Haste Wireless gives up to reduce weight - RGB lighting. Unlike my holey Aerox 9 Wireless MMO mouse, the Haste Wireless doesn’t have any internal RGB lighting to highlight its honeycomb design. The only RGB is the glow from both sides of the mouse wheel. It doesn’t affect performance, but it is an obvious omission.
Look and Feel
Visually, the Pulsefire Haste looks similar to other FPS mice. Other than the honeycomb holes cut out of the top and bottom of the shell, that is. The honeycomb styling is becoming an almost standard feature for ultra-lightweight mice these days, and it’s a love-it-or-leave-it aesthetic that manufacturers use to reduce a mouse’s weight to the bare minimum without affecting the integrity of the shell.
Speaking of shell integrity, the first time I held the Pulsefire Haste Wireless, I was surprised at how thin it felt compared to a normal mouse thanks to its perforated body. That feeling isn’t unique to the Haste, though. It’s more a function of relating weight to durability and strength than anything else and is the same initial impression I’ve had with other lightweight mice. The Pulsefire Haste’s upper shell does have noticeable deformation if you squeeze the mouse between your thumb and fingers, but even under maximum pressure, it never felt like it was about to crack or give way.
That illusion of poor quality disappears when holding the Haste Wireless with my regular palm grip. I always expected the hex hole design to feel awkward and uneven with my hand resting against it, but it feels just as solid and comfortable as any classic mouse shell. Under regular use, the shell feels sturdy and handles even the most erratic movements solidly without any physical give or creaking sounds.
I did find the matte black shell to be a little slick. I quickly remedied this by applying the included grip tape to the left and right sides of the mouse (there are also pieces for the left and right buttons). The tape has a foamy, rubbery feel that gives an extra bit of confidence and control. My only concern is how long the tape will last before the added texture starts to wear thin.
There are four PTFE pads on the base of the mouse, one placed at each of the four corners. Although the pads glide effortlessly across my cloth mousepad, I could imagine their minimal size would allow the mouse's center to drag across an uneven surface. The Pulse comes with an extra set of skates, so I suppose you could apply a couple of them to the middle of the base if you had any issues.
The left and right mouse buttons have very little flex, and button actuation is quick and responsive. Even so, there is enough resistance in the TTC Golden Micro switches that errant button activation was virtually nonexistent even if I picked the mouse up a centimeter or two and slapped it back onto my desk.
The remaining inputs - the scroll wheel, small DPI selector directly behind the wheel, and dual thumb buttons - are nondescript but functional. It's a case of going with the tried and true. The thumb buttons are well placed, with the tip of my thumb resting right where the two buttons meet, making it relatively easy to activate either button by simply rocking my thumb back and forth.
Software
The HyperX NGENUITY software supports the Pulsefire Haste. Within the software, you can control the led lighting on the mouse wheel, including the option to sync the mouse to any other HyperX gear you own. You can also reassign each button to any keyboard or mouse function or record a macro to quickly fire off multiple key presses and mouse clicks with the press of a single button. Rounding out the software functionality is the option to set up to 5 DPI settings ranging from 200 to 16000 DPI and adjust the polling rate to 125, 250, 500, or 1000Hz.
The onboard memory can store a single profile, allowing you to use your favorite settings without the software running in the background. If you are willing to keep the software running on your PC, you can create multiple presets and assign them to automatically load when specific apps or games are launched.
Final Thoughts
As an MMO gamer for so many years, I never really gave the weight of my mouse much consideration. I was always more concerned with how many buttons a mouse had, and the total weight of a mouse was a non-factor. It wasn’t until I started doing hardware reviews that I noticed how much of a difference weight made the overall feel and control. Even then, I attributed the difference to the massive weight difference, with a basic gaming mouse weighing 40 or 50 grams less than my 16-button MMO mouse.
After using a couple of ultralight mice, I totally get just how much of a difference a small amount of weight can make. My Corsair Sabre RGB Pro weighs 74g. With the Pulsefire Haste Wireless weighing just 13g less, I didn’t expect to feel much difference between the two. Oh, how wrong I was.
Regarding control, the weight of the Haste Wireless makes a huge difference. Each movement, each direction change with the Haste Wireless is precise and effortless. The extra reduction in weight has made a difference in fatigue as well. I’ve been able to reduce the DPI resolution to increase movement accuracy, and the weight reduction has offset the extra movement the resolution change has necessitated. Less fatigue, more precision. It’s a win-win.
The product described in this article was provided by the manufacturer for evaluation purposes. This article contains affiliate links. Proceeds go directly toward supporting the site. Authors are not compensated based on clicks or commission.
