The HyperX Pulsefire Core is a good budget gaming mouse. It feels very solid and has a symmetrical shape with two side buttons on the left. It is suitable for all grip types and almost all hand sizes, although very large hands may reach for the front of the mouse using the palm of the hand, and small hands may not be able to comfortably use the scroll wheel with their fingertips. In this article, you can read all the information in our HyperX Pulsefire Core review.
In terms of performance, it has a somewhat wide CPI range and short lift-off distance, but click lag is high for a gaming mouse. In addition, the mouse cable and legs are not bad, and the accompanying software is not compatible with macOS. Although the design of the Pulsefire Core has one major flaw and there are a few weaknesses in its software, otherwise the mouse works properly.
If you’re looking for a simple and straightforward gaming mouse, the Pulsefire Core is a good reason not to spend more than $30 on it. While there is one big flaw in the Pulsefire Core’s design and a few weaknesses in the software, the mouse otherwise works properly. If you’re looking for a simple and straightforward gaming mouse, the Pulsefire Core is a good reason not to spend more than $30 on it.
HyperX Pulsefire Core review: Design
With its ergonomic design and RGB logo, the HyperX Pulsefire Core should look familiar if you’ve ever seen a gaming mouse. You can get it in plain black or classy pink, but either way it looks more stylish than your average office mouse, with sharper corners and more curves. There are a lot of buttons on this mouse, and they are all easily accessible. You get a left button, a right button, a clickable scroll wheel, two DPI adjustment buttons, and two thumb buttons. They all have a hard, clicky feel and accurately parse any instructions you program with HyperX nGenuity software.
The only downside here is perhaps the biggest criticism I can make against the Pulsefire core. While the left side of the mouse feels good with a textured thumb grip, the right side of the mouse is just not comfortable. Instead of curving to meet the ring and little fingers, it curves inward, leaving the two outermost fingers with no place to rest. This is an annoying, persistent problem that makes the mouse far less comfortable than it should be.
HyperX Pulsefire Core review: Comfort
For some, choosing a mouse can be a very daunting task, but in the end it all comes down to preference. Some people will prefer a mouse with a symmetrical design, and some will prefer a mouse with a tilted design for a more comfortable grip. Some will like ultra-light mice, while others may prefer something heavier than a design that feels a little heavy. The beautifully designed mouse will fit most hand sizes and different grips, although some are designed for specific grips.
A mouse with a higher back is likely to be better for palm grip, as it offers more surface area for resting the palm of your hand, providing a more comfortable feel. On the other hand, something with a short and flat design is likely to be used for fingertip grips. There is no best or worst grip, it all depends on how you prefer to hold your mouse and what shape, size or weight you prefer.
Each grip has its own benefits, but if holding the mouse with an unwanted grip causes pain, then it should not be used as it can lead to wrist injuries such as carpal tunnel. No mouse is truly universal for every grip and hand size, and there is no perfect mouse that fits all.
HyperX Pulsefire Core review: Sensor Specifications
For many gamers, the mouse is quickly becoming one of the most valuable and important tools in a gaming setup, as most of the key actions are performed with a mouse click or slight movement of the mouse. There are a wide variety of mice on the market and the quality is on the rise, even for cheaper models. While things like build quality, comfort, and buttons are undoubtedly important, one aspect you definitely don’t want to overlook when choosing a mouse is its sensor. Sensors play a big role in converting your actual movements into cursor movements.
They can have a noticeable impact on your gaming experience, especially in terms of speed, accuracy, consistency, and responsiveness. Each sensor model is slightly different and most gamers will have their own preferences. That’s why our sensor specifications aim to provide you with more information to help you select the model that will meet your performance requirements and expectations.
HyperX Pulsefire Core review: Features
The HyperX Pulsefire Core doesn’t have a lot of bells and whistles, which isn’t surprising for a $30 mouse. You won’t find wireless connectivity, custom scales, interchangeable side panels, or any of the other features you’d expect from a high-end peripheral. However, the device still offers extensive customization options through the HyperX nGenuity software. We have already written about nGenuity many times. Sometimes it works fine and sometimes it crashes, but either way it was an easy experience compared to something like the Razer Synapse or the Logitech G Hub.
Of course, with a mouse as simple as the Pulsefire Core, “bare bones” isn’t necessarily a bad thing. You can reprogram buttons, set profiles for individual games, and customize the RGB backlighting, even if the backlighting only includes a small logo on the palmrest. However, this logo serves a useful function as it changes color according to your current DPI level. This is a handy feature that many hardcore rats run away from.
HyperX Pulsefire Core review: Performance
One area where the HyperX Pulsefire excels in other gaming specs. We tested the mouse in Age of Empires IV, Doom Eternal, Cyberpunk 2077, and Final Fantasy XIV and found that the mouse gave the same results across the board. He didn’t favor any particular genre, but quickly and accurately analyzed my commands, whether We were ordering a group of villagers to build a castle or synced a gun to a cybernetic implant.
It’s worth noting that the Pulsefire Core’s versatility can be detrimental if you’re into a particular genre. It’s not as light as esports mice; it has fewer buttons than Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) mice; it lacks the additional “sniper” button on FPS mice. But to get mice of a specialized genre, you really have to spend more than 30 dollars.
Final Words
The Pulsefire Core is a very light, responsive mouse with good customization. It offers solid performance for gaming and productivity and feels solid enough, though less premium than more expensive options. Mice in this price range abound: Logitech’s entry-level costs $10 less and still offers programmable buttons and macro support.
