TechRadar Verdict
You need not spend a lot on a gaming mouse. At least not with HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless now giving them a run for their money. It has the same lightweight design as the more premium options while doing things like battery life and connectivity better, and it throws in RGB lighting for good measure. That’s while delivering comparable performance.
Fast and incredibly lightweight
Bluetooth and 2.4Ghz wireless
Ambidextrous design
RGB lighting around scroll wheel
More affordable than the competition
Low-friction feet less ideal for some games
Buttons have slightly more resistance
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HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless: Two-minute review
If it seems like big-name brand gaming mice are getting pricey, then the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless should help ease your mind. It joins the growing lot of lightweight wireless gaming mice, which apparently is the new trend according to manufacturers, but instead of going the expensive route and charging you the wireless tax, it’s gone the other way, which should already endear it to the economizing set.
But, HyperX goes further than slapping a budget price tag on it. The Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless is also lighter, longer-lasting, and leans heavily on wireless connectivity by offering both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless, beating out my previous favorite, the legendaryRazer Deathadder V3 Pro, as well as other excellent offerings fromRazerand Glorious. HyperX also throws in RGB lighting for good measure, because honestly, what is gaming without it?
This isn’t just one of thebest wireless miceon the market today. It’s also among thebest gaming mice, especially in terms of value.
With the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless, the brand is hoping to throw another hat into the fast-and-highly-accurate mouse ring. That hinges a lot on the mouse’s weight and sensor, which is why this one only weighs in at 61g, making it 2g lighter than the Deathadder V3 Pro, 7g lighter than the Glorious O2 Wireless, and only 3g heavier than the Razer Viper V2 Pro.
Unlike the Deathadder V3 Pro, however, it takes on a more symmetrical form, which makes it leftie-friendly, without taking away support, especially from palm-grip gamers. I found that the nice bump on the palm rest smoothly leads to the nicely-indented left and right buttons that suit my hand well, providing the support it badly needs.
Neither side of the mouse is textured for better grippage, but I never found them necessary. My thumb, index, and pinkie fingers all sit comfortably without causing my wrist any fatigue, which is all I could ask for. If you do need a bit of extra help, however, grip tapes – as well as replacement PTFE skates or feet – come included in the box to give you options.
There are several things the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless does better than the competition, and design-wise, those include the lit-up scroll wheel, which also doubles as an indicator light (it turns red when it’s running low on juice), and the USB receiver garage located at the base. As someone who is constantly losing those pesky things, the latter is certainly much appreciated.
Another mention-worthy extra here is its wireless adapter, which I don’t think is all that necessary since you can plug the wireless receiver directly into your PC and it works just fine. You can also connect via Bluetooth as well as use wired connectivity if you need to charge and use it at the same time.
Back to the PTFE skates, some may find them too smooth and low-friction for your taste. That’s especially if you’re not using the right mouse pad or desk pad with the mouse. You understand where HyperX is going with this – the smoother the glide, the lower friction there is, the faster your movements are, and the less fatiguing it is for you. However, the key with these skates is to use the ideal surface. I tested it with two different desk pads, and I found that it’s better to use it on a soft pad with higher friction.
Performance-wise, I cannot complain. The HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless has the usual 1,000Hz polling rate, which is standard and more than enough for most gamers. But it also comes with a new HyperX 26K sensor and new HyperX switches, which are rated at 100M clicks. And gaming with it has been pretty fast and accurate, whether I’m in the middle of aCyberpunk 2077shootout or I’m battling supernatural enemies inKena: Bridge of Spirits.
I have found, however, that I need to exert a bit of effort for control when I’m not making fast movements – for example, when I’m playingHogwarts Legacyor when I’m using it for work. Not too much that it ends up being fatiguing, but enough that I catch myself doing it every now and then. But, that happens more with my natural linoleum pad than my actual gaming mouse pad.
I found the switches on this mouse have a little more resistance to them than the ones on my Razer ones, but not to the point where they’re a little more fatiguing. In fact, most of the time, I don’t even notice that resistance. But, it is noticeable some of the time, especially when you’re gaming.
At least the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless beats others out in terms of battery life. At full charge, this delivers up to 100 hours of gameplay. While I didn’t exactly time it, I have more than once gone a week without charging it, using it for more or less 12 hours a day with RGB lighting on.
HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless: Price & availability
Much cheaper than its direct rivals, the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless will set you back $89.99 / £94.99 / AU$149 in the US, UK, and Australia respectively, and it’s officially available now. That’s actually a very good price of entry for a lightweight wireless gaming mouse, especially considering that theRazer Deathadder V3 Proand the Razer Viper V2 Pro are both almost twice that price at $149 / £149 / AU$279. Even theGlorious O2 Wirelessis a little pricier at $99 (about £80 / AU$150).
If you want even cheaper options, theCooler Master MM311may be a better choice at only $39.99 (about £34, AU$59).
HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless: Specs
Should you buy the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless?
Buy it if…
You want a lightweight wireless gaming mouse that’s affordableThis isn’t only cheaper than many of the top options on the market; it’s also a better value than a handful of them.
You need versatilityWith both wired and wireless connectivity options, this is a versatile mouse that won’t get in the way of what you need.
Don’t buy it if…
You want a bit more controlIts low-friction pads are more about speed than control. If you want something with a little more control, look elsewhere.
HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless: Also consider
Razer Deathadder V3 ProThe mouse that rules all other gaming mice, the Razer Deathadder V3 Pro is impressive in so many aspects, we’re hard-pressed to find fault in it.
Read our fullRazer Deathadder V3 Pro review
Glorious O2 WirelessThe Glorious O2 Wireless gaming mouse is fast, fetching, and almost featherweight. Most importantly, it costs much less than its big-name rivals.
Read our fullGlorious O2 Wireless review
How I tested the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless
Using the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Wireless as my main mouse for gaming, productivity, and photo editing on Lightroom andPhotoshopfor about three weeks, I was able to test it for different use cases. With it primarily being a gaming mouse, however, I did use it to play a bunch of titles, from fast-paced ones to open-world narratives.
I’ve been testing peripherals for years now, first as a freelance tech journalist and now as one of the Computing Editors for TechRadar.
Read more about how we test
First reviewed April 2023
Michelle Rae Uy is the former Computing Reviews and Buying Guides Editor at TechRadar. She’s a Los Angeles-based tech, travel and lifestyle writer covering a wide range of topics, from computing to the latest in green commutes to the best hiking trails. She’s an ambivert who enjoys communing with nature and traveling for months at a time just as much as watching movies and playing sim games at home. That also means that she has a lot more avenues to explore in terms of understanding how tech can improve the different aspects of our lives.
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