While the Pulsefire FPS and Pulsefire Surge are both fairly minimalistic mice, there are some notable physical differences between them. The most obvious one is the lighting strip around the sides of the Pulsefire Surge, it’s also a bit heavier than the Pulsefire FPS (100g to 95g) and doesn’t have the same tapered top. The texture of the plastic along the side of the Pulsefire Surge is a bit less smooth and it feels a tad smaller in hand. The Pulsefire Surge, like the Pulsefire FPS before it, also has the same six buttons: left click, right click, middle mouse/scroll wheel, two side buttons (defaulted to forward and back), and a small button under the scroll wheel (defaulted to DPI cycling).
As a full package, the Pulsefire Surge ends up being a great mouse. It’s easy to pick up and use (I had absolutely no issues using it in my Smite games) and the software is fairly user-friendly, meaning players can get their desired customizations with few frustrations. Even as someone who isn’t usually impressed by LEDs, I have to admit I dig the lighting options. Ignoring the existence of the Pulsefire FPS for a moment, I wholeheartedly recommend this mouse for players who don’t require more than six buttons. The big question, however, is how it compares to its predecessor.
To answer this question, it all boils down to a series of slight pros and cons for me. On the one hand, I like the shape and weight of the Pulsefire FPS more - the Pulsefire Surge feels just a tad too small and a tad less ergonomic. On the other hand, though, I love the customization that the NGenuity software provides, especially in regard to the DPI settings. If the Pulsefire Surge had the same shape as the Pulsefire FPS, I think it would have been a near-perfect mouse for me; I wish I could smash them together, honestly. Since that is sadly not a possibility, I give the slight edge to the Pulsefire Surge.
As it is, HyperX’s Pulsefire FPS and Pulsefire Surge are still two of the best gaming mice I’ve had the pleasure to use. They are alike in their high degree of precision and extremely smooth surface tracking, but they differ in their customization options and physical shape/weight. If it’s a question between the two, I’d recommend the Pulsefire FPS for players who don’t care about the LED options and think the four DPI pre-sets (400, 800, 1600, 3200) will suit their daily needs. For players who highly value color customization, macro set-up, and control over their DPI settings, then the Pulsefire Surge would be more appropriate.
