HyperX Pulsefire Dart review

It's been just five years since HyperX branched out from its origins as the gaming-focused offshoot of storage brand Kingston to a fully-fledged PC peripheral manufacturer. From high-performance gaming headsets to multi-purpose mechanical keyboards, the company has covered a whole lot of ground in a relatively short span of time.

There was one notable gap in HyperX's line-up, however: a wireless mouse. While the likes of the HyperX Pulsefire Surge RGB and HyperX Pulsefire Core are excellent mice in their own right, folks who prefer the freedom of cutting the cord were left wanting.

Until now, that is. The HyperX Pulsefire Dart is HyperX's first wireless mouse, and I'm happy to say it was worth the wait.

Design

• Wider build provides more stability
• Leatherette grips on each side provide extra control
• Subdued design suitable for both home and office environments

• Read our full review of the HyperX Pulsefire Dart's design

  One of the aspects I appreciate most about HyperX's products is their quiet aesthetic. Function over form is the order of the day, with none of the sharp edges and insectoid wings that make some gaming peripherals look like Transformers in disguise.

  The Pulsefire Dart continues this trend. It's sleek and compact, with an attractive black silhouette that blends in just as well at the office as it does at home.

  Compared to previous HyperX mice, the Pulsefire Dart is quite wide. I've found I actually prefer this, as it provides more support across the width of the hand and allows for a firmer, more controlling grip on the mouse.

  The Pulsefire Dart is noticeably heavier than its forebears, too, weighing in at 150g compared to the Pulsefire Surge's 130g. Again, I found this to be an improvement. It gives the mouse a sturdier feel that I prefer while still being light enough for fast movement across the mousepad.

  For the Pulsefire Core, HyperX took cues from other high-end gaming mice and introduced textured grips to its sides. The Pulsefire Dart improves on these dramatically, replacing the cold rubber with padded "leatherette" grips that feel considerably nicer. The left grip curves pleasantly inwards to create a comfortable groove for your thumb to rest, while the right grip keeps your fingers from slipping in the heat of the action.

Performance

• Split-button design ensures fast and responsive clicks
• Solid battery life
• 16,000 DPI sensor tracks well

• Read our full review of the HyperX Pulsefire Dart's performance

  HyperX mice have always felt fast and precise, and the Pulsefire Dart is no different. The left and right mouse buttons are quick and responsive, thanks no doubt due to their Omron switches. HyperX has opted for a split-button design here, leaving a groove above and below the scroll wheel to separate the left and right buttons. This creates a uniform sensitivity across each button, meaning you can press down at the front, back or the sides of the button and it will register your click just as accurately as anywhere else.

  Mouse movement is equally precise. The Pulsefire Dart's Pixart 3389 sensor tracks movement reliably whether you're making fine adjustments at the minimum 200 DPI or flying around the screen at the maximum 16,000 DPI.

  The scroll wheel, too, clicks more responsively than I've come to expect from most gaming mice. Feedback is as swift and firm as either of the primary mouse buttons, making tasks like opening tabs or activating abilities in-game fast and easy. My only complaint is that the wheel itself feels a little plasticky, especially when you're scrolling. Compared to the rest of the Dart's components, it feels oddly cheap.

  For a wireless mouse, battery performance can be just as important as responsiveness. HyperX claims the Pulsefire Dart can last as long as 50 hours on a single charge, and my testing supports this. It took a week of heavy use to drain the Dart's battery from full, which places it in good company with other wireless gaming mice.

Features

• HyperX's first wireless mouse delivers the goods
• Three on-board profiles allow for DPI and RGB switching on-the-fly
• Qi wireless charging is a handy addition

• Read our full review of the HyperX Pulsefire Dart's features

  Wireless connectivity might be the big new feature the HyperX Pulsefire Dart brings to the table, but it can also be used as a regular wired mouse with a USB-C cable if you prefer.

  Just as noteworthy as the wireless functionality, though, is the Pulsefire Dart's support for Qi wireless charging. Rather than having to plug in a standard power adapter and manage yet another tangle-happy cable, you can use the included Qi charging dongle or any other Qi-compatible charger to juice the Pulsefire Dart up cord-free.

  All the standard features you'd expect from a gaming mouse are here, too. The Pulsefire Dart supports three distinct DPI profiles you can switch between on-the-fly using a dedicated mode switch button beneath the scroll wheel. Each of the profiles can be customised in the Hyperx Ngenuity app, and you can assign each profile a specific colour to help you keep track of your current profile in the heat of a match.

  Speaking of colour, the Pulsefire Dart wouldn't be much of a gaming mouse without some form of RGB lighting. It takes an appreciatively subtle approach here, adding coloured lighting to the sides of the scroll wheel and to the HyperX logo on the palm rest. As you'd expect, you can customise both with a handful of lighting effects including a colour cycle or pulsing light.

  The Ngenuity app also gives you control over each of the Pulsefire Dart's four programmable buttons (the left and right mouse buttons can only be swapped). You can record macros and set custom functions as you would with any other gaming mouse.

Verdict

The HyperX Pulsefire Dart improves upon its predecessors in a number of key ways, making it the best mouse HyperX has yet produced. More than that, the addition of wireless functionality, a broader, more comfortable design and support for Qi charging makes the HyperX Pulsefire Dart an excellent gaming mouse that holds its own against the competition.

Pricing and availability

• Price: RRP $199
• Where to buy: Scorptec, PC Case Gear

Specs

Where to buy