MSI Clutch GM41 Lightweight V2: Two-minute review

The GM41 Lightweight is a super simple wired gaming mouse appealing to serious gamers with its light weight and laser-like focus on gaming over extravagant features.

This even extends to its looks. It sports a sleek, low-slung design with little in the way of adornments, or anything to offset the total black colorway. A large RGB light on the body is the only element that brightens up proceedings, which can be customized by holding the DPI button and pressing other buttons or moving the scroll wheel to adjust aspects such as the brightness, mode, speed, and color.

The thin, long shape will likely suit those with long hands, although it might not be wide enough for some. As it’s flat and lower to the ground than many of the best gaming mice, your hand is barely raised from your desktop, which again, some may prefer and some may not. The mouse buttons are relatively flat too, meaning claw grippers might not find them to their liking.

Its texture is smooth all over, save for the rubberized sides that help with grip, but they’re not as sticky as some others are, which I prefer.

The DPI switch is located on the bottom, which isn’t the most convenient, although this does help to keep the GM41 Lightweight as minimal as possible, and prevents mispresses from occurring.

There’s no removing the braided cable as it's hardwired. It also feels more durable than other braided cables, although it’s not as soft to touch. And while it’s light, it’s not as light as some of those adorning its rivals.

In order to tweak the GM41 Lightweight further, the MSI Center software can be downloaded for free. However, compared to other peripheral software, it’s disappointingly basic.

There are only a handful of rebinding options, including other mouse buttons and a few multimedia functions, but there are no keyboard assignments or system-level functions available. The same is true of performance enhancements. While you can select the increments for DPI cycling, the only other adjustments are for the polling rate, angle snapping, and lift-off distance – the latter of which only features two settings with no distance unit given. Those who like to tinker with their debounce time or toggle motion sync will be left out here.

When it comes to actual gaming, the GM41 Lightweight acquits itself reasonably well. The lightness makes for easy maneuverability, while the mouse clicks are snappy, thanks to their lack of travel. However, this lack of travel also reduces feedback somewhat. This makes spamming clicks harder, as does the relative heaviness of the clicks themselves and that aforementioned flat shape of the buttons. On a more positive note, however, I did find the mouse buttons to be also pleasingly resistant to slam clicks.

The scroll wheel, however, is very fast yet still provides enough notching to make for controlled flicks when needed. The scroll click is a little heavy, however, making it hard to actuate at times, but thankfully, it’s secure enough to prevent accidental mis-scrolls.

The side buttons are very thin, but light enough to use with ease. They offer slightly more travel than you might expect, but they are satisfyingly damped, making them more enjoyable to use than you might expect.

However, while the cable is light, I found it did create drag when making large swipes. The issue seems to stem from the lack of angle on the strain relief, as it did little to elevate the first portion of the cable from my desktop surface. Depending on the layout of your setup, this might not be an issue, but you may benefit from using the GM41 Lightweight with a mouse bungee.

Thankfully, the PTFE skates allow for smooth gliding on hard and soft surfaces, although they are quite thin, and there’s no spare set included in the box. But if you stick to mouse pads, then you should have no problem moving the GM41 Lightweight around.

If you’re looking for a basic gaming mouse with no extra buttons or features, then the GM41 Lightweight is a solid choice. Its main rivals boast similar prices, such as BenQ’s range of EC mice. However, there are others, such as the Cooler Master MM311 and the Logitech G305 Lightspeed, that are cheaper and offer brilliant gaming performance, all without requiring a cable.

MSI Clutch GM41 Lightweight V2: Price & availability

• $54 / £29 (about AU$85)
• Available now
• Black only

The GM41 Lightweight costs $54 / £29 (about AU$85) and is available in one colorway: black. It doesn’t come with any replaceable parts, such as grip tape or a spare set of skates.

Its price is in line with other 1K wired gaming mice. The BenQ Zowie EC2-C, which is our pick as the best mouse for CS:GO and CS2, costs about the same. However, that mouse is heavier at 73g, and that’s excluding the cable, but we still found its performance to be excellent.

There are wireless gaming mice for less. The Cooler Master MM311, for instance, is our budget champion and also features a 1K polling rate, although it has no rechargeable battery. Likewise, the Logitech G305 Lightspeed is only marginally cheaper than the GM41 Lightweight, and is our pick as the best wireless gaming mouse for those on a budget.

MSI Clutch GM41 Lightweight V2: Specs

Should you buy the MSI Clutch GM41 Lightweight V2?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

MSI Clutch GM41 Lightweight V2: Also consider

How I tested the MSI Clutch GM41 Lightweight V2

• Tested for several days
• Played various games
• 10+ years PC gaming experience

I tested the GM41 Lightweight for several days, during which time I used it for playing games, productivity, and general use.

In order to push the GM41 Lightweight to its limits, I played fast-paced shooters such as Counter-Strike 2, which is the ultimate test for any gaming mouse.

I have been PC gaming for over 10 years, and have used a large number of mice during that time. I have also reviewed many of them, from budget picks to high-end offerings, all with various shapes, sizes, weights, and feature sets.

• First reviewed: November 2024
• Read more about how we test

Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K: Two-minute review

The Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K is a large gaming mouse with plenty of clever features and multiple connectivity options, making it a versatile pointer suitable for various setups and use cases.

It adopts the familiar design popularized by the Logitech G502, with its long sloping front and protruding thumb slot. It’s fairly smart and understated, especially in its black variant, and the RGB lighting around the scroll wheel, logo and bottom edge is subtle and tasteful.

Feeling premium, the materials are among what the best gaming mice have to offer. The plastic chassis is lightly textured and the sides are finished with high- quality rubberized grips. These offer enough security without becoming sticky or collecting dust and dirt over time, as grips on other mice are prone to.

The buttons are of a similar quality. The mouse clicks feel robust and well damped, while the side buttons are snappy with a pleasingly deep travel, making them easy to use. The same is true of the DPI button on the top too.

The scroll wheel has a side-tilt function, which works well since the raised height of the wheel itself makes it easy to tilt left and right. Vertical scrolls are well notched; although it isn’t as tight as you’ll find on other gaming mice, it suffices. This is perhaps a small compromise given that it has a free spin ability, activated by pressing the button above it.

What’s more, in Razer’s Synapse peripheral software, you can set the scroll wheel to activate free spin automatically, triggered when you flick it more vigorously. This works well for the most part, although there can be a slight delay as the lock disengages after recognizing a hard flick. However, it’s still viable enough for practical use.

The mouse also features a sniper button, which is well positioned for easy access and clicks in towards the user, again facilitating easy presses. It too feels well damped and built to withstand the rigors of intense gaming.

Weighing in at 112g, the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K is on the heavier side relative to pro-focused gaming mice. Despite this, it’s still quite maneuverable, and the weight feels more evenly distributed than other heavy mice, meaning it feels lighter than it actually is; I’ve tested lighter mice that are tougher to move around than this.

The PTFE skates are quite thin, but on padded surfaces it’s silky smooth and I had no issues with gliding. It does tend to scratch a little on hard ones, though, and unfortunately, there’s no spare set included in the box.

What is included, though, is a USB cable for wired play. It’s quite flexible but more weighty than other gaming mouse cables. As a result, I experienced a small element of drag when using it, but it was manageable enough to carry on playing.

The Basilisk V3 Pro 35K is compatible with Synapse V4. While the layout is clear and easy to navigate, there are a few issues worth noting. For instance, when using the mouse in wired mode, the tab for it sometimes disappeared momentarily. Also, the battery readouts were initially sporadic, dropping suddenly at times and failing to indicate charging when a wired connection was active, merely displaying a 100% level even though this clearly wasn’t the case. However, these are minor bugs that’ll hopefully be quashed with future software and firmware updates.

When it does work as intended, however, Synapse offers plenty of customization options to sink your teeth into. Standard rebinding options are present, allowing you to map the buttons to other buttons, keyboard keys, and a generous selection of Windows shortcuts. There’s also the Hypershift function, which allows you to map a secondary layer of binds to all buttons, save for the one button you designate as the Hypershift button itself.

Disappointingly, though, there are only a few performance tweaks, such as customizable DPI cycling increments and polling rate changes that top out at 1K, which might not suffice for elite players (they’ll have to purchase the HyperPolling Wireless Dongle for that privilege). However, there is something called Asymmetric Cut-Off, which allows you to set the lift-off and landing distances independently, with plenty of adjustments on the slider for both – not something you see in many other peripheral software.

In use, the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K performs admirably. Gliding is smooth and the Razer Optical Mouse Switches Gen-3 are responsive, although the clicks are a little on the heavy side, which doesn’t make them the best for spamming. That aforementioned heavy weight can compromise swiping speeds too, so those who like low DPI settings might have a hard time here.

Also, the HyperSpeed Wireless Dongle, which is supposed to reduce latency, didn’t appear to make much difference over the standard 2.4GHz dongle during my tests. However, I did experience a few dropouts when using the latter, although my setup could’ve been the culprit, as objects may have been blocking the receiver.

The multiple connectivity modes work fine for the most part, although there is a slight delay when switching between the 2.4GHz and Bluetooth modes across two devices, and a press is required first to wake up the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K to the new device.

Battery life is a claimed 120 hours in HyperSpeed wireless mode, or 210 hours in Bluetooth, but during my tests, which involved switching between the two modes regularly, I was getting closer to sub-100 hours, which is still an admirable performance.

The Basilisk V3 Pro 35K acquits itself well enough, but it doesn’t really achieve anything that spectacular. At this price, it faces some stiff competition, chiefly from Razer’s own DeathAdder and the Logitech G502 X Plus. For performance and features, these two probably edge ahead of the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K, so while it’s perfectly capable, it’s probably not the strongest feature-filled mouse out there.

Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K: Price & availability

• $159.99 / £159.99 / AU$279.95
• Available in black and white
• Rivals similarly priced

The Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K costs $159.99 / £159.99 / AU$279.95 and is available now in both black and white colorways. The HyperSpeed Wireless Dongle is included, as is a USB cable for wired play and charging.

It’s the same price as the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro, which is considerably lighter in weight (63g), but also lighter on features, since its pared-back design is focused on gaming prowess above all else. For instance, it comes with Razer’s HyperPolling Wireless Dongle, which boosts the maximum polling rate to 8K for great precision and smoothness.

Its nearest rival from another brand is the Logitech G502 X Plus, the best wireless gaming mouse for features. Both have a similar price and shape; however, the G502 does feature two more buttons next to the left click, which makes it slightly more versatile.

Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K: Specs

Should you buy the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K: Also consider

How I tested the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro 35K

• Tested for over a week
• Used for gaming and productivity
• Over a decade of PC gaming experience

I tested the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K for over a week, during which time I used it for gaming and productivity purposes.

I played the FPS titles Counter-Strike 2 and S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2: Heart of Chornobyl in order to test the speed and accuracy of the Basilisk V3 Pro 35K. I also tested it on multiple systems and used every connectivity method, as well as the HyperSpeed Wireless Dongle.

I have been PC gaming for over 10 years and have experienced a number of mice. I have also reviewed various gaming mice, spanning a range of shapes, sizes, and price points.

• Read more about how we test
• First reviewed: January 2025

GravaStar Mercury M1 Pro: two-minute review

The GravaStar Mercury M1 Pro is made for pro-level players with its advanced features and looks aimed squarely at the gaming market. But its design will be divisive, to say the least.

The GravaStar Mercury M1 Pro's industrial spiderweb body with its faux scuffs and scratches (on the Battle Worn Edition) would’ve looked dated 20 years ago. The dull gray color of this variant only adds to the dourness. The center of the mouse features a large RGB light, which certainly makes it stand out even more. However, I struggle to imagine anyone who would find the Mercury M1 Pro to their taste.

You might think the pitted design would help keep the weight down, but the metal frame and center mass of the Mercury M1 Pro makes itself felt; at 88g, it’s certainly heavier than the best gaming mouse around.

Its long shape and webbing also make for bad ergonomics. The metallic material doesn’t offer the best grip, and the mouse buttons are quite short and feel like a stretch to reach – those with smaller hands may struggle in particular with this aspect.

The concave side walls also fail to offer much support or grip when lifting off before swipes. Optional grip tape is included for the sides and the mouse buttons, but this didn’t improve matters for me, and the padding material feels cheap and too slippery to be of much use.

On top of this, the mouse buttons feel too weighty to allow for quickfire clicks despite their cheap-feeling plastic construction, and simply don’t feel comfortable under the fingertips. However, the scroll wheel and side buttons do feel solid and secure enough to use.

The thin skates seemed quite scratchy at first, even on padded surfaces, until I realized they were covered by imperceptibly thin peel-away sheets - so make sure to take these off before using the Mercury M1 Pro. Afterward, the scratchiness was gone and gliding felt a lot smoother. Replacement skates are also included, but these don’t offer any additional padding.

Via the GravaStar software, you can make various customizations and tweaks. All the standard options are present, such as the ability to rebind five of the six buttons on the Mercury M1 Pro (the main left button cannot be altered).

These include some useful system-level shortcuts and functions, including custom keystroke combinations (with or without modifier keys), media playback controls, and both vertical and horizontal scrolling. However, the selection is a little sparse compared to those offered by some other peripheral software.

Other rebinds include a fire mode, which lets you assign a button to rapid-fire left click up to three times (or infinitely until the button is released) in intervals of between 10 and 255 ( I presume milliseconds, as the software doesn’t actually specify the unit). There’s a DPI lock mode to set the sensitivity of the Mercury M1 Pro to a fixed amount rather than cycling through the six available increments (although these increments can be set yourself in the software too).

There’s also a macro recording feature, and – of course – multiple patterns and color options to choose from for the RGB lighting.

Catering to the elite, there are also tweaks for the lift-off distance (between 1 and 2mm) and debounce times (between 4ms and 8ms). You can also toggle motion sync, ripple control, and angle snapping on or off.

However, what won’t suffice for many pro-level gamers is the 4K polling rate. This is achieved using the other USB dongle included in the box of the Battle Worn Edition, which is much larger than the default bundled 1K dongle and looks like something that might birth a xenomorph (though why you'd want that on your desk, I have no idea). Many high-end gaming mice offer an 8K polling rate, which makes for a more noticeable improvement in precision and smoothness. Here, though, I struggled to discern a performance increase between 1K and 4K, which begs the question: if you’re going to include a separate dongle to allow for higher polling rates, then why stop short of 8K?

When it comes to actually playing games, the Mercury M1 Pro fails to impress in this regard either. The aforementioned ergonomic issues make gliding and clicking awkward; there’s just not enough snappiness or ease of movement to make it viable for pro-level play in competitive online games. It’s precise enough for more casual sessions, but the feel in the hand doesn’t make the Mercury M1 Pro much fun to use.

As for battery life, GravaStar's website merely states that it’s “prolonged”, whatever that means. During my tests, in which I used a mixture of power and connectivity modes, it only dropped by 5% after a day's worth of use, which is admittedly solid performance.

The various connectivity methods worked well, although switching between the 1K and 4K dongles isn’t straightforward, requiring re-pairing every time, which only adds to the inconvenience. However, the process is relatively quick and easy, and you likely won’t be switching much between these modes on the same machine anyway.

It’s hard to find much to commend in the Mercury M1 Pro, especially since it commands a high-end price. For the same money, you could have a Cherry XTRFY M68 PRO, which offers a higher 8K polling rate and much better design and performance, though it lacks any tweaking software. Various Razer offerings, such as the DeathAdder V3 Pro, roundly beat it in every regard.

GravaStar Mercury M1 Pro: Price & availability

• $129 / £101 / AU$198
• Battle Worn Edition includes 4K dongle
• Top end of the market

The Mercury M1 Pro costs $129 / £101 / AU$198 and is available now. It comes in two colorways: Gunmetal Gray and Silver Mist, the latter of which is the Battle Worn Edition. This features the aforementioned faux wearing and comes with the 4K dongle, hence its price hike over the Gunmetal Gray variant, which costs $99 / £78 / AU$152.

It’s cheaper than some of the best wireless gaming mouse options in our view, including the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro. However, that mouse can achieve an 8K polling rate (albeit requiring an additional adapter to do so). It also integrates with Synapse, Razer’s peripheral software that offers many advanced customizations.

For about the same price as the Mercury M1 Pro, you could also get the Cherry XTRFY M68 Pro. Again, this mouse has an 8K polling rate, which is supported right out of the box. At 55g, it’s also a lot lighter than the Mercury M1 Pro. However, it doesn’t have any peripheral software, so all adjustments must be made via some rather cumbersome button combinations.

GravaStar Mercury M1 Pro: Specs

Should you buy the GravaStar Mercury M1 Pro?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

GravaStar Mercury M1 Pro: Also consider

How I tested the GravaStar Mercury M1 Pro

• Tested for several days
• Used for gaming and productivity
• 10+ years PC gaming experience

I tested the Mercury M1 Pro for several days, and used it for gaming, productivity, and general use.

I played titles such as Counter-Strike 2 and I Am Your Beast – fast-paced shooters that are the perfect testing grounds for gaming mice. I also used as many features present in the GravaStar software as possible, and used all connectivity modes, including the 4K dongle.

I have been PC gaming for over 10 years and during that time, I have used a number of gaming mice. I have also reviewed a wide variety of products in this segment, spanning various sizes, feature sets, and prices, from big-name brands and lesser-known manufacturers.

Read more about how we test.

First reviewed: November 2024

Turtle Beach Burst 2 Air: Two-minute review

The Turtle Beach Burst 2 Air is the brand’s new ultralight gaming mouse promising top-tier performance, which it hopes to achieve with its ergonomic design, quality hardware, and in-depth tweakability. 

Considering the Burst 2 Air is a full-size gaming mouse, it’s remarkable that it only tips the scales at 47g, undercutting many gaming mice in the lightweight category. Rather than sporting an all-over honeycomb design to shed the weight, it has just two small cutouts underneath that expose the underside to the PCB within. Despite this absence of material, Turtle Beach has managed to include a handy slot to store the 2.4GHz USB receiver. As an exercise in cutting weight, it’s impressive. 

With its understated appearance, the Burst 2 Air cuts a rather unremarkable figure, especially compared to the audacious looks of some of the best gaming mice. The white colorway I tested does look more vibrant than its black counterpart, and the light gray accents on the logo, side buttons, and scroll wheel are a nice touch. There are two small LEDs, one between the mouse buttons and another under the scroll wheel, but these are relatively subtle. The finish is smooth with a slight texture that I found suitable for my palm and fingers, although grip tape is included in the box for those who prefer something more substantial. 

The Burst 2 Air fits nicely in the hand, with an even curve all around, although there’s slightly more bulk towards the back end. There isn’t much of a forward rake either, so it doesn’t feel like your fingers are falling away. Turtle Beach doesn’t recommend specific grip styles but it seems ideal for most, though it may be too bulky for those who prefer the claw type. My only real complaint about the shape of the Burst 2 Air is that the sides cinch inwards a little too much for my liking, making it harder to squeeze during those clutch moments.

The mouse wheel is softly notched but still provides enough security to prevent mis-scrolls. It’s tight and secure when pressed, while still being easy to actuate. The side buttons are very clicky, and their angle and protrusion make them easy to use. Rather than being situated on top or underneath, as is typical for many gaming mice, the DPI cycle button is located on the left front side. It’s small and pressing it can be awkward, given it’s quite close to the bottom, meaning your thumb ends up pressing into your desktop. This is a small grievance, though, and the button operates smoothly.

When it comes to the business of gaming, the Burst 2 Air is a joy to use. Maneuverability is exceptional, gliding effortlessly on almost any surface, thanks to the thick PTFE skates. The pre-tensioned optical switches can be activated with light clicks, and although they travel further than I expected, this only adds to their satisfaction. There is the slightest indentation on the buttons themselves, just enough to guide your fingers to the optimal position.

Coupled with the ultra-light total weight, this makes the Burst 2 Air very precise. Of course, what weight, shape, and size is best for a gaming mouse comes down to personal preference, but for me, I found the Burst 2 Air ideal for my hands and swipes. Using it with the included USB cable does add more resistance to movements, but I adapted to it quickly, and I wouldn’t go so far as to call it drag, with all the negative connotations that word brings. As with many braided cables, durability can be an issue, but during my time using it I didn’t notice any fraying. 

For customizing and adjusting settings, you’ll need Swarm 2, Turtle Beach’s peripheral software. As soon as you open it, you’re greeted with jagged fonts that are hard to read and fail to inspire much confidence. I have previous experience using this software with a Turtle Beach keyboard, and in that case, I found it to be obtuse in places and not the most user-friendly. Some of my concerns remain in place in the case of the Burst 2 Air, although I do think mice settings are more clearly laid out. 

The software allows for all the typical tweaks you'd expect, including adjustments for the DPI. However, this has a clunky implementation, requiring you to drag dots across the screen for each of the five predefined settings. In theory, this interface is a good idea, but it’s poorly executed here, with bugs and glitches occurring until I updated the mouse’s firmware. The update also fixed the battery level readout, which was previously stuck at 18%, even when charging.

There are also adjustments for the poll rate, with five settings ranging from 125Hz to 1000Hz, and a debounce time slider in a nondescript unit between 0 and 10 (a lot of other software I’ve tested measure this in milliseconds). There’s also DCU calibration, which is equivalent to lift-off distance. There are two predefined settings, very low and low, as well as a custom mode that automatically sets the distance based on a few test movements. Again, though, there is no indication in any setting as to what the exact distance you’ve set is.

Other settings include angle snapping, which smooths cursor movements by making them more linear, and motion sync, which aligns the mouse’s polling rate to that of your PC, so only the latest polling data is read. In theory, this improves accuracy as tracking becomes more seamless, but in reality, only hardcore pro players will likely notice or care about this. During my tests, I failed to notice much difference when activated.

It’s also compatible with Nvidia Reflex, which claims to reduce input latency even further when gaming. It requires an Nvidia GPU and a monitor compatible with Nvidia G-Sync (although my FreeSync monitor worked with this too). It’s only currently supported by a handful of games, and again it’s a feature that only pro players will likely notice in action.

Switching between the different connectivity modes worked fairly seamlessly in my experience, letting me switch between two devices on the fly with a flick of the switch underneath. Note, however, that when connected via USB cable, this overrides your other connectivity options, so device switching effectively becomes unavailable until you pull the plug.

The claimed battery life of the Burst 2 Air is 120 hours in Bluetooth mode, and 40 when using the 2.4GHz receiver. According to my tests, this seems accurate, as the battery barely dipped below 90% over several days of use, even when set to the maximum 1k poll rate.

The Burst 2 Air is a solid wireless gaming mouse for those who are after a comfortable yet speedy performer. The overall shape, low package weight, connectivity options, and smooth glides are its standout aspects. However, Swarm 2 isn’t the most intuitive peripheral software to use, and the fact is there are better value gaming mice that match the Burst 2 Air for performance, such as the Cooler Master MM311. It’s by no means a bad pointer to plump for, but there are plenty of other great options around for less money.

Turtle Beach Burst 2 Air: Price & availability

• $99 / £99 (about AU$147)
• Black and White colorways

The Burst 2 Air is priced at $99 / £99 (about AU$147) and is available now. It comes in either Black or White colorways.

For a gaming mouse of this spec, the Burst 2 Air represents pretty average value for money. It competes with other wireless mice such as the Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed, which offers similar features and functionality. It also supports an 8k poll rate, although this does require Razer’s HyperPolling Wireless Dongle, which costs an extra $29 / £29 / AU$54.

If you’re after a wireless gaming mouse with an 8k poll rate straight out of the box, then be prepared to part with more cash. Offerings in this category can set you back considerably more: the Razer Viper V3 Pro, for example, is over $100 / £150 / AU$275.

However, if you’re happy with 1k, there are more wireless budget picks than ever. For instance, there’s the Cooler Master MM311, which is our current pick as the best gaming mouse for those on a budget – it’s heavier than the Burst 2 Air and runs on AA batteries, though. If you want a rechargeable battery, then the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 could fit the bill; although it weighs 61g, it’s slightly cheaper than the Burst 2 Air. There’s also a wired variant with an 8k poll rate for even less.

Turtle Beach Burst 2 Air: Specs

Should you buy the Turtle Beach Burst 2 Air?

Buy it if...

Don't buy it if...

Turtle Beach Burst 2 Air: Also consider

How I tested the Turtle Beach Burst 2 Air

• Tested for two weeks
• Played FPS and strategy games
• 10+ years PC gaming experience

I tested the Burst 2 Air for around two weeks. During that time, I used it with a variety of games, as well as for general use and productivity.

I played FPS titles including Counter-Strike 2, the evergreen peripheral tester, as well as strategy games that almost exclusively use mouse inputs, such as Tactical Breach Wizards. 

I have been PC gaming for over a decade, and during that time I have tried a variety of gaming mice of all shapes and sizes from the likes of Razer, Logitech, Alienware, and HyperX, to name a few. I generally prefer full-size mice over miniature ones and prefer a light to medium weight. 

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: September 2024

HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini: Two-minute review

The name of the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini appears to be a slapdash assortment of buzzwords, but it at least signals its intentions of being a rapid gaming mouse. HyperX claims it’s 16% smaller than the Pulsefire Haste 2, as well as being a few grams lighter (59g rather than 61g).

As with other HyperX peripherals, the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini keeps to a minimal aesthetic, with only two small logos present. There is also an RGB light around the rim of the scroll wheel, but again, this is reasonably understated compared to other gaming peripherals. The chassis has a more textured feel than you might expect from a gaming mouse, which should help players maintain their grip when things get sweaty. 

This isn’t the lightest mini gaming mouse out there, with numerous other examples managing to keep the grams down to the low 50s. What’s more, the weight doesn’t feel evenly distributed, with most of it appearing to be concentrated around the center, making the Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini feel heavier than it is. 

Immediately apparent when you first grip the mouse is the steep rake of the two main buttons. I found this comfortable as it was conducive to the natural bend in my fingers and knuckles – something I can’t say about other compact gaming mice I’ve experienced. Their deep indentations also help to keep your fingers in place, while the concave sides help secure your overall grip on the Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini.

Clicks are more weighted than you might expect compared to some of the best gaming mouse options in this size category, which means rapid firing isn’t as easy to pull off as you might expect, quite ironic given its name. That sloping angle does help to facilitate spamming somewhat, letting you hammer down on the buttons more emphatically, but they’re still not as snappy as I would’ve liked.

The back and forward buttons are quite large for a miniature mouse. They feel firm but are easy to actuate and pleasingly responsive. The scroll wheel is well-notched, and the scroll button offers a secure push for the most part, although I did struggle to actuate it consistently: if you don’t hit the wheel square in the middle, then you’ll encounter a surprising amount of resistance, which can lead to failures in registering your inputs.

Despite only having four small PTFE skates in each corner and one around the optical sensor, they’re quite thick, which makes the Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini glide smoothly, even over hard surfaces. It’s one of the mouse’s standout features, one that will be sure to please the accuracy-craving FPS sect.

The DPI button is located on the top and can be used to cycle through up to five predefined settings. It can also be customized to perform other functions. I should mention I did experience a strange bug on one of the Windows 10 machines I tested the Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini with, where the DPI kept reverting to 800 when left idle for a couple of minutes. This could’ve merely been a quirk of my particular system, and on my main gaming rig – which also uses Windows 10 – I didn’t have this issue. 

What might deter some gamers is the maximum polling rate of 1,000Hz, who might not deem this high enough for esports-grade performance. Those who use the Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini for casual gaming will most likely not even notice the difference, but the higher polling rate should reduce that all-important latency figure, making movements smoother and therefore more accurate.

Ngenuity is HyperX’s software for customizing the Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini, but it is quite limited in what it can do. There are options to change the polling rate, lift-off distance (a binary choice between 1mm and 2mm), and RGB lighting, but there is a distinct lack of system-level and media shortcuts available for binding. Admittedly, this is probably less of a concern for mice than it is for keyboards, but worth mentioning nonetheless. If top-level customization is what you’re after, then Razer provides its peripherals with many more options via its Synapse suite.

Battery life is a claimed 100 hours, and during my testing, this does appear to hold true. After using the mouse for around three weeks, I didn’t need to recharge it once.

As well as a wireless 2.4GHz dongle, the Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini also has the ability to connect via Bluetooth, handy if you want to switch between two devices quickly by using the selector switch underneath. The connection works well, although be warned that if you do connect via Bluetooth, you won’t be able to use it with the Ngenuity software, so your customization options are limited. You can still cycle through your DPI settings with the DPI button, though.

The Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini can also be used in wired mode while charging. The included USB-C to USB-A cable is very light and malleable, which means there is next to no drag to disrupt the experience.

As a gaming tool, the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini is a solid choice, but it ultimately won’t blow you away. It glides excellently and has good ergonomics to offer a secure grip and operation. But the lack of an 8K polling rate will likely irk some potential users, and the clicks are a little too on the heavy side when ultra-quick spamming is called for. This is fast becoming a saturated market, and the fact is there are plenty of high-polling lightweight mice out there from the likes of Razer and other big hitters. 

HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini: Price & availability

• $79 / £89 / about AU$119
• Available in black or white
• Cheaper than the competition

The Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini is available now for $79 / £89 (about AU$119) and comes in two colorways: black or white. It’s marginally cheaper than its bigger sibling, the Pulsefire Haste 2, which comes in at $89 / £94 / AU$149.

Confusingly, there’s also the Pulsefire Haste 2 Core, which is even less at $49 / £49 / about AU$73. It looks nearly identical to the standard edition, but there are various differences, including a heavier weight (70g), no inbuilt battery (it uses a single AAA instead), and a lower maximum DPI rate of 12,000.

The Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini has a lower price tag than many of its rivals in the lightweight wireless gaming mice market. There are others in this segment that are over £100, but then there’s the Cooler Master MM311, a bargain pick that undercuts many competitors at $39.99 (about £30 / AU$59) while still offering a very competent package. It is heavier at 77g, though.

The Razer DeathAdder V3 Hyperspeed, a similarly lightweight wireless gaming mouse tipping the scales at 55g, is slightly more expensive at $99.99 / £99.99 / AU$179.95, and it’s full-size. However, it can be upgraded to an 8KHz polling rate with the additional Razer HyperPolling wireless dongle, which costs an extra $29.99 / £29.99 / AU$54.95.

If lightness is a priority for you, then the Pulsar X2v2 commands a similar price but weighs less at 52-54g, and it’s also wireless. There’s also the Razer Viper V3 Pro, which is a full-size mouse but still lighter at 54g, although it is considerably more expensive than the Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini. It does have a maximum polling rate of 8KHz, though – an important feature for those who prize smoothness above all else.

HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini: Specs

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HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini: Also consider

How I tested the HyperX Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini

• Tested for 3 weeks
• Played a variety of games
• 10+ years of PC gaming experience

I used the Pulsefire Haste 2 Mini for around 3 weeks. During that time, I used it for gaming, casual PC use, and productivity. 

I played various FPS titles, including the ever-popular Counter-Strike 2 and the open-world Generation Zero. I also played sedate exploration games, including Botany Manor and Dimhaven, both of which are pretty much the antithesis of competitive shooters.

I used it in both the 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth modes, as well as wired. I used it on a variety of machines, including desktop and laptop PCs.

Read more about how we test

First reviewed: July 2024