HyperX Alloy Origins review

Name: HyperX Alloy Origins Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Brand: HyperX

Matt Sayer

Last updated: Feb 13, 2020

With its heavy aluminium frame and ultra-sensitive switches, the HyperX Alloy Origins is a top-notch mechanical keyboard for gamers who like to play fast.

The Good

Sturdy design is capable of taking a few bumps and bruises
Surprisingly compact for a full-size keyboard
New HyperX Red switches are blisteringly fast

The Bad

No option for folks who prefer a clickier switch
Quite heavy for a "portable" keyboard

It's tough to innovate in the gaming keyboard space. PC gamers – and the games they play – rely on a standard set of features that have been refined over decades, and straying from these is a risky proposition.

Rather than fiddle with the established formula, HyperX's latest keyboard looks inwards for innovation. The aptly-titled HyperX Alloy Origins sees HyperX ditch the third-party switches found in all its previous keyboards in favour of debuting its own, custom-manufactured mechanical switches. It's a bold move considering how closely tied switches are to the feel and flow of using a keyboard, but it's one that HyperX pulls off remarkably well.

Design

Aluminium frame is sturdy and resilient
Surprisingly compact for a full-size keyboard
Adjustable feet provide ergonomic options

Unlike a lot of gaming peripheral brands, HyperX tends to opt for a clean, industrial aesthetic absent any boisterous plumage and sci-fi-inspired silhouettes. This approach is fully embodied by the HyperX Alloy Origins. The aluminium frame is heavy and sturdy with a resilience that makes me confident it can brush off bumps, knocks and even full-on falls without breaking a sweat (or a switch).
That weight keeps the HyperX Alloy Origins stable, too, even when you're typing furiously or hammering away at keyboard shortcuts mid-game.
While the HyperX Alloy Origins is a full-size keyboard with a numpad and a row of function buttons, it's surprisingly compact. Spacing around the edge of the board is kept to a minimum, and the keys themselves have just enough room between them to avoid hitting the wrong key when your finger slips. However, this squat design does mean there are no dedicated media buttons, which might be a little disappointing for folks who like watching videos and listening to music on their gaming PC.
In lieu of a wrist rest, the HyperX Alloy Origins has adjustable feet for tilting the keyboard at either a 3-degree, 7-degree or 11-degree angle. Personally, I would have preferred a proper wrist rest similar to the one included with the HyperX Alloy Elite RGB, but it does at least give you some room for ergonomic adjustment.

Performance

Custom HyperX switches are tremendously fast and responsive
No option for fans of punchier switches

As soon as I laid my hands on the Alloy Origins, it became clear that HyperX built it for speed. The new custom HyperX Red switches are fast, real fast, and far faster than I was expecting. According to HyperX, it focus-tested these switches against the competition with more than 300 people across Taiwan and the US before settling on a final design, and while the end result is a little too sensitive for my tastes, the quality is undeniable.
It's a fine line to walk between responsiveness and sufficient resistance to prevent unintentional key presses. But even though the HyperX Alloy Origins doesn't balance the two perfectly, it didn't take long for me to dial in my heavy-handedness and find a suitable rhythm.
Key presses are soft but still clicky, requiring very little force to register. This is good news for games where a lot of the action takes place on the keyboard, and it also makes the Alloy Origins great for high-speed typing.
Using softer, more-responsive switches also means the HyperX Alloy Origins is quieter than a lot of clickier mechanical keyboards. While it's far from silent, it's less likely to bother people around you when working or gaming in a public space.

Features

Braided and detachable USB cable is handy for travel
Full RGB customisation

Though relatively compact for a full-sized keyboard, the HyperX Alloy Origins packs a healthy spread of extra features.
First up is support for fully-customisable RGB lighting. You've got access to all 16.8 million colours of the RGB spectrum plus a range of lighting effects like waves, explosions and the classic breathing pulse. If you really want to go all-out, you can set individual colours for each key on the board. The onboard memory has space for three lighting profiles you can switch between on-the-fly, in case you want to add even more variety to your gaming environment.
All your standard gaming features are present and accounted for as well. Through the HyperX NGENUITY app, you can record and assign macros or custom functions to any key on the board. You've also got support for Game mode, anti-ghosting and N-key rollover, as you'd expect from a modern gaming keyboard.
In keeping with its focus on portability, the HyperX Alloy Origins uses a detachable USB-C cable, making it easier to pack up and stow away when travelling. The cord is braided, too, protecting it from wear and tear in transit.

Verdict

The HyperX Alloy Origins is a stout and sturdy mechanical keyboard built for folks who prioritise speed above all else. Its new proprietary switches prove that HyperX can hang with the likes of Cherry and Kailh just as well as it can with Razer and Logitech. If the Alloy Origins is, as its name suggests, the first step on a new path for HyperX keyboards, I for one am excited to see where it leads.

Pricing and availability

The HyperX Alloy Origins retails for $189.

HyperX Alloy Origins Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Satisfy your need for speed with the HyperX Alloy Origins and its ultra-sensitive custom mechanical switches.

Buy at ebay

Specs

HyperX Alloy Origins Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Where to buy

Build

Keyboard Type

Mechanical

Build Material

Aluminium

Depth

132.5mm

Width

442.5mm

Height

36.39mm

Weight

1.08g

Cable Length

1.8m

Colours

Black

Connectivity

Wired/Wireless

Wired

Features

RGB

Yes

N-key Rollover

Yes

USB Passthrough

Dedicated Media Controls

On-board Memory

3 profiles

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Matt Sayer

Matt Sayer is a technology writer and editorial engineer for Finder, combining industry expertise with data-driven solutions to help people make better decisions. His extensive portfolio spans investigate reporting on the roll-out of 5G, statistical analysis on the legacy of E3 and guides for popular products like mobile phones and smart speakers. Matt has a Bachelor of Computer Science from RMIT University and is passionate about finding ways that technology can better our lives.

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HyperX Alloy Origins review

With its heavy aluminium frame and ultra-sensitive switches, the HyperX Alloy Origins is a top-notch mechanical keyboard for gamers who like to play fast.

The Good

The Bad

What's in this review?

Design

Performance

Features

Verdict

Pricing and availability

HyperX Alloy Origins Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

HyperX Alloy Origins Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Specs

Build

Connectivity

Features

Latest technology headlines

Matt Sayer

Ask an expert

HyperX Alloy Origins review

With its heavy aluminium frame and ultra-sensitive switches, the HyperX Alloy Origins is a top-notch mechanical keyboard for gamers who like to play fast.

The Good

The Bad

What's in this review?

Design

Read our full review of the HyperX Alloy Origin's design

Performance

Read our full review of the HyperX Alloy Origin's performance

Features

Read our full review of the HyperX Alloy Origin's features

Verdict

Pricing and availability

HyperX Alloy Origins Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Specs

Build

Connectivity

Features

Matt Sayer

Ask an expert

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