HyperX Alloy Origins review

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

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

  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

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

  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

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

  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

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 Kogan

Specs

Finder score: 3.5

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