For those who love their mechanical keyboard to sound like a typewriter, gaming peripheral maker HyperX has added its HyperX Blue clicky key switches to their Alloy Origins mechanical gaming keyboard series.
Previously, the Alloy Origins is only available in HyperX Red and Aqua key switches. HyperX Red are linear key switches that are quieter than tactile and clicky switches, while HyperX Aqua are tactile key switches that sit between the linear and clicky key switches in terms of loudness and actuation (press) force.
SPECS
PRICE: $199 (available in Lazada and Shopee)
CONNECTIVITY: USB-C
SWITCHES: HyperX Blue
KEY CAPS: ABS plastic
WEIGHT: 1.08kg
HyperX Blue requires more actuation force and slowest for gaming among the three key switches. But it offers a loud and clicky tactile response like a typewriter.
DESIGN
The Alloy Origins has a very compact design for a full-sized 108-key keyboard. Its matte black aluminium build feels premium and sturdy.
At the bottom of the keyboard, there are two sets of keyboard feet that are able to tilt up the keyboard at two angles of 7 and 11 degrees for more comfortable typing. I find the 11-degree tilt to suit my wrists better.
The keyboard comes with a detachable 1.8m braided USB-A-to-USB-C cable that connects to the USB-C port sited at the back of the keyboard. So, it is more convenient to move this keyboard around, for example to-and-fro your LAN party.
Alloy Origin’s keycaps are made of ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic, which feels smooth to touch. But they are not as durable as PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) keycaps found in higher-end mechanical keyboards.
FOR
+ Compact and premium design
+ HyperX Blue key switches fantastic to type on
+ Great RGB lighting
AGAINST
– Not cheap
– No dedicated media or macro keys
– No USB pass-through ports
As the Alloy Origins is quite compact, there is no space for any USB pass-through port. It also has no space for dedicated macro keys, profile keys or even media keys.
Some keyboards even have a fancy roller wheel for volume control. But no such luxuries for the Alloy Origins. Instead, the volume control and other gaming functions like Game Mode (which disables the Window key) are shared with the Function keys.
These days, it cannot be deemed a gaming keyboard if it doesn’t have RGB lighting. And so, the Alloy Origins supports per-key RGB lighting with more than 16 million colours.
And like many current designs of mechanical keyboards, the key stems are exposed. Not only does this mean it is easier to change the keycaps, you can have a better view of the lighting effects.
Out of the box, the keyboard comes with three preset lighting effects stored in the keyboard’s internal memory. These presets can be changed to your liking, for instance changing the direction of the wave lighting effect and which colour appears after another, using the HyperX NGenuity 2 app (only available in the Windows Store).
It is sometimes nice to just sit back and marvel at the beautiful RGB lighting when you are working.
PERFORMANCE
Despite its compact size, the keys are actually nicely spaced out and you will not be pressing two keys at one time. I was able to type out this review with very few mistakes.
Not to mention, I like the loud clicky sound and the fabulous tactile response it offers. It makes typing so much enjoyable (at least for me).
During gaming, it excels too. I can play the first person shooter game Doom Eternal or role-playing game Cyberpunk 2077 without any ghosting (key presses that don’t register) or hiccups.
On the downside, the ABS plastic keycaps are smudge magnets due to their smooth surface. I find myself cleaning the keycaps often.
In addition, the Alloy Origins is not exactly cheap at $199. Of course, it is not as expensive as the likes of the $400 Razer Huntsman V2 Analog.
However, $200 is still a substantial amount to invest. That said, I think you will not be disappointed if you get the Alloy Origins.
VERDICT
The HyperX Alloy Origins (Blue Switch) mechanical gaming keyboard is a superb keyboard that has everything you need for both work and leisure. It is something you never knew you need it until you start using it.
RATING
FEATURES: 7/10
DESIGN: 9/10
PERFORMANCE: 9/10
VALUE FOR MONEY: 9/10
OVERALL: 8/10
