HyperX Alloy FPS Pro
This tenkeyless wonder is the refinement we’ve been after.
The Alloy FPS comes with a number pad, but the Pro iteration does away with this in favour of extra desk real estate for mouse-wielding.
Given its near-complete lack of framing or bezels, this makes for a ‘ board about as small as regularsized keycaps will allow for. That compactness will aid in portability, something that’s reinforced by a detachable USB cable, which is braided and sturdy, and the solid steel frame also lends to its impression of travel-ready ruggedness.
The aesthetic is quite striking thanks to the surface-mounted switches making the keycaps appear to hover over the innocuous metal frame. A lack of markings enhance this by leaving the base upon which the keys are mounted relatively untarnished. This simplicity is carried over into the backlighting, which has a small array of effects and brightness levels but is limited to the colour red.
As the name may suggest, this keyboard is targeted at the more ‘ basic’ needs of FPS gamers and, as a result, doesn’t support any macro recording or practically anything beyond the Game mode, which simply disables the Windows key.
Although this may dissuade fans of MMORPGs and other combo-heavy games, the upshot is that you won’t need any dedicated software or even drivers to use all the FPS Pro’s features — it’s plug and play, baby.
And you get the same selection of Cherry MX switches as on the larger Alloy FPS and they’re as satisfying as ever, whether you’re into Red, Blue or Brown varieties.