HyperX Alloy Origins 60
Big things come in small packages
UNBOXING and handling HyperX’s latest 60 percent keyboard is an absolute joy. This feels like a premium product from the start, with a sturdy aluminum chassis and multi-level rubber feet that keep it completely stationary on any surface. The keycaps are doubleshot PBT, with a matte surface that feels comfortable and grippy under the fingertips. A simple but durable braided cable connects via a USB-C port on the rear of the keyboard to a USB-A port on your PC or laptop.
Imagine how happy we were to find out that this dinky, but robust, keyboard only costs a hundred bucks! Sure, it’s still pretty far from the budget keyboard space, but looking at the competition from brands like Asus, Razer, and Ducky, it’s hard to argue with that price point.
So, what does $100 get you? The Alloy Origins 60 is a fairly conventional compact keyboard in terms of layout, chopping off the function keys and everything east of backspace to end up with 61 keys. There are no fancy macro keys here, and media controls (and some other functions) are relegated to alt-functions printed clearly on the fronts of the keycaps.
The aesthetics of this keyboard are just as good as its big brother (the original Origins) thanks to vibrant per-key RGB lighting. A funky alternate spacebar with a topographic design comes included in the box, which looks fantastic, although it’s worth noting that this is made of a cheaper-feeling ABS plastic rather than the high-quality PBT of the other keys.
The key switches on offer here are HyperX’s own proprietary mechanical switches, which are rated for up to 80 million keypresses. The Alloy Origins 60 only comes with linear red switches, which will likely be a dealbreaker for those who prefer clicky blue or tactile brown keys instead. These switches seem a little louder on full keypresses than their Cherry MX Red counterparts, but this could be due to the lower travel.
SNAPPY RESPONSES
That said, these proprietary red switches feel fantastic to use. A force of 45g and an actuation point of 1.8mm (considering the total travel distance of 3.8mm) mean that these keys feel snappy and responsive in games, but without the featherweight triggering of some linear switches. There’s little wobble in the key stems, too. Overall, it makes for a much better typing experience as well as excellent, lightning-fast gaming performance.
This is still very much a gamingoriented product, but it’s great to see a 60 percent gaming keyboard that is still viable for a productivity space. The compact size has its upsides and downsides; at less than 12-inches across, it takes up little real estate on your desk, but the lack of features like arrow keys does pose something of an adjustment period. Most ‘missing’ keys are used by holding down Fn and hitting the key with the corresponding function printed on the front face. While this feels cumbersome at first, it soon becomes muscle memory.
Customization is handled by HyperX’s own NGenuity software. It’s a fairly straightforward program to use, letting you easily rebind keys or customize the per-key RGB, but the profile-swapping function still needs a bit of work; you can store up to three profiles on the keyboard’s onboard memory, but keeping track of which profiles are active and loaded isn’t immediately obvious. You can also swap between a handful of lighting presets (and adjust the RGB brightness) using dedicated alt-key functions, which bypasses the need for NGenuity.
Ultimately, we have few criticisms of the Alloy Origins 60—or at least, few criticisms that can’t be leveled at any 60 percent keyboard. Its compact size, onboard memory, and detachable cable make it highly portable, an excellent choice for attending a LAN party (only once you have got your COVID jab, mind).
While we hope that HyperX introduces an option for different key switches in the future, this is still one of the best compact keyboards available right now. If you like your keys linear and desperately need to free up some desk space, this is the keyboard for you.