Armageddon/HyperX

PRICE $ 129 www.hyperxgaming.com

We like our keyboards without too many frills, compact, affordable and nice to type on. The Alloy FPS Pro, the latest keyboard from HyperX comfortably ticks all those boxes and then some, making it one of the most elegant, and nice to use keyboards we’ve seen in a while. Put simply, the Alloy FPS Pro is a tenkeyless model of the already very good Alloy FPS, taking one of the nicest bare bones designs and making it more compact. Again the keyboard utilises real Cherry MX switches, with a choice of the clicky, loud and banned in the office because of the noise Blue switches, silent but tactile Brown and linear Red. Our review model features red switches and they feel great.

Like the Alloy FPS, the keyboard features a naked design, with the switches and keys placed on a hefty and solid feeling back plate. Although small, the keyboard is actually heavier than a number of full sized keyboards, lending it the feeling of real quality. The simple red backlighting of the Alloy FPS returns. For us the straight red backlighting is great, but if you prefer your lighting a little more dynamic you can change the intensity and cycle through effects like breathing or a ripple via the FN button and arrow keys.

While it would have been nice to see HyperX show a little more creativity in design with the FPS Pro, as they did with the FPS Elite, it’s still very easy to find the appeal of this keyboard. It’s simple, affordable, looks great, is fantastically built and doesn’t take up all your desk real estate. DANIEL WILKS