HyperX, which is the former gaming division of Kingston, has always offered some of the best mechanical gaming keyboards on the market. They had recently sent us the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 mechanical keyboard for review and here are thoughts about it.
Design and Features
While most of the gaming keyboards offered are full-sized form factors, there are some keyboards that are portable in design. The new HyperX Alloy Origins 60, as the name implies is a portable 60% form-factor keyboard, designed to give gamers more desk space for mouse movements. The keyboard is only 296mm long in width, 105.55mm in depth, and 36.9mm in height.
Kingston says that the Alloy Origins 60 is made of a durable aircraft-grade aluminum body that remains structurally stable while gamers play their favorite action-packed games. The weight of the keyboard is 781.5g so users will be able to carry the keyboard when they go for online tournaments. When it comes to mechanical keyboards, the most selling point is obviously the mechanical key switches, and the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 features custom-designed HyperX switches.
And if you aren’t familiar, there are several types of mechanical switches with different types of typing experience, actuation points, and total travel distances. HyperX offers several key switches that include the HyperX Red for linear operations, the HyerX Aqua switches for tactile feedback, HyperX Blue for the clicky typing experience, and more. The review sample that we got came with the HyperX Red key switches. HyperX Red is known for its quiet operations where the sound of the typing doesn’t bother others in the room.
Personally, I do have another HyperX gaming keyboard with the CherryMX Blue key switches (comparable to the HyperX Blue switches) that are way more audible while typing. The HyperX Red switches on the Alloy Origins 60 feature a total travel distance of 3.8mm and has an estimated lifespan of 80 million keystrokes. Another feature of the key switches is the inclusion of the exposed LEDs that provides bright and vibrant RGB lighting for the entire keyboard.
The RGB lighting can be customized using the HyperX NGENUITY software where you will be able to set light effects for each key with up to 5 different brightness levels. You will be able to customize between 16,777,216 colors for the RGB lighting. The keyboard is capable of storing up to three different profiles on its onboard memory.
The keycaps used on the Alloy Origins 60 are made of double shot PBT materials that are durable enough to resist the wear that could happen over time, frictions, and solvents. And while the keyboard does miss out on a few dedicated keys as compared to other full-sized HyperX mechanical keyboards, some of the keycaps come with secondary functions, and it’s printed on the side of the keycaps for quick recognition. You will need to use the function Fn key in order to activate the secondary functions.
The keyboard also features the Game mode that disables some keys such as the Windows key so you don’t accidentally tap it while playing a crucial moment. The keyboard also features 100% anti-ghosting çapability so you don’t need to worry about any of the keys not registering after pressing multiple keys, along with the N-Key rollover functionality that ensures all keystrokes are detected.
HyperX has also included extra keycaps such as an escape keycap with the HyperX logo, and a special spacebar with a gamer-centric design pattern that will surely get the attention of others. Yes, you do get a keycap puller too to easily take out the keys. For better gaming and typing experiences, the Alloy Origins 60 comes with a 2-step keyboard feet setup that allows you to three different tilting angles that suit the gamer’s typing preferences. The keyboard also comes with a detachable and braided USB-C cable that is 1.8m in length.
We tried playing several games including DOOM: Eternal and Call of Duty: Warzone with the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 and the gaming experience was great. Even with the smaller form-factor, the keyboard still has the essential part that matters for gaming. For those who type a lot, shifting from a full-sized gaming keyboard to the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 might take a bit of time in getting used to the keyboard.
Verdict
If you’re planning to buy a new mechanical keyboard that features a portable form-factor, then the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 is a keyboard that we would recommend. The device offers 60% of a full-sized mechanical keyboard so users will easily be able to get used to the layout. The keyboard is also made of aircraft-grade aluminum materials that ensure durability. It is also lighter than most other full-sized mechanical keyboards. The HyperX Red mechanical switches provide a quiet and linear operation for not only gamers but also for those who type a lot.
The key switches also feature exposed LED lights that provide great RGB lighting for the overall keyboard. And using the HyperX NGENUITY allows gamers to customize the RGB lighting for every key. The keyboard also features the Game mode key, along with 100% anti-ghosting and N-Key rollover that are essential for gameplay without any interruptions. The 2-step keyboard feet with up to three different angles allow users to play games with the Alloy Origins 60 keyboard comfortably.
