- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Our Verdict
- Test Results
- Differences
- Compared to others
- Discussions
The HyperX Alloy Origins is an exceptional gaming keyboard. It has an understated design that should fit easily into most office environments, and it has an outstanding build quality that should last for years. Its linear switches provide a comfortable typing experience with minimal noise, and its full RGB backlighting can be easily customized to give it a personal touch. The downside is that its accompanying software is only available for Windows, but most keys will still work on other platforms. On the whole, even though this keyboard doesn't offer anything particularly unique, its overall performance and build are still very impressive.
Our Verdict
The HyperX Alloy Origins is a good keyboard for most uses. It provides a light typing experience that shouldn't bother surrounding colleagues, and its responsiveness should satisfy even serious gamers. Unfortunately, it can't be used with mobile devices, but programmers will surely appreciate the ability to set macros to any key on the keyboard.
The HyperX Alloy Origins is an outstanding keyboard for gaming. The linear switches are incredibly responsive and aren't fatiguing to type on, and its RGB backlight is great for dark room gaming. Although every key can be reprogrammed, it lacks dedicated macro keys for MMO games.
See our Gaming recommendationsThe HyperX Alloy Origins is a wired-only keyboard and can't be used with mobile devices.
The HyperX Alloy Origins is a good office keyboard. It's easy to type on and doesn't feel tiring, but you'll need to get a wrist rest if you need the extra support. Typing noise is fairly minimal, and its outstanding build quality means you won't have to buy a new keyboard for years to come. Unfortunately, customization is only available to Windows users, but most keys work on Linux and macOS.
The HyperX Alloy Origins is a great keyboard for programming. The typing feels light and shouldn't cause fatigue, even on long coding sessions. Every key can be reprogrammed or set to a macro, but unfortunately, this feature is only available to Windows users.
- 7.9 Mixed usage
- 9.2 Gaming
- 1.0 Mobile/Tablet
- 7.6 Office
- 8.1 Programming
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Outstanding build quality.
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Excellent typing experience.
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Programmable keys.
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Customization software only available on Windows.
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Test Results
The HyperX Alloy Origins is fairly large, as it's a full-size keyboard with a NumPad. There's a TKL (tenkeyless) variant of this keyboard called the HyperX Alloy Origins Core.
This keyboard has an excellent build quality. It has a full aluminum body that's coated with a soft finish, and the whole keyboard feels solid and hefty, with no signs of flex. The keycaps are made of high-quality ABS plastic and are double shot, so you shouldn't have any issues with key legends fading or chipping over time.
This keyboard has passable ergonomics. It has two incline settings, but it doesn't come with a wrist rest. The kickstands feel solid and shouldn't collapse if you push the keyboard forward.
This keyboard has full RGB backlighting and each key can be individually customized via HyperX's NGENUITY software. The backlight is brighter than other keyboards with RGB backlight, which results in a slight color bleed.
This is a wired-only keyboard but the cable is detachable, making it easy to replace if it gets damaged.
This keyboard has no wireless capabilities.
Every key on the HyperX Alloy Origins can be programmed with the NGENUITY software. There's a 'Game Mode' option that locks the Windows key to prevent accidentally minimizing your game, and it can be activated directly from the keyboard or through the software.
The HyperX Alloy Origins uses proprietary linear switches that feel similar to Cherry MX reds. Linear switches don't have a tactile bump to indicate the actuation point and they require very little force to actuate.
Typing experience is excellent. The keys are stable and well-spaced, which is great for typing accuracy, but the spacebar has a slight rattle. Although the keycaps are made of ABS plastic, they don't feel cheap and are nice to type on. The linear switches provide a light and responsive typing experience and shouldn't cause any fatigue, even during long gaming sessions.
Typing noise is quiet and shouldn't be bothersome, even in a quiet office environment.
The HyperX Alloy Origins has outstanding software support. It can be customized with the NGENUITY software, which can only be downloaded from the Microsoft Windows Store. Although this severely limits its compatibility with other operating systems, it does make its cloud sync feature easier to use, as it relies on your Windows Live account to import your settings, instead of having to create a separate account with HyperX. This software allows you to customize the backlight, program macros, and to save profiles, on top of the three profiles that you can save on the keyboard's onboard memory.
This keyboard has decent compatibility. Since the NGENUITY software is only available on Windows, Linux and macOS users won't be able to customize the keyboard. All the keys function properly on Linux, but Scroll Lock and Pause/Break don't work on macOS.
Differences Between Sizes and Variants
There is a tenkeyless (TKL) variant of this keyboard called the HyperX Alloy Origins Core. It offers similar features to this keyboard, just without a NumPad.
Compared to other keyboards
The HyperX Alloy Origins doesn't have any features that make it stand out in the crowded market of mechanical gaming keyboards; however, it does have one of the best build quality, as it's uncommon to see a full aluminum frame on a keyboard at this price point.
The HyperX Alloy Origins is significantly better than the HyperX Alloy FPS Pro. The Alloy Origins has a much better build quality, and it has a full RGB backlighting with much more customization options due to its software support. The Alloy Origins uses proprietary switches that feel lighter to type on, and it has onboard memory to save profiles.
The SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL is a marginally better gaming keyboard than the HyperX Alloy Origins. The Apex 7 TKL is a small keyboard with dedicated macro keys, and the tactile switches give it a good typing experience. However, the linear switches on the Alloy Origins require little actuation force and their responsiveness should please most gamers.
The HyperX Alloy Origins is a significantly better keyboard than the HyperX Alloy Core RGB. The Alloy Origins has a much better build quality due to its full aluminium frame, and it has mechanical switches that provide a much better typing experience. Also, the Alloy Origins has software support for customization, however, the Alloy Core makes slightly less noise when typing, which is more suitable for noise-sensitive environments.
The SteelSeries Apex 5 Hybrid Mechanical Gaming Keyboard and the HyperX Alloy Origins have very similar performance in most uses. They both have excellent build quality and outstanding RGB backlight, but the Alloy Origins' linear switches might be better for gaming for some and they make less noise. However, the Apex 5 has some extra features like its OLED screen, and its customization software is compatible with macOS, while the NGENUITY software is only available for Windows users.
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