- 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.
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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.
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.
The 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
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, or you can also consider the Hyperx Alloy FPS Pro, though the latter has a single red color backlight instead of RGB.
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. Check out the Corsair K68 for a similar keyboard with a detachable wrist rest.
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. If you want dedicated media keys and a USB passthrough, check out the HyperX Alloy Elite 2.
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.
If you prefer switches that provide tactile feedback, check out the Ducky Shine 7, as it can be customized with your preferred type of switches.
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. For other options, check out our recommendations for the best gaming keyboards, the best mechanical keyboards, and the best keyboards.
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 HyperX Alloy Origins is a bit better than the Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition. While both are excellent gaming keyboards with proprietary linear switches, the HyperX has a much better overall typing experience. Other than that, they have few differences, as the Razer is a TKL keyboard and the HyperX is full-sized.
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 Ducky One 2 Mini is slightly better than the HyperX Alloy Origins. The Ducky is available in a variety of switches, including Cherry MX Red, Blue, or Brown, so you can get the switch you prefer. It doesn't have software, but all macro programming can be done on the keyboard. The HyperX has software to set macros and customize RGB lighting, and it uses proprietary linear switches.
The Razer BlackWidow Elite is slightly better than the HyperX Alloy Origins. It's available in a variety of switches, but the unit we tested had Razer Orange switches, which perform almost exactly like the HyperX Red linear switches, except with a slight tactile bump. Both keyboards have excellent build quality and full RGB backlighting, but the Razer comes with a wrist rest.
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 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.
The SteelSeries Apex Pro is better than the HyperX Alloy Origins. It has linear switches which you can change its pre-travel distance on a per-key basis, so at its lowest setting, it provides a low actuation force. It comes with a wrist rest and its software is compatible with macOS. The HyperX has a Windows Key Lock that prevents you from accidentally closing your game, and the typing experience is better.
The HyperX Alloy Origins is a slightly better gaming keyboard than the Corsair K68 RGB. It's noticeably better-built, but doesn't have a wrist rest like the Corsair, which some may prefer. The RGB lighting on the HyperX bleeds a lot more than on the Corsair and its cable is detachable, which is great if you like to customize your keyboard.
The HyperX Alloy Origins is slightly better for gaming than the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2. The HyperX comes with proprietary linear switches and the Corsair is available in Cherry MX Speed and Red switches, so you can get linear switches with either. The HyperX has a better typing quality and it's better built, while Corsair's iCUE software is available on macOS.
The Ducky Shine 7 is marginally better than the HyperX Alloy Origins. The Shine 7 is significantly better built and the Cherry MX Brown switches offer a much better typing experience. However, the Alloy Origins' companion software has more features and its backlight can get much brighter.
The HyperX Alloy Origins is slightly better than the Cooler Master MK730. The HyperX is better built and it has proprietary linear HyperX Red switches, which require very little force to actuate, and the typing quality is better. However, the Cooler Master has a wrist rest and it's available with three different types of switches, so you can get the ones you prefer.
The Wooting one and the HyperX Alloy Origins are two amazing keyboards, but for different reasons. The Wooting has unique optical switches and allows for analog inputs, while the HyperX is just solid all-around. The Alloy Origins comes in a variety of switches, offers bright RGB lighting, and feels very premium and well-made.
The HyperX Alloy Origins is slightly better than the Das Keyboard X50Q. The HyperX has a much better typing and build quality, and its software allows for profile saving. The HyperX has linear switches that are better suited for gaming, however, the X50Q is more comfortable, as it comes with a wrist rest.
The HyperX Alloy Origins is better than the HyperX Alloy Elite 2. The Origins feels better-built, the linear switches have a lower pre-travel distance, and the typing quality is better. However, the Elite 2 has dedicated media keys and a USB passthrough.
HyperX Alloy Origins Price
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