The HyperX Alloy Origins is an exceptional gaming keyboard. It's amazingly well-built and has full RGB backlighting. Its linear switches have a short pre-travel distance and are easy to actuate, resulting in a light and responsive typing experience. Every key is macro-programmable; however, its customization software is only available for Windows. Unfortunately, it isn't ideal for use with mobile devices and home theater PCs because it's a wired-only keyboard.
Our Verdict
The HyperX Alloy Origins is an outstanding gaming keyboard. Its linear switches are incredibly responsive and require very little force to actuate. It has excellent build quality, and its full RGB backlighting is great for dark room gaming. Although every key can be reprogrammed, it lacks dedicated macro keys for MMO games.
- Outstanding build quality.
- Excellent typing experience.
- Programmable keys.
- Full RGB backlighting.
- Customization software only available on Windows.
- Doesn't include wrist rest.
The HyperX Alloy Origins is a wired-only keyboard and can't be used with mobile devices.
The HyperX Alloy Origins is good for office use. It's easy to type on and doesn't feel tiring, but some may need a wrist rest, and one isn't included in the box. Typing noise is fairly minimal, great for quiet office environments. Unfortunately, customization is only available to Windows users, although most keys work on Linux and macOS.
- Outstanding build quality.
- Excellent typing experience.
- Quiet typing noise.
- Customization software only available on Windows.
- Doesn't include wrist rest.
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.
- Outstanding build quality.
- Excellent typing experience.
- Programmable keys.
- Full RGB backlighting.
- Customization software only available on Windows.
- Doesn't include wrist rest.
The HyperX Alloy Origins is bad for use with a home theater PC. It's a wired-only keyboard, which isn't ideal if you want to avoid running a cable across the living room. On top of that, it doesn't have a trackpad, so you'll need a separate mouse.
- Outstanding build quality.
- Excellent typing experience.
- Full RGB backlighting.
- Customization software only available on Windows.
- Wired-only.
- No trackpad.
Changelog
- Updated Oct 12, 2022: Added in a comparison to the recently reviewed ASUS ROG Strix Flare II Animate.
- Updated Aug 23, 2022: Added a reference to the recently released HyperX Alloy Origins PBT, a variant of the keyboard with PBT keycaps.
- Updated Feb 04, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Jan 31, 2020: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
Our unit has HyperX Red switches, which are linear, but you can also get it with HyperX Aqua and HyperX Blues. The Aqua is a tactile switch that resembles Cherry MX Browns, and the Blue is a clicky switch, like Cherry MX Blues. Our typing experience result is only valid for the HyperX Red switch. There's a TenkeyLess (TKL) variant of this keyboard called the HyperX Alloy Origins Core. It offers similar features, just without a NumPad. There's also a 60% compact variant called the HyperX Alloy Origins 60. There's also an upgraded version that has PBT keycaps called the HyperX Alloy Origins PBT.
Popular Keyboard Comparisons
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 and the Razer BlackWidow V3 are both fantastic gaming keyboards. They're each full-size and wired-only, but the Razer comes with a wrist rest, while the HyperX doesn't. They're both available in a variety of mechanical switches, and the units we tested each have linear switches that have a light typing experience. However, typing feels better on the HyperX because the keys feel more stable.
The Razer Huntsman Mini and the HyperX Alloy Origins share many similarities but are also very different. The HyperX is full-sized, while the Razer is a 60% compact keyboard that lacks a numpad and dedicated arrow keys. Both keyboards have full RGB backlighting, programmable keys, and software for customization. Although the build quality is excellent on both keyboards, the Razer has PBT keycaps while the HyperX's are ABS. The Razer is available with clicky and linear optical switches, you can get the ones that you prefer, while the HyperX is only available with linear HyperX Red switches.
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.
The HyperX Alloy Origins is slightly better for gaming than the Corsair K70 RGB MK.2. The HyperX comes with proprietary linear switches only, but the Corsair is available with various Cherry MX switches. Our Corsair unit has Cherry MX Brown switches that feel slightly heavier than the HyperX Reds; however, they provide tactile feedback, which some might prefer for typing. The Corsair has dedicated media controls, software support for macOS, and includes a wrist rest.
Test Results
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