HYPERX ALLOY ORIGINS 60 KEYBOARD REVIEW.
HyperX has been making waves with its recent keyboard releases. When it comes to the fundamentals of overall build quality and typing feel, the company delivers in spades. The Alloy Elite 2 remains one of my favorites full-sized keyboards, but what if you don’t want full-sized? Well, with the Alloy Origins 60, HyperX has taken the strengths of its other boards but shrunk the form factor. Has the procedure been a success? This is my HyperX Alloy Origins 60 review.
Hefty keeb
As you pull it out of the box, the sheer weight of the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 becomes obvious. It is an absolute unit of a keyboard, with the “alloy” part of the name made clear by the aluminum body and super-solid construction.
Buy the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 keyboard on Amazon
After plugging it in with the provided USB-C cable, the RGB lighting comes to life. I must give a special shout-out to the included additional topographical spacebar which is a great touch. While other mainstream boards are still including ABS keycaps, which quickly develop a shine from finger oils, the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 uses double-shot PBT keycaps. They feel great with the slight texture and I’m confident that they will stand the test of time.
PBT all the things
The keycaps also make it easier for newcomers to the 60% world to get to grips with the increased number of button combinations. Though it’s smaller and missing the F-row and other keys, the Alloy Origins 60 still has the functions of a full-sized board accessible by holding down the “Fn” key and pushing the relevant button. The secondary functions of keys are printed on the side of the keycaps, which is a fantastic solution.
To customize both the RGB lighting and key functions, users will need to download the NGENUITY software. This app remains very barebones with limited RGB customization, but it’s simple enough to use and gets the job done. Remapping keys is easy to do, though the app did crash once or twice before I was able to save the new profiles to the keyboard. As with most of these companion apps, provided the product has onboard storage, I usually just boot the app up once to make the changes and then uninstall to keep my PC free from any bloat.
The proof is in the typing
Once everything is set up, it’s time to start typing. HyperX is one of the leaders when it comes to first-party switches. While I tested the red linears with this board, I have also experienced the aqua tactiles. Both require 45 grams of operating force, making them super light switches that are ideal for gaming. They are really smooth and sound great, too. For me, they are second only to some of Razer’s optical switches, though Razer boards come with the obvious price premium.
The only area that I’d like to see improved on this board is the stabilizer situation. Most mainstream boards still suffer from stabilizer rattle and the Alloy Origins 60 is no different. HyperX and its competition should make this the next priority for improvement. Nail the stabs and you’ll have a near-perfect sounding linear/tactile board!
Tilt it
I’m happy to see that HyperX is still giving users the ability to choose a tilt angle. Whether it’s 3, 7, or 11 degrees, users should find a comfortable angle. Other boards, including crazy expensive customs, have one set tilt that users are forced to get used to.
Let’s bring things back to the main draw of this keyboard: the 60% form factor. The main advantage of the smaller size is to allow more room for mouse movement. It’s good for gamers but also for ergonomics. It also looks much cleaner, if you care about that!
HyperX Alloy Origins 60 Review: The final verdict
At $99, the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 is a top choice for gamers looking to adopt the 60% form factor. It’s built incredibly solidly, has great keyswitches and keycaps, and boasts top-notch customization. If you can do without the number pad — and I recommend you do forgo it! — HyperX has a fantastic keyboard waiting for you.
Alloy Origins 60 review unit was provided by HyperX.
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Great build quality.
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Fantastic keyswitches.
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PBT keycaps.
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Additional space bar is a nice touch.
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60% form factor is great.
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Software could use some polish.
