HyperX Alloy FPS Silver Switch Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review

Peter Donnell / 6 years ago

Final Thoughts

How Much Does it Cost?

It’s not as cheap as I would like, priced at £99.99 here in the UK and $109.99 in the US. That’s about £40 more than the old model, ouch. The new one doesn’t offer a huge improvement over the old one either. However, you’re getting far superior build quality and those lovely new switches. If you just want a keyboard, get the old one, if you want something that looks great and is going to last a lifetime, the new one is where it’s at!

Overview

HyperX has made some of the greatest peripherals on the market over the last few years. From their truly stunning Cloud series headsets to their keyboard and mice. The HyperX Alloy isn’t the best keyboard I’ve ever tested, and honestly, I’m not certain what is as it can be quite subjective. However, at £100 the Alloy has some stern competition, and it’ll confidently go head to head with any of its rivals.

Why Alloy?

This is every bit as good a gaming keyboard as their previous model. However, the new Silver switches from Kailh do give you a performance edge, albeit subjectively. The best switch for any task is whichever one you prefer, and for me, it’s Red switches. I’d have Green if they weren’t so darn noisy. I do like the Silver though, they have a nice feel to them and they are easy to work for the ol’ fingertips. More importantly, though, we have the “alloy” part, which is that steel chassis construction. This keyboard is properly tough, despite its slim and low-profile chassis design. The tradeoff is that it is quite heavy if you plan to travel with it. However, build quality is on point and if that’s what matters to you, the choice is yours.

RGB and Beyond

The lighting tech on the keyboard isn’t particularly innovative, but again, it’s very competitive. With per-key lighting, you can create all the effects you desire. Furthermore, you can set a single colour, change the brightness, or turn it off. Again, nothing innovative, but everything you may want is certainly here. The macro and key mapping functions are a nice touch too, allowing you to customise the keyboard to your needs. The addition of a charging port was a nice though, but for modern phones, a USB 3.0 pass-through makes more sense, as does having true USB pass-through for connecting a mouse, headset, or USB drive.

Should I Buy One?

For me, this keyboard is a fantastic product worthy of the retail price. You can get the same performance for less from HyperX, or other brands for that matter. However, the durability and style on offer from that beautiful steel chassis is a nice touch. I like a keyboard that’s going to last, and with the great build quality and a two-year warranty, you could do a lot worse.