A keyboard that fits the mould for any type of gamer out there, we take a look at the HyperX Alloy Origins 65 Gaming Keyboard.
First Impressions
Straight out the box, I noticed the relatively small size of the keyboard. The 65% form factor isn’t exactly the most used size for keyboards; however, it seems to be increasing in popularity with gamers as it has dedicated arrow keys and some of the navigational cluster.
This chosen size additionally has a smaller desk footprint, allowing you to utilize more of your desk for other PC accessories like a mouse and mousepad, or simply as a space for other items such as your phone.
The 65% size is contradicted by the weight of the keyboard, which was deceptively heavy. The heaviness was oddly welcome, as it was a sign that the keyboard had premium, high quality materials such as metals and solid plastics.
My suspicions were proved true, with the base of the keyboard being a strong and flat black aluminium metal, accompanied by two small rubber sausages and two flick down stands. Overall, the Origins 65 gave me a feel of sturdiness and compactness, all finished off with high level, premium materials, and a very clean look.
Specifications
- Switches: HyperX Red (Linear)
- Operating Force: 45g
- Actuation Point: 1.8mm
- Total Travel Distance: 3.8mm
- Connectivity: USB-A to USB-C, braided cable included in box
- Dimensions: 12.4 x 4.15 x 1.45 inches
- Weight: 1.82 pounds
- Material: Full aircraft-grade aluminium body
Build
To go with the great sturdiness of the metal base that I previously mentioned, the keyboard contrasts this toughness with some fun RGB backlights which drift across the keys in a calming sort of fashion.
What sets the HyperX Alloy Origins 65 apart from other backlit keyboards is the fact that each key is individually backlit, meaning each key is its own light rather than one whole light for the whole keyboard.
On top of all that, you can download the HyperX NGENUITY software, which is free only on Windows computers and allows you to customize the RGB lighting to whatever you please, giving you an increased sense of personalization with this keyboard. Although this isn’t a huge point, it is a nice little touch that adds some extra fun to the mix.
The two stands that I talked about have a handy feature where they essentially have two different levels with one smaller pair of stands and one bigger set of stands. They are built intertwined with one another so switching between levels is completely seamless.
Keys
The actual PBT keys have sensational latency and are very sensitive, needing little pressure or effort in order to input your selected key. This makes them great for gaming as you don’t need to fully force down your keys when walking around, meaning you can smoothly switch from key to key. The keys are also slightly curved to fit the curve of a finger, meaning you get optimum comfortability for your hard-working fingers.
Keystroke technicalities:
Operating Force
46 gf
Actuation Force
46 gf
Pre-Travel
2.3 mm
Total Travel
4.0 mm
The HyperX Alloy Origins 65 is equipped with HyperX Red switches, which are linear and more suited to pure gaming applications with no tactile feedback on keypresses. What this means is that when you press a key, the motion is smooth all the way through the action. This linear movement helps with faster response time and seamless operation.
Most keyboards these days offer an extensive range of available switch types or have a hot-swappable variant that allows you to modify and change the switches out without any soldering, however the Origins 65 only has its HyperX Red switch, meaning it isn’t as versatile in this department compared to many keyboards in its market.
You can program macro keys using HyperX’s NGENUITY software, allowing you to save these custom macro keys specifically to your keyboard, once again adding a nice touch of personalization that really makes your keyboard your own.
One other aspect of the keys which I think any gamer loves is the quietness of a keyboard. The Origins 65 does not disappoint here, with a pretty quiet keyboard when you type. Although I have heard quieter, this keyboard is definitely up there in terms of having the ability to not make too much noise.
Typing
The HyperX Alloy Origins 65 does not disappoint when it comes to its typing experience. As I previously mentioned, the PBT keycaps are crafted to fit the shape of your finger, making the fingertips cushion into each key where I found little to no instability.
The main difference of the typing experience compared to larger keyboards is the slight crowdedness of the keyboard, with the arrow keys and navigational cluster being more tightly packed in next to the alphanumeric keys.
The lack of a tactile bump can be frustrating at times as it means you are suspect to increased typos, however, once you’ve had a few uses of this keyboard, it is all relatively unnoticeable and frankly, we all have typos no matter the keyboard so I can’t exactly knock too many points off for this.
Compatibility
The HyperX Alloy Origins 65 is completely compatible on Windows, going hand in hand with the exclusively Windows NGENUITY software. It can do a job on a Linux based computer and a macOS computer, however there’s no question that Windows is where you’ll get its full experience.
One extra compatibility option is that it can be used on consoles. I hooked it up to my Xbox Series S using the simple USB connectivity to give it a go on the new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and I must say I was impressed. It worked the same as if I was on a PC, with again sensational latency, giving you that option to have a PC experience if you are a console player who doesn’t want to splash out on a whole PC to play mouse and keyboard.
Conclusion
Although the HyperX Alloy Origins 65 does have its drawbacks, like its slight squeezed feel for the keys to fit in the 65% body, and the limited HyperX Red switch, the overall feeling I get with the HyperX Alloy Origins 65 is one of premium build quality, fantastic responsiveness and finger comfortability, and a genuinely high-quality gaming keyboard that is worth the £109 price point.
It performs well as a standard keyboard as opposed to being purely for gaming, whilst also having that pure gaming feel whilst you game, getting the balance close to perfect. As a gaming keyboard first and foremost, but a practical keyboard also, I would definitely recommend the HyperX Alloy Origins 65, especially if you are looking for a slightly smaller 65% form keyboard for your setup.
Product Rating:
Design/Build: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Keys: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars
Compatibility: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars
Value for Money: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Overall Rating: 4.2 out of 5.0 stars – 4.25 Stars
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