Long the favorite choice of many programmers, 65 and 60 percent keyboards have also been attracting the attention of gamers looking to save desk space lately. Cutting the bold without losing functionality is the name of the game, and more than a few manufacturers have delivered. Top picks like the Razer Huntsman Mini Analog and the Corsair K70 RGB Pro Mini Wireless lead the pack, but they’re certainly not the only shaved options on the market. Enter the HyperX Alloy Origins 65, a 65 percent board with a lightweight aluminum body, pleasing RGB lighting, and comfortable HyperX key switches that make every keystroke satisfying. And at $99, it’s definitely a favorite among gamers on a budget.
A keyboard with humble origins
The HyperX Alloy Origins 65 looks no different from most compact keyboards out there, and I don’t mean that in a bad way. A matte black finish envelops the 67-button layout and gives the HyperX an appealing sheen, while doubleshot PBT keycaps protect the keys from wear and tear, with translucent lettering allowing the RGB lighting to pass through. The Alloy Origins 65 has about 40 keys less than the standard full-size keyboard layout, so secondary functions have been moved to the sides of the keys as extra functions.
If you flip the aluminum case over to examine the underside, you’ll find four rubber grips — one on each corner — and three adjustable keyboard corners, a nice addition for those interested in their keyboard’s ergonomics. At the top you will find one USB-C port for the supplied USB-C cable. If you’re looking for a wireless keyboard, look elsewhere, as there’s no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth support here.
At 1.4 by 12.4 by 4.15 inches (HWD), the HyperX is a compact keyboard, and while you can go slimmer if you opt for a 60 percent keyboard like the Kinesis TKO, the HyperX Origins 65 is just a hair thinner than many other leading 65 percent boards, such as the Asus ROG Falchion. The extra 5% provides a row of extra functions on the right, as well as comfortably spaced arrow keys. Weight-wise, the Alloy Origins 65 hits 1.8 pounds, fairly light but hardly the lightest compact board.
If we turn our attention to the keys themselves, savvy users may notice that HyperX doesn’t use Cherry-manufactured key switches, instead turning to its own brand of switches. Our test device uses HyperX Red linear switches, the same kind used in the HyperX Alloy Origins 60, the 60 percent variant of the board. If linear keys aren’t your thing, you can instead configure your board with Aqua switches, HyperX’s tactile option.
The switches feel unique and strike a balance that lends itself to gaming as well as general use. They have an actuation force of 45g, the same as a Cherry Red switch, but with a slightly shorter actuation point and shorter distance (1.8mm and 3.8mm, respectively). The actuation point is the distance to the downward push at which the switch registers an input, while the travel distance is the maximum distance a button can press. You will also find a standard polling rate of 1,000 Hz, which affects the response time of your keyboard. (The higher the number, the faster the reaction.)
Rounding out the package is a keycap puller, always a welcome addition, and a few replacement keycaps. The included alternate space bar closes off the Alloy Origins 60’s topographical artwork, opting for spaceships and planets instead. It’s still a very cool looking upgrade that looks great with RGB lighting underneath, though the red key and cartoonish print might not be for everyone.
A little ngenuity goes a long way
HyperX still uses the Ngenuity configuration app for all your customization needs. The app itself has become quite impressive, with a fantastic feature set, and it is very easy to navigate. Here you can remap keys, adjust RGB lighting, and a host of other settings. The Alloy Origins 65 can support up to three profiles, a nice plus for those who want to customize their settings for each game. While I’d take it up a notch among the software that comes with Razer, Logitech, or Corsair keyboards, it works just fine.
I took the keyboard into battle, mainly using it to type out commands and searches in various MMOs on both the PlayStation 5 and PC. While I’ll always get a full-size board if I can, I can’t say I’ve had any issues with the Alloy Origins 65 in all the games I’ve played on both platforms.
Finally, at $99, the 65 percent version of the board is slightly more expensive than the 60 percent variant, but you do get a few extra keys to work with, so the tradeoff isn’t bad at all. It’s much more affordable than Razer and Corsair’s recent 60 percent offerings, but with fewer bells and whistles to its name.
Judgment: a small and mighty key master
Despite the lack of wireless functionality, the 65 percent HyperX Alloy Origins is a solid keyboard that easily keeps up with the competition thanks to excellent HyperX key switches and some attractive RGB lighting. While it doesn’t have the comprehensive set of features you’d expect from high-end keyboards, most gamers ultimately want a keyboard to handle the basics well, and the HyperX Alloy Origins 65 does just that, all while saving desk space on the go. The Fnatic Streak 65 and the Kinesis TKO are our first and second picks in this category, but the 65 percent Alloy Origins is no slouch and a worthy buy at $100.
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