With so many brands ferociously competing for our attention, picking a powerhouse gaming keyboard can be a daunting task. For gamers in particular, mechanical keyboards promise better levels of durability, heightened tactile feedback, and unparalleled precision. But with mechanical switches on the rise, it’s essential to pinpoint which features best suit your needs. Optimised for FPS experiences, the Hype+rX Alloy FPS is a solid, reasonably priced contender.
Aesthetic essentialism
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It combines a beautiful black steel frame with dual stand support, and sports sumptuous braided cables which match the red LED lighting. Unlike the Alloy FPS Pro or Cougar’s tenkeyless PURI TKL, it does require slightly more desktop real estate (seven extra centimetres to be exact) so it isn’t the most compact piece of hardware in the book. Still, the HyperX Alloy FPS’s sleek edges and minimalist design work in its favour.
In resting mode, its classic black and dull white colour scheme looks calm and unassuming, but red backlighting gets the party started. The problem with red is at full intensity, it can be visually jarring. Luckily, the HyperX Alloy FPS comes fitted with four different lighting sensitivities you can toggle between via the function key. It also features six LED backlight modes, including blinking illumination and the accentuation of select keys before a slow fade. There’s also a nifty game mode function (FN + F12) which disables the windows key and lets you game on, uninterrupted.
Although the HyperX Alloy FPS is a neat, tightly envisioned FPS machine, it does make sacrifices. The absence of dedicated macro keys or a detachable wrist rest are consequences of adopting a more minimalist aesthetic, but won’t sour your experience if you’re after a simple, no-nonsense daily driver.
A comfortable all-rounder
If the HyperX Alloy FPS was a weight class in the Mario Kart series, it would be medium. For a mechanical keyboard, a total of 1049 g for both keyboard proper and the 1.8 m cable is a great feat; it achieves a happy medium between weight, portability and ease of use. With almost two metres of cable to spare, most spacious gaming setups should be compatible without too much strain. Naturally, a wireless design mimicking Logitech’s G613 wireless mechanical gaming keyboard could have reduced the visual clutter further, but generously measured cords that are damage-resistant are the next best thing.
On the rear of the Hyper X Alloy FPS you’ll see an embedded USB port, which is advertised for phone charging. This is an extremely convenient, thoughtful inclusion, but unfortunately, its function doesn’t expand to powering extra controllers, any mouse, or other chargeable devices.
In addition to a more slim-cut design, the highlight of mechanical keyboards like the HyperX Alloy FPS is the use of Cherry MX switches, which are widely regarded as cream of the crop. The brown Cherry MX keys utilised here live up to their reputation; they’re noticeably quieter compared to Cherry MX red keys, and fall closer to the audio range generated by my Acer Aspire ES1-522 (membrane keytype). Typing with the HyperX Alloy FPS feels incredibly smooth, and natural, almost like your fingers are flowing through gentle water, and the height of each key leaves your hands feeling far less fatigued when compared to flatter keyboards.
If you’ve got an artistic streak, there’s even the option to replace eight of the pre-fitted keys (WASD and number keys 1-4) with red, textured keycaps. Ironically, I found the surface texture of the WASD keys to be more susceptible to slipping due to the tiny grooves present. As such, I recommend the standard set up (or a combination of the two) since it seems much more sweat resistant.
Travelling with the HyperX Alloy FPS on the other hand, is a joy. The black mesh carry case fits snugly around the frame, and even features a separate compartment for the cable, which can be secured close thanks to the velcro patch. It also doubles as a dust-resistant protective cover for when you’re leaving your board unattended for long periods of time.
Testing in the FPS wild
100% anti-ghosting is a must when it comes to any game demanding god-like precision, whether it’s an FPS or not. I took High Hell for a spin, an upcoming arcade-style FPS game, and I’m happy to report key registration was on point, responsive, and less frustrating than most membrane keytypes. Cherry MX brown switches require slightly more depression compared to Cougar’s PURI TKL (linear red Cherry MX), which I think takes less adjusting to compared to red or blue switches.
Even in 2D platformers like Owlboy, movement just feels more accurate, speedy, and battling against the final boss becomes a much more manageable task thanks to the enhanced precision factor.
Conclusion
The HyperX Alloy FPS might be a tad pricey, but it’s a faithful companion for gaming needs and beyond. Smart, sleek physical layout will save you desk space while still delivering comfort and precision, and offers a perfect solution for anyone who’s after a less hardcore minimalist design. It strikes a beautiful balance between typing accuracy, speed, and measured tactile feedback that isn’t hypersensitive to accidental keystrokes. Mechanical keyboards might have a reputation for generating noisy symphonies, but the HyperX Alloy FPS’s less vocal approach may just change your mind.
HyperX Alloy FPS Mechanical Gaming Keyboard is available through BestBuy, Newegg and Amazon for a recommended retail price of $99 USD.
Disclosure: Samples were provided for review.
