• Home
  • Our Books
  • Our Film
  • Games
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Login

Perspectives on all eras of videogames, computers, technology, and pop culture since 2003

Login

Login
Armchair ArcadeArmchair Arcade
Armchair ArcadeArmchair Arcade
  • Home
  • Our Books
  • Our Film
  • Games
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Login

Review: HyperX Alloy FPS Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

HyperX Alloy FPS Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
HyperX Alloy FPS Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

Review: HyperX Alloy FPS Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

February 6, 2017 Posted by Bill Loguidice Review 2 Comments

Having enjoyed the use of modern mechanical keyboards in the past decade or so, including the Gigabyte Aivia Osmium Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (with Cherry MX Red Switches), ROCCAT RYOS MK Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (with Cherry MX Blue Switches), and Logitech G710+ Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (with Cherry MX Brown switches), among many others, I’ve become quite the advocate for premium keyboards of this type. Outside of portable computing, which is presently served by a Microsoft Surface Pro 3, I practically insist on using a mechanical keyboard. While gaming responsiveness is certainly a factor, I do tons of typing, which is why the solid feel and quick action of a good mechanical keyboard is so important to me.

The front of the box.

The front of the box.

While my personal holy grail – yet to be met – is a wireless, backlit, mechanical keyboard with a tenkey (number) pad, I believe I’ve found the next best thing in the HyperX Alloy FPS Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. My current standing desk at home has a lot going on with its top surface, including two lights, a 3D printer, Surface Pro 3 dock, XRGB-mini, AverMedia Live Gamer Portable, and an ultra widescreen monitor, in addition to my keyboard, wireless trackball, various knick knacks, and a small workspace for books, magazines, or notepads to reference. As such, I was looking for a way to supplant my effective, but bulky, ROCCAT RYOS MK Pro, which has a permanently attached, and thick, braided USB cable. Basically, there was no easy way with my current setup to place that keyboard to one side when I needed more desk space. With no suitable wireless options available, the compact HyperX Alloy, complete with detachable, braided USB cable, seemed like a great alternative. I can just detach the miniUSBcable from the back of the keyboard when I need more space, and plug it back in when I need it again. Simple.

The back of the box.

The back of the box.

Here are the HyperX Alloy’s key features:

  • Cherry MX Blue switches, which are ideal for typing
  • Compact design with a solid-steel frame
  • Detachable miniUSB cable
  • Red backlit keys
  • USB charging port (if a second USB port is used on the computer end of the USB cable)
  • Full anti-ghosting and N-key rollover support (basically lets you press as many keys as you want at the same time)

 

While there are no dedicated media or other specialized keys, nor software for things like backlight and other customization, you can still control media functions and cycle through six preset LED modes for the backlighting (including “off,” of course, and keys you specify) with simple key combinations. For all the fancy keyboards (and related) that I’ve bought over the years, I rarely, if ever, used the customization software (other than maybe a one button press to bring up something like Notepad++ or the calculator), and I rarely, if ever, changed my lighting preferences, including when fancy RGB light shows were available. In that regard, I absolutely don’t miss any of that here.

How it fits on my desk.

How it fits on my desk.

In the package you get the keyboard itself, mesh travel pouch, USB cable, and various paperwork. You also get a keycap puller and optional textured, red keycaps to replace the usual gaming-centric A, W, S, D, 1, 2, 3, and 4 keys.

 

The important part of course is how this all works. Fortunately, even though there’s the usual small user learning/comfort curve that comes with almost any new keyboard design (and particularly one that’s fairly radical like this one), it works great. Keypresses provide suitable physical and audible feedback, and I’m able to type at full speed without issue. My gaming tests proved just as successful. While compact, there are no sacrifices to key size, and the steel structure provides plenty of weight.

If you’re like me and want a no sacrifice, yet compact mechanical keyboard with removable USB cable, then the HyperX Alloy makes a fine choice. In fact, I may not even need that personal holy grail solution. As such, I’m happy to award the HyperX Alloy FPS Mechanical Gaming Keyboard our first Editor’s Choice award for 2017.

2017 Armchair Arcade Editor's Choice Award

2017 Armchair Arcade Editor’s Choice Award

Pluses:

  • Cherry MX Blue switches
  • Well-built and compactly designed, with no sacrifices to key sizes
  • Removable miniUSB cable
  • Easily transportable, complete with travel pouch
  • Red backlighting is generally less distracting than other types (and can be disabled)

 

Minuses:

  • Limited customization options and no dedicated software

 

Related

Tags: alloyeditor's choiceeditor's choice awardFPShyperxkeyboardmechanicalmechanical keyboard
2 Comments
Share

About Bill Loguidice

Bill Loguidice is a Founder and Managing Director for Armchair Arcade, as well as a critically acclaimed technology author and journalist.  He is also the co-founder of creative services firm, Armchair Creative Services, and a noted videogame and computer historian and subject matter expert. See full bio

You also might be interested in

The New Razer Blade 15 Base Edition is Now Shipping plus gift cards and discounts!
The New Razer Blade 15 Base Edition is Now Shipping plus gift cards and discounts!

The New Razer Blade 15 Base Edition is Now Shipping plus Gift Cards and Discounts!

Feb 16, 2021

Get great deals on the new Razer Blade 15 Base Edition, plus gift cards and discounts on other great Razer products!

Fixing repeating key presses on an Apple IIe Platinum
Fixing repeating key presses on an Apple IIe Platinum

Fixing repeating key presses on an Apple IIe Platinum

Jan 26, 2018

At the same time I did extensive keyboard surgery on[...]

The seemingly inevitable Atari 1200XL keyboard fix
The seemingly inevitable Atari 1200XL keyboard fix

The seemingly inevitable Atari 1200XL keyboard fix

Jan 25, 2018

While the Atari 800 is generally known as the “hot[...]

2 Comments

Leave your reply.
  • alex cyrus
    · Reply

    February 16, 2017 at 5:51 AM

    i have used this and loved the experience,the key are so soft!! just love it !!!

  • Ryan
    · Reply

    March 1, 2017 at 6:54 AM

    The HyperX Alloy has been seen buy a lot of the gaming world as one of the best gaming keyboards this year.

    I can say I have used it and I loved it myself!

Leave a CommentCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Recent Posts

  • 4 ways to play games online
  • Polymega Collections Volumes 11 and 12 now available – Adventure, Tempest, Atari Jaguar, and more!
  • Xbox Ally X Handheld Gaming PC Review 2025: Compact Power Meets Xbox Simplicity
  • Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 Confirmed – A New Mind-Bending Chapter
  • The Phantom Winner: The Mysterious Who Conquered BitStarz Casino in Silence
  • Zotabet Casino Review – Full Breakdown for Aussie Players
  • The Power of QR Codes in the IT World
  • Fortnite Death Star Sabotage Event: Everything You Need To Know Now
  • Psychological Tricks for Safer Casino Success
  • Revisiting Mahjong as One of the Earliest Strategy Games in Digital History

Recent Comments

  • The Amazing Story of James Helm, Founder of TopDog Law - Law Legal Hub on Construction Accidents Happen—Here’s How to Protect Your Rights and Get Compensation
  • 5 Best Video Games That Feature Gambling - on Here Are 6 of the Best Video Games Where Gambling Features Prominently
  • leads dubai on Should You Be Focusing More On Local Marketing?
  • Aiodensghost on Official Game List for My Arcade Atari Gamestation Pro
  • keyboredom on Quick guide on how to play on the Internet Arcade
  • Bill Loguidice on Official Game List for My Arcade Atari Gamestation Pro
  • Melanie Levenstein on Official Game List for My Arcade Atari Gamestation Pro
  • George on How to Predict CS:GO/CS2 Skins Prices?
  • Bill Loguidice on Retro Games Ltd to release The Spectrum, fully working ZX Spectrum, and here’s the game list!
  • Derek on Retro Games Ltd to release The Spectrum, fully working ZX Spectrum, and here’s the game list!

Archives

Categories

Explore

android (46) apple (37) ar (37) Arcade (167) Atari (75) atgames (173) book (99) books (98) casino (504) esports (47) firmware (43) Flashback (45) gambling (528) Gaming (40) home arcade (115) htc vive (42) humble bundle (282) humble store (67) ios (37) led (35) legends (40) legends arcade family (46) legends gamer (33) legends pinball (39) legends ultimate (71) Microsoft (40) Nintendo (70) pc gamer (67) pc gaming (53) pinball (43) playstation (55) PS4 (36) retro (34) Sega (38) slots (83) sony (51) steam (145) switch (34) technology (35) update (42) virtual pinball (36) virtual reality (116) vive (34) viveport (42) vr (121)

Affiliates

+ Amazon

The everything store

+ Humble Bundle

Game deals, including name your price bundles

+ Playasia (Play-Asia.com)

Import games and collectibles

+ DJI Store

Amazing drones and related technology

+ Razer

Amazing PC gamer products!

fullSTEAMahead365 Your total news and information resource for all things Science, Technology, Engineering / Mathematics, Art, and Medicine / Health.

Human Advancement Never Stops.

Key Site Statistics

Posts published: 2,563
Latest publish date: June 11, 2025 @ 9:30 am
Registered user count: 99,026

Contact Us

If you have a question, would like to provide feedback, or otherwise wish to get in touch with us, use this form.

Send Message

Blog Posts by Date

February 2017
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728  
« Jan   Mar »

Social Media and RSS

Support Armchair Arcade

All editorial content © 2003 - 2025 Armchair Arcade, Inc., an Armchair Creative Services, LLC, property. All rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. All trademarks and copyrights are retained by their respective owners. No content is to be removed or reused from the Armchair Arcade Website for commercial purposes without explicit permission from the principal Armchair Arcade staff, or the original trademark or copyright holders. Armchair Arcade, Inc., is not responsible for the content of any external sources or links. Further, endorsement of any external sources or links is neither implied nor suggested.

We thank you for your support and encourage you to contact us for any reason, including, but not limited to, questions, concerns, business endeavors, or praise. Especially praise.

Armchair Creative Services, LLC, may earn compensation for sales from links on posts through affiliate and other programs. Editorial rigor and objectivity standards are strictly adhered to and any compensation has no effect on coverage or opinions.

Prev Next