Final Verdict
Built with premium Cherry MX keys, the HyperX Alloy Elite RGB is an appealing gaming keyboard that offers exceptional performance in gaming as well as most comfortable for daily use. The only major downside is its heavy-sized software.
Gaming Expert
Undeniably the HyperX has some of the best-in-class gaming peripherals. The company has always endeavored to make appealing, durable, and comfortable products. The HyperX Alloy Elite RGB mechanical keyboard is one of their best keyboards for gaming. Since its release in 2018, the keyboard has received appreciation and the highest positive feedback from the gaming community.
Priced at $135, the HyperX Alloy Elite RGB is among the affordable premium gaming keyboards under $150, still $50 lower than Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT. Though the features are somewhat similar to other high-end gaming keyboards with no specialty, the keyboard is worth the price due to its competitive price tag and good customization options.
What’s in the Box?
What we received in the box was no surprise; I mean, we received a large HyperX Alloy RGB keyboard in a cardboard box. In its simplicity, the design still seemed gorgeous. For showing the keyboard’s layout and installed switches, we noticed two additional stickers on the box – one at the top right and the other at the bottom left. There was a removable full-size wrist-rest with the package, whose surface felt smooth and soft.
Aside from the keyboard, a keycap puller and eight silver-colored keycaps were also included in the box. In those eight keycaps, WASD was textured, while the other four (1234) were plain. We also got a complete installation and documentation guide in the box that was really inspiring and a good idea for newbies and Pros who have zero ideas about the tech and mechanics of the keyboard.
HyperX Alloy Elite RGB Specifications
| Manufacturer | HyperX |
| Model | Alloy Elite RGB |
| Type | Mechanical Keyboard |
| Backlight | RGB |
| Connection Type | USB 2.0 (2 USB Connectors) |
| Polling Rate | 1000Hz |
| Anti-Ghosting | Yes (100%) |
| Key Rollover | NKRO |
| Media Control | Yes, (5 buttons and a Volume Wheel) |
| Game Mode | Yes |
| OS Compatible | Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10 |
| Switches | Cherry MX (Clicky Blue, Tactile Brown, and Linear Red) |
| Cable Type | Attached, Braided Cable |
| Cable Length | 1.8m |
| Dimensions | 17.48 x 6.65 x 1.53 inches |
| Weight | 1.30 pounds |
| Software | HyperX NGenuity |
| Accessories | 8 Gaming Keycaps |
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HyperX Alloy Elite RGB – Design and Features
At first glance, the HyperX Alloy Elite RGB looks nice. The keycaps and deck feel plush, and when the under-the-board legs are extended, the keyboard still looks flat. With 1.3 pounds and measuring at 17.5 x 6.7 x 1.5 inches (L x W x H), the keyboard becomes a full-size keyboard that covers one and a half feet of the space but is still smaller than Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2.
Equipped with both steel and plastic, the keyboard is actually a mixture of premium and a cheap material, much lower than what we had expected. In this price range, we actually thought the whole chassis is made of metal. While the whole frame of keys is made of steel, the top side of media keys, the wrist rest, and the lower frame are made of plastic, making the price ambiguous. On the bright side, the keyboard comes with a removable wrist rest that lets you manage the size and weight just in case you have a huge monitor with you.
The concave-faced keycaps are comfortable to press and need a little force to push, making them perfect for typing. Like most keycaps, HyperX Alloy Elite RGB also features narrow keycaps at the top to adjust the space and prevent misclicks. Besides, they are sturdy and fit perfectly to the switches.
The problem that we faced with most keyboards is that the spacebar vibrates when pressed many times. Thankfully, this issue was resolved in HyperX Alloy Elite, as the spacebar was fitted so tightly to prevent any wobbling. A good feature added by the HyperX in Alloy Elite was the extra keycaps for 1,2,3,4 key and WASD keys. The keycaps were textured and similar to the extra keys of Corsair K95 RGB.
On the top-right corner are the dedicated media controls and a volume wheel. The wheel is pretty handy in controlling the game or music volume easily. This feature is being added by most modern gaming keyboards, as seen in the newly released K95 RGB Platinum XT and SteelSeries Apex Pro.
On the top, left corner is the three dedicated buttons for adjusting brightness, backlight, switching “game mode,” and lighting profiles. The customizable game mode button is used to disable Windows-key features while gaming.
With perfect gaming keyboards, the Alloy Elite is loaded with Cherry MX switches, as has been the case. Bear in mind that the MX Blue is better suited for those involved more in typing than in gaming. On the other hand, the Cherry MX Brown switches are the best choice for gaming due to their great tactile feel and the little noise.
Depending on your personal preference, you can choose any of the three as HyperX has added all three options in Alloy Elite RGB. Other than Optical Switches of K95 RGB Platinum XT, we saw that the mechanical switches were a bit slow in response, though they are the best after Optical Switches, which have now become the talk of the town. Bear in mind the Cherry MX is still the best performing switches with zero lag and flawless quality.
The standard Alloy Elite features a red backlight, while the RGB version comes with a comprehensive 16 million colors to make your gaming room flash up. Due to its per-key lighting option, every key can be customized and lighten up according to your preference. The RGB lighting is awe-inspiring and gives a pleasant experience, including the beautiful light bar above the function key row.
The keyboard comes with a removable braided cable that is quite thick and looks durable. Besides, we found an additional USB 2.0 port on the backside to plug in the gaming mouse or headset. Sadly, the Alloy Elite RGB lacks dedicated macro keys, which are available in K95.
HyperX Alloy Elite RGB – Software
HyperX Alloy Elite RGB comes with HyperX’s custom software “NGenuity.” The software is quite handy and easy to use. The only downside we faced is its huge size – more than 1GB, which really matters compared to other software by the competitors.
If you are a beginner to HyperX accessories, you’ll need to customize the lighting and macros in making a new profile on the software. After setting up the profile, you can customize your own RGB lighting option. The software, however, comes with three global lighting options that you can choose from. Granted, HyperX has made many improvements in its software; it still is far from reaching the user-friendliness of Corsair’s iCUE and Razer’s Chroma.
The unique feature which HyperX is famous for is the ‘Flame’ pattern. The lighting pattern makes a small ripple of lighting burst around any key you press. Also, you can export as well as import the already made profiles for ease of use.
HyperX Alloy Elite RGB Performance
While the keyboard is a mixture in its build, it is robust in typing and gaming performance. Choose Cherry MX Switches wisely, whether you do a lot of typing or do intensive gaming for many hours. The reason is that the Cherry MX Blue is the best switch for typing and gaming tasks, while the MX Brown is great for gaming needs due to its smooth performance and tactile feel. This, however, is totally based on personal preference.
We played PUBG, Doom, and Shooter 2 for this keyboard. Undeniably, the keys gave an excellent performance, no matter if we were moving in one or two directions or creeping towards the opponent’s camps. The key-presses gave a jaw-dropping response while using multiple keys at once, especially in switching weapons while running towards opponents.
The brown switches delivered great actuation in every game we played while testing. The narrow keycaps and textured WASD keys were the best part of this keyboard, especially in FPS games like Destiny 2. The only thing that needs improvement is the length and build quality of the wrist-rest. The wrist rest is a bit short; this is why you might need to get a separate wrist-rest to prevent complications while gaming.
Testing Results
The HyperX Alloy Elite RGB is one of the best gaming keyboards on our list, which delivers what it promises – an excellent performance, per key actuation, and decent RGB lighting. However, if you can afford and look for a more advanced competitor, the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum XT is the better option for you.
Overall, the HyperX Alloy Elite RGB is still tops due to its better price/performance ratio. Our only complaint with this keyboard is the software that restricts our choice. Otherwise, the model is solid in performance and still beats many of its competitors in every aspect.
HyperX Alloy Elite RGB
Summary
Built with premium Cherry MX keys, the HyperX Alloy Elite RGB (Priced at $135) is an appealing gaming keyboard that offers exceptional gaming performance and is most comfortable for daily use. The only downside is its heavy-sized software.
