Built Like a Tank

The king of the HyperX keyboard line is mighty indeed

HyperX, the gaming division of Kingston, entered the mechanical keyboard market in 2016 with the Alloy FPS – which this reviewer found to be well constructed and a great value relative to the market when I reviewed both versions last year. Enter the Alloy Elite, an impressive-looking keyboard that boasts a high level of build quality and the option of full RGB lighting (a single color variant is also available). Does the Elite live up to its name in everyday use? I will share my findings with the RGB version reviewed here.

Features (from HyperX):

  • Unique light bar and dynamic lighting effects
  • Solid steel frame
  • CHERRY® MX mechanical keyswitches
  • Dedicated media buttons and large volume wheel
  • Quick access buttons for brightness, lighting effects and Game Mode
  • Conveniently connect devices via USB 2.0 pass-through
  • 100% Anti-ghosting and N-Key Rollover functionality
  • Comfortable, detachable wrist rest with soft-touch coating
  • Additional titanium-colored textured keycaps and HyperX keycap removal tool

Pricing and Availability:

First a quick look at packaging and included accessories:

The Alloy Elite keyboards offer alternate, textured key caps for WASD and 1234 keys as well as a keycap puller. Add the optional wrist rest and the accessory pack is better than most.

Now to the keyboard itself:

I don't think I have handled a better constructed keyboard. It sounds like hyperbole, but this Alloy Elite is built like a tank. Appearance and feel are outstanding as well, with a smooth steel top panel that adds strength and rigidity to its frame, and from key caps to media buttons this seems like it was made to last for a very long time.

The smooth volume roller is made of metal and has a nice weighty feel

The base of the keyboard is more standard, made of plastic with rubber feet, which includes pads on the bottom of the flip-out height adjustable feet.

Materials on the lower half are pretty standard for a keyboard in this price range, and while the top half is exceptional this is still excellent.

Key caps are concave and reside above the Cherry MX switches – of which I have the MX Blue variety in this review sample. Cherry MX Red and Brown are also available. I will be honest: MX Blue is not my favorite, preferring Red (or Brown), but this is strictly a matter of personal preference.

Aside from the very clicky action from the MX Blue switches the experience typing and gaming with the Alloy Elite RGB is a premium one, and the slightly oversized footprint and weighty construction combine to offer a very solid feel on the desktop.

Lighting is easy to control using the HyperX NGenuity software, and basic RGB profile changes can also be done on the keyboard itself with controls on the upper left corner.

The additional $60 for the RGB version provides more than just lighting zones, as each key is individually lit and can be customized to any color using the profile editing tools in NGenuity.

Game presets are available, or customize each button color to your heart's content

The keyboard also features a light bar across the top (red on the regular elite, or RGB on the model reviewed) located between the function keys and media controls, which adds style and color to its appearance.

As impressed as I was a year ago with the HyperX Alloy FPS keyboards, this Alloy Elite RGB is a step above with improved build quality and appearance, and the same solid performance. If you are in the market for a premium mechanical option this Alloy FPS Elite RGB checks all the boxes.

Priced at $169.99 for the RGB version or $109.99 for the version with the single color backlight these are on the premium end of the market, though they compete easily with keyboards up to $250 (Topre switches notwithstanding). I really don't think there is a higher-quality option out there for the money. Another year, another highly recommended HyperX keyboard.

Review Terms and Disclosure
All Information as of the Date of Publication
How product was obtained: The product is on loan from Kingston for the purpose of this review.
What happens to the product after review: The product is returned to Kingston following our review.
Company involvement: Kingston had no control over the content of the review and was not consulted prior to publication.
PC Perspective Compensation: Neither PC Perspective nor any of its staff were paid or compensated in any way by Kingston for this review.
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Consulting Disclosure: Kingston is not a current client of Shrout Research.