You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time. There's also a removable wrist rest down below that was, in my experience, quite comfortable. Let's dig into the software and find out. PCMag Digital Group. (There's even a USB pass-through, which is either very useful or total superfluous, depending on your setup.) At the center, a flashy rendering of the Alloy Elite RGB's key layout is animated with a rainbow-wave effect. But its software could do with a touch-up. The HyperX Alloy Elite … New York, © 1996-2020 Ziff Davis, LLC. The square key caps take up most of the keyboard's rectangular body, with only a few small gaps to maintain even spacing. Is it worth the premium? 21 mins ago. How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Find Free Tools to Optimize Your Small Business, How to Get Started With Project Management, Read Alienware Pro Gaming Keyboard (AW768) Review, Read Havit HV-KB390L Low Profile Mechanical Keyboard Review, Logitech Is Adding a Carbon Impact Rating to Its Products, Logitech Launches G915 TKL Wireless RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard, How to Control Multiple Computers With One Keyboard and Mouse, Microsoft Adds Office and Emoji Keys to New Keyboards, PNY GeForce RTX 2080 XLR8 Gaming Overclocked Edition Review. While it's not nearly as cushy as the leatherette rests that come with the Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2 ($137.57 at Amazon) and the Logitech G513 Carbon, comfort, again, is always a matter of personal preference. Your first instinct on this screen may be to click Customize and see for yourself the breadth of effects you can apply to the existing lighting arrangement. It's positively baffling to me that some keyboards that cost more than $100 insist on secondary function button commands instead. More keys, more desk. As expected, the Cherry MX switches in the HyperX Alloy Elite RGB are perfect for gaming. Some folks will find that a stiff surface beats a mushy one any day of the week. Because the Alloy Elite does not use any proprietary software, its only real features are a few lighting patterns, the game mode and its discrete media keys. Still, these are relatively minor gripes for a keyboard that delivers everything the average gamer needs and almost nothing he or she doesn't. Dedicated media keys and volume scroller. As an alternative, you can disable the key altogether, or use it to open a file/application, a folder, or even a website. In addition to a full-size numeric keypad at right, it packs in discrete media keys, here above the ordinary keyboard layout. Finally, the Macros section of NGenuity lets you assign any key to a keyboard or mouse function, a multimedia command, or a Windows shortcut. Keep an eye on your inbox! Fellow '90s kids may remember an episode of Rocko's Modern Life in which the hapless protagonist attempts to buy a new TV. In all but its lighting, the HyperX Alloy Elite RGB is identical to the HyperX Alloy Elite ( at Amazon) that debuted before it. © The Alloy Elite RGB's measurements are without the textured wrist rest attached, a bundled accessory that makes it about 3 inches deeper. In addition to a full-size numeric keypad at right, it packs in discrete media keys, here above the ordinary keyboard layout. Light-fingered typists and gamers can train their fingers to push just to the actuation point, triggering your speed-typing or quick-twitch actions. Thank you for signing up to Tom's Guide. Its linear switches are allies on the battlefield, but the broad keycaps may tire your fingers. These aren't standard issue with every gaming keyboard, but we tend to see them in boards in this price range, so HyperX is hitting its marks here. Neither is necessarily "better" than the other, as some folks prefer not to make the extra effort fiddling with software. That strip houses the media keys in the top-right corner, including HyperX’s take on a volume wheel, still the most int… Or, it might convince you to buy another deluxe-grade RGB keyboard altogether, such as the Razer BlackWidow Chroma V2, the Corsair K95 RGB Platinum, or the Logitech G513 Carbon, for the more dependable software alone. You will receive a verification email shortly. 21 mins ago. The other two did not. The HyperX NGenuity software is overwhelming at first. Read HyperX Alloy Elite RGB Review The keycaps are manufactured using a so-called "doubleshot" design, and the lack of printed legends on the keycap tops helps resist apparent wear. The difference is in the "RGB": the option for 16.8 million colors, assignable to each of its keys via the NGenuity software. Black Friday deals: see all the best offers right now! Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. The Alloy Elite has it all: a spacious design, authentic Cherry MX keys, dedicated media controls and an interface that requires absolutely no software. I used TypingTest.com to evaluate the Alloy Elite, and found that I could type 126 words per minute with seven errors. Click Default, then click Customize, and you'll be taken to a screen divided into three sections: Lighting, Game Mode, and Macros. There’s a normal keyboard, sure, and then above it is an inch-deep strip of nothing.Okay, not quite nothing. The keys, layout and performance are all top-notch. The HyperX Alloy Elite 2 is an outstanding gaming keyboard. The brown switches in my review unit offered a nice tactile feel … That said, it does take longer to reach the 2mm actuation point of Cherry MX Browns than with Logitech's 1.5mm Romer-G switches that I am using on the keyboard I type on most days at work. Neither is necessarily "better" than the other, as some folks prefer not to make the extra effort fiddling with software. The Alloy Elite is about as elegant as they come. First, though, you'll have to click the customizable lighting profile called "Default." That said, it does take longer to reach the 2mm actuation point of Cherry MX Browns than with Logitech's 1.5mm Romer-G switches that I am using on the keyboard I type on most days at work. Once you hit the bump, the keyboard registers a keypress, so you don't necessarily have to key-mash to type. There was a problem. Linear Switch, HyperX Red at Amazon.com. Nevertheless, the, rated my typing at around the same 75 words per minute and 98 percent accuracy, using either the HyperX Alloy Elite RGB or the Romer-G-equipped, Measuring 1.47 by 17.48 by 8.93 inches (HWD), the HyperX Alloy Elite RGB is not a small keyboard, but its jet-black steel frame makes good use of its footprint. Measuring 1.47 by 17.48 by 8.93 inches (HWD), the HyperX Alloy Elite RGB is not a small keyboard, but its jet-black steel frame makes good use of its footprint. HyperX Alloy Elite 2 review: quality, but at a premium price. What i… All the way to the left is a button that lets you choose among four levels of button-lighting brightness, and to its right is a button that cycles through lighting presets. Whether you prefer the clicks and clacks of Cherry MX Blue key switches, the light linearity of Cherry MX Reds, or the somewhere-between feel of Cherry MX Browns, the HyperX Alloy Elite RGB is a compelling gaming keyboard with plenty of appeal in the hardware. The difference is in the "RGB": the option for 16.8 million colors, assignable to each of its keys via the NGenuity software.