HyperX Alloy Origins Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review: Slick Simplicity (Updated)
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Refined simplicity
Editor’s Choice
Tom’s Hardware Verdict
HyperX’s $110 Alloy Origins is a well-designed, colorful and compact mechanical keyboard that’s good for those who want a quality product but also want to skip the fuss and just get down to gaming.
Pros
- +
Attractive, compact design
- +
Excellent RGB lighting
- +
Three-level rear height adjustment
Cons
- –
No dedicated media controls or macro keys
- –
Shorter 1.8mm switch actuation (versus 2mm) feels like a gimmick
- –
NGenuity software could be more intuitive
- –
No USB pass-through ports
- –
A little expensive
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HyperX Alloy Origins mechanical gaming keyboard (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Update 10/5/2020: After its initial launch with HyperX Red switches and follow-up update with HyperX Aqua tactile switches, HyperX today announced a version of this keyboard debuting its HyperX Blue clicky switches. We’ve updated the switch section below with our experience and thoughts about the keyboard with this switch, which is most similar to Cherry MX Blues. The Blue version of the Allow Origins is now available via HyperX’s website.
What do you want from your best gaming keyboard, a truckload of features that you’ll want to futz around with for hours, or a sleek, solid, compact and colorful package that feels great while letting you get down to gaming? If the latter sounds like you, HyperX’s $110 Alloy Origins is well worth considering.
Its metal shell is compact, sleek and solid. HyperX’s in-house linear switches feel familiar, in a good way. And the RGB backlighting looks about as vivid as any I’ve seen on a mechanical clacker.
HyperX Alloy Origins Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Switches | HyperX Blue (clicky), HyperX Red (linear) or HyperX Aqua (tactile) |
| Lighting | RGB LED |
| Onboard Storage | Yes |
| Media Keys | With FN |
| Game Mode | Yes |
| Interface | 1x USB Type-C port |
| Cable | 5.9 feet (1.8m), braided, detachable |
| Additional Ports | None |
| Key Caps | ABS plastic |
| Construction | Aluminum top and bottom plate |
| Software | NGenuity lighting and macro software |
| Dimensions (WxDxH) | 17. 4 x 5.2 x 1.4 inches (442.5 x 132.5 x 36.4mm) |
| Weight | 2.4 pounds (1,075g) |
| Warranty | 2-year limited |
| Price | $109.99 |
Measuring 1.4 x 17.4 x 5.2 inches (36.4 x 442.5 x 132.5mm) and weighing 2.4 pounds (1,075g), the Alloy Origins is pretty compact for a full-size mechanical keyboard. And a removable braided USB-C cable (that’s nearly 6 feet long) helps make the keyboard more travel-friendly. The slim, aluminum shell looks attractive and feels solid, while giving the exposed switches and keys a nice surface to reflect off of, resulting in bright, attractive lighting effects.
Image 1 of 4
In short, this is one of the nicest-looking mechanical keyboards I’ve used in recent memory. It’s certainly prettier (and feels more premium) than the pricier, switch-swapping Logitech G Pro X.
The only features I miss when using the Alloy Origins are dedicated media controls and (ideally) some sort of volume wheel. But there isn’t enough physical space on the keyboard’s frame for more than one or two extra buttons anyway, and HyperX at least integrated media controls (as well as basic lighting controls and a Game Mode switch) into the Function row. A strip above the numpad on the right looks like a tiny monochrome screen (similar to the SteelSeries Apex Pro), but it’s only used as an indicator for Num Lock, Caps Lock and Game Mode.
There’s a couple things worth pointing out on the underside of the keyboard as well. First, the bottom shell is one curved-edge, cool-feeling piece of aluminum, just like the top, which helps lend the keyboard a very premium and solid feel. Second, the feet at the back of the Alloy Origins can be flipped up to two different heights, letting you adjust the angle to three different positions (the third with the feet flipped down) to whatever feels right for you — I liked typing and gaming with the feet at their maximum height.
Typing and Gaming Experience
This keyboard comes with your choice of HyperX-branded Red linear switches, Aqua tactiles or Blue Clicky ones.
The HyperX Red switches to my fingers feel about the same as the Cherry MX Reds in the Corsair keyboard I use for gaming at home. According to HyperX, the HyperX Red switches have the same 45g actuation force as Cherry MX Reds. But HyperX has cut both the actuation distance (1.8mm) and total travel distance (3.8mm) down by 0.2mm. Cherry MX Reds have rated distances of 2mm and 4mm, respectively.
HyperX Alloy Origins’ Red switches
Honestly, in both typing and gaming, I didn’t really notice the 0.2mm difference. And you probably won’t either, unless maybe you’re legitimately an elite-class gamer. Even then, if it’s shorter activation that gives you an edge, Cherry’s MX Silver switches have a significantly shorter 1.2mm activation point. So if you’re convinced a shorter key throw will help you excel in competitive gaming, there are better keyboard models out there.
Because I’m pretty familiar with linear switches, and HyperX hasn’t done anything crazy with the layout, the Alloy Origins felt immediately comfortable to me — at least until I reached out with one hand for media controls that aren’t there. Red switches aren’t the best for typing, but they didn’t bother me too much while banging out this review. If anything, I noticed fewer repeated keystrokes while typing with this keyboard than I normally make when typing with the Cherry MX Red switches on my Corsair keyboard.
Since the initial launch HyperX has also started offering tactile (HyperX Aqua) switches with the Alloy Origins. The company sent us Aqua model, which is most similar to Cherry’s MX Brown switches, after we put up our initial review.
HyperX Alloy Origins’ Aqua switches (Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Like the Red switches, the Aquas also have a slightly shorter 1.8mm actuation than Cherry’s competing Browns. And there’s an actuation bump you can feel when pressing the key down, right before it bottoms out.
I put the Aqua switches through the craziness of a few Borderlands 3 battles, and I do prefer them to the Red switches, if only slightly. But comparing them to MX Brown switches I have on a Das Keyboard 4 Professional, I couldn’t physically feel the 0.2mm shorter travel and actuation of the Aqua switches over the Browns. The main difference I noted is that the sound of the keys bottoming out is a bit hollower on the HyperX keyboard, and feels a bit softer, compared to the keys on the Das Keyboard, which have a sharper sound and feel when the keys hit the end of their travel distance.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Finally filling out the Alloy Origins’ mechanical switch offering, this keyboard is now available with HyperX Blue switches. This is the first time we’re seeing these switches, which have 3.8mm total travel and actuate at 1.8mm with 50G of force and are supposed to last for up to 80 million presses. They’re similar to Cherry MX Blues, which have 4mm total travel, actuating at 2.
2mm with 60G of force.
In a side-by-side comparison to the Cherry Blues, HyperX’s take on a sky-colored switch had less of a plastic-like ring to its clicks and a subtly more hollow sound overall. The HyperX’s switches’ shorter travel, again, wasn’t obviously noticeable compared to Cherry’s offering. But the Cherry Blue tactile bump does feel more substantial, contributing to why HyperX’s switches require less force to register an input, with more of a pop feeling on the way back up.
In the Alloy Origin’s case, the HyperX Blue switches made for a snappy space bar that bounces back into place quickly with a satisfying hollow ‘thock’ noise accompanying the click, for a sound reminiscent of an old cash register.
When gaming with HyperX Blue switches, I enjoyed a satisfying sound that didn’t quite overpower the game’s audio — although teammates who could hear me may beg to differ. The switches were light and easy to press for tactile switches, and the keys snapped back quickly.
That helped in gaming, but the HyperX Blues still aren’t ideal when you have to press a key quickly or repeatedly. But when it came to typing, the clicks were a delight and the lighter bump and force needed to actuate the switches made it so my speed wasn’t hindered. Combined with the smooth keycaps, the Blue switches were great for heavy typing sessions.
Switch preference is a personal thing but I don’t think, for most people, the shorter actuation will make a noticeable difference in feel or gaming performance. Personally, I’d go for the Aqua switches over the Reds for pure gaming, but I still by far prefer clicky Blue switches for typing and other kinds of productivity work.
While I didn’t notice anything funky about the layout of the keys, HyperX has done something that’s visually odd and potentially distracting with the Alloy Origin’s keycaps. Note in the image above that the primary and secondary functions of each key are placed beside one another, rather than above and below, as is typical.
Of course, this won’t bother some people at all, but something about glancing down and seeing a glowing semicolon and colon right next to each other kept distracting me.
I also put the Alloy Origins through its paces while playing a few hours of Borderlands 3 and found it a worthy weapon in the battle against the Calypso Twins. The HyperX Red switches felt familiar and responsive (though no more so than the Cherry MX Red switches I’m more used to). With my office lights switched off, the RGB lighting was arguably too bright at the default maximum setting, though it certainly looked vibrant.
Thankfully, dialing down the lumens is as easy as mashing the Function and down arrow keys. And if you want to watch a movie or just give your eyes a rest from the constant RGB rainbow, a combo of FN and F3 engages a reactive lighting preset where nothing lights up until you press a key, and then the lights fade out a second or so later.
Software
As noted above, basic lighting controls can be handled by key combinations.
But if you want to truly customize the lighting of individual keys, add effects, create macros and save profiles (up to three) on the keyboard’s internal memory, you’ll need to install HyperX’s questionably named NGenuity software.
Image 1 of 4
Despite its name, NGenuity works fairly well and is reasonably attractive, letting you choose between 10 different lighting effects, tweak the speed and direction and decide whether the whole keyboard or individual keys get lit. Any reassigning of keys or recording and assigning of macros also happens here.
Overall, I like the way the software looks, hate the name and just wish parts of it were more intuitive. For instance, there are 30 or so presets, most based on games, under a Library tab. But every time I clicked on one, the lights would flash for a second, then go immediately back to the previously selected lighting effect–I couldn’t get any of them to stick easily.
While its custom switches aren’t worth getting excited about and there’s little else in the way of ground-breaking features here, HyperX’s Alloy Origins keyboard still manages to flirt with excellence.
Both the keys and the frame look and feel premium. The RGB lighting is about as vivid and bright as it gets, and the overall design is compact and comfortable to use.
At $109.99, the price seems a little high given that the software isn’t quite great and there are no dedicated media controls or other flashy features. But for those looking for a premium gaming clacker that works well without much fuss (while letting you adjust the back end to three different heights for maximum comfort), the Alloy Origins is easy to recommend–especially if you can find it at or below $100.
If you’re willing to sacrifice the number pad for a lower price point, HyperX also now sells a tenkeyless version, the HyperX Alloy Origins Core for $90. It looks to sport the same design and a similar feature set as the original Origins, just with a smaller footprint thanks to its lack of a numberpad.
Image Credits: Tom’s Hardware
MORE: Best Gaming Keyboards
MORE: All Keyboard Content
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After a rough start with the Mattel Aquarius as a child, Matt built his first PC in the late 1990s and ventured into mild PC modding in the early 2000s. He’s spent the last 15 years covering emerging technology for Smithsonian, Popular Science, and Consumer Reports, while testing components and PCs for Computer Shopper, PCMag and Digital Trends.
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro Review: Bringing Macro Back
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Dedicated macro keys, a multi-function command dial, and a premium wrist rest
(Image: © Tom’s Hardware)
Tom’s Hardware Verdict
The BlackWidow V4 Pro is designed to do it all — gaming, typing, streaming, you name it — by bringing back the features we’ve been missing recently: dedicated macro keys and media keys, USB passthrough, and extra-glowy RGB lighting.
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Pros
- +
Plush, padded wrist rest that extends keyboard’s underglow by 20 RGB zones
- +
Programmable multi-function “Razer Command Dial”
- +
Eight dedicated macro keys
- +
8,000 Hz max polling rate
Cons
- –
ABS keycaps may not last long
- –
Macro keys disabled by default
- –
Customization is very software-dependent
Why you can trust Tom’s Hardware
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.
There are gaming keyboards that focus primarily on performance, or size, or wireless convenience, and then there are gaming keyboards that try to be everything and more. Razer’s BlackWidow line of keyboards has always been the latter (and is always, subsequently, somewhere on our list of best gaming keyboards) — customizable RGB-infused mechanical gaming keyboards packed with features.
And the BlackWidow V4 Pro is all of that… and somehow more.
The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro — that’s right, this is Razer’s first V4 product — is a full-size wired mechanical gaming keyboard that pulls out all the stops. It’s got a volume roller and four dedicated media keys, as well as eight dedicated macro keys/buttons (five keys and three side buttons), plus a tactile, multi-function “Razer Command Dial,” that can be programmed with up to 100 custom modes. It also comes with a detachable, plushly-padded wrist rest that extends the keyboard’s underglow with 20 additional RGB zones when attached.
The BlackWidow V4 Pro is available now, with a premium (but expected) $230 price tag.
- Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro (Black) at Amazon for $210
The BlackWidow V4 Pro is a full-size wired mechanical keyboard with a matte black aluminum alloy top plate and a plastic chassis. It comes with a detachable padded wrist rest in textured black leatherette, with Razer’s iconic triskelion snake logo embossed in the center.
It’s larger than your average full-size keyboard thanks to a row of dedicated macro keys, as well as a programmable “Razer Command Dial” (more on this later), located on the left side.
The BlackWidow V4 Pro measures 18.25 inches (464mm) long by 6 inches (152mm) deep, and is about 1 inch (25mm) tall at its thickest point, not including the keycaps (it’s about 1.75 inches/44.5mm tall with the keycaps). The detachable wrist rest is about 3.25 inches (82.6mm) deep, making the keyboard 9.25 inches (235mm) deep with the wrist rest attached. This is not for someone with limited desk space — however, it’s just half an inch wider than the BlackWidow V3 Pro (and just over one-tenth of an inch deeper, with the wrist rest attached), which has no macro keys.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
In the upper right corner, the BlackWidow V4 Pro has a textured metal volume roller and four machined aluminum media keys — previous track, play/pause, next track, and mute. The volume roller and the media keys can all be reprogrammed in Razer’s Synapse 3 software.
On the left side of the keyboard are five dedicated macro keys, labeled M1 – M5. Above these keys is a notched metal “Razer Command Dial,” which is a multi-function dial that can be used for a variety of things — it comes with eight presets (only a few of which are turned on by default), which you can cycle through by clicking the dial, and you can create new dial modes in Razer’s Synapse 3 software.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Also on the left side of the keyboard are three additional programmable macro buttons — that’s eight macro buttons total. While I did like the fact that Razer is bringing back dedicated macro keys, I will say that this keyboard did take a little getting used to — I kept misjudging the location of my far-left keys (such as the tilde key, which is a key I use often — coincidentally — as a macro in games). I also accidentally hit the side macro buttons several times when repositioning the keyboard on my desk, which is something I apparently do… fairly often.
This wasn’t too much of a hassle, however, as it only took a week for me to get used to the new layout (and I disabled the side buttons until I figured out where I wanted my keyboard to sit, permanently).
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The bottom of the BlackWidow V4 Pro features eight small rubberized anti-slip pads, though this is a pretty heavy keyboard — it probably isn’t going anywhere (unless you’re grabbing it by the sides and moving it, like I was). The keyboard alone weighs approximately 2.26 pounds (1027g), while the wrist rest weighs an additional 13.76 ounces (390g). The keyboard has two sets of flip-out feet, both with rubberized anti-slip pads, for angle adjustment.
Image 1 of 3
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The detachable wrist rest definitely looks and feels premium with its plush, padded, leatherette-covered surface.
It attaches to the keyboard magnetically, and has a 5-pin connector that interfaces (via a connection point on the bottom of the keyboard) for seamless, Chroma-infused RGB underglow.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The BlackWidow V4 Pro has both underglow and per-key RGB. Alone, the keyboard has underglow on its sides only, with 18 programmable zones (9 on each side). Attaching the wrist rest adds another 20 programmable zones to the sides and front (three to each side, one to each corner, and 12 to the front).
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(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
In addition to the wrist rest, the BlackWidow V4 Pro also comes with two 6.5-foot (2m) USB-C to USB-A cables — the keyboard only needs one cable for power, but will require a second cable if you want to use the keyboard’s USB 2.0 passthrough port.
Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally
| Switches | Razer Green / Razer Yellow |
| Lighting | Per-key RGB |
| Onboard Storage | 5 Onboard Profiles |
| Media Keys | 4 + Volume Roller (Programmable) |
| Game Mode | Yes |
| Connectivity | Wired (USB-C) |
| Additional Ports | 1 USB-A |
| Keycaps | Doubleshot ABS |
| Construction | Aluminum alloy, plastic |
| Software | Synapse 3 |
| Dimensions (LxWxH) | 18. 25 x 6 x 1 inches / 464 x 152 x 25mm |
| Weight (sans accessories) | 2.26 pounds / 1027g |
| MSRP / Price at Time of Review | $229.99 / $229.99 |
| Release Date | Feb. 16, 2023 |
Typing and Gaming Experience on the BlackWidow V4 Pro
The BlackWidow V4 Pro comes with Razer’s in-house mechanical switches — either Razer Green (clicky) or Razer Yellow (linear). Razer Green switches actuate at 1.9mm with 50g of force, and feature both a tactile bump and an audible click when pressed, while Razer Yellow switches actuate at 1.2mm with 45g of force and have no tactile bump or audible click (Razer includes silicon sound dampeners for extra silence). I unabashedly love loud clicky switches, so I requested a review unit with Razer Green switches.
As expected, the Razer Green switches on the BlackWidow V4 Pro were extra-loud, with a (slightly hollow) plasticky click.
The case has two layers of internal sound dampening foam, which did a fairly decent job of cutting down on case ping and reverb — though it doesn’t sound nearly as refined as the Asus ROG Azoth. However, that’s not necessarily the worst thing, as I’m a big fan of obnoxiously-loud clickiness in keyboards (even if some of that comes from the case and not the switches).
The spacebar on the BlackWidow V4 Pro sounds and feels slightly more stable than the spacebar on the BlackWidow V3 Pro, but it’s not significant enough that I’d call it an improvement — the spacebar and larger keys such as backspace and enter give off more of a dull thud than a snappy click.
Like its predecessor, the BlackWidow V4 Pro has doubleshot ABS keycaps with attractive, shine-through legends. The keycaps are full height and feature a lightly-textured, matte finish, and could probably be mistaken for PBT keycaps at a glance. The keycaps look and feel good, but it really comes down to how they’ll hold up in the long run: the keycaps on my BlackWidow V3 Pro started showing wear after less than six months of daily use, and nothing indicates these keycaps will wear differently.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
Although Razer Green switches aren’t my absolute favorite clicky switches — they’re just a little too stiff to be perfect — they still rank pretty high. I did a couple of rounds of typing tests on 10fastfingers.com and averaged 123 words per minute (WPM ) with 97.32% accuracy — which is right in line with how fast I normally type on an obnoxiously-loud clicky keyboard.
The BlackWidow V4 Pro also offers an excellent gaming experience, though some gamers may prefer the linear Razer Yellow switch variant. It’s especially nice to see the return of dedicated macro keys, which are disabled by default but can be turned on and programmed in Synapse 3. The macro keys, like almost all of the keys (except for the Windows key and the Fn key), can be remapped to do just about anything: from keyboard/mouse functions to multimedia controls to launching programs or activating Windows shortcuts. They can also be mapped to extra function keys (F13 – F24), if you just want extra keys that can be remapped inside a game.
I tested the V4 Pro across a number of games, including my go-to MMORPG (the Elder Scrolls Online) and FPS (Overwatch 2), as well as my favorite arcade spin-off (The Typing of the Dead: Overkill). The extra macro keys definitely give it an advantage in MMOs, even though I had to think for a bit about which keys I wanted to remap — I’ve lived without macro keys for so long that I’ve almost forgotten how to use them. The macro keys won’t be as tempting for FPS players, but this keyboard is still a great choice: it’s wired, so lag isn’t an issue, and it also has an extra-high polling rate (up to 8,000 Hz). While polling rates above 1,000 Hz are so negligible that most gamers won’t notice a difference, elite players looking to eke out extra speed wherever possible will appreciate the option.
Features and Software of the BlackWidow V4 Pro
The BlackWidow V4 Pro, like all Razer products, works with Razer’s Synapse 3 software ecosystem. Synapse 3 is far from my favorite peripheral software program, but it’s not my least favorite, so that’s.
.. something. The V4 Pro mostly works out of the box, without any software — mostly. The volume roller and media keys are pre-programmed, as are the three side macro buttons: the top side macro button opens the screenshot menu, the middle side macro button opens the Xbox game bar, and the bottom side macro button opens Windows Task View.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
The Razer Command Dial is also pre-programmed, with four of its eight preset modes activated: keyboard brightness, windows zoom, switch applications, and track jogging. You can switch between these modes by clicking the dial to advance or holding down the shift key and clicking the dial to go backward. The current mode is indicated by light color (green, red, blue, and yellow). The other four preset modes — track selector (cyan), vertical scrolling (magenta), horizontal scrolling (white), and switch browser tabs (orange) — will need to be turned on in Synapse 3.
(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)
You can also program up to 100 custom Command Dial modes, complete with custom backlight colors, using Synapse 3.
The catch is that you’ll need to be running Synapse 3 to use custom modes (they can be stored to the keyboard’s onboard profiles, but they won’t run without Synapse 3). The eight preset modes, once turned on, can be accessed without Synapse 3.
You’ll also need to run Synapse 3 if you want to use the five macro keys, which are disabled by default (which is ridiculous — they should ship as extra macro keys). As I mentioned earlier, you can program these keys to perform a variety of functions and tasks, or you can program them as extra Fn-keys if you want to do your remapping in-game.
Synapse 3 is also where you can adjust the keyboard’s polling rate, record macros (though the V4 Pro also offers on-the-fly macro recording), and remap keybinds — Razer offers a full secondary layer of keybind customization called “Razer HyperShift,” which is activated via the Fn key (one of the only keys that can’t be remapped. You can also use Synapse to switch up the keyboard’s lighting, either with preset “quick effects,” or with custom effects created using Chroma Studio (which is a whole other headache, but I won’t get into that).
You can sync the V4 Pro’s lighting with other Chroma-infused Razer peripherals for that hard-to-resist ultra-cohesive gamer look (don’t worry — I get it).
If you’re looking for the ultimate gaming-and-everything keyboard, the BlackWidow V4 Pro is it. The extra macro keys are somewhat of a rarity on full-size keyboards these days, as everyone seems to have moved toward maximizing desk space efficiency — fully-programmable secondary keybind layers are useful, but they’ll never be as convenient as dedicated macro keys.
The multi-function Razer Command Dial is also a very handy inclusion — it functions a lot like the multi-function dials on streaming decks such as the Elgato Stream Deck+ and the Loupedeck Live S, which makes it perfect for those of us who don’t need a whole streaming setup but could use some of that stream deck functionality. I set up some custom dial modes for a handful of Photoshop tasks such as changing brush sizes, zooming in/out, and undoing/redoing an action.
While I have also have these actions coded to dials on the Elgato Stream Deck+, I definitely prefer the Razer Command Dial because I don’t have to move my hand (and I don’t use so many dial-type actions that I need visual representation, like you get on the Stream Deck+).
The BlackWidow V4 Pro is an excellent keyboard for both productivity and gaming, assuming you have a desk big enough to fit a full-size keyboard and wrist rest. Its wrist rest is definitely a step up from previous bundled Razer wrist rests — but while I appreciate the underglow and the way Razer implements it, it’s nowhere near as pretty as the Roccat Vulcan II Max’s lower-tech lightshow.
MORE: Best Gaming Keyboards
MORE: How to Pick Keycaps for Your Mechanical Keyboard
MORE: All Motherboard Content
Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro: Price Comparison
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Sarah Jacobsson Purewal is a senior editor at Tom’s Hardware covering peripherals, software, and custom builds. You can find more of her work in PCWorld, Macworld, TechHive, CNET, Gizmodo, Tom’s Guide, PC Gamer, Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, SHAPE, Cosmopolitan, and just about everywhere else.
Best gaming keyboard for MMO games
June 25, 2020
Matt Mills
Editor’s Choice Hardware
0
MMO games like necessarily involve the use of many different keyboard keys for all the actions a character can perform. A gaming keyboard is ideal for this type of gaming, but if you have a gaming keyboard, things will improve even more because you will have a special peripheral in which all keys will be configured using macros as needed. Next, we will tell you, what do we think is the best gaming keyboard on the market.
Razer Tartarus V2
This gaming keyboard has 32 programmable buttons with Razer mechano-membrane switches to be able to customize the macros or actions you want, also supported by the full Razer Synapse software, with a very easy setup.
It also has a scroll wheel, an 8-way analog stick, and two mouse buttons. It has a comfortable two-piece wrist rest so you can use it for hours without causing fatigue, and of course it has customizable Chroma lighting.
Was passiert, wenn Verben gewisserm…
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Razer Tartarus Pro
This is a version of the previous one with exactly the same specs, but in addition to being available in white, it has the peculiarity that the switches are optical (analogue), which gives the peripherals more precision. It’s a lot more expensive than the previous one because of that, but if you’re more into this type of button mechanism, you should know that this is the only gaming keyboard on the market that includes them.
Logitech G13
The famous Logitech G13 was one of the first gaming keyboards on the market. It has a total of 25 buttons with membrane switches, macros are configurable from the software and with the ability to record macros on the fly.
It also has an 8-way D-Pad and two mouse buttons, with a one-piece wrist rest, RGB lighting, and the most prominent feature is an LCD screen that we can customize as we wish, from displaying images to displaying equipment status or MMO statistics. which we play.
Trust GXT 888
Much simpler and cheaper is this Trust brand gaming keyboard, which actually just has 29 keys on the left side of the keyboard we usually use in games. It has a rigid wrist rest, and the big button you see on the right is nothing more than a space bar. The keys, which are customizable from software, also have customizable RGB lighting and 13-key switching.
Redragon K585
Same as above, but slightly more complete and at the same time simpler. This gaming keyboard is also equivalent to the left side of a traditional keyboard but adds five dedicated macro keys with which we can record macros on the fly without the need for software. It also has customizable RGB lighting and a hard wrist rest.
Excalibur class
Aula Excalibur is more than a gaming keyboard, almost reminiscent of aircraft control, although it is actually also the left side of the keyboard, but the buttons are located differently, so that the ENTER key is on, and special keys are located in the shape of a semicircle at the top. It has RGB lighting and a one-piece padded wrist rest.
- keyboard
The best gaming keyboards of 2023: specs, descriptions, photos
Regular keyboards are great for office work, but to take your gaming to the next level, you need the speed and precision that only gaming keyboards can offer. Gaming keyboards offer the highest quality to increase your precision, customizable keys to put important controls at your fingertips, backlighting to enable you to play in dark environments, and more. They can be quite expensive, but the better quality than regular keyboards is worth it. If you are looking to buy a gaming keyboard, then here are some options with different prices and features.
1. Best gaming keyboard
- Size: full size
- Illumination: RGB
- Wrist rest: detachable
REASONS TO BUY:
+Responsive optical switches
+Full RGB lighting
+Premium build quality
If you want the best of the best, it’s hard to find a more premium option than the Corsair K100 RGB. Be warned though – this is a large keyboard: its sheer size requires clearing the desk of excess junk before it can be comfortably placed. But in terms of features, the K100 RGB has it all, even the metal volume wheel.
During our tests, we noted excellent key response, a decent key size for all hand sizes, a satisfying tactile click with every press, and wonderful key dimples.
2. Best Modular Gaming Keyboard
- Keys: Cherry MX Red, Blue, Brown, Silver
- Size: full size or TKL
- Illumination: per-key RGB
- Wrist rest: magnetic
- Caps: ABS
REASONS TO BUY:
+Fully modular
+Simple, elegant style
I don’t always need a number pad on a full-size keyboard, but it can certainly come in handy during some workdays.
However, when I’m gaming, all I need is a compact TKL layout to keep my mouse and keyboard hands closer together and give me more desktop space.
Magnetic Numeric Keypad Module can be attached to either side of the TKL base mechanical board and is fully hot swappable.
This model is also suitable for those who love a keyboard that allows you to pull out the switches at will and replace them. You can also choose your own switches and keycaps and create a custom design.
3. Best Gaming Keyboard for Membrane Enthusiasts
- Keyboard Lighting: RGB Keypad
- Programmable keys: all
- Features: RGB backlight for each key, support for Windows 7+ and OSX 10.8+
REASONS TO BUY:
+Better feel membrane keys available
+Available
+RGB per-key backlighting
If even mechanical membrane keys don’t work for you and you want a full membrane keyboard, the Razer Cynosa is the way to go.
I know there are people who prefer the soft feel of clean membrane keys, and that’s okay.
The
Cynosa has some of the best-feeling membrane keys I’ve ever tested, and at a retail price of $60, this is one of the most affordable gaming keyboards out there. While it may lack features found on some gaming keyboards these days, such as a dedicated wrist rest, it boasts extensive Razer RGB lighting that can be programmed per key or applied by zone.
This solid, no-nonsense, beautiful keyboard is the best membrane option out of the huge range I’ve tested.
4. The brightest and most affordable mechanical keyboard
- Keys: Cherry MX Red
- Size: TKL
- Illumination: white
- Wrist rest: no
REASONS TO BUY:
+Affordable
+Reliable Cherry MX switches
+Bright white LED
The current market trend is for gaming keyboards over $200, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t quality mechanical keyboards available at a more reasonable price.
You’ll often find lower-end options offering cheap switches from other manufacturers, but the G.Skill KM360 comes with a classic Cherry MX Red in-line switch.
You might be disappointed that your gaming keyboard doesn’t glow like a rainbow. But the white LEDs on this G.Skill keyboard are the brightest I’ve ever seen.
5. Best Wireless Gaming Keyboard
- Size: full size
- Illumination: RGB LED
- Wrist rest: no
REASONS TO BUY:
+Latency-free wireless
+Excellent battery life
+Low profile mechanical switches
If you need a wireless keyboard, the Logitech G915 is a great candidate. You will have to spend a little more on wireless functionality compared to wired mechanical keyboards with similar features – Logitech G915 costs $250. There is a slightly cheaper TKL version, but not so much that we immediately recommend it over the full size model.
For this hefty investment, you get a sleek and durable aluminum-clad keyboard. There are some smart media controls on the top right of the board, including a nice volume wheel, as well as some programmable keys on the left side of the keyboard. They can be programmed to do whatever you want for every application or game with Logitech G software.
Underneath this stylish exterior are Kailh’s fantastically responsive GL key switches. You can choose from linear, tactile, or clicky, and we recommend the latter if you want the best tactile feedback.
6. Gaming Keyboard with Extras
- Keys: Cherry MX Blue, Brown, Red
- Size: full size
- Illumination: red
- Port: USB
- Wrist rest: detachable
REASONS TO BUY:
+Excellent feature set
+Relatively affordable
+Excellent range of Cherry MX switches
For a keyboard that can be lit up to 16.
9 million colors, the HyperX Alloy Elite has a relatively simple aesthetic yet packed with features , which we expect from a quality gaming keyboard. You can choose from Cherry MX Brown, Blue and Red. The disadvantages are compensated by reasonable price and quality, as well as a solid construction.
HyperX Alloy Elite RGB features dedicated media controls, USB pass-through, detachable wrist rest and full RGB lighting. It also includes an additional set of silver keycaps for WASD and the first four number keys to enhance its aesthetics.
7. Best gaming keyboard in terms of customization and ergonomics
- Keys: Cherry MX Blue, Brown, Red
- Illumination: RGB
- USB port
- Wrist rest: yes
REASONS TO BUY:
+Split keyboard and unique layout to reduce stress
+Additional wrist rests for improved ergonomics
+Very customizable
Kinesis’ original Freestyle Edge keyboard was one of the best ergonomic keyboards on the market.
This upgraded RGB model outperforms the previous one in several ways. It retains the split design, which allows you to set the two halves of the deck at shoulder width and reduce the load on the back, neck and shoulders. The gap also allows you to place a joystick or HOTAS between them for space sims, or leave the controller within easy reach when typing in text chat or messengers between sessions.
8. Fastest gaming keyboard
- Keys: Opto-mechanical Razer
- Size: full size
- Backlight: 16.8 million RGB colors
- Wrist rest: detachable magnetic
REASONS TO BUY:
+ Opto-mechanical keys
+ Beautiful, fully lit, durable full-size keyboard
+ Dedicated media controls
The Razer Huntsman family of keyboards is the only place in the world to find truly decent optomechanical keys, and it’s one of the best (and most technologically interesting) keys on the market.
The opto-mechanical design eschews traditional metal contacts and is instead actuated by a beam of light that passes through the switch when a key is pressed, meaning actuation is almost instantaneous.
Proven models
These are the best models of yesteryear, but they are still relevant and can be found at discounted prices:
Cheapest gaming keyboard new keyboard, you risk missing out some cool features like backlighting or mechanical keys, but if you want something simpler then there are quality and cheap gaming keyboards. The
Turtle Beach Impact 100 doesn’t have backlighting or customizable keys, but it does have one feature that sets it apart from cheaper keyboards – its keys are much more precise and feel better than conventional membrane keyboards.
Mechanical keys are generally preferred for gaming as each key is a mechanical switch and is more precise, while membrane keyboards use silicone membranes which require full pressure to operate.
However, the membrane keys in the Impact 100 use new technology that allows them to feel and respond like mechanical keys, but at a lower cost. It certainly doesn’t quite look like a mechanical keyboard, but if you want a cheap gaming keyboard, the Turtle Beach Impact 100 is a good choice.
The Ultimate Gaming Keyboard
On the other side of the spectrum is Mad Catz S.T.R.I.K.E. 7 which has a ton of extra bells and whistles to make your friends jealous. The full-sized mechanical keyboard is divided into three parts – a standard keyboard, a modular numeric keypad, and a functional ribbon with customizable buttons. It also includes three wrist pads and a control module with a TFT LCD touch screen.
The real star here is the touch module, which gives you access to all the various functions and programmable keyboard macros, as well as volume control and the ability to launch applications on your computer.
Everything about it is modular and can be connected together in many different ways so that you can adjust the position of the keyboard parts and wrist pads, as well as the touch screen, to your liking.
Most portable gaming keyboard
Most gaming keyboards are full size, but gaming usually only uses a few buttons. If you want to cut the clutter and use a keyboard that’s a little more portable, then the Delux-T9 Mini gaming keyboard is just right for you. Essentially, it only has keys that you can reach with your left hand, and nothing else. That means it’s small, light, and gives you everything you need without having to lug around a full-size keyboard. It can be used both with the left hand and with the right, thanks to the “Space” key on both sides. It doesn’t have special features like macro buttons and you certainly can’t use it for typing, but for most games it’s enough and it’s quite cheaper than other gaming keyboards.
The best gaming keyboard in terms of design
Most gaming keyboards today have several types of backlighting, but not all of them are created equal. If you want the brightest and most colorful keys that are associated with your games, and simply the coolest gaming keyboard in general, then the Razer Black Widow X Chroma is for you. It works like a champ with reliable and precise mechanical keys, but the best thing about it is that it has 16.8 million customizable backlighting options. The backlight can be customized the way you want. Also, many games will have the ability to highlight the keyboard in certain ways, such as to match character colors or change colors to show abilities in games. The Razer BlackWidow X Chroma turns keyboard backlighting into art and is by far the best gaming keyboard on the market.
The best wireless keyboard for gamers
Wireless keyboards and mice are comfortable, but the slight slowness that is always present in wireless solutions makes them less suitable for fast and intense gaming.