The Kingston HyperX Alloy Elite Mechanical Keyboard Review
by E. Fylladitakis on July 17, 2017 6:15 AM EST- Posted in
- Keyboard
- Kingston
- HyperX
- Cherry MX
- Mechanical Keyboards
Not too long ago, Kingston decided to diversify their HyperX product lineup by entering the mechanical keyboard market. Kingston’s approach differed from that of most other companies; instead of designing and marketing a top-tier, complex device, their first mechanical keyboard was the Cherry MX-equipped Alloy FPS, a minimalistic design that was intended to be durable, practical, and as portable as possible.
Following the success of their first release, Kingston is now releasing an advanced version of their initial design, the HyperX Alloy Elite. The Alloy Elite is marketed towards a different kind of potential users, with the company dropping the concept of portability in favor of some additional functionality. The additional features do not raise the retail price of the keyboard significantly, with its launch date MSRP being $109, a mere $10 increase over the $99 Alloy FPS.
Packaging and Bundle
Kingston supplies the Hyper-X Alloy Elite inside a well-designed and very sturdy cardboard box. The artwork on the box is minimal, and is mostly focused on the keyboard itself and with the rest of the abstract artwork based on its black-red colors.
Inside the packaging, we found eight extra “gaming” keycaps and a keycap puller with the company logo printed on it. The keycaps are titanium colored. Four of them, the WASD keycaps, are textured with a tread plate pattern. The other four keycaps are meant to replace those on the 1234 keys and are not textured, meaning that the only difference between them and the stock keycaps is their color.
Kingston also supplies a full-size plastic wrist rest with the Alloy Elite. The surface of the wrist rest has been treated to feel smooth to the touch. A tread plate pattern similar to that of the extra keycaps covers about two-thirds of the wrist rest.
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Sarchasm - Monday, July 17, 2017 - link
That's because the backlit keycaps you're using are probably Razer or Corsair, which use black paint over clear ABS. Get some actual doubleshots (like Vortex PBT from MechanicalKeyboards.com) and the issue goes away.jabber - Monday, July 17, 2017 - link
I clip my nails but they are really hard and healthy. They chip and wear keys like crazy. No brittle nails here. Keyboards just cheap out on the keycaps everytime.Lolimaster - Wednesday, July 19, 2017 - link
A well cared fingernail should never touch the keycaps while typing.Diji1 - Sunday, July 23, 2017 - link
We don't care about your rule, mayne!Lolimaster - Wednesday, July 19, 2017 - link
Unless you type with your fingers at 90° over the keyboard which is unreal xDwoergo - Monday, July 17, 2017 - link
The reviewer stated that comment could not be made regarding the long term reliability of the keycaps. Having owned a Das Keyboard 4 Professional since 2014, I can comment.Within a few months the ABS caps were becoming shiny and the symbols fading. After researching, in March 2017 I purchased a Doubleshot PBT kepcap set from WASD Keyboards.com. The principal appearance difference from the original caps is that the Windows keys are unmarked and both black and a red escape caps are provided--I like the red.
To date the WASD Keyboard caps show absolutely no wear and they've restored the keyboard to, in my opinion, better-than-original appearance.
Dug - Wednesday, July 19, 2017 - link
Make a keyboard without the high profile with mx browns.I know there's one out there, but the space bar is all fubared, meaning you can't get nice actuation by hitting the edges.
This high profile is killing peoples tendons and they don't even know it. Unless you are able to put the keyboard below the desk at lap height. Not to mention they look stupid.
lucam - Thursday, July 20, 2017 - link
when you guys are doing to do the new iPad Pro review?SajidBashir - Friday, July 21, 2017 - link
I see nothing special in this mechanical keyboard. US keyboard is ofcourse a positive point..!SajidBashir - Friday, July 21, 2017 - link
http://techin.review/