Josh Goldman / CNET
HyperX’s new Alloy Elite 2 mechanical gaming keyboard is blindingly bright and heavy, which is probably the first thing you’ll discover. But once it’s on your desk and plugged in, you’ll definitely notice how bright the buttons are. One reason for this is the company’s homemade red linear switches with surface-mounted diode LEDs. Combined with the translucent walls of The latest HyperX pudding keycaps Light seems to flow from all directions.
Except for the keycaps, the second generation Alloy Elite looks essentially the same as the original. The thick steel frame of the $ 129 keyboard and attached braided cable weigh 1.5 kg. It’s not travel-friendly like the company’s Alloy Origins Core TKL keyboard, but between the weight and the rubber pads on the bottom and The keyboard remains on your desk on the fold-down legs. There is a USB 2.0 through port on the back if you want to connect your mouse or wireless receiver there.
Also read: Best gaming keyboard for 2020: Razer, Corsair, Logitech and more
There are three keys on the top left of the keyboard: LED brightness (four levels and off); Switch to one of up to three custom lighting profiles; and enabling game mode, which turns off the Windows key and other keyboard shortcuts that you may accidentally remove from your game. Oddly enough, they’re the only buttons that don’t light up. Opposite these buttons on the right side are a set of media control buttons and a volume control in the upper right.
HyperX used its red linear switches for the Alloy Elite 2.
Josh Goldman / CNET
A light bar separates the main keyboard from the additional controls. The keyboard is backlit per key, so you can use the HyperX Ngenuity app to do whatever you want, including the light bar. It is fairly simple and can also be used to set up macros or reassign individual keys.
The first Alloy Elite used Cherry MX switches and HyperX’s Red switches are similar to the Cherry MX Reds, but have a slightly shorter actuation and a shorter travel. I can’t say I can tell the difference, but the switches are smooth and fast with a pleasant click when they hit the floor. I prefer the tactile feedback from the company’s aqua switches to typing, but the Alloy Elite 2 is just red at the moment.
Overall, however, the HyperX Alloy Elite 2 is a good choice if you appreciate a good light show, media controls, and a sturdy build that can take the heat of the fight.