HyperX Alloy FPS Pro Keyboard Review: No Frills, Great Mechanical Performance

Our Verdict

The HyperX Alloy FPS is a straightforward, functional peripheral with excellent mechanical switches and no software to bog things down.

For

Streamlined pattern
Authentic Cherry MX switches
Braided, detachable cord
No extraneous software

Confronting

Limited customization options
Gaudy backlighting

Tom'due south Guide Verdict

The HyperX Blend FPS is a straightforward, functional peripheral with excellent mechanical switches and no software to bog things down.

Pros

+
Streamlined design
+
Accurate Carmine MX switches
+
Braided, detachable cord
+
No inapplicable software

Cons

-
Limited customization options
-
Gaudy backlighting

HyperX hasn't been making keyboards for that long, which makes it all the more impressive that its early on efforts have been, by and large, really skilful. While the HyperX Alloy Elite ($110) offered full-size thrills, its tenkeyless cousin, the Alloy FPS Pro ($100), cuts the size without cut much of the functionality. While the Alloy FPS has dropped a few of my favorite features from the Elite, it'due south also a straightforward, functional peripheral with excellent mechanical switches and no software to bog things downwards.

Design

For better or worse, the Alloy FPS is plain. It'due south a black tenkeyless peripheral with very piddling in the manner of borders. The baseboard is very depression, giving the keys a cool, elevated advent. There's also reddish backlighting, which you may or may not want to use. (I didn't; carmine backlighting has ever looked gaudy to me, but if you desire more options, get a more than expensive keyboard, I judge.)

Since the Alloy FPS Pro is smaller and cheaper than the Elite, it lacks the latter's detached media controls and its removable wrist rest. Both of these were incredibly useful features, although they're non strictly necessary for a smaller keyboard that might be subjected to frequent travel.

In fact, the Alloy FPS Pro comes with a detachable, braided micro USB cord for power — which is useful for tournament players. On the other manus, information technology doesn't come up with a carrying case, as some tenkeyless Razer models practice, which would accept been helpful.

Keys

The biggest argument in favor of the Blend FPS Pro, compared to about other tenkeyless mechanical models, is that it comes with authentic Scarlet MX keys — your choice of soft Reds, tactile Browns or clackety Blues. (The Corsair Vengeance K65 offers this equally well, and for a lower price, but doesn't take backlighting, and offers just Cerise switches.)

Other key switch manufacturers have made peachy strides in recent years, whether they're Cherry copycats like Kailh or original ideas like the Logitech Romer-One thousand. Fifty-fifty so, nothing tin can quite match the nifty German juggernaut when it comes to condolement and speed.

Using TypingTest.com to evaluate, I scored 125 words per infinitesimal with three errors on the Alloy FPS, as opposed to 123 words per minute with five errors on my usual Logitech G810. The difference is not significant, save that I work with the Logitech every twenty-four hours, and had used the Alloy FPS for but a few hours.

Features

The Alloy FPS Pro eschews customizable software, opting instead to assign a few simple options to the function keys. Although I exercise like the functionality that comes with a good piece of keyboard software, it's as well dainty to just plug in a keyboard and accept it piece of work without having to spend 10 minutes tweaking options before you play a game.

One combination of buttons turns on a Game Style, that prevents you from accidentally bringing up the Windows button during a heated lucifer. Other combinations command media functions, or arrange the backlighting. You can turn the lighting on and off, or gear up it to i of several patterns, including static, breathing, wave and responsive modes. It's a nice bear on, although I was perfectly happy to plow the backlighting off birthday.

There'southward actually not much else to say about the Blend FPS Pro; it'due south a remarkably simple, straightforward device, which is a selling bespeak in and of itself. You can't reprogram keys, as you could with a software-enabled peripheral, but you lot'll too never take to worry nigh an application hogging your resources or exhibiting buggy beliefs when you demand information technology most.

Performance

I spent some time in Overwatch in order to evaluate how well the Blend FPS Pro lived upwards to its name. I didn't miss the numpad at all, but I did capeesh the crisp Cherry keys equally I took control of Soldier: 76, sprinting after opponents, gunning downwardly targets and lobbing explosives. The Alloy FPS Pro isn't really "improve" than any comparable keyboard with high-quality mechanical switches, but its name is well-earned, at least.

Equally suspected, the keyboard acquitted itself well with other genres every bit well. It stood upwardly to commanding Terran armies in StarCraft: Remastered, playing rounds of Gwent in The Witcher 3: Blood and Wine, and hurling Captain America'south shield at HYDRA foes in Marvel Heroes Omega.

Bottom Line

HyperX'due south entire modus operandi thus far has been to strip pretense and excess out of gaming peripherals, and make them streamlined and approachable instead. The Alloy FPS Pro demonstrates that the company tin can make intelligent subtractions from its products, if necessary, instead of additions. While I miss the detached media keys and the wrist rest, the Alloy FPS isn't here to exist your everyday work companion; it's hither to help you hone your tournament skills, and maybe even win i.

The ruby backlighting limits the peripheral'southward aesthetic appeal, and its lack of reprogrammable buttons might be a drawback for customization diehards. Nonetheless, the Alloy FPS Pro does exactly what it was designed to practice, and at a reasonable cost. It may non make you a better FPS player, but it'll sure make you comfy while you play.

Credit: HyperX

Marshall Honorof is a senior editor for Tom's Guide, overseeing the site'due south coverage of gaming hardware and software. He comes from a science writing background, having studied paleomammalogy, biological anthropology, and the history of science and technology. Later on hours, y'all can find him practicing taekwondo or doing deep dives on classic sci-fi.