HyperX Alloy Rise mechanical keyboard: Stylish, with lots of customisation for gamers and creators
Mechanical Campion Alloy Rise Picture: Keyboard Hyperx Noel
The HyperX Alloy Rise gaming keyboard takes a unique approach to personalisation, offering removable faceplates, interchangeable badges, and a distinctive design. But is it just a flashy design, or does it offer enough performance to justify its premium price?
The HyperX Alloy Rise is all about subtle aesthetics. The keyboard keeps a minimalist, sturdy design, absent of unnecessary grooves, bolts, or screws. Its textured keycaps are complemented by a replaceable faceplate that adds a subtle metallic texture beneath the keys, giving it a premium look that stands out just enough.
The keyboard's tactile texture offers a satisfying typing feel, and the rubber feet and fold-out legs provide stability on any surface.
Above the number pad are three dedicated playback buttons and a tall dial with vertical groves. This is one of my favourite features, as you don’t have to think about key combinations to do simple things like pause music. The dial feels great, with a nice soft incremental click as you turn it.
I also love the bold and easy-to-read font used for the keycaps. The RGB lights shine through the characters, too, for a striking look.
The keyboard uses HyperX's red linear switches, offering soft and responsive keystrokes without much noise. However, users preferring a more tactile or clicky feel can swap in alternative switches. Swapping switches does require some caution, as they’re slightly challenging to remove without risking damage to the keyboard, which may frustrate those who want to experiment with different setups.
For those inclined toward RGB, the Alloy Rise has five brightness settings, with vibrant, saturated lighting that doesn’t overwhelm. The under-glow side lighting, however, is relatively muted and barely noticeable unless viewed at an angle, limiting its appeal as a desktop lighting accent.
HyperX’s Ingenuity software provides a smooth experience for customising the Alloy Rise. It offers multiple RGB modes and easy-to-assign macro functions. The app is user-friendly, and the ability to click and mass-select keys for individual configurations makes customisation simple and ideal for users who want straightforward adjustments.
The Alloy Rise emphasises user customisation. Its keyboard's right side has a magnetic badge that can be replaced with optional badge options. I found a set of four on Amazon for around €20, but they weren’t available until next year. Though the badges aren't widely available yet, this is an intriguing feature for those who enjoy changing their setups regularly. I like the stock badge that comes with the HyperX logo, and it’s such a small feature that’s not even visible while looking straight at the keyboard. I can’t see too many people bothering to change it.
The black faceplate attaches via magnets, and additional colour options should be available in time.
Unlike some competitors, the Alloy Rise doesn’t come with specialised WASD keys or highly sensitive actuation. The default red switches provide a full-press actuation, which may feel slightly slower than the near-instantaneous response gamers might want for quick action. The optional blue switches give a shorter actuation distance with a satisfying “click,” but they still don’t offer the ultra-responsive feel some gamers seek. As a casual gamer, I prefer this because it provides a more comfortable typing experience.
The HyperX Alloy Rise is a well-built keyboard with a high comfort level and premium aesthetics. While its customisable features, like the faceplate and badge options, add flair, they feel a little unnecessary, especially with limited options available. Still, it provides a comfortable and satisfying typing experience without standard mechanical keyboards' loud click and clack.
€209 Currys