The HyperX Alloy Origins 60 is a small but powerful gaming keyboard

Myes, it’s because our homes feel increasingly cramped, but 60 percent of keyboards seem to be in vogue. These are decks that not only lack a numeric keypad, but also do away with all the function keys and various types of keys like the “scroll lock” and “print screen” buttons for an incredibly reduced presence on the screen. your office. But being so small doesn’t make HyperX’s new Ally Origins 60 keyboard anything less than powerful, with a sturdy build and great typing experience in a smaller size for just $ 100.

The first thing I noticed about the Origins 60 – besides its tiny profile, of course – is its absolute density. It appears to weigh about the same as a full-size keyboard, meaning all that weight is packed into a smaller space. Many high-end gaming rigs tend to have a metal plate on top to support the keys, while the case underneath is usually plastic. Not so here; The Origin 60 appears to be all-metal, with two halves joining together with a barely discernible gap in between. It looks and feels like one piece, and when you type the keys or press the bottom of the keyboard, there is a slight metal ring.

The keys are still full-sized and spaced almost the same way, so in theory the keyboard shouldn’t be pinching your hands. But you’ll have to relearn yourself to type a bit: it took a while to get used to the lack of glasses, and the right function key was moved to the edge. This is to make it easier to do all the things that no longer have dedicated buttons on the Origin 60: F1 through F12 have been moved to the row of numbers, the media controls live above the bar. space and the arrows have been hidden on the bottom right. You will need to hit FN + [whatever key] which may take a bit of getting used to, but at least everything is clearly labeled on its bottom edge.

Those who prefer wireless accessories will be disappointed, as the Origin 60 is a wired keyboard with a USB-C port to connect to. The braided cord included in the box is USB-C to USB-A, which should be fine for larger setups but as I’ve noted in the past with other accessories can be annoying if you try to connect to a thin laptop that only has the smallest port. The lifespan of the dongle doesn’t exactly streamline your setup, you might want to replace the cord with one with USB-C on both ends.

For the most part, HyperX Red linear switches provide a fairly pleasant, quiet and smooth typing experience. As tradition has it, I’m writing this with the Origins 60, and I’m familiar with the smaller profile. It’s quite comfortable and I don’t make more mistakes than usual which is a huge contrast from my first day to the one I was in. rykmh kuffokh (typing gibberish). And I have so much more space on my desk, which is both a boon for neat monsters and people who eat lunch at their workstations – I’m less likely to drop crumbs on this keyboard, because it is placed further away from me than my usual equipment.

I couldn’t say for sure if this would become my daily driver, but it’s definitely handy to have around. I could slip it in my bag on my way to a business meeting, or take it to a gambling jerk like PAX. It’s definitely strong enough to take a few bumps and small enough to fit into my backpack next to my laptop. You can choose one directly from HyperX to place from now on.