Closer Examination

As we saw before, the HyperX Alloy Origins Core keyboard comes in a plastic wrap to keep it pristine and free of dust out of the box. Removing it, we get our first good look at the keyboard, and it is fairly light for a TKL (tenkeyless) keyboard. I will point out that HyperX has an Alloy Origins as well as an Alloy Core keyboard, both of which happen to be full-size. This Alloy Origins Core keyboard is smaller than both of them, missing the numpad to allow for a more petite form factor, and the mouse closer to the keyboard for right-handed users to have a more ergonomics experience. I also realized that I mistakenly said the Alloy Origins has a plastic body case, which is not the case. As with this keyboard, both have a slim aluminium body on the top and bottom with an ABS plastic lining in between. The overall shape has more curves than a Victoria's Secret model, and the minimal bezels add to this effect, making for a keyboard that is not much larger than a 65%–75% keyboard.

Branding comes in the form of the HyperX logo on the space bar keycap and an etching above the arrow keys. The aluminium body gets a matte finish, and we also see two indicator LEDs alongside the logo—one each for Caps Lock and Game Mode. It is a predominantly black keyboard with the only other colors the laser-etched off-white keycap legends and the aqua switches when seen from an angle. The general secondary legends are placed alongside the primary ones at the top, with keyboard-specific secondary legends underneath. Single legend placement is at the top in the center as well, all of which points towards the use of north-facing RGB LEDs. The typeface is clean and generally large enough to easily be legible for most people.


Flipping the keyboard around, we see the usual certification sticker in the middle of the plastic casing. There are four rectangular rubber pads on the corners to keep the keyboard from sliding around on the desk, and two feet at the top open up to optionally elevate the keyboard in two separate options for a total of three elevation steps (3°, 7°, 11°). These feet also have rubber pads on the bottom for grip and to prevent scratches on the resting surface.


As is the norm, the front facing towards the monitor is where we see this keyboard's connectivity options. Weirdly enough, the USB Type-C port is not only extremely recessed to where some aftermarket cables may not fit, but its extreme right offset may have the USB cable snag a right-handed user's mouse cable. You will need an available USB Type A port on your PC, and USB 2.0 will suffice here, although the lack of USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB 3.0) ports is not really a problem with even relatively recent hardware.


The keycaps have an OEM profile, and the various rows are thus sculpted accordingly. They have a floating design. While it allows for easier cleaning, it can cause more light bleed, which may or may not be to your liking. The stock keycaps are thin ABS plastic with an average wall thickness of 0.91 mm, so expect them to develop a shine due to finger oils with use. The legends are laser etched, which will have these wear out quicker relative to other application techniques, including dye sublimation and doubleshot injection. As expected, backlighting will be affected depending on where the legends are located relative to the LED underneath.


There are three switch options for the HyperX Alloy Origins Core, and all three are HyperX branded. The company introduced the HyperX Red linear switch back in 2019 with the Alloy Origins full-size keyboard, and the newer HyperX Aqua tactile switch made its debut a year later with this very keyboard. HyperX has a third, even newer switch in the HyperX Blue clicky, and it was only just made an option for the Alloy Origins Core. My sample has the HyperX Aqua switches. As the name suggests, this Aqua switch has aqua-colored sliders and housing, which really show up nicely with the floating keycaps when seen from the sides. The LEDs are separate, above the switch, and the larger keycaps use Cherry-style stabilizers to complete the experience that isn't quite Cherry but close enough. There is the lightest of lubing on the stabilizers, enough to feel, but not to where it is satisfying if you have experienced better.


Congratulations, HyperX. You have managed to befuddle me in a way very few have. I thought disassembly here was going to be trivial given the aluminium body and obvious screws under keycaps on the front. I found the hidden screw under the top rubber pad on the backside and even unsuccessfully tried to pry out what looked like a plastic cover plate underneath the bottom rubber pads on the back in hopes it might be concealing more screws. But I have no idea what's going on here, and the keyboard simply refused to separate! I did contact HyperX to see if they could shed more light on it, and they did say that a thin lever has to be used to separate the two aluminium pieces, which did not help much. At this time, the only shedding done is my own skin and some blood while trying to disassemble this keyboard and failing miserably!