It's funny looking back at my review of the Alloy Origins keyboard in 2019, wherein the then-newer version of HyperX NGENUITY was a nice refresh to the previous installer, albeit still buggy and in Beta. I was optimistic that things would improve and one of several who had posted feedback to the company requesting a non-Microsoft store version of the same. It is 2021 now, and unfortunately, the only thing different is added support for other hardware without any changes to the HyperX NGENUITY base. The lighting effects and key assignment options are identical, the poor user experience has not changed, it is still restricted by unnecessary Microsoft store conditions, and it is still a Beta release. If there was one thing I'd like HyperX to do, it is to address the NGENUITY software drivers as soon as possible.

The silver lining here is that NGENUITY does the job assuming you can download and install it, offering bug-free customization over lighting and key mapping to where it will meet the needs of almost everyone. The funny thing is that it is clearly set up for more, with a search function for lighting effects as well as support for simultaneous lightning layers. However, there are so few to choose from that this remains a proof of concept of what is possible. Once you have set things up for up to three profiles saved onboard the device, you can just have it running in the background without interacting with outside of firmware updates, or perhaps with more compatible hardware down the line.

The rest of the keyboard is really nice for the money, and that is what ultimately counts. It is one of the better looking TKL keyboards, with a rounded aluminium body adding strength while keeping things light. Type-C connectivity also adds to the futureproof-ness in terms of mobile devices and compatible cables, and the HyperX switches are easily among the better first-party offerings I have seen. The TKL form factor is also great for typing and gaming alike, although having the cable routed closer to the right side is a strange move considering the TKL keyboard is best used with a mouse closer to it, which is naturally more ergonomic for right-handed users. I also wish HyperX would have just gone with their pudding PBT keycaps throughout, or at least provided it as a second SKU for, say, $100. The adoption of the HyperX Blue switch would have been nice, too, and while we are at it, I see some regions have doubleshot ABS keycap sets from HyperX, which too would have been an improvement over the stock keycaps here. It's a case of "what-ifs" that would have taken this keyboard to nearly a must-have level. As it stands, and with the caveats I noted, the HyperX Alloy Origins Core still offers plenty for the money to merit a recommendation.