Their one-stop-shop solution delivers world-class mechanical keyboard replacements, DIY parts, HDMI expansion equipment, USB expansion equipment, Type-C chargers, and other all-in-one mechanical keyboard integrators.

The keyboard enthusiasts folks at 3inuS were tired of keyboards sharing similar features and functions, with little innovation. Thus, they put their heads together along with WhatGeek to make a USB hub and keyboard become one, to create the perfect keyboard for a more efficient and convenient working and gaming experience.

Speaking of combining efficiency and convenience, 3inus has sent me their latest creation for pre-release testing and evaluation, the KEBOHUB EE01 keyboard USB C hub with hot-swappable (Red dragon red mechanical switches).

Without further ado, let’s dive in!

Packaging and unboxing the KEBOHUB EE01

What arrived in the post was a rather unassuming plain white box. Being a pre-release thing, I just guessed I was getting a nonretail package. Opening that up revealed a tidy transparent plastic box with the branding and the keyboard visible inside another wrapping that looked a lot more like a retail package.

Information is very limited on the box, with the company branding, along with the name and a photo of the keyboard on the box front.

On the rear of the box, we have the sticker with the keyboard’s basic spec such as dimensions and weight, along with the barcode and serial numbers.

Popping open the plastic box, we have a cardboard insert containing the keyboard and accessories which includes a keycap and switch puller, alternative keycaps for Apple Mac layout, a full set of grey keycaps to switch from the white ones fitted by default, and 4 spare red switches. This keyboard is compatible with 3 and 5-pin switches.

Time to get it out and set up!

Design and first impression

My first impression of this keyboard is that it certainly is a chunky one, it feels very robust and does have some weight to it (920 grams) The material used to make the frame feels very tough indeed. I feel I could launch it across a room and it would just bounce right back and laugh in my face!

Being light grey almost white and fully matte, this looks very clean and simple. The combination of the white and grey keycaps breaks up the solid colour.

We have the 3inus branding above the arrow keys, the keyboard name on the front left, and the WhatGeek branding on the rear.

I have been sent the US layout model, but other regional layouts will be available. The layout is pretty standard. The default keycaps have the main letters, numbers, and punctuation keys all in white, with everything else in grey. Function keys are nicely grouped in 4s along the top which don’t get in the way of other keys. These also double up as media control keys. On the right of the keyboard, ins/home/del/end/pgup/pgdn all in grey, and also double up as the RGB led control keys when used with the FN key.

Moving around to the rear of the keyboard is where it gets interesting. We have the expected USB cable, which is a dual-type C rather than a standard single type A and is 165cm in length. Next to this, we have an HDMI 2.0 port, 3 x USB 3.0 type A, and 1 x USB 3.1 type C.

On the base of the keyboard, there are extendable rubber feet which raise the height of the keyboard by another 1.2cm

KEBOHUB lighting

Turning on the PC brings this keyboard to life with a bright colourful rainbow effect. Different lighting effects can be used by simply holding the FN key and hitting the ins/home/del/pgup/pgdn keys. Each of these keys will cycle through 3 different lighting modes for a total of 18 different pre-set effects. Sadly, there isn’t any software available to control this. Something along the lines of iCue (Corsair’s RGB software) would be ideal. No extra drivers are required for this keyboard to work, it is fully plug-and-play. Both grey and white keys are very clearly marked allowing the LEDs to shine through brightly.

                `The keyboard shortcuts for lighting.

FN+up arrow/down arrow = increase/decrease brightness in 5 steps

FN+left arrow = change led flow direction

FN+right arrow = change colour (8 different colours)

FN+ -/+ = adjust led flow speed

Customising a backlight. Press FN+~ twice, the ~ key lights on as colour pallet and breathe slowly, the caps lock and scroll lock indicators blink together. Press FN+right arrow which shows on the ~ key. Press another key to light it up. Repeat the previous 2 steps to light up more keys. Press the FN+~ one last time to save the settings.

RGB pre-sets shown in the video below

General usage and typing

Typing on the kebohub is very comfortable and little effort is needed with the red switches providing almost no resistance. These Red dragon red switches are very quiet so shouldn’t get picked up by your mic while gaming. There is also a model with Blue switches which will give a bit more resistance and make that satisfying clicky noise. For something in the middle, a brown switch model will also be available. 

The rubber feet on the base do grip the desk very well so it will stay still while in use.

The kebohub is ergonomically designed to let you type in comfort. All keycaps are designed to better fit the curvature of the human finger to reduce hand fatigue after prolonged use.

Rear USB hub

Now to the hub. This seems like such a simple thing and most people will be forgiven for thinking that it is a bit pointless. But, I personally really like this addition. Where I am constantly using multiple USB memory sticks, external drives, mobile phones etc, my life has been made so much easier with the ports on the back of the keyboard, even plugged in my USB headset! With this using a dual type C cable to connect to the PC, it can provide up to 1.5A current to each of the type C and the type A ports on the rear of the keyboard for device charging. All ports provide simultaneous data transfer. If the keyboard is connected to a type C on the PC which supports video output, the HDMI 2.0 port can also be used for an extra screen max 4K 60hz with support for HDR, HDCP1.4/2.3.

While typing out this review on the kebohub, I have my phone plugged into it for charging and data transfer, my USB headset, and another USB stick which is also transferring data. All with no speed dips or conflicts.

Conclusion

I was sceptical at first, thinking that the hub part wouldn’t get used and was totally pointless. But it really does make life easier. The keyboard itself is very well-built and feels solid. Typing is very comfortable. The LEDs are bright and vibrant (they can also be turned off if you’re not a fan of RGB) The early bird price of $84.99 seems about right for a keyboard of this quality. It won’t disappoint. After the early bird event, the price will be around $109.99 which is still reasonable compared to some others. I can see this keyboard becoming one of my personal favorites very quickly!

A Kickstarter campaign is due to begin on 4th April. For more information, visit here.

3inus KEBOHUB EE01 mechanical keyboard and USB hub

Simple addition making life easier

Pros

• Solid and very well built
• Very useful USB hub
• Comfortable typing
• Hot swappable switches
• Vibrant RGB lighting

Cons

• Rather heavy for a TKL keyboard
• Lack of RGB software

Keycaps: ABS | Form Factor: TKL | Backlight: 18 pre-sets with customisation  | Cable: Dual USB Type-C, 1.65m | Switch type: Red dragon hot swappable | Dimensions: 353mm x 124mm x 44mm | Weight: - 920 grams | RGB lighting: - 18 preset effects with customisation

VERDICT:A solid keyboard that will withstand heavy usage. Tidy looking with bright, vibrant LEDs. The USB hub is massively useful and is more convenient than you would think. All thats missing is the RGB software. Overall, a great keyboard which is well worth the price.

Check Price

Price at time of review $84.99 USD early bird event. rising to $109.99

The post 3INUS KEBOHUB EE01 Mechanical keyboard and USB hub review appeared first on Appuals.

PRODUCT INFO
HyperX Alloy Origins 60 Compact Keyboard
Manufacture	HyperX
Available at	View at Amazon

These keyboards have only 60% of the keys that a regular 104 key full-size keyboard would have. This cuts down on the extra space and creates a compact typing experience. Enthusiasts have been building their own boards for a while now, but that’s usually quite expensive. If you want to get a feel for what these keyboards are like, going with a pre-built may be a good idea for beginners.

HyperX is a bit late to the party, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. There’s still not a lot of competition when it comes to pre-built 60% keyboards that have a larger production. Especially at this price point. Fortunately, the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 ticks a lot of boxes and will likely please many buyers and carries on the legacy of the standard HyperX Alloy Origins keyboard. Let’s get on with our comprehensive HyperX Alloy Origins 60% Review.

The Unboxing Experience

HyperX has always been about providing a premium yet comfortable experience to its customers, as can be seen in our HyperX Alloy FPS Keyboard review as well. This ideology shines through with their packaging as well. The Alloy Origins 60 arrives in a box that has a nice red and white color theme going on.

The front of this box shows all of the logos, a few standout features, and the type of switch this board uses. Moving on, the back of the box has a few pictures of the board from different angles, and some of the talking points printing in different languages.

You can crack open the box from the bottom, after slicing away at a seal. Pull up the sleeve from the top, and you’ll be greeted by the keyboard inside. The box contains some greeting cards and a quick start guide. Apart from the keyboard itself, we also get a soft and braided USB Type-C cable, along with a branded keycap puller. HyperX also includes an ESC keycap with its logo on it. They also added a shine-through spacebar, which has quite a nice look to it. Both of these extra keycaps are ABS, not double-shot PBT. These features are quite similar to other HyperX keyboards, as evident in our HyperX Alloy Core RGB Keyboard review.

Design: Sophisticated and Robust

HyperX collaborated with Ducky in the past to create a limited edition of the Ducky One 2 mini. We assumed that this keyboard was going to be a bit similar to that. However, that is not the case with this great board. The design is quite appealing for various reasons. Before we get into that, let’s talk about the feel a bit first.

All around, the keyboard has a tough and hefty feel to it. That’s likely due to the aluminum construction for the case. This case provides a nice balance and adds a premium quality to the look and feel. It also adds to the weight, as it comes in at 738g. We mention this because some people will want to travel and take this board with them. This keyboard is actually quite a good example that industrial design does not always have to be generic or boring.

The keyboard has what many enthusiasts may call a floating switch design. This effect occurs because of the thin bezels, and the fact that keys site a bit higher on top of the case. It’s an effect we’ve seen before, and it works quite well here. The top of the board’s case has a lip running around the entire outer edge. This is likely to add some uniformity to the aesthetics.

Now, let’s take a look at the bottom of the keyboard. At the back, we have quite a big HyperX logo embossed into the aluminum frame. We can also see four rubbers bars at each corner. These add some grip to the keyboard when it sits on your desk. The board also has adjustable feet, and they feature two different angles. The USB-C port is mounted on the left of the keyboard.

The USB port is recessed, but it will work with most custom keyboard cables if you are into that sort of thing. If not, the cable included in the box is soft, and it feels great because it is braided. It should serve us well for the long term. We also appreciate the inclusion of an extra ESC key and the fancy shine-through spacebar. The space bar really tends to impress when paired with the bright RGB lighting. Overall, the Alloy Origins 60 gets an A+ in terms of design. That puts this keyboard in the top tier of modern keyboards in terms of design, quite similar to what can be seen in our Razer Huntsman Elite Keyboard review.

The Layout and RGB Experience

There is a reason why full-size keyboards are still the norm. It’s not because of the num-pad or because of the function keys row. It is because of the arrow keys. A lot of people, especially writers like myself, use the arrow keys every day. It is hard to get used to a different layout because of this. Of course, you can find your way around this issue by key binding, but it still takes some getting used to.

HyperX does this in both a clever and obvious way. The Fn key can be found at the bottom right of the keyboard. While holding this key, press the CTRL, Menu, Alt, and Question Mark key. You’ll see that they function just as regular arrow keys. The legends printed on the side of these keycaps also indicate which key is bound to which direction. Other keys such as the function row and navigation keys also work with the same idea. The legends will indicate what the factory key bindings are.

Now, let’s about the lighting. RGB is a common appearance in many 60% keyboards, and this one is no different. HyperX has done a phenomenal job here with the lighting. It is very smooth and consistent. The switches have raised dip-style LEDs that provide a nice soft glow to the characters. Every key is lit brightly. Furthermore, the black metal plate adds a soft and reserved glow on the bed of the keys. This is what makes the lighting stand out on this keyboard. Credit where credit is due, the RGB experience is one of the best we have seen yet.

What Is It Like To Type On? – Performance

So far, we’ve talked about the design, the aesthetics, and the RGB lighting on this keyboard. However, none of that matters if the typing experience isn’t good. While a lot of keyboards are similar these days, it’s easy for a good typing experience to stand out from the crowd. So, where does the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 land in this situation?

Well, we’re glad to say that the switches themselves are quite good. HyperX is using their own brand of Red linear switches here, and they work quite well. They are smooth and fast to actuate and are one of the better linear switches we’ve seen so far. HyperX is known to be one of the few brands to have actually decent switches that are produced in a large number. For people who like linear switches, these are great for gaming and typing. If you are interested in more TKL Compact keyboards, check out our Velocifire TKL71WS Wireless Keyboard Review.

We could leave it there, but for our enthusiasts, let us dive a bit deeper. While the switches themselves are great, the stabilizers could use some work here. Well-lubed and sturdy stabilizers can make a world of a difference, especially if you know what to look out for. The stabilizers here are similar to the basic cherry-style stabilizers, and they sound and feel like it too.

We doubt there is any factory lube on these stabilizers, and if it is, then it must be very thin or minimal. Fortunately, the switches themselves are great, but if rattling of stabilizers bothers you, this is something to look out for. The case also produces a bit of ping, which is something you’ll need to put up with along with the stabilizer rattle. The feel of the stabilizers is still decent, they don’t feel too scratchy, it’s just that the sound may some people.

To be perfectly clear, this is one of those things that you won’t notice coming from a pre-built keyboard from a big brand. However, if you’re interested in improving your typing experience, or already have some experience with good switches and stabilizers, you might not be too pleased here.

For the masses who don’t care, the performance here is quite decent. Red linear switches are great for gaming, so if you have some experience with that, you’ll feel right at home.

Ngenuity Software

The HyperX Ngenuity software is quite intuitive and might be the best piece of software when it comes to peripherals. A lot of manufacturers just don’t get it right, and that leads to bugs, crashes, and other issues. We’ve had our fair share of those problems with a lot of the big brands out there. Due to this, we’re happy to report that Ngenuity is definitely better than the norm.

You get detailed lighting control and remapping options with this software. The only problem is that you’ll need to download this app via the Microsoft Store, which we know many resent using. However, for the ease of use this app offers, it’s worth the slight hassle. By default, the keyboard has three profiles that you can switch to or save to. You can close the app whenever you like, and the effects will stay saved. All of your key bindings and lighting effects will work even with the software turned on. This is what every peripheral software should be like, easy to use and out of your way when you don’t need it.

Rebinding or remapping keys is quite easy, and Ngenuity lays out the options in a clear and concise manner. Per-Key RGB lighting is also available, and this one actually works intuitively unlike many of the competitors out there.

Final Thoughts

Our in-depth HyperX Alloy Origins 60% Review concludes that, overall, the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 is one of the better pre-built compact gaming keyboards out there. The robust and sturdy build quality is something a lot of people will definitely appreciate. Despite what many people think, there is still a market for these boards at this price. While some are moving towards custom keyboards, not everyone is willing to put up with the hassle.

So, this keyboard is for the folks who already like HyperX as a brand, trust the build quality, and want a decent pre-built experience that they don’t want to mess around with too much. Considering this board offers all of that and at an affordable price, we reckon a lot of people are going to enjoy using it.

HyperX Alloy Origins 60 Compact Keyboard

Compact Keyboard, Done Right

Pros

• Extremely reliable and well built
• Alluring design language
• Top-notch RGB lighting
• Phenomenal software to pair it with

Cons

• No switch options
• Stabilizer have a bit of rattle

Keycaps: Double-shot PBT | Form Factor: 60-percent | Backlight: Per-key RGB  | Cable: USB Type-C, 1.8m | Switch type: HyperX Red Linear

VERDICT:The HyperX Alloy Origins is a no-nonsense all business compact gaming keyboard. Thanks to the sleek design and graceful RGB lighting, it will find a place anywhere from a gaming setup to an office workspace.

Check Price

While you are here, also check out HyperX Alloy Elite 2 Gaming Keyboard Review.

The post HyperX Alloy Origins 60 Percent Review appeared first on Appuals.

PRODUCT INFO
Alloy Origins Blue Switches
Manufacture	HyperX
Available at	View at Amazon

More and more brands, which did exist even during the old days, have started to dish out products of higher quality and such products have the capacity to give any top dog company a run for their money.

HyperX has released a very strong line of gaming products over the past few years and they continue to impress with their continuing drive for excellence.

Today we look at a keyboard that falls in between the costly and the entry-level range of mechanical gaming keyboards. The HyperX Alloy Origins keyboard has been one which has seen quite a bit of success. This is one of the reasons why it was first released in Red switches and now you have more options including the recently released option of Blue switches as well.

Unboxing

First things first, one of the main attractions for a gamer is the excitement of opening your brand new product whatever it might be. The importance of good packing cannot be understated as this is where first impressions are made. The HyperX Alloy Origins gaming keyboard comes in a box of white and red accents that contains all of the company’s advertisements and logos. It also contains printed on it most of the features that the keyboard offers. Nothing out of the ordinary in terms of this part of unboxing. Once you open the box you will be greeted with the HyperX Alloy keyboard itself in all its glory. The keyboard is protected with a transparent sheet. Underneath the keyboard, you will find its detachable USB cable and a few papers. That’s about it as far as the Unboxing goes and this does leave us a little bit disappointed. We expected a bit more this time from HyperX, maybe throw in some extra keycaps or a keycap remover. HyperX still shows no intention of adding a wrist rest in the package, meaning you will have to purchase one separately.

The contents of the package are:

• The HyperX Alloy Origins Keyboard
• 1x Detachable USB-C to USB-A wire
• A user manual and HyperX company Card
• Warranty card

Design and Build

This is the bread and butter, the main dish and the best part about this product. The HyperX Alloy Origin is one of the most beautiful pieces or gaming peripheral we have seen recently. Everything about the aesthetics of this keyboard looks very well done and you can tell there was a clear goal in mind regarding the basic design.

This is a full-length keyboard with the full set of keys that are found normally. The keycaps are build from ABS plastic which although is nothing the standard for mechanical keyboards, it is still the bar that has been maintained in this case as well. The frame and basic build of this keyboard are done with an Aluminum finish, this not only enables the keyboard to look extremely impressive but it also acts as a reflector surface for the keyboards RGB lighting. The keyboard comes with a detachable USB wire, this is one of the most impressive aspects of any product. We really like it when a product comes with this option as so often when the wires get damaged you cannot replace them and it might even become troublesome in traveling, but with detachable cables, all those issues are solved.

There are keys with extra functions and logos on them which can be controlled by pressing them and the FN key together. The FN key is located near the spacebar of the keyboard. Even though you can control the media, there are no dedicated controls such as a volume wheel or a play pause button of its own on this keyboard. This is mainly due to the design constraints as this keyboard is built to be smaller than a normal mechanical keyboard. Another design aspect of this keyboard is its very streamlined and straightforward design. There are no ups or down as you might see in most keyboards. It just has a straight flat base with keys lifted on it. This also enables the keys to stand out more and the RGB lighting kind of thrives.

The last thing to point out regarding the design and build of this product is its extremely good ergonomic comfort. The keyboard has height adjustment for 3 levels or angles. You can adjust the keyboard in 3 different ways according to your need or personal preference, this makes for a more user-friendly product as you no longer have the sad choice of only one or two levels. This is a newer feature that we have not really seen too much of. There is no wrist rest present within the package but you can purchase a HyperX wrist rest externally from the market to further help yourself.

Features and Performance

The HyperX Alloy Origins comes with choices of switches according to your preference. You have the option of Red, Aqua Switches, and Blue switches which HyperX has developed on their own. The keyboard we have in our review today is the one with the newer Blue HyperX Switches. There were some people who were not fully satisfied with some of the other switches which HyperX had made. There was a difference of 0.2mm in the pushing down of the keys which caused some users problems or made it so that the keys were not satisfying enough. The Blue switches which feature in the HyperX Alloy origin keyboard we have in question today are much closer to the actual blue CherryMX switches. The blue HyperX switches give off a very satisfying click sound when pressed and they also create noise which is similar to the CherryMX blue ones. Comparatively the blue switches found in this keyboard were found to be at a slightly more tolerable noise level.

The HyperX Alloy Origins keyboard also has the very coveted and also very common feature combo of Anti-Ghosting and N-key rollover. These features are found in almost all of the various gaming keyboards in the world today and it was no surprise to see that this was the case in this keyboard as well. The N-key rollover and anti-ghosting ensure that even if multiple keys are pressed at the same time, all of the keystrokes will be recorded in the correct order and there will not be any lag or key commands lost. This is a very important feature in gaming keyboards where it is necessary to use many key commands simultaneously.

The RGB lighting and its effects on the keyboard are also very vibrant and effective. The keycaps and switches are built in a way that ensures that the LEDs have a stronger effect to produce better lighting. We can see how this affects the keyboard in a very positive way as the backlight is very strong and can be compared with some of the best RGB keyboards out there.

The keyboard also comes with built-in onboard profiles. Any profile for settings or keys which you make for the keyboard will now be saved atomically within the keyboard. So, if you travel or attach the keyboard to some other setup, one where you don’t have the Ngenuity software you will still see the settings you originally use. Onboard profiles have become a very important part of a product as settings for RGB lighting and keys can be maintained without the hassle of redownloading or redoing settings. The keyboard uses its FN key in combination with the F keys to control music and some parts of lighting and onboard memories.

Software

There has been a lot of debate regarding the software that HyperX employs for its products. The Ngenuity software has come a long way from being one of the most criticized software to one which actually works. The Ngenuity software is no real comparison to the ICue software employed by Corsair in the way it is effective but it is similar in how it might be useful to control various aspects of your product.

The software allows users to control the ways in which their mouse keyboard or other compatible products operate. You can use the software to control various lighting effects from those which are present and you can even speed the effects up or slow them down. Use your own color combination for lighting or use the pre-defined ones. Many things can be achieved with Ngenuity software. The Ngenuity software is able to handle most of what it intends to do and is able to do so without too much trouble. Its working is also not too troublesome or hard to understand either. With that said, there are some ways in which the software is not working at full power even now. There are bugs and crashes and sometimes you cannot stick to a setting and complex lighting functions related to programs or individual games are hard to set up and hard to maintain. Time will make the software even better for a larger number of users. For the time being, the software is decent enough to get the job done.

The Ideal Audience

The HyperX Alloy Origins keyboard is a keyboard that has a very precise aesthetic point of view. It is not flashy or over the top in its design or build, this makes it a very good choice for a larger consumer base. This way more people can enjoy the keyboard, as there are those who prefer not to have a product which is too immature looking or childish. This keyboard although is built primarily for the gamers in mind, it can actually be used by just about anyone in their lives.  You can even use this keyboard in an office due to its pretty sleek design and controlled aesthetic value. So it’s a very good use keyboard for a more range of people.

Programmers, computer editors, or other PC related tech professionals can easily make use of this keyboard and it might even be a good fit for them. This keyboard has satisfying clicks, although noisy due to the blue switch nature, and its design and build are also keeping in tone with more people’s flavors. Gamers are the main beneficiaries of this product as the HyperX Alloy Origins keyboard does have all the features for them. RGB lighting, anti-ghosting, and N-key rollover, etc are just the obvious positives of this product, once you add in the value of the detachable cable and the keyboards manageable size, you get a quite portable product as well.

Conclusion

The HyperX Alloy Origins is a very fine and solid keyboard that will cater to most of any gamer’s needs. It comes with all of the features a gamer can desire and it does not take a drop in quality for it either. This is one of the finer products in the market right now. The keyboard boasts a fantastic build, excellent lighting, and very ergonomic yet perfect size. The company also managed to include a detachable wire for the keyboard which in my book is always a massive plus. This is one of the most portable dedicated gaming keyboards we have seen at this quality and with these features.

Although in the context of looking at this keyboard alone you might not be able to find any real issues with it once you compare it with some of the close contenders you might find some shortcomings. One of such shortcomings is that this keyboard does not have dedicated media keys or macro keys, its software is harder to use, there is no wrist rest and perhaps this keyboard leans towards a pricier side. All of the shortfalls of the product are actually in the context of comparison and not with the product itself. Most of the users will not really care for much of those unless they have other options in mind in a similar range. Overall, the HyperX Alloy Origins is a great choice for anyone who wants a smartly designed mechanical keyboard with RGB and likes to have a good quality product.

HyperX Alloy Origins Blue Switches

Ergonomic and Stylish

Pros

• Good quality RGB lighting
• Manageable Size
• Detachable Cable
• Aesthetically Positive

Cons

• No dedicated media or macro keys
• No USB Passthrough
• price competes with strong competition

Switch Type: Mechanical HyperX blue | Media Keys: Not dedicated, work with FN key | Lighting: RGB | Cable Length: 1.8m | Cable type: Detachable and braided | Dimensions: 442.5 x 132.5 x 36.39 mm | Weight: 1075g | Software: Ngenuity software

VERDICT:The HyperX Alloy Origins Blue Switches is a great keyboard that makes sure that you don't miss out anything. An ergonomically comfortable design, a size that is both easy to carry and minimalistically pleasing is what makes up the HyperX Alloy Origins keyboard. There are a few hits that this keyboard takes which surely would have made it a more memorable choice, however, there is no doubt about it that this keyboard surely will offer a very pleasing and enjoyable experience to anyone who uses it.

Check Price

The post HyperX Alloy Origins Blue/Clicky Review appeared first on Appuals.

PRODUCT INFO
Hyper X Alloy Elite 2
Manufacture	Hyper X
Available at	View at Amazon CA

Gamers are attracted to flashy and bright products like bees are to honey. This is where a company like HyperX comes in. HyperX has been making some of the most noticeable gaming products. Most of their products are gaming targeted as well. The Hyper X Elite Alloy 2 is another such product. This is a product the company released with their own mechanical switches as to the usual CherryMX ones and they hoped to achieve similar success as the previous HyperX keyboard.

HyperX Elite Alloy 2 is one of Hyper X’s recent products. This was released after the Hyper X Elite Alloy, but it is a very similar model. Hence, it carries the same name. While it is nearly similar to its predecessor, there are certain features that are improved in the newer keyboard. Features they worked on were the RGB lighting, the keycaps, and the further improvement to their software. These new additions among others make The HyperX Alloy Elite 2 a really good pick at this time. Especially since its price is much lower than the previous version of the same keyboard. Let’s get into the nitty-gritty details of this keyboard and see if it’s worth it or not!

Unboxing

The Hyper X Elite Alloy 2 is packaged in a white box that has a red stripe going across it on its bottom on the front and backside of the box. The rest of the box is full red in color. The front of the box proudly displays the Elite Alloy 2 in all of its RGB glory. While the back of the box gives a few pictures of the keyboard through various angles. There is a plethora of specifications and information regarding the Elite on the back of the box.

Upon opening the box, the extra WASD keycaps set and a wrist rest were missing, For a long time Hyper X has been bundling up these extra set of goodies with their keyboards and this was quite unexpected because the Elite 2 is their top of the line keyboard. But that was not the case in this time. Anyways, the keyboard rests safely in the middle of a protective cardboard border.

The contents of the box are:

• The HyperX Alloy Elite 2 Mechanical Keyboard
• A user manual
• A warranty card

Design and First Look

First things first, you will definitely be impressed by the look and feel of this keyboard when you first see it. The keyboard looks like a very luxurious item; it gives off a very outstanding and pleasing aura. The main selling point and the strongest suit of this keyboard are its design and look. This is one of the most aesthetically pleasing products on the market right now.

The keyboard is built around high-quality plastic, which issued for its base on the bottom side of the keyboard. The top plate or top side of the keyboard is built with a very solid and high-quality steel frame. We call it a steel frame because it literally is a steel frame that is resting on the top side of the structure of the keyboard. On the top of the keyboard, there goes a slim panel that contains the multimedia buttons on the right corner and the brightness, color modes, and game mode buttons on the left top corner. The top panel and the main panel are separated by a thin RGB line. This is a trademark of HyperX and no other company till now has integrated this cool RGB line in its keyboard models.

The product uses ABC pudding keycaps or keys instead of the normal keycaps. The keycaps are different in the fact that they are what is called Doubleshot keycaps; meaning a set of two different colors makes up the keycap. The keys are black colored on the top and are of a sort of transparent material on the bottom. This combination allows for much better RGB lighting and the ABS Doubleshot keys allow for fantastic durability. The keyboard has a USB 2.0 slot on the far side besides its connectivity wire. The USB 2.0 slot can be used to connect peripherals or even use it for mobile charging, it is known as a USB pass-through feature. The product has two input USB wires which have to be connected to the PC, one for the keyboards data and the other for the USB 2.0 slot.

The RGB line adds immense aesthetic and lighting value as its effects and colors can be made different or the same as the ones used elsewhere on the keyboard. The RGB lighting behind the keys of the keyboard is also very vibrant; the added ability of the Doubleshot pudding keycaps to further amplify the lighting power is exceptional. The RGB and its various lighting modes and effects can be controlled via software. The software is called Ngenuity and it takes on the task of controlling the keyboard and its various other lighting features. The RGB lighting of this keyboard is extremely well spread out, making it one of the most vibrant and vivid RGB keyboards.

What we liked about the design of the keyboard was the exceptional build materials used and the excellent top quality RGB lighting power the keyboard possesses. For sheer RGB and its quality, this may be one of the top choices in the market. We also liked the fact that this keyboard is relatively thin and is not bulky in any way. What we did not like about the design of this product is that it has no armrest, its steel frame material makes it very prone to marks and dashes left by fingers and those extra keycaps would have been nice.

Features & Software

Hyper X has gone with their Hyper X Red switches instead of the widely used Cherry MX switches. The Hyper X Red switches are the alternative to Cherry MX Red switches. They require less force to be pushed down. This results in the switches being pushed down much more easily than the Cherry MX switches. These Hyper X switches are Hyper X’s self-made counterparts to the widely popular Cherry MX switches that dominate the mechanical keyboards market.

The Hyper X Elite Alloy 2 can be customized to one’s liking via the Ngenuity software. You can choose what type of RGB lighting you want. The hoards of different color combinations along with the different modes of lighting all can be utilized via the Ngenuity software. However, RGB settings are not all they can do. The Ngenuity software gives you the ability to bind specific keys to specific tasks. You can set up gaming profiles and modes. There are a total of 3 on-board memory profiles that you can make. These are all setup through the Ngenuity software. You can also set up the 7.1 virtual sound settings through this software. Once you have made these onboard memory profiles you can switch between them just by pressing the button on the top left of your keyboard.

The Ngenuity software is smooth and has many features. Its shortcomings are in its rather complicated setup. It does not have an easy to access the menu. And on top of that, we noticed the Ngenuity crash quite a few times. It certainly became a thorn in our overall great experience with this keyboard. If you are not nitpicky about that stuff than you will not really find any problem with it.

Besides, a small firmware update can easily fix that issue. Hyper X has recently updated their software and the Elite Alloy 2 does come with the new version software. It has all the features and functions to help you customize your keyboard to your liking. But it could have been made simpler and more straightforward.  Also, there are no macro keys that you can bind for easy access to different functions that you need to use at a moment’s notice in intense gaming situations.

The Hyper X Elite Alloy 2 has an extra USB slot present on it. This is for the USB pass-through feature that this gaming keyboard supports. The USB pass-through feature can be used as just another USB slot would be on the PC. You can plug in your mouse, or any other USB connection and it will work like you have plugged it in the computer directly. Obviously, the keyboard does need to be connected to the PC before you can use the USB pass-through. This is another excellent feature, designed and enforced by the HyperX company in most of their keyboards.

Performance and HyperX Red Switches

There are some subtle differences that set the Hyper X Red switches apart from the Cherry MX Red switches. The Hyper X Red switches have to travel a slightly lesser distance than the Cherry MX Red switches downwards before the key registers. They also require slightly lesser force to press down than the Cherry MX Red switches. There is a noticeable difference in the readiness with which the Hyper X Red switches press downwards as compared to the Cherry MX Red switches.

If you are new to the Hyper X Red switch and have been using Cherry MX switches, you might need some getting used to the lesser force requirement of these switches. Although the switches have to cross a lesser distance before the click registers, it does not translate into giving the HyperX Elite any increased typing speed over the Cherry MX Red keys. The noise of the Hyper X Red is less clicky than most mechanical keyboards. The switches give a nice feel, even under extended gaming sessions. But they do not quite match the best gaming keyboards.

The Elite Alloy 2 also has the N key rollover capability. Due to this the keyboard is able to register all keys that are pressed at the same time. This N key rollover feature counteracts ghosting quite effectively. Ghosting is basically when you press a lot of keys at the same time, and some of the keys are not registered on the keyboard. The N key rollover gives the Elite Alloy 2 anti-ghosting qualities. On the top right of the keyboard, there are multimedia keys present. You can use these keys to pause a song or move on to the next or previous one. There is also a roller that serves to increase or decrease the volume. These multimedia keys are really, quite a nice addition. You do not have to tab out of your game to change the song or volume anymore. You do not even need to pause your game to use these multimedia keys. Just press the buttons on the top right and it’s done.

All things considered; this is a really good mechanical gaming keyboard. The N key rollover function works perfectly for anti-ghosting. The pass-through USB connectivity feature is smooth. It does not show any faults. While it definitely has its shortcomings, it has a reasonable price tag to make up for that. Most of the features involved in this keyboard are designed to bring the best out of your gaming sessions. The overall, features included in this keyboard are top tier, but having said all that we would have liked an armrest and the extra keycaps.

Who can use the Hyper X Alloy Elite 2?

The HyperX Alloy Elite 2 keyboard is a product built specifically for gamers. This product has no job or uses in an office or a formal environment due to its aggressive design. The keyboard has a very gamer-oriented look about it and for that reason, it should only be used for such purposes. This will probably appeal to coders, professionals as well, well at least those professionals who like to have a cool product to use in their work environment. The keyboard contains all the necessary features required by gamers, it has RGB, mechanical switches for that tactile feel and multimedia buttons.

All in all, this keyboard is probably best suited to be used by gamers who can afford it, or want a product sort of unique in some ways. This might also be a suitable option for editors, graphic designers, or coders who want an enjoyable and exciting product to use.

Conclusion

The Hyper X Elite Alloy 2 is a product aimed at the gaming market. It has a very striking and eye-catching design. The Elite Alloy 2 is overloaded with RGB. You have every sort of RGB feature you could wish for. The lights are well spread out so it does not seem like some areas are duller than others. Then there are the multimedia keys. This is a really nice addition to any keyboard. You are able to just control the music without even having to pause your game. The 3 on-board memory profiles allow you to customize for different games and even for other people if the keyboard is used by more than one person.

There certainly could have been improvements, however, such as the addition of macro keys or a wrist rest and even simpler software. The Hyper X Elite Alloy 2 did take a recent price drop as compared to its previous model. That might be the reason for some of its lacking features. That helps to make up for a lot of its shortcomings. Overall, this is a really good gaming keyboard, especially in its price range.

Hyper X Alloy Elite 2

The Revamped Elite

Pros

• Has pudding keycaps
• RGB lighting
• Dedicated media buttons
• Profile and game mode buttons
• USB passthrough
• Top plate is made of solid steel

Cons

• Does not have wrist rest
• Software could be better
• No dedicated macro keys

Dimensions: 17.5 x 7.0 x 1.5 inches | Weight: 3.4 lbs | Switches: Hyper X Red | On-Board Profiles: 3 | RGB: Yes | Type of Keycaps: ABS Keycaps | Connectivity: Wired with USB type A | Key Type: Mechanical | Cable Length: 1.8 m

VERDICT:The HyperX Alloy Elite 2 is a great keyboard that compromises on neither look and aesthetics nor on the performance. Packed with HyperX Red mechanical keys and media buttons on top, the Alloy Elite 2 gives you just about everything you could need from a high end gaming keyboard. There are a few things where HyperX could have done a better job, but there's no denying that this keyboard is surely going to make its mark in your peripheral collection.

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PRODUCT INFO
Alloy FPS
Manufacture	Hyper X
Available at	View at Amazon

Big names like Corsair, Logitech, and Razer have dominated and competed over this area of the market for some time now. The product we are going to talk about today comes from HyperX, a company not necessarily known for its peripherals.

HyperX introduced their mechanical keyboards a while back and they have received a good response overall. The product is not perfect but it has its positives and naturally some negatives as is the case with most products.  Most people were first conflicted towards spending the amount the keyboard was asking for. This issue was largely overcome as this product has proven that it is here to stay. This is no doubt a premium product intended for some for the fiercest gamers out there. The product has a compact nature and is portable, this is exciting for gamers who like to travel, play LAN tournaments, etc.

The HyperX Alloy FPS is a more mid-range, budget gaming keyboard that contains the famous CherryMX switches along with backlight. This combination constitutes a very competitive product indeed. Let’s have a closer look at this beast.

Unboxing

First things first, some of our readers would be interested in what this keyboard brings straight out of the box. I know that I really like Unboxing stuff and this makes me curious as to what are the goodies which the product comes with. There is a really cool aesthetic element to the box with mainly black and red themed accents along with logos and advertisements of the company. Features and specs are listed, nothing special about the box.

It is what is inside which counts, not just the keyboard. HyperX really went the extra mile here; they gave away extra keycaps along with a keycap remover. This is a huge plus in our eyes as most of the higher-end precuts even don’t consider adding these extra features. Even better that HyperX also gave away a portable mesh bag for the keyboard; this makes it a viable pick for transportation. Although it was weird noticing that the keyboard was not in a plastic sheet or sleeve, they usually are.

List of the contents of the box:

• The HyperX Alloy FPS mechanical keyboard
• Special keycaps
• Keycap remover
• Mesh bag
• Removable USB cable
• User manual etc

Design

The HyperX Alloy FPS is not the average everyday keyboard, in fact, this keyboard is one of the better-built products we have seen in the market. The keyboard at first glance, will look extremely premium and will definitely give off an impressive first impression. The name of the keyboard suggests that it is made of sturdy material, and that is the case. The base of the keyboard is made from metal and the frame of the keyboard is marketed and delivered as one with a steel frame. The buttons or keycaps, as they are removable on mechanical keyboards these days are made from high-quality plastic material and feel very solid. There is no armrest in this model, you will have to purchase one separately from the manufacturer. The underside of the keyboard is plastic, but don’t be alarmed this is fairly common and very sturdy.

One of the main marketing features apart from the solid “alloy” build of the keyboard is definitely its compact size and space-saving nature. The keyboard weighs just over a kg at 1049 g precisely. The keyboard does not take up too much space even though it is a full-sized keyboard with a number pad and all. The HyperX keyboard measures 441 x 129 x 35 mm, which makes it a more compact keyboard. You also get a massive bonus feature in the form of its connective cable. Not only is this cable braided, but it is also detachable. We have waited a long time for this feature and we recommend it on all devices these days. There is also an additional USB 2.0 port for charging, right beside the connective cable port. This is another excellent user-friendly feature. The keyboard offers a small amount of tilt for more ergonomics but this is a very common feature. No height adjusting on the wrist side of the keyboard, only at the top.

The keyboard comes with additional textured keycaps, these special keycaps allow for better gripping and an even more responsive function to the buttons. It is also a good aesthetic touch by HyperX. Lastly, the keyboard has built-in LED lighting in the red color. The kinds of lighting effects and the brightness levels can be controlled via the keyboard. Some media functions on the main buttons as well, with no dedicated media keys, however. The extra keycaps are for the commonly used buttons in gaming, WSAD and some number keys along with arrow keys are specially made.

Features & Closer Look

Now that we have gone over the eye candy portion of the article, we get down to business. What is that this keyboard actually offers?

The HyperX Alloy keyboard’s main features have to be its excellent build quality and design. The keyboard is portable, not only due to its manageable size and relatively lightweight but also due to the mesh bag already included. You also get CherryMX switches. You can choose between MX brown, blue or Red cherry switches on the keyboard. CherryMX switches are some of the most sought after high-end mechanical switches in the world today. It is a good thing to add the choice to your switches as; all of the three choices have their own pros and cons. Blue switches might be too noisy for some users so watch out for that when you look for this keyboard.

The keyboard has RED LED lighting behind all of its keys. The modes and effects of the lights can be controlled from the built-in settings of the keyboard. There are 6 built-in effects for your lighting needs. The brightness of the LED lighting can also be controlled from the keyboard itself, with up to 5 brightness levels including no lighting. The lighting effects and the quality of the RED LEDs themselves are extremely high. Excellent lighting overall, even though it is not RGB. Speaking of RGB, you can opt for the RGB version which came out not so long ago if you value that and the additional price is not too high for you.

The keyboard has built-in windows mode to prevent you from getting tabbed out during a demanding game session. This is a small but cool feature designed and enforced to keep the gamer satisfied. Anti-ghosting and full N key rollover add to the value of the keyboard even though these are some of the more common features found in most modern-day PC gaming keyboards. This will ensure that every keystroke is properly recorded even if you spam or slam all the keys at the same time. Good for all sorts of gaming, FPS, or even fighting games where mashing might be required.

Lastly, the keyboard has used some very small features like the added USB port for phone charging; this can be useful in many ways. Charge your phone while gaming, to keep it close or you could attach small power using led lights or other equipment. The detachable cable means that you can always change the cable when it gets damaged, it also prevents the keyboard from damage if the cable gets caught anywhere. The relatively compact size means that you get more space for your Mouse or other products on your desk.

We would have liked additional features or features which could have been used via software. This keyboard is competing with the best of the best, both in price and features so leaving stuff out like wrist-rests and a low level of ergonomics might hurt a lot. No dedicated media keys are another considerable factor for some. But, as far as the base features go, you get a great blend of them.

Performance – Gaming & Typing

The performance of the keyboard can only be measured in two ways; In terms of its keys and keystrokes and its lighting prowess.

As stated earlier the HyperX Alloy FPS mechanical keyboard comes in 3 kinds of MX switches, the brown, blue, and the red variants only. These are not all of the MX switches but a select variety of some of the more popular ones. The switches all work in a way to ensure some degree of tactile feel to their clicks. The Blue switches are notorious for being loud and that is the case with these ones. This is not a bug but features as some would say and rightly so, blue switches are intended to be some of the loudest and most tactile ones. The brown and red switches make a balance between noise, responsiveness, and tactile behavior. So, they will be the most suitable ones in most cases. The keys can be pressed with minimal force and the keystroke itself is very satisfying.

For gaming purposes, it is a keyboard that will deliver a very satisfying press, even for typing you will get that good clicky feel. Nothing over the top. The keys will be pressed down a bit; this might be something that new mechanical users might need to get used to. The CherryMX red switches perform very well, as is expected from them. The keyboard has a reputation for being louder than some of the other keyboards using the same switches. You will have to keep that in mind, so office use is probably not the most optimal use for it.

The lighting is only in red and is behind the keys. You cannot physically modify the lighting modes as there is no software on this keyboard. But you do get six built-in lighting modes which the user can go through and choose from to his own liking. The lighting is very vibrant and is equally emitted form all the keys evenly. Some keyboards have had issues of uneven lighting before; this is not the case here. Lighting is very good and we are fully satisfied, just wanted more ways to control it though.

Who can use the HyperX Alloy FPS?

The HyperX Alloy keyboard although marketed as a keyboard for FPS gamers is not just for that purpose. In actuality, it can be used as a keyboard for many different purposes, not just those involving any kind of gaming.

The product offers a great approach to the high-end kind of products for gaming but at a cheaper price. This is not dirt cheap but affordable compared to some of the other products. So, this is a good budget solution for some people. It can also be used by programmers, these days mechanical keyboards are generally the way to go, sometimes lack of RGB and extra features does mean that it can be used in more areas of professional nature. Unless you intentionally want blue switches, you can have it as an office keyboard buddy as well.

For gamers, Blue switches are very common as they are way noisier and way more tactile. The quick-fire of this keyboard, with its satisfying clicks, will help you slay rivals in a satisfying way. Opting for Red or Brown switches opens up more avenues for work or for people who live in the company of more people. Less distraction, less noise.

Conclusion

The HyperX Alloy FPS mechanical keyboard is a keyboard that has taken some of the most basic sought after features, added a few of its own, and combined them to make a product. This product is aimed at gamers with a specific set of demands rather than those who want it all. This was a product that gained fame due to its select set of features performing way better than anticipated at a rather affordable price. The keyboard was branded as one for FPS gamers but after using it and learning more about it we can say that it can operate for basically any gamer. You have excellent CherrMX switches you can choose from, portability for people with tournaments and even some RED LED lighting thrown in. Even with its lack of software and limited added features, this is a fantastic product for anyone to use.

Realistically though, we would recommend it to users who travel for gaming or even for light office work if you get the less noisy Red switches. The keyboard does not have aggressive design accents so it can be used in more than just gaming situations, it can be transported easily as well. There is not much to hate on if you look at the price the product goes for. As for quality it has given some of the big boys a run for their money. If you want some RGB, Wireless, or extra cool features you can look for other products in similar or slightly higher price ranges. This product does simple right.

HyperX Alloy FPS

A  keyboard that has something for everybody

Pros

• CherryMX switches for solid performance
• Manageable size
• Braided cable is also detachable
• Fantastic and solid build quality
• USB charging port

Cons

• Only red lights
• No software for customization

739 Reviews

Switch Type: CherryMX | Backlight: Red LED | Mechanical: Yes | Cable Length: 1.8m | Dimensions: 441 x 129 x 35 mm approx | Polling Rate: 1000 Hz

VERDICT:The HyperX Alloy FPS mechanical gaming keyboard packs a solid punch with extremely effective features such as the CherryMX switches and LED backlighting. Add the very useful USB charging slot along with the detachable cable you get yourselves a very solid performer with useful added features. The choice of switches makes it a viable use for many people and the overall non-edgy design further makes it accessible for anyone. Compact size and manageable weight add for further use in travel or space-saving on a smaller desk. The HyperX Alloy FPS is the keyboard with the right specs for the simple demanded purpose.

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PRODUCT INFO
VELOCIFIRE TKL02WS MK
Manufacture	VELOCIFIRE
Available at	View at Amazon

The quality of keyboards from Logitech, Razer, and likewise is inevitable, however, they have a complementary price as well, which is simply unacceptable to budget users. Meanwhile, VELOCIFIRE takes another aisle. Their keyboards are shockingly inexpensive while having a comparable build quality to some of the most renowned and expensive keyboards in the market.

Personally, these keyboards offer a very similar experience and the quality often exceeds that of mainstream keyboards. Surely, you don’t get the mesmerizing looks of the gaming keyboards like CORSAIR ones but for the price, we really don’t think that it could get any better. The most promising products of the company are the wireless mechanical keyboards which have received immense attraction from the masses recently.

VELOCIFIRE TKL02WS MK is a tenkeyless keyboard, as it can be guessed from the name and it comes in white colour, offers MX-style Brown switches and wireless connectivity. The keyboard comes at a low price of around fifty bucks and this price is tremendously astonishing for a keyboard that offers mechanical switches and wireless connectivity. We will be looking at this keyboard in detail today, so let’s see if this keyboard is worth buying or not.

The box contents are as follows:

• VELOCIFIRE TKL02WS MK Keyboard
• Quick Start Guide
• USB Type-A to Type-C cable
• Keycap puller
• Wireless USB dongle

Design & Closer Look

So, let’s have a look at the design of the keyboard. First of all, the case of the keyboard is made of thick plastic, which is great for the given price. The colour of the plastic is white and it has a matte texture which feels very nice to touch. The keyboard uses a solid steel plate, which feels excellent and is overall considered better than aluminium due to extra weight and rigidity. As for the design of the keyboard is concerned, it looks fairly minimal, thanks to the tenkeyless form factor. There is the VELOCIFIRE logo at the front-right side of the keyboard, which is certainly better than the black version, where the logo was present above the arrow keys. The keyboard offers a sandwich-design case, which means that the plate and the PCB are present between two plastic pieces that are held together with screws.

Since it is a wireless keyboard, it comes with an 1850 mAh battery, which is present inside the case at the top-centre location. As for the bottom of the case, there are multiple rubber feet which help in keeping the keyboard fixed on your desk and there are two feet for raising the angle of the keyboard as well. Speaking of the angle, the keyboard already is quite inclined and you probably don’t need to use those feet. There is an on/off button at the bottom of the keyboard, which is great since this is a wireless keyboard and you don’t want it to be turned on all the time.

The keyboard can be connected only with the devices that provide a USB port because it needs the USB dongle to be inserted in order to be recognized. This is different from Bluetooth keyboards which can even work with mobile phones and this fact might be deal-breaker for some people. There is no place on the keyboard to store the dongle, which would have made it quite easy to store the dongle and you can lose it if you use the keyboard with multiple devices.

Switches & Stabilizers

The switches of this keyboard are very different from most of the mainstream keyboards. Instead of using Cherry switches, the keyboard uses Outemu switches, which are considered a bit lower-end considered to Cherry ones. Apart from that, the keyboard comes with only Brown switches, which means that you won’t be able to get your hands on blue or red switches if you want. The brown switches, however, are quite good for gaming and typing and a lot of people prefer using brown switches instead of others. The reason for this is that it is considerably quieter than the blue switch and yet offers tactility which makes it less prone to mistakes in typing.

As for the Outemu Brown switches, these switches are different from the Cherry Brown switches in some parameters. First of all, these switches have an actuation force of 55 grams while the Cherry Brown switches have an actuation of around 45 grams. Moreover, the switches have a higher tolerance than the Cherry switches which is why they often feel inconsistent across the board. Other than that, the feel and the tactility of the switch is very similar to the Cherry Brown switches. This fact makes these switches better for people who like Cherry Brown switches but want something that is a bit heavier, as Cherry Clear switches become too heavy as well.

The stabilizers of the keyboard feel as cheap as most of the gaming keyboards in the market, which is a bit unexpected, however, you can lubricate the stabilizers with dielectric grease; a very common solution for rattling stabilizers.

Keycaps

The keycaps of the keyboard are very impressive and one of the best features of the keyboard. Most of the cheap keyboards like this come with thin keycaps and in fact, even the high-end gaming keyboards like CORSAIR K70, etc use very low-quality keycaps. This keyboard, however, provides Doubleshot ABS keycaps that are not only durable but also are a lot thicker than most of the keycaps in the market. Doubleshot means that the keycaps are made with two different materials; the outer shell is made of black ABS plastic while the legend’s part is made of translucent milky-white plastic. This method is considerably better than lasered keycaps, which are made of translucent plastic entirely, painted black and then the legends’ area is lasered. Therefore, you won’t be suffering from messy legends even if you use the keyboard for a decade.

The thickness of the keycaps gives the keyboard a very nice touch and the acoustic profile of the keyboard is changed hugely as expected. This is a great advantage of buying this keyboard and if you are a fan of custom keyboards, you won’t have to spend on high-quality keycaps from the market. These keycaps, however, are still ABS keycaps and unlike PBT keycaps, these will start to shine in a couple of months. As for the legends, we really liked them because they do not provide that gaming font and they are very clean as well. The functionalities on the function keys, however, are not shine-through and will wear off over time, although those keys are rarely used.

Keyboard Lighting

The keyboard comes with white SMD LEDs, which means that the lights are present below the switches unlike the regular LEDs, which are present above the switches. This affects the keyboard in a couple of ways. First of all, the switches need to have clear housings because if the housing is not clear, the user won’t be able to see the lighting.

On the other hand, you can desolder the switches very easily and you won’t have to desolder the LEDs in order to remove the switches, so the job gets pretty easy in case a switch gets bad. As for the keyboard lighting, it can be either turned on or turned off. There is no software for customization and you cannot use any kind of lighting styles. To be honest, the white lighting does look pretty nice and we are pretty sure that most users would like this neutral white colour instead of red, blue or green colour.

Performance – Gaming & Typing

Gaming Performance

The gaming aspect of the keyboard is although not as impressive as the high-end offerings from RAZER and Logitech, still, it should be fine for people who do not want to get the best of the best. Usually, linear switches are considered better for gaming, as they are missing any kind of resistance but a lot of people use tactile switches so that they don’t accidentally miss-press any key. The keyboard provides N-key rollover though, which means that you won’t have any problems with long combos in games like Tekken 7, etc. The response time of the switches is surely higher than the latest optical switches in the market but one needs to be an expert gamer in order to notice this difference. Since the keyboard does not provide RGB lighting or any lighting styles, there is a chance that it won’t be magnifying the aesthetics of your system but the white colour ensures that there is no mismatch between the colour-themes of the rig and the keyboard.

Typing Performance

Now, coming towards typing, this keyboard can easily become your favourite keyboard if you have not typed on a mechanical keyboard before. Even if you have used mechanical keyboards before, this might interest you a lot, as it provides unique tactile switches, nice lighting, and high-quality keycaps. Since the keyboard provides a small form factor, you can use the keyboard during travels as well and easily connect it to the laptop, thanks to wireless connectivity. The switches are rated for 50 million presses, which makes it a very durable keyboard and you probably won’t be suffering from faulty switches any time soon.

Conclusion

All-in-all, VELOCIFIRE TKL02WS is one of the best budget wireless mechanical keyboards and provides a lot of unique features. It offers Outemu Brown switches that are tactile switches and the keyboard comes with white lighting. The small form factor makes it great for gaming and saves the space, however, you should look at other offerings from the company if you work with Excel sheets and other similar software applications. The keyboard comes with high-quality thick Doubleshot ABS keycaps and the font on these keycaps is also very nice. There is no software for customization of lighting or creating any kind of macros but still, this is one of the cheapest wireless mechanical keyboards in the market right now.

VELOCIFIRE TKL02WS MK

Best Budget Wireless Mechanical Keyboard

Pros

• Extremely cheap
• Small form factor
• White LED lighting looks really nice
• Thick Doubleshot keycaps
• Wireless connectivity

Cons

• Subpar stabilizers
• Only come with brown switches

1,094 Reviews

Weight: 2.2 lbs. | Actuation Force: 55 g | Key Switches: Outemu Brown | Switch Lifespan: 50 million strokes | Actuation Point: 2.0 mm | Dedicated Media Controls: No | Keyboard Rollover: N-key rollover with anti-ghosting | Battery: 1850 mAh (12 hours with backlighting on)

VERDICT:VELOCIFIRE TKL02WS offers a lot of high-end features at a price that does not seem to be beaten any time soon and if you are looking for a cheap wireless mechanical keyboard, you don't need to look any further.

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Price at the time of the review: US $46.99 / UK N/A

The post VELOCIFIRE TKL02WS WIRELESS MK (White Version) Review appeared first on Appuals.

PRODUCT INFO
CORSAIR K63 Tenkeyless Mechanical Keyboard
Manufacture	CORSAIR
Available at	View at Amazon

When it comes to keyboards, CORSAIR is at the top and there is no denying the fact that the company designs some of the most popular mechanical keyboards in the world. Their high-end products like CORSAIR K95 Platinum and CORSAIR K70 LUX RGB were greatly received by the masses.

CORSAIR K63 is a mid-range keyboard from the company and it feels like a very attractive product for the budget-users, thanks to the low price and nice features. The K63 and the K65 are the tenkeyless mechanical keyboards and are similar to K68 and K70 respectively in terms of features. There is a wireless variant of the keyboard as well, which goes slightly expensive than the wired one. The K63 wired keyboard comes with Red LED backlighting and the switches are also Cherry MX Red. So, let’s have a deep look at this spectacular keyboard.

Pricing

So, let’s talk about the price tag of the CORSAIR K63. The keyboard has an MSRP of $79.99, although the keyboard often goes for sale at around $59.99. This makes it a very interesting product because there are not a lot of tenkeyless keyboards with Cherry switches that cost around sixty bucks. Even more so, the features like CORSAIR iCUE support and unique keycaps are a nice addition, making this keyboard more attractive.

Unboxing

The box of the CORSAIR K63 is pretty similar to other keyboards from the company. At the front, you can notice the picture of the keyboard, with the switch type at the top right.

At the back, you can see some technical details like per-key lighting, CORSAIR iCUE software, Windows key lock mode, dedicated media controls, 100% anti-ghosting, and tenkeyless design.

The box contents are as follow:

Design & Closer Look

CORSAIR K63 is a spectacular keyboard when it comes to the design and one can tell from the first sight of it that it is a high-quality keyboard. It gives a solid feel which shows that it is going to last decades. First of all, the size of the keyboard is smaller than the full-sized keyboards thanks to the tenkeyless design, although the width of the keyboard is more than most of the keyboards in the market and that is due to the presence of the dedicated media buttons.

One of the biggest difference between this and the K65 is that the K63 has the plastic top while the K65 has a floating-switch design where the backplate is directly exposed. Moreover, the backplate in the K63 is red in colour, which in combination with the red LED backlighting looks really nice and evenly spread. CORSAIR has used a plastic backplate in the K63, which is why it feels significantly different from the K65 or K70. The keyboard has a matte texture all over it, which means that you won’t have to deal with fingerprints or oil marks.

As you can see, we have the dedicated buttons at the top of the keyboard and two LED indicators as well. The volume buttons are located at the top right while the other media buttons are located at the top left. There are also two buttons for the Winlock and brightness functions. The CORSAIR logo at the top centre is not LED-lit like the higher-end keyboards from the company.

There are rubber pieces at the bottom of the keyboard, which means that the keyboard will not slip during intense gaming sessions. Moreover, you can elevate the keyboard with the help of the keyboard feet, which is highly recommended for typing sessions.

CORSAIR does not use detachable cables with their keyboards, which seems a bit dated, although this gives the keyboard higher durability. The cable of the keyboard is not braided but it is quite thick and we don’t think that it could get broken with even rough use.

Switches

CORSAIR has used genuine Cherry MX Red switches in the K63, which means that these switches have a linear action and they don’t have tactility in them. The switch housing is black in colour, which is why the LED lighting is not able to spread within the switch, leaving the secondary legends a bit darker.

CORSAIR has used genuine Cherry MX Red switches in the K63, which means that these switches have a linear action and they don’t have tactility in them.

The switch housing is black in colour, which is why the LED lighting is not able to spread within the switch, leaving the secondary legends a bit darker.

The switch housing is black in colour, which is why the LED lighting is not able to spread within the switch, leaving the secondary legends a bit darker.

An important thing to note here is that these switches seem considerably smoother than the old CORSAIR keyboards, which is why these switches are from the batch which is probably manufactured after the retooling by Cherry.

Cherry MX Red switches have a travel distance of 4mm and have an actuation distance of 2mm. The actuation force is rated at 45 g, which is great for gaming, although these switches might feel a bit light for typing. Overall, Cherry MX Red switches are the most popular switches for gamers.

Keycaps

CORSAIR K63 uses laser-etched ABS shine-through keycaps and one of the biggest difference between them and other keycaps is that these keycaps have a round shape at the corners, making them a bit smoother than others. This also makes the keycaps look pretty cool. The thickness of the keycaps is similar to other companies like Logitech, Cooler Master, and Razer, which is why you won’t have the deep sound you could get from the aftermarket keycaps. In fact, some of the companies are already improving in this sector, for example, Razer has used thick PBT keycaps in their latest Huntsman Tournament Edition keyboard, whose detailed review can be seen here.

As for the legends are concerned, these large-font, gamer-esque keycaps are quite infamous, although we don’t dislike them at all and, in fact, prefer the large-font keycaps instead. However, CORSAIR uses non-standard bottom row in the K63, just like the other CORSAIR keyboards, which is why most of the aftermarket keycaps won’t fit on the keyboard.

The keycaps have a slightly matte texture, which is probably going to be faded in a couple of months, as ABS keycaps are not that resistant to skin oil. The spacebar, however, is another thing and the texture of the spacebar has a strong theme to it. It is usually liked by gamers, however, there are many people who would prefer to have a regular spacebar instead.

Keyboard Lighting

CORSAIR keyboards are known for their beautiful backlighting and thanks to the red-coloured backplate, CORSAIR K63 really shines in this department. The keyboard provides a lot of lighting modes which can be selected with the CORSAIR iCUE software, such as breathing mode, wave mode, or custom lighting mode. There is no RGB lighting in the K63 unlike the K68 or K70 and it allows only red LED lighting. Thankfully, the dedicated media buttons are also LED-lit and you can easily manage your media during the nights.

Corsair iCUE  Software

CORSAIR iCUE software feels a bit complex, at first sight, however, it allows a lot of customizations. There are three main tabs in the application which are present at the left pane of the screen; named Actions, Lighting Effects, and Performance. Moreover, you can make various profiles for the settings whose option is present right at the top of these tabs.

First of all, the Actions tab is where you can create macros and the applications provides a lot of actions here apart from macros, such as launching a program, timer, profile switching, etc. Moreover, you can set the details for the settings such as the delay between inputs.

When it comes to LED backlighting, the Lighting Effects is the tab that you should be looking for. CORSAIR is one of those companies which shows the realtime lighting effect on the screen that is going to be applied to the keyboard. This lets the user have a better view of the LED lighting and one can easily customize it this way. As for the lighting modes, there are many predefined lighting modes here, such as Visor, Rain, Pulse, Wave, type lighting, static colour, gradient, ripple, etc. Since this keyboard only provides red LED lighting, there is no customization of colours available, although there is still a lot of things that you can do with the keyboard. At last, in the Performance tab, you can select various options regarding the behaviour of the Winlock key, such as disabling Alt + F4, disabling Alt + Tab, etc.

Performance – Gaming & Typing

CORSAIR K63 is a budget mechanical keyboard from the company so let’s have a look at the performance of this keyboard for gaming and typing.

Gaming Performance

First of all, CORSAIR K63 has a tenkeyless design which is a great thing for gaming, as the Numpad is not really used for gaming. It also makes the keyboard portable for LAN sessions. As for the switches and overall performance is concerned, Cherry MX Red switches are definitely one of the best switches for gaming and have very optimized actuation distance and force curve.

The response time of the switches is not as good as the latest optical switches but a difference is almost unnoticeable. The iCUE application also provides great macro customization which gets handy for various games, especially the MMO titles. The keyboard supports NKRO with 100% anti-ghosting, which means that you won’t have to suffer from keypress limitations or mistypes.

Overall, the performance of the keyboard seems unbeatable for the price and you won’t be disappointed with the gaming performance of this keyboard.

Typing Performance

When it comes to typing, Cherry MX Reds are not the most favourite switches. The linear action of the switches makes them prone to errors during typing and most of the typists prefer using tactile or clicky switches. However, this does not mean that Cherry MX Reds are bad for typing, it just means that you would have a more chance of improving your typing speed with keyboards having a tactile or clicky switch. Even then, this particular concept is true for most of the people and not all of them, which is why there is still a chance that you would like the linear switches for typing. The keyboard uses standard stabilizers, although these ones seem to be better than the older ones when it comes to key rattle. The spacebar still has a bit of rattle though, which is inevitable unless you want to modify the components of the keyboard.

So, if you want to buy a keyboard primarily for typing, we would recommend you to look at other options, although there is a fair chance that you adapt to the cons of CORSAIR K63 after a couple of weeks.

Conclusion

All-in-all, CORSAIR K63 is one of the best budget mechanical keyboards with a great focus on gaming performance and looks. With Cherry MX Reds, the keyboard will last you a long time before you feel the need to change it, as these switches are very durable. Moreover, the red switches are inherently great for gaming. The laser-etched keycaps make sure that the legends do not fade away, although you might start to notice the shine on the keycaps after a few months. The non-standard bottom row takes away the choice of custom keycaps unless specifically designed for these keyboards. The iCUE application allows lots of customizations and you can make powerful macros with it while also managing the LED lighting customization.

Corsair K63 Tenkeyless Mechanical Keyboard

The Best Budget Tenkeyless Mechanical Keyboard

Pros

• Small Form Factor
• The quality of stabilizers is impressive
• Uses smooth Cherry MX red switches
• Evenly spread lighting

Cons

• Subpar performance for typists
• No RGB lighting

1,587 Reviews

Weight: 2.47 lbs | Actuation Force: 45 g | Key Switches: Cherry MX Red | Switch Lifespan: 50 million strokes | Actuation Point: 2.0 mm | Media Controls: Yes | Keyboard Rollover: N-key rollover with anti-ghosting | Cable Type: Non-braided

VERDICT:A fine choice for budget users who want to enhance their gaming performance by elevating themselves to the world of mechanical keyboards; CORSAIR K63 seems to be providing the best value when it comes to gaming performance.

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Price at the time of the review: US $70.99 / UK £62.99

The post Corsair K63 Compact Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review appeared first on Appuals.

PRODUCT INFO
HyperX Alloy Core RGB Gaming Keyboard
Manufacture	HyperX
Available at	View at Amazon

Sure, you can even a find a great cheap mechanical keyboard at times. But that will require a lot of research, and even then we can’t comment on the long-term durability aspect. If you’re on a tight budget, a good robust membrane keyboard could be a good choice. Don’t worry, not all membrane keyboards are created equal. The HyperX Alloy Core RGB is a prime example of that.

Hyper X is a brand that, in all honesty, does not need any sort of introduction at this point in time. They have definitely cemented their legacy as one of the most dignified brands respected by almost every gamer out there. So all things considered, the Alloy Core RGB shouldn’t disappoint.

This new budget membrane keyboard from HyperX stands out from the crowd. it rocks a unique design aesthetic not seen in this price range, along with a lot of other premium features. But is it really the conquerer of budget keyboards? Let’s find out.

The Unboxing Experience

As I’ve already mentioned above, the HyperX Alloy Core RGB is a budget or entry-level membrane keyboard. Due to which there’s nothing out of the ordinary for the unboxing experience itself. Despite that, a clean and frustration-free unboxing experience is always good, and HyperX delivers on that part.

The keyboard arrives in the usual packaging we’ve grown to admire from HyperX. They use the same red and white cardboard box seen on many of their other products. It’s not much, but it’s definitely refreshing from the usual boring brown box ordeal.

The front of the box has an image of the keyboard itself, the branding on the bottom right, and a bit of text describing the keyboard’s features. There’s also a colourful RGB logo on the box, and it’s already a major plus seeing RGB backlighting on a budget keyboard. The box includes just the keyboard itself, with the cable tucked behind a small compartment. There’s also a card and some paperwork from HyperX.

Design and Build Quality

Right off the bat, the first impression is definitely quite strong. While it’s nothing out of the ordinary when it comes to gaming keyboards, it definitely doesn’t look like a boring membrane keyboard you’d find in an office or in schools. It’s definitely got a bit of flair to it and it doesn’t feel cheap in any way either.

While the keys are housed inside a basic plastic frame, it’s actually put together quite well and doesn’t feel flimsy in any way. I wouldn’t say it’s the most robust keyboard out there, but it does appear to be durable. As for the design, it definitely has a bit of personality to it.

Compared to other membrane gaming keyboards, such as the Razer Cynosa Chroma, it looks a bit more sleek and polished. The matte finish definitely looks clean, and the bright RGB lighting accentuates it quite well. There’s also a very subtle ridge pattern on the lower part of the keyboard, where you would put your wrists.

Even though the design is a bit flashier than your normal membrane keyboard, I think it can fit in just fine in an office environment as well, with the RGB turned off obviously. On the back, we have the usual feet which you can use to prop up the keyboard at an angle. On the far left side, we also have dedicated buttons to control the lighting and a button that locks the Windows key.

Before I move on, it’s important to mention the inclusion of dedicated media keys as well. We have individual buttons for volume control and skipping, pausing, and playing tracks. It’s a small gesture, but something I always appreciate on any keyboard. It’s annoying when high-end keyboards skip this simple addition, so seeing this on an entry-level option is definitely pleasing.

I wouldn’t expect a lower-end keyboard like this to have water resistance, but this one surprisingly has that attribute. Any keyboard that can sustain any sort of water spill deserves a huge plus in my book. This budget keyboard can withstand a splash of up to 120ml of liquid. That’s definitely a sizeable volume, and it’s good to see that HyperX is not just all talk. It can definitely withstand an accidental spill.

RGB Backlighting

The target demographic for this keyboard definitely includes people new to gaming. A lot of those people might be looking to show off their new setup and their flashy RGB peripherals. Good backlighting does not come cheap, but this keyboard is an appealing exception to that.

Truth be told, even if you’re not a fan of RGB, it’s hard not to appreciate what HyperX has done here. The RGB backlighting here is very bright and shines quite well through the keycaps. There’s even a small light bar running across the top of the keyboard, which actually gives it a unique look. As for the effects, there’s not a whole lot here but you can cycle through them with the dedicated backlight control buttons. You can switch between breathing, wave and pulsing effects.

If you want to change the speed of the lighting effects, hold down the Fn Key and use the left/right arrow keys to speed up or slow down the effect. The same rule applies for the brightness control, hold down the Fn key and use the up/down arrow keys to tune the brightness.

Although the lighting here is quite delightful, some people are going to want that extra control which can only be provided through software. Sadly, you can’t change the backlighting on every single key, as the keyboard offers 5 zone illumination rather than per-key backlighting. Honestly, that’s not a major deal for a lot of people. In my opinion, most people will be pleased with the backlighting here.

How Do The Switches Feel?

If we’re going to get technical, I wouldn’t exactly say a membrane keyboard has “switches”. Instead, a membrane keyboard uses a rubber dome membrane, which should feel quite familiar to most people. It’s quiet, doesn’t have a tactile bump, and can be defined as “mushy” overall.

This membrane keyboard definitely feels a bit spongey overall. But that’s coming from someone who is used to mechanical switches. If you’re coming from an absolutely basic keyboard, this should still feel comfortable. However, if you are typing or gaming on this keyboard for an extended period, you are going to start and feel fatigue in your fingers, which is common with all the membrane keyboards.

The keycaps are smooth and each individual key is easy to distinguish. They actually feel very similar to the keycaps used on other HyperX keyboards, like the Alloy FPS. A major problem you might notice on cheaper keyboards is that fingers can easily slide off from one key to another. This is not an issue on this keyboard, so it does stand out from the budget crowd.

Typing Experience

You might be wondering how it feels for long sessions of typing. Well, it’s going to feel very familiar to a lot of people. I prefer mechanical switches at this point, so it took a while getting used to the membrane feel. But once I got the feel of it, it didn’t feel uncomfortable in any way. I definitely wasn’t expecting this. Sure, I still prefer mechanical switches, but most people won’t have a problem here.

Now if you’re purely looking at the best typing experience you can possibly have, this is definitely not it. Then again, you won’t be doing this keyboard justice asking that sort of performance at this price. It uses the usual layout, and nothing is out of the ordinary here. As I mentioned before, I didn’t notice my fingers slipping from one key to another. As I kept up with my usual fast typing speed, the keyboard remained responsive to my touch.

Overall, this keyboard is decent enough for typing. It’s not exactly the most mind-blowing experience but it gets the job done. For the price, I really couldn’t ask for more.

Gaming Experience

The gaming experience is about as good as you can expect from a membrane keyboard. Again, it’s going to feel very familiar to a lot of people who are used to membrane keyboards. Gaming on this keyboard is not exactly something mind-blowing, but it feels decent enough that most people really won’t have a problem in-game.

If you’re the type of person who plays casual games, that don’t require fast and accurate movements, this keyboard should be fine for you. However, if you play competitive games where every single second count and every button press has to be accurate, this is definitely not that keyboard. For the price, it’s not even aiming to be that sort of keyboard.

If you absolutely need that sort of performance, you’re going to be forking over a decent amount of cash. That could be double or even triple the cost of this keyboard. So considering how this keyboard performs well for the price, I don’t think a lot of people will have many complaints.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the HyperX Alloy Core RGB is definitely a solid entry-level keyboard. For $50, it definitely brings a lot to the table. A unique design aesthetic, RGB lighting, dedicated media buttons and even spill resistance. These are definitely enticing features for a keyboard at this price range.

I’m fully aware that a lot of people do not like membrane keyboards, but there are some out there who don’t like mechanical keyboards as well. If you’re the type of person who doesn’t like the loud sound mechanical switches produce, this is a great budget option. Or maybe you’re just getting into PC gaming, and don’t have a lot to spend on peripherals. In that scenario, this is a great keyboard to get you started.

However, keep in mind that there are a few mechanical keyboards out there at this price range as well. They’re not really the best quality, and definitely won’t last you a long while, but they will scratch your itch for a mechanical feel. It all really comes down to preference. For people who want a great entry-level membrane keyboard, this one deserves a strong recommendation.

HyperX Alloy Core RGB

Best Membrane Gaming Keyboard

Pros

• Eye-catching design
• Dedicated media buttons
• Spill-resistance

Cons

• Membrane isn't for everyone
• No software control

4,862 Reviews

Weight: 1130g | Backlighting: RGB | Key Switches: Rubber Dome Membrane | Spill Resistant: Yes | Media Controls: Dedicated buttons | Keyboard Rollover: N-Key Rollover

VERDICT:The HyperX Alloy Core RGB definitely isn't a keyboard for everyone. If you prefer mechanical switches, its hard getting used to a membrane keyboard. However, for newcomers to gaming, this keyboard is an incredibly great value with tons of premium features

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The post HyperX Alloy Core RGB Membrane Gaming Keyboard Review appeared first on Appuals.

PRODUCT INFO
Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition
Manufacture	Razer
Available at	View at Amazon

Razer released the Huntsman and the Huntsman Elite gaming keyboards back in 2018, which revolutionized the gaming community. The keyboards came with brand-new clicky optomechanical switches which were praised a lot due to their fast response times and high durability.

Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition is another addition to the Huntsman lineup, providing a TKL (tenkeyless) form-factor along with linear optomechanical switches and a few other new features. This form-factor is great for esports gaming, as it is a lot more portable and people can easily take them along in their LAN parties. The overall design of the keyboard might seem similar to the Razer Huntsman but there is a lot going on apart from the design. First of all, the keyboard is available in only a single colour, Matte Black, unlike the Huntsman which was available in Mercury White and Quartz Pink as well. We will be reviewing the Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition in detail today, so let’s have a look.

Pricing

The Razer Huntsman was originally priced at $149.99 while the Elite variant was priced at $199.99. The Razer has set the price of the Hunstman Tournament Edition at $129.99, which seems like a great price for a keyboard of this level. Most of the keyboards used Kailh switches in the past and now that Razer is using their own switches, which are not just better but also durable, these prices seem quite much justified.

Unboxing

Razer puts a lot of effort in designing the box of the products and the same is the case with the Huntsman Tournament Edition. The box has a matte-like texture and the picture of the keyboard can be seen at the front of the box, with slight details about the switch, keycaps and the cable.

Even the text with which the name of the keyboard is written seems to be providing a colourful pattern. On the rest of the sides, one can notice the details about the keyboard such as dimensions, weight, etc. However, Razer did not include a window for the arrow keys this time around, which has been the staple of countless Razer keyboards in the past.

The box contents are as follow:

Design & Closer Look

The Huntsman Tournament Edition features a plastic body with an aluminium top plate, this gives a very rigid and durable feel to the keyboard; Razer has gone with a matte texture, which is great. The body of the keyboard is slightly larger than the region of the keys but not large enough to make it feel like a full-sized keyboard.

There is text all over the back of the keyboard, stating “FOR GAMERS. BY GAMERS.”. The feet at the back of the keyboard provide two adjustments, one at a 6-degree angle and the other at a 9-degree angle from the surface. The provided cable is a braided USB Type-C to USB Type-A cable, which seems like a nice advancement. At the front, there is the name of the company “RAZER” written just above the arrow keys.

We received the Razer Huntsman TE in ISO-layout, i.e., the one with the big Enter button. It is to be noted that there are no indicator LEDs in the keyboard for Capslock, Scroll-Lock, and of course, the Numpad. Razer has used a standard bottom row for the first time in their gaming keyboards and that is a piece of great news for a lot of keyboard enthusiasts.

The reason for this is that there are a lot of 3rd party keycaps available in the market but due to the non-standard layout of the keyboards, those keycaps could not be placed on the keys in the bottom row. However, now you can easily replace all the keycaps for whatever reason, whether you want to change the colour of keycaps, want keycaps with different legends, etc.

Overall, the design seems great for a TKL keyboard, especially due to keeping the market standards of the keyboard world in mind.

Switches

The Huntsman Tournament Edition comes with all-new red optomechanical switches and the result is quite amazing. First of all, the actuation point is reduced to 1.0mm from the 1.5mm point found in the purple optomechanical switches while Cherry MX switches have an actuation point of 2.0mm (MX Speed switch has 1.2mm). This results in an ultra-fast response to the finger-movements and the overall performance are improved. Moreover, the Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition supports N-key rollover instead of the 10-key rollover found in the Huntsman and the Huntsman Elite.

Another difference from the purple optomechanical switches is that these red switches are linear while those purple switches are clicky. This reduces the noise you would feel from the Huntsman and Huntsman Elite keyboard, although this keyboard is still somewhat noisy which is due to the switch striking the backplate of the keyboard. These red switches are perfectly fine for gaming, although some people might find the switches to be too sensitive with the 1mm actuation point. Apart from that, linear switches are not the best switches out there for extensive typing, although this keyboard was never portrayed as a keyboard for typists.

Overall, the Huntsman Tournament Edition seems to provide excellent switches that are both durable and fast.

Keycaps

The keycaps of Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition are not those which were present in the Huntsman or the Huntsman Elite. The new keyboard provides much more durable double shot PBT keycaps, with a slightly matte texture on the top. This is a great improvement from the ABS keycaps you would find in most of the mechanical keyboards in the market. These double shot PBT-keycaps are still, not as thick as the ones you could get in the market but still, for gaming needs, the thickness of the keycaps does not matter so much as it matters in the typing.

Previously, PBT keycaps were only used by keyboard enthusiasts and they are a lot pricier than the ABS keycaps as well. Other than that, the profile of the keycaps is similar to the Huntsman and one cannot find the difference in keycap-profiles from just looking at both keyboards. Razer has insisted on using a very thin font on the keycaps, which looks very stylish and sleek. As for the stabilizers are concerned, they seem good enough to hold the big keycaps and the wobble is barely there, however, one can still hear the rattling sometimes.

Overall, the keycaps of the keyboard are not just durable but they feel a lot nicer than the keycaps from the competitors.

Razer Chroma Lighting

The Chroma RGB lighting is very popular and is found in most of the products from Razer. There are different presents to choose from, which means you can select from the software while the RGB lighting itself is quite bright and looks promising. Personally, we liked the RGB lighting on the Razer Blackwidow Chroma V2 more than the Huntsman models, as the lighting seemed to glow very nicely behind the keycaps, however, the RGB lighting of Huntsman models is still giving a tough competition to the competitors.

There are no lighting bars on the edges of the keyboard although, which were present in the Razer Huntsman Elite. The RGB LEDs are present on the upper side of the switches, which is why the legends are at the top of the keycaps. All these lighting styles look pleasing, although you might be better setting the lights to a single colour if you want to enhance your gaming performance, so as to not get distracted.

Overall, there is nothing new when it comes to the RGB lighting of the keyboard but what’s already there, seems more than enough if you want a keyboard with pleasing aesthetics.

Razer Synapse 3

Razer Synapse 3 is a comprehensive piece of software, providing compatibility with tons of products by Razer. First of all, the Huntsman Tournament Edition comes with five onboard profiles but to gain the advantage of those profiles, you will have to log-in to the Synapse 3 whenever you are using the keyboard from a new computer. This is slightly disappointing, as the plug-and-play capability is not there completely.

After setting the keyboard with Synapse, you can change the profiles by pressing the Fn key along with the Context-menu key, which is present right next to it. The white colour of the context-menu key indicates active profile while the Red, Green, Blue, and Cyan colours indicate profiles 1, 2, 3, and 4 respectively. Anyway, with Synapse 3, you can completely customize the RGB lighting of the keyboard, even set the colours of the keys individually or use styles like Ripple, Wave, Reactive, Fire, etc. Other than that, you can use various features that are associated with RGB lighting such as Chroma Connect, Chroma Visualizer, and Hue, etc.

There are lots of functionalities in Synapse 3 Customize tab that is Keyboard Function, Mouse Function, Inter-Device, Switch Profile, Razer Hypershift, Launch Program, Multimedia, Windows Shortcuts, Text Function, and Disable. The macros can be recorded on the fly as well by pressing the Fn + F9 keys. When pressed, the Macro-recording key (F9) lights up and you can record the macros. You can also go into game mode by pressing Fn + F10, which causes the Window key to be disabled.

Speaking of the Fn key, this key cannot be reprogrammed, as it is used to various functionalities. Fn + F1 results in mute, while with the F2 and F3, the volume can be controlled. The F5, F6, F7 keys along with the Fn key can be used to play/pause, skip backwards, and skip forwards the media respectively. The backlight can also be controlled by the combination of Fn + F11 or F12 keys.

Overall, the capabilities of the Razer Synapse 3 are beyond imagination and one can take advantage of tons of features of the Synapse 3.

Performance – Gaming & Typing

Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition is a keyboard that is designed for top-notch performance in the esports gaming, although, the need for typing cannot be ignored whether that be for social media, web browsing or even a boring essay. So, let’s have a view of the performance details of the keyboard.

Gaming Performance

When it comes to gaming, Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition seems to be at the top. During FPS gaming sessions, the ultra-fast responsiveness of the switches provides instant reaction to the keys resulting in swift movements. Moreover, the linear switches seem quite faster in actuation of the keys than the previously used clicky switches of the Huntsman keyboards. There was sometimes this feeling that such sensitive switches might result in unwanted character movements, however, we barely felt it during the gaming. An additional advantage of the keyboard against competitors was that the fingers did not slip on the keycaps due to the rough texture of the keycaps. The Hypershift function of the Razer keyboards is definitely useful and results in very easy use of various functionalities. Ultimately, the Hunstman Tournament Edition seems to be lacking nothing when it comes to gaming.

Typing Performance

Typing on a mechanical keyboard is a very nice experience, of course, but there are tons of variants of the mechanical switches these days and the linear switches were never considered good for typing. The reason is the absence of tactile feedback which feels like quite a necessary component for typing. Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition lacks that tactile feedback, although the “clack” sound of the keyboard is present very vividly. Since the switches are rated at 40g, there needs to be a lower force to bottom them out, comparing to Cherry MX switches. Bottoming out the switches feels good and acts as a good alternative to the tactile feedback. We also performed a quick typing test and the results were above our expectations.

However, there is yet another problem, the high actuation point. The actuation point of 1.0mm is really low and would be a hindrance for many people, as slight press on the keyboard would result in actuation. Other than these things, Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition provides a wonderful experience.

Overall, we wouldn’t call it the best keyboard for typing as the elder brothers do a greater job at that, but if you happen to be a budding writer, and a professional gamer, then this is definitely what you should be looking at.

Conclusion

Razer has really done it with this keyboard; the design is amazing, the switches are innovative and ultra-fast, RGB lighting is amazing and small form-factor results in greater portability. Not just that, with the Huntsman TE enthusiasts can now use 3rd party keycaps which was being demanded for a long time now, as Razer has just implemented the standard-bottom-row design in the keyboard. As for the durability, the PBT keycaps will now take care of all your worries and you can mash the keys without worrying about the keyboard. Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition is the perfect combination of enthusiastic features and top-notch performance.

Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition

The New TKL Flagship

Pros

• Comes with Doubleshot PBT keycaps
• The actuation point of 1.0mm feels ultra-responsive
• Programmable macro functionality
• Uses a detachable USB Type-C cable
• Uses a standard bottom-row

Cons

• The actuation point might seem too high to some people
• Not so great for typists

No products found.

No products found.

Weight: 1.66 lbs | Actuation Force: 40g | Key Switches: Optomechanical switches | Switch Lifespan: 100 million strokes | Actuation Point: 1.0mm | Media Controls: No | Keyboard Rollover: N-key rollover with anti-ghosting | Cable Type: Braided

VERDICT:A great TKL keyboard from Razer, providing stunning RGB lighting, a brand new linear optomechanical switch, long-lasting PBT keycaps, and a lot more for just $130; a must-buy for esports gamers

Check Price

Price at the time of the review: US $129.99 / UK £149.99

The post Razer Huntsman Tournament Edition Review appeared first on Appuals.

PRODUCT INFO
Velocifire TKL71WS MK Wireless Mechanical Keyboard
Manufacture	Velocifire
Available at	View at Amazon

Well for most people, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the big names up there, especially for gamers. Most people prefer brands such as Corsair, HyperX, Logitech, and Razer for keyboards. We don’t blame them, all of these companies have tried and true products.

But sometimes, completely out of the blue, a wildcard appears. It’s a very rare occurrence that products like this would blow you away.

The keyboard I’m having a look at today is one of those rare occurrences. For someone who’s been using the same big-name brands for his keyboard choices for a while now, I was a bit sceptical, to say the least.

But Velocifire has left me pleasantly surprised. They sent out their beautiful TKL71WS wireless mechanical keyboard, and I took it for a spin. The keyboard is a compact TKL (tenkeyless) keyboard as most people call it.

Now, I know some people might be a bit reluctant to use a wireless mechanical keyboard, especially most gamers. But stay with me for a while and read this review before you completely write that option off.

Unboxing and Closer Look

I know I’ve already raved about the keyboard in the intro a bit, and maybe rightfully so. But in all honesty, when the box came into my hands, I wasn’t all that excited. Even though I knew the keyboard inside is a good one, I just couldn’t get over the boring box.

It comes in a simple brown cardboard box, without any flashy designs or logos. But the front prominently says “Make Typing Better” which is Velocifire’s slogan. There is also a prominent Velocifire logo at the bottom right. The back of the box just states the model number and their website. I can’t hate on the box too much, it does get the job done.

As movies will tell you, the real stuff that matters is on the inside (cheesy, I know). If you go to the product page, you’ll find a few different options when checking out. The base option is just the keyboard itself. If you want, you can get a pair of blue K37 PBT keycaps, and a keyboard bag for carrying it around. Velocifire was nice enough to send us the K37 PBT keycaps, which I really love (more on that later).

Back to the contents. So inside the box itself, our K37 gradient blue PBT keycaps are sitting inside a nice white cardboard sleeve. It also has the keycap puller inside. Then we have the keyboard itself, a USB Type-C to USB A for charging, a pair of magnetic feet to provide some elevation, and a user manual.

Design and Build Quality

Before I received the keyboard, I knew it was going to be a TKL keyboard and that it’s very compact. But after pulling it out of the box I was definitely surprised for a bit, in a good way. The weight is what immediately caught my attention. It’s light enough that you can play a game of catch with it, which you obviously shouldn’t do. It weighs only 630g and that makes it insanely portable.

Just to show you how small this Velocifire keyboard is, we put it side by side with the Corsair K68. The K68 is a full-sized Cherry MX Red keyboard, and it absolutely dwarfs the TKL71WS. This goes to show just how portable this little thing is.

Out of the box, the keyboard does a look a bit boring. Although it is a small and sleek keyboard, the all-black keycaps were pretty generic. But that issue quickly went away once I installed the K37 PBT keycaps. These look and feel absolutely amazing. It’s a shade of gradient blue, meaning the edges are a darker and the middle keys fade away to a lighter colour. Pair that with the icy blue backlighting, and we have a winner.

Although the keyboard does look pretty unique this way. We decided to add even more flair to the design. We thought white keycaps would look great with the gradient blue ones. So we found this keycap set on amazon. They are double-shot white PBT keycaps from Monoprice, and they match the feel of our blue keycaps very well. Overall, we think this look turned out really well, and it definitely draws some attention.

Okay, I’ve gushed over the design for long enough. Let’s have a look around the chassis. The frame of this keyboard is built out of hard plastic, but it doesn’t feel cheap in any way. Near the bottom right, we have the Velocifire logo. At the back, we have the on/off switch, rubber feet to prevent scratching and a place near the top to tuck in the USB dongle. After removing the dongle from this position a couple of times, I realized the slot is magnetic, so it doesn’t fall off. This is definitely a nice touch.

Apart from that, there is a USB Type-C port near the upper right of the chassis. I love the fact that they opted to go this route for the connection. Honestly, the big-name keyboard brands should use USB Type-C at this point. Sadly, there is no USB passthrough, something I miss from my previous keyboard.

Backlighting

Velocifire has gone for a clean and simplistic look here, so there is no crazy RGB lighting. Instead, they have gone with blue backlighting. I’d say the exact shade is a bit similar to an Icy blue colour.

The backlighting shines through really well between the fonts of the keys. It has a glow to it which I really like. There are a lot of modes, like the wave, pulse, and other popular modes. Personally, the static blue colour is the most appealing to me and the breathing effect comes after that. FN+Home cycles between the modes and FN+Up or FN+Down are used to adjust the brightness. Fn+Right or Fn+Left is used to adjust the speed, depending on the mode.

There are lighting zones at both sides of the chassis as well. Both the left side and right side have these small diagonal slits from where the light shines through. You can cycle between different colours by pressing FN+Ins or completely turn it off.

Although it does look good, I don’t really see the point of it. It’s not bright enough to provide an actual decent glow, but then again that can be distracting. Still, you won’t see this lighting unless you completely dim the lights. Plus, I’m not a fan of the red accents surrounding this lighting area, it throws off the look a bit. I’m honestly nitpicking here since you can’t see it most of the time, but it’s important to mention.

Lighting Effects

The Layout and Switches

Before we move on to talk about the switches, there are a few things I want to mention about the layout first. Now, this is a tenkeyless keyboard (and a very compact one at that), so the layout will be different than your standard full-sized keyboard. It does take a bit of getting used to, but once you get the hang of it, it’s fine.

There’s nothing too unusual here, except for the navigation keys being too close together. I would have liked to see a bit of spacing between the main typing area and the navigation keys, but that’s a minor annoyance more than anything.

Let’s talk about the switches now. Velocifire’s website states that these use Brown switches. But don’t confuse that with Cherry MX switches. If you scroll down on the product page a bit, you’ll find out these are CONTENT switches (a Chinese brand of switches). But they are nearly identical to the real thing. Unless you put them side by side, the difference is negligible.

Since they are brown switches, they have a nice tactile bump when you press down on the key. The actuation point is somewhere between Red and Blue switches. These are a bit louder than Reds, but not as clicky or loud as Blues. The switches on this keyboard are a good mix for both typing and gaming.

Typing Experience

This review was written on the Velocifire TKL71WS, and I enjoyed my time typing on it. As I mentioned before, the switches have a bit of tactile bump to them, which I like. Previously coming from Cherry MX Red switches, I noticed fewer accidental presses because of that actuation point and travel difference. It’s not a huge shift and adjusting was very easy.

Typing for long sessions feels very comfortable. If you are coming from a full-sized keyboard like me, it will feel a bit cramped at first. But spend an hour or so with and you’ll get used to it. Once you get into the flow of it, typing on it is really fun. If you prefer a subtle response with every key as you type, you’ll love this keyboard for writing up essays, scripts or even reviews like this one.

Typing Sound Test

Gaming Experience

Gaming on this keyboard is not exactly something mind-blowing. It’s not the fastest switch in the world, nor is it the lightest one. It’s about as good as you’d expect. The keys feel good enough that most gamers won’t have a real problem in games. However, if you are expecting to have super quick fluid movements in games like competitive shooters this isn’t the best experience.

Don’t get me wrong it’s not bad by any means. But if you are the type of person that need super quick movements, like if you’re strafing in CS: GO and need that speed and accuracy, brown switches aren’t going be the best for you. One thing to note here is that the keyboards with super fast switches can cost twice or triple the cost of this one.

And if you’re worried about input lag because of the wireless connectivity, I didn’t notice any difference at all between this keyboard and my wired one.

Latency

Speaking of input lag and latency, you’re probably wondering how this wireless wonder performs. Just to make sure, we fired up an intuitive software test to check that out. Latency remained identical in both wired and wireless modes during our test. We didn’t actually notice any type of delay when the keys were pressed. This is a pretty generic test (which we did for the sake of people worrying about it) but still, latency is nothing to worry about.

Battery Life

Since this is a wireless mechanical keyboard, a lot of people will be worrying about the battery life of this one. It uses a USB dongle to connect to your PC. If you need to juice up, plug in the USB Type-C cable into the keyboard and connect it to your PC. Don’t worry, you can use it while it’s charging up as well. A red light on the spacebar will indicate that it’s charging.

Charging up takes about 4-5 hours if the battery is completely dead. With the lighting off, Velocifire claims the keyboard can last up to a week. Well, I’ve been using it with lighting on for a few days, and only needed to charge it once. It easily gives me 3-4 days of use with all the lighting on at max brightness. Not too shabby.

Final Thoughts

I didn’t even mention the price at this point. The Velocifire TKL71WS at only $45.99 and if you get the K37 PBT keycaps, that brings it up to $62.98. This is an amazing value proposition. If you absolutely need a wireless keyboard, with mechanical switches, this is the best option out there on a tight budget. Sure a lot will say Cherry MX switches are better, but there aren’t a lot of wireless Cherry MX keyboards out there. Not for a good price anyway. All in all, Velocifire TKL71WS is a solid recommendation.

Velocifire TKL71WS Wireless Mechanical Keyboard

A Surprise Hit

Pros

• Eye-catching design
• Compact and Portable
• Great for avid typists

Cons

• No USB pass-through

Weight: 629g | Backlighting: Blue | Key Switches: CONTENT Brown | Spill/Dust Resistant: None | Media Controls: None | Keyboard Rollover: N-Key Rollover

VERDICT:The Velocfire TKL71WS is a surprisingly impressive keyboard. The switches might not be as good as Cherry MX ones, but they are pretty close. Considering the price, this is one of the best wireless mechanical keyboards, and a compact one at that.

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