Earlier this month, HyperX released the Alloy Rise series of mechanical gaming keyboards. The HyperX Alloy Rise gaming keyboards is offered in both full-sized and 75% models, with each offering the choice of either linear or tactile switches. However, the headlining feature of this keyboard is its ultra-customizability. Armed with hot-swappable key switches, replaceable top plates and magnetic badges, the Alloy Rise looks to take personalization to the next level. However, that is not all that this keyboard has to offer.
Let’s specifically dive into the HyperX Alloy Rise 75 to see what you are getting for $169.99.
HyperX Alloy Rise 75 Base Specs
| Switch | HyperX Linear Switch; Switch Type: 5-pin; |
| Operation Force | 40 g |
| Total Travel Distance | 4.0mm |
| Polling Rate | 8000Hz |
| Keyboard Backlight | RGB (16,777,216 colors) |
| Dimensions | Height (metric): 48.9 mm, Width (metric): 454.5 mm, Depth (metric): 142.2 mm |
| Weight | (with cable): 1.310 kg |
| Cable | Length (metric) 1.8 m, Braided, Removable |
A purchase of the HyperX Alloy Rise 75 gaming keyboard comes a detachable USB-C cable and a key switch/keycap puller.
Build and Physical Features
The HyperX Alloy Rise 75 is a wired mechanical keyboard in the smaller form factor of the two keyboard offerings. It features N-key rollover, 100% anti-ghosting, an 8000Hz polling rate and per key RGB lighting capable of displaying over 16 million different colors. This keyboard is gasket mounted, aiming to provide a more comfortable typing experience while also dampening the sound from key presses. The braided cabling is removable, allowing for easier transport and stowage.
The review unit we are looking at here features HyperX Red Linear Switches. These switches are rated for 80 million keypresses with a 40g actuation force and a 1.8mm travel actuation. The switches use POM half-wall stems which combat keycap wobble by providing a stable foundation for the keycaps. They also come pre-lubed and are compatible with most hot-swap keyboards that accept 5-pin switches. Sitting atop of each switch are HyperX PBT keycaps, which are resistant to wear, friction, and solvents.
The Alloy Rise 75 is a hot-swappable keyboard, allowing you to hot-swap switches as you please using the included key switch/keycap puller. On the upper right, you have a rotary volume control knob that you can press to toggle muting on and off. RGB lighting illuminates throughout each key as well as the sides of the Alloy Rise 75. The keyboard sports an ambient light sensor which can automatically adjust the brightness of these lights depending on the brightness of your surroundings. All lighting settings, key remaps, and macros can be saved into up to 10 profiles, which are all stored directly onto the keyboard using the free HyperX NGENUITY software.
The customizability of the HyperX Alloy Rise 75 goes beyond its hot-swappable keys and lighting. The top plate and volume knob are replaceable, giving you even more control over the overall appearance of your keyboard. The top plate is magnetic, remaining perfectly stable throughout use while being quite easy to remove with minimal effort. The volume knob is also easy to change, where you can simply pull the knob upward to remove it. Changing both components takes mere seconds, requiring no tools whatsoever.
The HyperX badge along the right side of the keyboard is also magnetic and replaceable. Here, you can add a little more flare to the keyboard with themed badges that simply pop on and off.
Switch swapping on the keyboard is also fast and easy. You simply use one side of the key switch/keycap puller to remove the cap, then use the other to pull out the switch. Applying a new switch and keycap is even faster, where you can simply pop in each by hand. You can do all of this without having to take the Allow Rise apart or even removing its faceplate.
At its core, the HyperX Alloy Rise 75 is a sleek and solid keyboard, both visually and physically. Its sturdy metal framing, rubberized feet, and about 3 lbs. in weight allow for a very stable gaming and typing experience. Couple that with the POM half-wall stems under each key, and you have yourself a very accurate typing and key press experience. What I found particularly surprising about the Alloy Rise was how well the gasket mount dampened the keystrokes. I still felt the kind of punchy and impactful presses that one would expect from a mechanical keyboard. However, I did not expect the key presses to be as quiet as they were.
Its RGB lighting is bright and distinct, offering a myriad of animation options. The addition of the ambient light sensor is a nice touch. This allows you to make your lighting profiles without having to worry about RBG brightness versus things like the time of day. Then of course, you have the physical customization options that are exclusive to the Alloy Rise keyboards. What makes the Alloy Rise’s customizability especially unique is how quickly each component can be swapped. As more and more accessory options become available, you have the chance to have a keyboard that truly matches your visual and unique aesthetics.
Before diving into Software Features and Performance, the HyperX Alloy Rise 75 is already a very impressive keyboard from its build and physical features alone.
Software Features and Performance
All of the key RGB and behavioral aspects of the HyperX Alloy Rise 75 are customized using the free HyperX NGENUITY software. Through NGENUITY, you can reprogram keys, customize lighting, and create macros that you can store into profiles. Those custom profiles can then be toggled between at will or set to automatically activate when specific applications or games are running.
For the most part, NGENUITY was straightforward and easy to use. You control and assign per-key lighting using layers, making it easy to assign lighting behaviors to many keys at once. You can even disable the ambient light sensor here, especially if you wanted the brightness of your RGB lighting to stay constant regardless of the changes in your ambient lighting.
Macro building in NGENUITY is par for the course, using a familiar process seen in other gaming software. You start the recording of your macro, press the desired keys of your choice, then double back to make refinements to the timing of the various presses. You can then assign your newly saved macro to the key of your choice. All in all, HyperX NGENUITY gives you all of the tools and options that you would expect to have in any gaming grade keyboard out today.
When it came to gaming with the HyperX Alloy Rise 75, this keyboard did not disappoint in the performance department. The keyboard’s sturdy frame and wobble-free keys allowed for the kind of keystroke precision that you should expect during intense gameplay. Actuation and responsiveness were solid during my gaming sessions. I even felt a little more at ease with that gasket mount dampening my key presses during my more frantic matches. At least I was not much of a disturbance to those nearby while I completed a couple of flawless tickets in Destiny 2’s Trials of Osiris.
I did not do too bad in Battle Royale or non-Battle Royal matches of Apex Legends either.
The HyperX Alloy Rise 75 performs as well as any pro-level gaming keyboard. You get all of the features that you would expect any gaming keyboard to have, packaged in a keyboard that simply feels great to use. Topping it all off, you have onboard memory that saves your custom profiles directly to the keyboard. Just like that, your keyboard is ready for your next LAN tournament, without your having to install NGENUITY on whatever PC the tournament provides. From your physical customizations to the creation of your behavior profiles, this keyboard remains personalized for you no matter what PC it is connected to.
Final Thoughts
Coming in at $169.99, the HyperX Alloy Rise 75 is the complete package when it comes to fully customizable mechanical keyboards. Practically every outward facing component is hot-swappable in seconds, making customization not only easy but enticing as well. Even without considering its headlining customization features, the Alloy Rise 75 stands strong as a well-performing and feature-rich gaming keyboard. Onboard memory and removable cabling solidify the keyboard as a solid travel or LAN party companion, ready to go without having to reinstall the NGENUITY software.
Whether you are in the market for a new 75% or tenkeyless gaming keyboard, or you want a keyboard that lets you express your unique style, you should definitely check out the HyperX Alloy Rise 75. You can check it out for yourself by clicking here.
If you already have a mechanical gaming keyboard that is compatible with HyperX’s hot-swappable switches, you can check the HyperX Linear Switches here or the HyperX Tactile Switches here. Each set is sold for $24.99.
† We were provided with a HyperX Allow Rise 75 Gaming Keyboard for the purpose of this review.
