HyperX sent us the Origins 60 for review, needless to say expectations are high. Can this replace my current keyboard? Let’s find out.
Been a while since we’ve reviewed keyboards from HyperX. I’ve personally used their Alloy FPS Pro TKL for a good couple of years before switching to a full size and then going mini with a 60% keyboard for more desk space. It has been the definitive setup going on for two years now. So, when HyperX sent us the Origins 60 for review, needless to say expectations are high. Can this replace my current keyboard? Let’s find out.
Technical Specifications
Dimensions | Depth: 105.5mm Height: 36.9mm Width: 296mm Cable length: 1.8m |
| Weight | 781.5g with cable |
| Switch | HyperX Red - Linear |
| Onboard memory | 3 profiles |
| Connection | USB-C to USB-A |
| Lighting | Per key RGB lighting and 5 brightness levels, RGB (16,777,216 colors) Customizable via HyperX NGENUITY Software |
| Keycaps | PBT, Extra Accessory Keycaps ABS |
| Anti-ghosting | 100% anti-ghosting, Keyrollover N-key mode |
| Price | $99.99/PHP4,995 |
PACKAGING
The HyperX Origins arrives in a compact yet box. It seems the company has made their red and white signature color scheme on its packaging, so it’s nice to see some uniformity when it comes to that. Not sure how long that’s been going. But anyway, moving forward, the front gives you basically gives you the info on what the Origins 60 is all about, the switches used and the layout.
On the other side there’s an overview of the key features, as well as the package contents that you’ll get when you opt for this keyboard.
There’s the Origins 60 itself, together with a detachable USB cable, HyperX’s keycap puller, HX ESC keycap, HyperX-designed spacebar, and a quick start guide. No carrying case for this one though, so you’ll likely have to go aftermarket if you plan on putting it in a sleeve or case when you travel like you want to bring it with you.
DESIGN AND BUILD QUALITY
There are varying layouts for 60% keyboards, so there’s no defining
standard when it comes to that. Some have dedicated arrow keys, macro keys,
while others have minimalist approach and whatnot. For the Origins 60, it’s
essentially a 61-key keyboard that’s built like a tank.
The Origins 60 uses the company’s homegrown HyperX Red switches. Based on their website, these are linear switches that have a higher lifespan at 80 million keystrokes, as well as lower actuation point at 1.8mm and a total travel distance of 3.8mm compared to the Cherry MX Red counterpart. Actuation force is basically the same. It’s hard to say if you can notice the difference though with actual use since those are miniscule figures, but bottomline is that these switches are built for faster response with its lighter actuation force compared to blues and blacks. Tactile feedback is still present and a bit lighter as well. Word of note, you can still use third-party keycaps or those artisanal ones if you want to. These still use the same stems. The option is there.
On that note, the Origins 60 comes with double shot PBT keycaps. These actually feel much better compared to ABS ones, but then this will boil down to preference. There's minimal wobble. The secondary Fn keys are also printed on the front so you have a reference for each function. That on top of the HyperX Red switches do make for a really great typing experience.
If you’re using this as your daily driver like we did, you’ll
have to make use of the Fn combo keys, especially the arrow key alternatives.
The Fn key is situated on the bottom right corner of the keyboard, which is
thankfully beside the arrow key Fns. The Function Key row are on the number
keys and that’s already a given. What’s nice here are the additional Fn keys
for multimedia and RGB control. It would take some time getting used to if you’ve
been using other 60% keyboards that have different combos for this since I found myself doing that when I first tried out the Origins 60. But then
again, it’s a good thing that you can switch this up through the NGENUITY
software so you can finetune it based on your preference. Or you can also adapt, so there's that.
And as mentioned, this thing is built like a tank. That aluminum
body feels very solid. It’s a well-built keyboard that looks and feels ready to
withstand even when you’re raging. Not that we rage just to be clear. There are also two sets of feet you can use
depending on your preference. There’s one for a 7° and another for 11°. The default
setup gives you 3° of tilt. While not exactly a game changing feature, this
does add a level of customization to fit your preference and is a nice yet
simple approach. The keyboard I’ve been using before this doesn’t even have tilting
feet. So yeah this is pretty much a welcomed solution.
This is a wired keyboard that uses USB Type-C. While it's easy to replace if you lose or damage your cable, the hole for it is a tad narrow. So some replacements might not fit.
SOFTWARE AND RGB
The Origins 60 utilizes the HyperX’s NGENUITY Software for
both RGB customization and key reassignments.
For RGB, you can have per-key color customization, which is
nice if you have a color scheme you want to follow. You have the option for
several animations including Breathing, Confetti, Swipe, Solid, Twilight, Wave and
Sun. You can also save your settings to three profiles, although similar to the
touch sensor of the HyperX Pulsefire Mat we reviewed before this, it only works
when NGENUITY isn’t running.
As for key reassignments, there are plenty of options you can
try out. You can select rebind a key to perform a different one, make a key
perform a mouse click action, control multimedia, add macro, toggle the F1-F12
keys, perform a common Windows shortcut, or disable it entirely. You also have
two layers to work with here that you can customize per each key. So that is indeed a fine addition if you’re
looking to add more shortcuts or macro for a key. You’re not stuck with default.
SOUND PROFILE
Wondering how it sounds? Well, it sounds just as good as it feels. It's crisp, the feedback is nice.USER EXPERIENCE
The Origins 60 was my main keyboard for around two weeks,
and in around that time there was this learning curve I have to overcome since I’ve gotten so used to my GK64 that I mistakenly performed its Fn combos
on the Origins 60 when I first tried it out.
I mainly use a 60% keyboard for work where dedicated arrow keys are essential. Now since the Origins 60 doesn’t have those, it makes up for that with secondary keys through Fn. It did take some time getting used to, but it’s easy to embrace afterwards. This is indeed anecdotal and you’ll likely have a different time with it depending on your use case and experience.
So, once you get the hang of it, the typing experience is a pleasure overall. It's crisp, the feedback is sweet, and even with the lower actuation force I didn't find myself misfiring keys. I can still get around my 100 wpm average typing speed, and it's pretty comfortable to do that with the Origins 60. No complaints here.
CONCLUSION
The HyperX Origins 60 is an exciting keyboard that’s undoubtedly
one of the best compact keyboards in the market. HyperX’s Red switches definitely
feel very responsive with its actuation force light. It’s sturdy build feels so
premium, and the textured PBT keycaps give a nice touch. The two step keyboard feet is a thoughtful
addition. If you’re one for customization, the Origins 60 offers a wealth of
options with each key for two layers save for the Fn can deliver just that. To
top that off, it’s an affordable keyboard that won’t break the bank ($99.99/Php 4,995), and it’s also
backed with HyperX’s 2-year warranty. Simply put, the HyperX Origins 60 is a solid
option for anyone looking for a compact gaming keyboard in the market.
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