If you need a light bar on your mechanical gaming keyboard but don't want or need extra macro keys, the HyperX Alloy Elite RGB is a high-quality option. But competing options feel more polished overall.

Excellent build quality; Light bar colors blend well; Standard bottom row allows keycap replacement

Aging USB 2.0 passthrough port; Software UI can be clunky; Keycaps will show finger grease and shine quickly

Gaming keyboards are available in abundance these days. With an aim to provide a memorable experience for the breed of intense gamers, peripheral manufacturers have been offering attractive keyboards across various price points.

With the HyperX Alloy Elite RGB, the company's robust mechanical keyboard gets RGB illumination along with basic software support.

Good build quality; USB passthrough port; Easy-to-use software

Expensive; Weak keycap fit

Learning is a process, right It certainly has been for HyperX and its keyboards. First there was the stripped-down HyperX Alloy FPS in late 2016-a no-frills budget keyboard that, as I wrote at the time, "focused on the fundamentals.

I've had a 4 mechanical keyboards and this is my favourite. I use it for programming and v. importantly it has the menu key next to the right ctrl as well as a function key modifier

The layout is great , the keys have a very satisfying click, the rgb customization is nice and overall a great feel