It was only a few months ago that we reviewed the Hyper X Alloy FPS on this very website. A low-fi piece of tech that values performance over bells and whistles, we found it to be a quality board for those who like to keep things simple. Imagine our surprise when its cousin, the Alloy FPS Pro, arrived on our doorstep looking to make things even simpler.
When you hear the term Pro appended to any piece of tech, it generally means some additional functionality or key improvements upon what could be considered the “base” model. The Alloy FPS Pro apparently doesn’t give a shit about conventions like these, actually subtracting components of the previous model to create a board that, if you can believe it, is even leaner.
Adopting the Alloy FPS Pro means losing the number pad on the board’s right side and the extra rear-mounted USB port. The kit doesn’t come with the custom, ridged WADS keys nor the key removal tool, so cleaning the board may be a bit tricky. In every other respect, however, this is the same board as the base model, only smaller and leaner and still suffering from the lack of a wrist rest. You could easily read our review of that board and get a good idea of what to expect from this one.
So what’s the benefit of getting this board over the base model? Portability. The Hyper X Alloy FPS Pro is designed for people who like to LAN, who are on the move, and who are involved in the kind of esports play where fast bump-in and bump-out times are a must. It is a no-nonsense board that is much easier to transport than its larger cousin and this is the best thing about it.
What kind of annoys me is Hyper X’s apparent assumption that you would own both versions of this board. The Alloy FPS is your “home” kit, the FPS Pro your “away.” The Alloy FPS has everything you need for board maintenance and upkeep, the FPS Pro can be stored until required. Maybe I’m reading into it a bit much, but that seems like a pretty narrow customer base if you ask me.
For those who don’t do a lot of gaming away from their home PC, the Alloy FPS Pro may not make the best value proposition compared to its larger cousin unless you are looking for a board that is especially bare bones. You can’t clean it easily, you lose the number pad (which DOES still come in handy when using the board for day-to-day typing — I’m literally writing this review on the Alloy FPS Pro right now). In its primary function as a portable board, it excels. As a board for a home gaming PC, it leaves a bit to desired. In the event that desk space is a concern, its small size will be of immense value. Otherwise, you may find it limiting.
If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a sporty little number you can take with you to a LAN or competitive event then look no further.
Score: 7.0 out of 10
Highlights: Responsive board; Great build quality; Cool look
Lowlights: Fewer features than the larger board; Still no wrist rest
Manufacturer: Hyper X
RRP: $129 AUD
Reviewed conducted with hardware supplied by the manufacturer.
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