TechRadar praises HyperX Origins 2 switches, but sees flaws

HyperX’s Origins 2 1800 is built for the part of the keyboard crowd that notices mounting style, switch feel, and tuning before it cares about RGB. The compact full-function board pairs a hot-swappable 1800 layout with HyperX Linear Red switches, a 1.8 mm actuation point, and support for up to 8k polling, all for an MSRP of $139.99. That makes the hardware pitch strong right out of the gate, even before the first keypress.

The appeal is in the construction. HyperX says the board uses an easy-access housing with an 8-screw assembly, hot-swap sockets for most 3-pin and 5-pin mechanical switches, an o-ring mount, a polycarbonate plate, a removable silicone weight, and plate-mounted stabilizers. Those are the details enthusiasts usually look for when deciding whether a board is just a gaming peripheral or something worth keeping on the desk and tuning over time.

That flexibility matters because HyperX has been trying to refine its keyboard formula for a while. The earlier Alloy Origins earned credit for feeling and sounding good with linear HyperX red switches and PBT keys, and the Origins 2 line, introduced at CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada, pushed the same message of performance plus customization. The new board also works with HyperX’s NGENUITY software for remapping, macros, RGB effects, and up to three profiles, and it supports PC, PS5, and Xbox Series.

Even so, the flaws are hard to miss once the novelty of the spec sheet wears off. A hot-swap 1800 board with 8k polling and a stock tune aimed at enthusiasts has a lot to recommend it, but the limited software depth keeps it from feeling fully unlocked. For a community that now compares hardware fit and tuning as closely as raw performance numbers, that gap matters.

The Origins 2 1800 lands as a serious attempt to give HyperX a more enthusiast-friendly identity, but it also shows how much a strong switch and chassis package can still be held back by the rest of the board. That tension, more than the lighting or the gaming branding, defines whether this one earns a place among the better buys in its price range.