CES 2021: HyperX reveals new products during virtual show

CES 2021 is off to a hot start thanks to HyperX. The four-day-long expo of all things tech is sure to deliver something exciting to everyone, from consumers to enthusiasts. The reveals have already begun too, with HyperX, Kingston’s gaming division, revealing some new peripherals during the first day of CES 2021. They include a new mechanical keyboard model and a controller charging station.

While that latter one may not sound incredibly relevant to the PC gaming audience, it’s becoming more important than ever. Gaming on PC doesn’t just mean that players can use a keyboard and mouse for their controls, but anything they want. There are simply some games that play better with a controller on PC, like Yakuza 0. In cases like these, I personally turn towards my tried-and-true Bluetooth Xbox controller. For players like me, the ChargePlay Duo should be attractive. The stand itself comes with a weighted base to prevent any bumps from knocking it over, as well as LED indicators for charging status. The package also includes two rechargeable battery packs for any Xbox Series X|S or Xbox One controller.

Small form-factor is best form-factor

Of course, if you’re not interested in anything with joysticks, HyperX still has something for you. The company is debuting its first 60% keyboard, the HyperX Alloy Origins 60. For those without much desk real estate, this could be a game-changer. The 60 percent keyboards are about as bare-bones as a keyboard can get, lacking a top row of F keys, numpad, home buttons, and even arrow keys. Instead, a bunch of that functionality is tacked on to other keys, and accessed by holding down an FN key on the bottom right.

In exchange for all that functionality, users are left with an extremely compact form-factor keyboard. HyperX sweetens the pot by listing extra functions on the sides of keys facing the typist, a nice quality of life feature. The keyboard also comes with red linear switches and, of course, RGB.

If either of these products sounds good, you won’t have to wait that long to get one in your cart. The Alloy Origins 60 will be available in the U.S on February 22 for $99.99 USD. Likewise, the ChargePlay Duo will be available at some point in February, but will only run customers $39.99 USD.