Alienware Pro Wireless Keyboard Review
Alienware has long been associated with high-end desktops and laptops built specifically for gamers, and its latest peripheral, the Alienware Pro Wireless Keyboard is no exception. Not only is this gaming keyboard designed with competitive esports in mind, it was co-developed with Team Liquid and tested by more than 100 esports athletes, who helped refine its design and function for high-level play. The final product is one that not only looks aesthetically pleasing on a desk, but has the chops to back its “pro” moniker.
Alienware Pro Wireless Keyboard – Design and Features
Esports athletes typically practice and play for extended periods of time, so the biggest concerns they expressed when consulted were around comfort and adjustability. The Pro Wireless Keyboard features a 75% layout, which Alienware chose to focus on keeping the size as compact as possible while retaining all of the necessary keys. There are no extraneous knobs or switches on this keyboard – just the essentials – which makes it ideal for travel to and from events.
From the materials used to its thoughtful design, it’s immediately apparent that this keyboard is a premium device. It features an aircraft-grade aluminum enclosure that gives it a nice heft when picked up and adds to its sturdiness when placed on a desk, while still remaining fairly lightweight at just 1.81 pounds (or 820 grams). I really appreciate the rounded design of the aluminum as it gives the keyboard some much-needed character, as the light gray coloring can feel a bit lifeless. The bottom of the enclosure also contains two folding feet that extend open with a satisfying snap to give you a more ergonomic angle for utilizing the keyboard.
Alienware developed custom linear mechanical switches that it states are closest in feel to Cherry MX Reds. Each key has a 40g actuation force – apparently the ideal amount of press to register input according to the pros. In practice, the keys feel very sturdy and easy to press, with a distinctly “thocky” sound quality that tickles my brain in just the right way. These keys are also extremely durable as they are rated for a 100 million keystroke lifespan, meaning you won’t need to replace them anytime soon.
For being a mechanical keyboard, the keys are surprisingly quiet when pressed thanks to upper and lower silicone sound-dampening layers, as well as a polyoxymethylene material on each stem that virtually eliminates the sound of keys rubbing together. However, if you prefer a more clicky switch, or something different entirely, each key is interchangeable with just about any aftermarket switch using the included tool. Surprisingly enough, this is the first Alienware keyboard that features swappable keys. This further cements this keyboard as a great option for pros, as it offers the customization and adjustability that they desire.
It wouldn’t be a modern gaming keyboard without RGB lighting, and I’m pleased to say that the Pro Wireless Keyboard is no exception. Not only does it feature customizable lighting, but the technology underneath the lighting is built for both brightness and efficiency. This is achieved by making the bottom half of the switches transparent, while also guiding the light through the top of the keycaps, resulting in overall brighter lighting – even at lower levels. The result is some of the most stunning RGB lighting I’ve ever set my eyes on. It’s crisp, bright, and even, yet also soft and inviting as it washes over the rounded edges of the enclosure. If you prefer to bounce between multiple lighting modes, you can store your custom settings to one of five onboard profiles that can easily be cycled by pressing the profile key on the top right hand corner of the keyboard.
Generally, wireless peripherals come with a handful of drawbacks, such as inherent latency and battery life concerns, that pros tend to avoid in lieu of more reliable, wired devices. Thankfully, the Pro Wireless Keyboard addresses both of those fears by offering a buttery smooth 2.4GHz wireless connection that supports a constant 1KHz polling rate – the measure of how often your keyboard communicates with your computer (think refresh rate on monitors). Even over the 2.4GHz wireless connection, you can expect up to an astonishing 798 hours of battery life with the RGB disabled. There’s even a nifty spot built into the top of the keyboard to store your wireless dongle; and yes, it also satisfyingly clicks into place.
If you don’t mind a bit of latency, the Bluetooth connection will net you more than 1,800 hours of battery on a single charge – that’s nearly two and a half months! You can store up to three simultaneous Bluetooth connections to the keyboard’s onboard memory and swap between them on the fly with the push of a button. And, of course, you can still connect a USB-C cable and play wired if you so desire.
Alienware Pro Wireless Keyboard – Software
While you can use the Pro Wireless Keyboard right out of the box, the Alienware Command Center app allows you to tinker with it a bit further. It’s not the most reliable software as it still has many quirks years later, but once you get it up and running it’s fairly easy to navigate.
Your device should be automatically recognized when it’s connected to your computer, and from there you can modify the settings within the AlienFX panel. Here, you can customize the RGB settings and have the option to choose between static lighting effects, or effects that happen upon any key press. The options are a solid color of your choosing, a pulsing effect, morph, breathing effect, or spectrum, which cycles through all 16.8 million colors available. You can even assign lighting effects and colors to individual keys, or preset groups such as WASD, QWER, the number row, function keys, and all remaining keys. From there, you can choose to save your lighting presets to the onboard memory, so you can take your custom settings with you, wherever you may be playing. Additionally, you can configure keybinds and macros within this panel, as well as update the keyboard’s firmware.
Alienware Pro Wireless Keyboard – Gaming
This is by far and away the most responsive keyboard I’ve ever played on. The keys feel ultra smooth and easy to press thanks to the low 40g actuation force, which makes moving, jumping, and sliding throughout games feel seamless.
I spent most of my time bouncing between the ultra-competitive tactical shooter Valorant, and my default for testing just about every peripheral thrown my way, Destiny 2. While I’m disappointed to say that this keyboard didn’t instantly shoot me to the top of the leaderboard in Valorant, I felt more confident in my abilities simply due to how responsive each key press was. Strafing, crouching, and overall movement felt great on the 2.4GHz wireless connection. The response time was so fast at times that I felt like the keyboard was almost anticipating my next move, and it led to some satisfying shootouts.
Over in the world of Destiny 2, I felt right at home jumping between missions and laying waste to the various armies of The Witness. I typically use a full-size keyboard for gaming, so some of my muscle memory had to be rewritten with the condensed layout, but after a few minutes I felt right at home. Repeated button presses felt less fatiguing since the keys don’t take much pressure to actuate, and they bounce back very quickly, which makes spamming movement and abilities that much faster. And, wow, did I mention how much I love the sound of the thocky keys? Incredible.
Purchasing Guide
The Alienware Pro Wireless Keyboard can be purchased for an MSRP of $199.99 from Dell, Amazon, and Best Buy.
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