Buying Guide
The Best Aluminum Gaming Keyboards
From the Alloy Origins Core to the G413 SE: five keyboards ranked on layout and switches, with who should skip each one.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
An aluminum plate or case adds stiffness and weight so the board does not slide. Every pick lists aluminum in its build, ordered from the lowest price.
Our comparison rests on published figures for layout, switches and connection; nothing here was tested in-house, and where a maker leaves out layout, we say so.
Quick Picks
Our 5 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
HyperX Alloy Origins Core Tenkeyless Mechanical Keyboard
A lower price than the K556 and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Getting aircraft-grade aluminum body for the least money.
Our take Check price for HyperX Alloy Origins Core Tenkeyless Mechanical Keyboard (opens in a new tab)
Brown Tactile Switches
Redragon K556 Devarajas
Brown tactile switches.
Best for: Buyers who want brown tactile switches.
Our take Check price for Redragon K556 Devarajas (opens in a new tab)
Quiet Linear Switches
Redragon K556 PRO Wireless
Quiet linear switches.
Best for: Buyers who want quiet linear switches.
Our take Check price for Redragon K556 PRO Wireless (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
Cherry MX 3.0S Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (MX2A Silent Red)
Cherry MX2A Silent Red switches rated for more than 50 million actuations.
Best for: Buyers who want Cherry MX2A Silent Red switches rated for more than 50 million actuations.
Our take Check price for Cherry MX 3.0S Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (MX2A Silent Red) (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Logitech G413 SE
The top of this price range, adding an aluminum top case.
Best for: Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Our take Check price for Logitech G413 SE (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
HyperX Alloy Origins Core Tenkeyless Mechanical Keyboard on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
HyperX puts the Alloy Origins Core in an aluminum body, which makes it the sturdiest board in this list.
Best for
- Getting aircraft-grade aluminum body for the least money.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when wired onl is a problem.
Why we like it
It is wired only, but the cable detaches for transport. Its tenkeyless layout frees mouse space, and the aluminium body resists flex. It is a wired tenkeyless board with low-profile HyperX Aqua switches and customizable RGB lighting.
Dropping the number pad leaves more room for mouse movement. A TKL layout is unique to it among these picks, while the K556 PRO uses a full-size (104 keys) layout. You get HyperX tactile switches here, which sets it apart from the K556 and its brown tactile switches.
The Alloy Origins Core needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub. It cost the least of the 5 picks at the time of writing, with the K556 the next step up.
Key dimensions & specs
- Layout: TKL
- Switches: HyperX tactile
- Connection: Wired
Pros
- Tenkeyless layout leaves more room for the mouse
- HyperX tactile switches
- Aircraft-grade aluminum body
- Detachable USB-C cable
Cons
- Wired only
Brown Tactile Switches2 of 5
Redragon K556 Devarajas on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Redragon's K556 uses an aluminum top plate and brown tactile switches in hot-swap sockets.
Best for
- Buyers who want brown tactile switches.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: full-size board takes more desk width.
Why we like it
It works plug and play on Windows and Mac. Its brushed aluminium frame does not flex, and 20 lighting presets adjust in brightness and speed. Like the K556 PRO, it has a full-size (104 keys) layout, while the Alloy Origins Core uses a TKL layout.
No other pick in this guide offers brown tactile switches; compare the Alloy Origins Core, which has HyperX tactile switches. The K556 needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub. Worth noting too: hot-swap for 3-pin and 5-pin switches. Its price falls between the Alloy Origins Core and the K556 PRO, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- Layout: Full-size (104 keys)
- Switches: Brown tactile
- Connection: Wired
Pros
- Brown tactile switches
- Aluminum top plate
- Hot-swap for 3-pin and 5-pin switches
- Plug and play on Windows and Mac
Cons
- Full-size board takes more desk width
- Wired only
- Costs more than the Alloy Origins Core at the time of writing
Quiet Linear Switches3 of 5
Redragon K556 PRO Wireless on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Redragon's K556 PRO is a 104-key aluminium-framed board with quiet linear switches and hot-swap sockets for 3-pin and 5-pin switches.
Best for
- Buyers who want quiet linear switches.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: full-size board takes more desk width.
Why we like it
It adds 2.4GHz and Bluetooth to the wired K556. It shares a full-size (104 keys) layout with the K556; the G413 SE goes with a full-size layout. Quiet linear switches is unique to it among these picks, while the K556 uses brown tactile switches.
It also offers macro software. Use the K556 PRO's dongle or cable for games; Bluetooth suits a laptop or tablet. Another plus is aluminium top frame.
Before buying, weigh one limit: costs more than the Alloy Origins Core at the time of writing. When we checked, only the K556 and cheaper picks cost less, and the MX 3.0S Silent Red cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- Layout: Full-size (104 keys)
- Switches: Quiet linear
- Connection: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, wired
Pros
- Quiet linear switches
- Dongle, Bluetooth and wired modes
- Aluminium top frame
- Hot-swap sockets for 3-pin and 5-pin switches
Cons
- Full-size board takes more desk width
- Costs more than the Alloy Origins Core at the time of writing
Also Consider4 of 5
Cherry MX 3.0S Wired Mechanical Gaming Keyboard (MX2A Silent Red) on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Cherry's MX 3.0S uses Cherry's own MX2A Silent Red switches, linear switches with no click that Cherry describes as quiet.
Best for
- Buyers who want Cherry MX2A Silent Red switches rated for more than 50 million actuations.
Skip if
- Price-first buyers should look at the Alloy Origins Core, which cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
The housing is extruded aluminium and each switch is rated for more than 50 million actuations. Its extruded aluminium case is screw-free, and per-key RGB is programmable in CHERRY UTILITY. A detachable cable and rubber feet keep it stable.
Full N-key rollover and a Windows key lock suit gaming. The extruded aluminum housing is completely screw-free. Full N-key rollover and a Windows-key lock keep game inputs clean, and RGB is programmed in the Cherry Utility. On price it sat fourth of 5, between the cheaper K556 PRO and the pricier G413 SE, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Switches: Cherry MX2A Silent Red (linear)
- Connection: Wired, detachable micro-USB
Pros
- Cherry MX2A Silent Red (linear) switches
- Cherry MX2A Silent Red switches rated for more than 50 million actuations
- Extruded aluminium housing
- Full N-key rollover and a Windows-key lock
Cons
- Costs more than the Alloy Origins Core at the time of writing
Premium Pick5 of 5
Logitech G413 SE on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The G413 SE is the only full-size Logitech here.
Best for
- Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: full-size board takes more desk width.
Why we like it
PBT keycaps and an aluminum top case lift it above typical budget boards. No other pick in this guide offers a full-size layout; compare the K556, which has a full-size (104 keys) layout. It is the only pick here with tactile mechanical switches; the K556 has brown tactile switches instead.
It also offers anti-ghosting on gaming keys and white LED backlighting. The G413 SE needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub. It was the highest-priced of the 5 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the MX 3.0S Silent Red and the rest.
Key dimensions & specs
- Layout: Full-size
- Switches: Tactile mechanical
- Connection: Wired
- Keycaps: PBT
Pros
- Tactile mechanical switches
- PBT keycaps resist shine
- Aluminum top case
- Anti-ghosting on gaming keys
Cons
- Full-size board takes more desk width
- Wired only
- Costs more than the Alloy Origins Core at the time of writing
How We Chose These Aluminum Gaming Keyboards
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We lined up five keyboards on layout, switches and connection, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house.
- The shared baseline
- All 5, from the Alloy Origins Core to the G413 SE, state switches and connection.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The MX 3.0S Silent Red gives no layout.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Alloy Origins Core (under $50) to the G413 SE ($50 to $100).
What to Look for in an Aluminum Gaming Keyboard
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Setup checks
The Alloy Origins Core needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub. Use the K556 PRO's dongle or cable for games; Bluetooth suits a laptop or tablet.
Features beyond the spec table
The K556 PRO: hot-swap sockets for 3-pin and 5-pin switches. The MX 3.0S Silent Red: an extruded aluminium housing. The G413 SE: anti-ghosting on gaming keys.
Budget
Under $50 buys the Alloy Origins Core; $50 to $100 buys the K556, the K556 PRO, the MX 3.0S Silent Red and the G413 SE at our last check.
Match the pick to your priority
Getting aircraft-grade aluminum body for the least money: the Alloy Origins Core. Buyers who want brown tactile switches: the K556. Buyers who want quiet linear switches: the K556 PRO.
Choose the layout before the switch
Full-size boards keep the number pad; tenkeyless drops it and gives the mouse more room. 75% and 65% boards keep arrows in a tighter frame, while 60% boards move arrows and F-keys to a function layer.
How to Choose an Aluminum Gaming Keyboard
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Getting aircraft-grade aluminum body for the least money | Alloy Origins Core | A lower price than the K556 and the rest when we checked |
| Buyers who want brown tactile switches | K556 | Brown tactile switches |
| Buyers who want quiet linear switches | K556 PRO | Quiet linear switches |
| Buyers who want Cherry MX2A Silent Red switches rated for more than 50 million actuations | MX 3.0S Silent Red | Cherry MX2A Silent Red switches rated for more than 50 million actuations |
| Spending more for the fullest feature set | G413 SE | The top of this price range, adding an aluminum top case |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Alloy Origins Core, the K556 and the rest, as their makers list them.
| Keyboard | Layout | Switches | Connection |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alloy Origins Core | TKL | HyperX tactile | Wired |
| K556 | Full-size (104 keys) | Brown tactile | Wired |
| K556 PRO | Full-size (104 keys) | Quiet linear | 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, wired |
| MX 3.0S Silent Red | Not listed | Cherry MX2A Silent Red (linear) | Wired, detachable micro-USB |
| G413 SE | Full-size | Tactile mechanical | Wired |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Alloy Origins Core was the lowest-priced pick and the G413 SE the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Keyboards |
|---|---|
| Under $50 | Alloy Origins Core |
| About $50 to $100 | K556, K556 PRO, MX 3.0S Silent Red, G413 SE |
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the K556 the Brown Tactile Switches?
It earns the label for brown tactile switches. It suits anyone who wants brown tactile switches.
Do the Alloy Origins Core and the K556 differ on layout?
The Alloy Origins Core uses TKL; the K556 and the K556 PRO use full-size (104 keys); the G413 SE uses full-size. The maker of the MX 3.0S Silent Red doesn't say.
What should I check before buying the G413 SE?
The G413 SE needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub. In this guide it ranks fifth of 5, as our Premium Pick pick.
Beyond the specs, what sets the Alloy Origins Core and the K556 apart?
The Alloy Origins Core: an aircraft-grade aluminum body. The K556: an aluminum top plate. The K556 PRO: an aluminium top frame.
Do Hall effect switches help in games?
Adjustable actuation and rapid trigger help most in fast strafing games. In slower games the difference is small.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Alloy Origins Core, chosen for a lower price than the K556 and the rest when we checked. Look at the K556 for brown tactile switches, the K556 PRO for quiet linear switches and the MX 3.0S Silent Red for Cherry MX2A Silent Red switches rated for more than 50 million actuations if those matter more to you.
Aluminum boards are heavy; fine for a desk, less for travel.