Alienware has all the time been one of many first corporations I consider after I consider PC gaming. The model — which is now a Dell subsidiary — all the time had the best PC instances, such because the Space 51 Aurora. Whereas they nonetheless launch some fairly spectacular pre-built PCs, the model’s peripherals are… let’s simply say, much less thrilling.
Alienware’s newest gaming peripheral is the Alienware AW420K: a wired mechanical gaming keyboard, and the model’s first tenkeyless (TKL) mannequin. The AW420K comes with Cherry MX Purple switches, double-shot PBT keycaps, and per-key RGB… and that’s about it. It retails for $149.99, which is fairly costly for a keyboard that has virtually zero thrilling (and even distinguishing) options.
Fortunately, Alienware is now not the one firm making gaming PC peripherals, so there are many different keyboards to select from on our checklist of best gaming keyboards.
Alienware AW420K Specs
| Switches | Cherry MX Purple |
| Lighting | Per-key |
| Onboard Storage | 5 Profiles |
| Media Keys | Sure |
| Connectivity | USB Sort-C to Sort-A |
| Cable | 6-feet, braided |
| Extra Ports | N/A |
| Keycaps | Double-shot PBT |
| Software program | Command Heart |
| Dimensions (LxWxH) | 367.2 x 147 x 55.7mm |
| Weight | 1.7 kilos |
| MSRP | $149.99 |
Design of the AW420K
The Alienware AW420K is a tenkeyless (TKL) mechanical keyboard that prices fairly a bit however lacks distinguishing options. It’s black, wired, and comes with double-shot PBT keycaps, that are a pleasant premium contact that can guarantee longevity over ABS keycaps. The alphas look nice on the keycaps, however the operate keys appear to be they’re stickers — it’s just a little weird how pasted-on they appear. It’s not precisely a high-end aesthetic.
Beneath the AW420K is a cable routing cut-out resulting in the USB Sort-C header and two flip-up toes. The swap plate is metallic, which might be good if it expanded throughout the complete prime of the case — however it doesn’t.
Like 99% of the gaming keyboards in the marketplace, this board options per-key RGB, which could be configured utilizing Alienware’s Command Heart peripheral software program.
Gaming keyboards aren’t essentially designed round typing expertise, however this doesn’t imply the typing expertise must be horrible. Many gaming corporations, resembling Razer, Asus ROG, Cooler Grasp, and Corsair, have realized the typing expertise is a crucial issue, and have added options resembling case foam and hot-swap PCBs to provide customers a greater expertise.
However not Alienware.
Not solely does the AW420K really feel uninspired, design-wise, it additionally sounds pingy and has stabilizers that tick. The keycaps really feel nice, however you will get fundamental double-shot PBT keycaps on many keyboards (or… wherever).
I loaded into the most recent addition to the Name of Obligation Trendy Warfare 2 sport mode: DMZ, hoping to unlock the M13 assault rifle (and I did!) and check out the AW420K’s gaming capabilities. I don’t put on a headset whereas I’m gaming, and this meant I might hear the ticking from the spacebar continuously — it was too loud and constant to disregard. Nevertheless, this can be a private pet peeve — different avid gamers could not discover it, particularly in the event that they put on a headset whereas gaming.
I’ve additionally been enjoying the sport Scum these days. Scum is a web-based zombie survival sport just like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds in that you want to craft your individual shelter and never starve. Whereas I used to be postpone by the quantity of stabilizer rattle and case ping within the AW420K, the Cherry MX Purple switches are gentle sufficient (with their 45g actuation power) that I skilled no fatigue — even after hours of chopping wooden. The shine-through keycaps have been additionally helpful in-game, because it’s been fairly gloomy in New York these days.
Software program of the AW420K
The software program backing the AW420K is Alienware’s Command Heart, which is what you should utilize to regulate all of Alienware’s peripherals, in order that’s handy. Command Heart allows you to do every little thing from customizing the keyboard’s per-key RGB lighting to recording and assigning macros. The keyboard does have onboard reminiscence, however it solely has sufficient room to retailer 5 onboard profiles — in the meantime, the Corsair K70 RGB TKL can retailer as much as 50 profiles and has the identical retail price ticket (and you’ll in all probability discover it even cheaper, because it’s been out for over a yr).
I’ve by no means been one to complain about software program assist for keyboards as a result of I don’t consider in excessive polling charges, however many hardcore avid gamers do — and the AW420K and Alienware’s Command Heart don’t ship these.
Backside Line
Whether or not you want Alienware or not, there’s no denying that they’ve lengthy been a cornerstone of PC gaming. Whereas a few of their peripherals, resembling their screens — try the five-star Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED gaming monitor, for instance — this keyboard falls flat. I can’t suggest this keyboard in any respect, particularly not for the worth.
The Alienware AW420K is $100 an excessive amount of, and it will possibly’t go toe-to-toe with different similarly-priced keyboards, such because the full-sized Corsair K70 RGB Pro, and it’s not almost as spectacular as different TKL gaming keyboards, such because the pricier however far more spectacular SteelSeries’ Apex Pro TKL. I hate to say it, however I used to be simply very upset general by how uninspired the AW420K turned out to be.
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