The HyperX Xbox Series X controller dock outdoes Microsoft — here’s how| Tom's Guide

The HyperX Xbox Series X controller dock outdoes Microsoft — hither's how

(Image credit: HyperX)

CES always has a lot of exciting new tech, just it'south ofttimes a fiddling light on gaming gear, particularly of the console variety. This year, though, we saw at least one gadget that solves a existent problem with Microsoft'southward hot new organisation, the Xbox Series Ten. The HyperX ChargePlay Duo is an extremely straightforward device: a dock that charges two Xbox controllers simultaneously. And yet information technology may just beat Microsoft at its own game, in terms of both usability and price.

HyperX hasn't left PC enthusiasts out in the cold, though. During CES 2021, it too announced the HyperX Alloy Origins 60 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. As the name suggests, information technology's a mini or "sixty%" keyboard, which eschews not only the number pad, just also the arrow keys and top row of function keys. It'south a niche item, to be sure, but if you'd rather have space than keys, it seems like a solid bet.

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HyperX ChargePlay Duo Controller Charging Station

It's no secret that the Xbox Series X controller has some problems when it comes to batteries. Rather than building a rechargeable battery pack into the controller, Microsoft substantially passed the toll onto consumers, making users buy a $25 play-and-accuse kit. Nonetheless, while the battery that comes with this kit is just fine, the cablevision is non, as it does nothing to signal when a controller is done charging.

The HyperX ChargePlay Duo Controller Charging Station addresses this trouble in two ways. This $forty kit includes v pieces: a charging dock, two batteries and two battery doors. These battery doors accept minor holes in the back, which permit access to the charging dock'south conductors.

When you want to charge a controller, you plunk it down on the charging dock. Two-and-a-half hours later, you simply option the controller support and go on playing. The dock can charge two controllers at a time, and there are fifty-fifty LED indicators to show whether a controller is charging, or fully charged. Not even Microsoft's official accompaniment can avowal that.

As such, you can get a single Microsoft battery and cable for $25, or ii batteries, plus a dock with indicator lights, for $40. HyperX'south batteries are one,400 mAh models, the same equally the official Microsoft models — and HyperX'south gear is licensed by Microsoft, also, then in that location's no risk of incompatibility. Your selection. The charging dock will exist out next calendar month.

hyperx alloy origins 60 — (Image credit: HyperX)

HyperX Alloy Origins threescore Mechanical Gaming Keyboard

The HyperX Blend Origins 60 is arguably the company's outset mini keyboard — and arguably not. Last year, the company collaborated with Chinese keyboard manufacturer Ducky to produce the HyperX Ducky One2 Mini. According to HyperX, the collaboration demonstrated that in that location'due south a existent desire for mini keyboards with the HyperX name on information technology.

As such, HyperX is manufacturing the Alloy Origins sixty all by itself. Unlike the Ducky, the Alloy Origins 60 volition run on the NGenuity software for better RGB options, and will also use the quiet HyperX Reddish mechanical key switches. Beyond that, it seems a lot like HyperX's other keyboards, just much, much smaller. The device will price $100, and come out on February 22.

Those two gadgets were the only new products that HyperX showed off at CES 2021, although the company has likewise expanded availability for three other popular products: the HyperX Pulsefire Haste Gaming Mouse, the HyperX Cloud II Wireless Gaming Headset and the HyperX Cloud Revolver + 7.i Gaming Headset. Previously, these were available only in certain territories; now, they're bachelor all around the world.

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Marshall Honorof is a senior editor for Tom's Guide, overseeing the site'due south coverage of gaming hardware and software. He comes from a science writing groundwork, having studied paleomammalogy, biological anthropology, and the history of science and applied science. Subsequently hours, you can discover him practicing taekwondo or doing deep dives on classic sci-fi.