HyperX’s Modular Gaming Keyboards Are Built to Be Taken Apart
▼ Summary
– HyperX debuted its next-generation Origins 2 wired keyboards at CES 2026, focusing on increased performance and customization.
– The new 65-percent keyboards feature hot-swappable switches and allow users to snap off and replace the key housing for color customization.
– The standard Origins 2 uses pre-lubed linear switches, while the Pro model features Hall effect switches with adjustable actuation points and rapid trigger.
– Both models boast an 8K polling rate for faster input registration and include O-ring mounts for sound dampening and plate-mounted stabilizers.
– HyperX is also launching an Origins 2 1800 model with similar specs and customization, but pricing and release dates have not been announced.
The latest wired keyboards from HyperX, unveiled at CES 2026, push the boundaries of performance and personalization. The new Origins 2 and Origins 2 Pro models are built from the ground up for enthusiasts who love to tinker, offering a level of modularity that makes customization straightforward. Both are 65-percent layouts with high-profile keycaps, and their most significant feature is a hot-swappable PCB. This design allows you to change the mechanical switches without any soldering, opening the door to a vast ecosystem of third-party components.
The standard Origins 2 comes equipped with HyperX’s own pre-lubed linear red switches, which are compatible with a wide range of aftermarket three- and five-pin mechanical switches. Stepping up to the Pro variant introduces Hall effect magnetic switches. These advanced switches support features like rapid trigger and adjustable actuation points, which can be fine-tuned through the HyperX Ngenuity software. They also include simultaneous opposing cardinal direction (SOCD) cleaning, a function prized in certain competitive gaming circles, though it remains a topic of debate.
Personalization extends far beyond the switches. The entire top case, the black housing that frames the keys, is designed to be removable. Using a simple tool included with the keyboard, you can snap it off and replace it. HyperX plans to sell alternative color cases, and for the ultimate DIY approach, the company will release official 3D files online so users can print their own custom designs.
Both compact keyboards utilize an O-ring mounting system for each key, which HyperX states provides a specific tactile feel and acoustic profile. These O-rings can be removed if you prefer a different typing experience. Out of the box, the keyboards use plate-mounted stabilizers to minimize key wobble, but the design also accommodates aftermarket screw-in stabilizers for those seeking further refinement.
On the performance front, these keyboards are equipped with an 8K polling rate. This means the keyboard reports its input status to your computer 8,000 times per second, a significant increase over the standard 1,000Hz (or 1K) polling rate found on many devices. While the practical difference for most users is subtle, and 1K remains perfectly adequate, the 8K spec is a headline feature aimed at competitive gamers seeking every possible edge.
Alongside the 65-percent models, HyperX is introducing a larger format option: the Origins 2 1800. This wired mechanical keyboard retains a compact footprint by omitting the numpad while keeping the function row and navigation cluster. It shares the same core philosophy of deep customization, allowing users to modify switches, stabilizers, and even the plastic top case that surrounds the keyboard’s internal chassis. Pricing and specific release dates for all three new HyperX keyboards have not yet been announced.
(Source: The Verge)
