Introduction

I suspect the average TechPowerUp reader has heard of Alienware and, if I had to make a poll, the brand's perception here is likely to be mixed. It's a premium brand owned by Dell and associated with PC gaming. Alienware tends to target those who prefer pre-built systems and laptops as opposed to the more PC DIY crowd, and often this comes at a premium price point too. While discussions about Alienware systems and laptops are beyond the scope of this review, I will say that Alienware-branded peripherals have rarely interested me. Often I found them to be trying too hard and costing more than the product warrants, so I was pleasantly surprised to see Alienware's entry to wireless keyboards be quite mature and even interesting with the magnetic charging, the dial + rocker combination, and the tri-mode connectivity on offer. Perhaps we will cover that keyboard another time, but today happens to be the turn of an even newer Alienware keyboard, a Pro Wireless Gaming keyboard to be more specific.


The Alienware Pro Wireless Gaming Keyboard has an extremely broad product name to the point where I had to double-check there wasn't anything more specific included. Then I realized the "Pro" wording is more important here than with other such keyboards. Alienware, as with many mainstream gaming peripheral brands, sponsors and is affiliated with esport teams. In this case, there is a 10+ year-long relationship with Team Liquid and many teams under this organization have had a direct input in the design of the Alienware Pro Wireless Gaming keyboard. As such, seeing a small form factor isn't too surprising given there is no need for a numpad for most gamers. You will also notice there are not too many extra features on this keyboard either—no volume wheel, no integrated display etc. We still get hybrid wireless connectivity and Alienware says the keyboard is intended to provide a reliable, satisfactory gaming experience for years to come. This includes the use of first-party switches too and, as with most recent Alienware products, the keyboard comes in black (Dark Side of the Moon) or white (Lunar Light) color options. Let's thank Alienware for providing a review sample to TechPowerUp and begin with a look at the product specifications in the table below.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

Thanks to Dell's massive retail network, Alienware products are often found in retail stores in addition to being purchased online. As such, having a product box that catches your eye and has enough information to help make an informed purchase decision is key. I'd say Alienware has done a good job here with a white cardboard box that has the brand logo and product name on the front as well as a large render of the keyboard lit up. This continues on the back and sides along with marketing features in multiple languages. Two seals help keep the inner box in place during transit, remove them and you can slide it off from either side as seen above.


The keyboard comes inside a plastic wrap, keeping it clean and dust-free for the end user. There is more of the thick cardboard all around for added protection, with the various accessories found underneath, including paperwork in the form of an Alienware logo sticker, a quick start guide (online version here), and a warranty/safety brochure. We also get a USB Type-C to Type-C cable for connectivity in addition to a Type-C to Type-A adapter and a USB pass-through that has two Type-C ports and doubles up as a stand. Rounding off the unboxing section is an Alienware-branded combo metal wire-style keycap puller and switch remover tool.