Alienware – AW410K Full-size Wired Gaming Mechanical CHERRY MX Brown Switches Keyboard with RGB Back Lighting – Dark Side of the Moon

Customer Reviews (49)

1. 

   MadSquabbles – November 6, 2020

   Rated 4 out of 5

   I’ve used mechanical KB’s for about 10yrs now. Not a single one has been pushed aside for failure compared to how many membrane KB’s I’ve had to toss. Longevity is a key feature of mechanical.

   The Alienware AW410K is a solid KB encased in plastic. There’s no flex when you activate the keys but if you’re heavy fisted I’m sure you can make the board bend. It comes with the “industry standard” RGB lights and the colors are bright enough to see fully in a brightly lit room. Even the shift keys are backlit, just not as pronounced as the primary keys.

   The AW410K supports macros that you can assign to any key as well as automatic profile switching. There aren’t any dedicated macro keys so you’ll have to use the F keys or any unused key for macro assignment.

   There are two issues I have with the KB though. One is the lack of a wrist rest. The bottom sits .5″ off the table, way too high for my had position. 15yrs ago you could get a $20 that would include a wrist rest and now these $100+ KB’s can’t include one. The other is that the keys have waaay too much travel before actuation. On my other KB’s I barely press and the key is active. I have to press as far down as a good membrane KB for these keys to activate. During typing I miss quite a few keys. some might prefer the longer strokes, but I’m not one of them – I tried typing a capital S twice and missed on this sentence.

   Fix those two issues and this would have be a 5 star KB.

2. 

   EXWOLF – November 6, 2020

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Right off the bat this keyboard is impressive in its looks. The RGB lighting when you program it to your liking is eye popping and definitely lights up a room. When you get down to using it for gaming, the keys are very sensitive so being quick on the touch is very simple. I was fluidly moving from from keystroke to keystroke and you can immediately tell that you are gaming on a Cherry MX Brown switch keyboard. The keyboard is relatively big in size so it will take up a lot of desk space but it is worth it. The actual physical keys themselves do come off easily so don’t be alarmed if they have fallen out of place when you open the box. I had this issue when I opened the box and a few keys had fallen off. This makes the keyboard easy to clean and possibly easy to replace the keys if needed.

   Customization is definitely a major plus by getting an Alienware keyboard. The software is simple to learn and you can program different macros for each individual game you play down to the lighting sequence if you wish. Overall, I am having a lot of fun using this keyboard and it will be in my arsenal for many many matches to come. Alienware does not disappoint!

3. 

   CW24 – November 6, 2020

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Unboxing this keyboard I had quite a few keys that were no longer installed, needless to say they are easily removed for cleaning. The keys are elevated off the board, so it is already easier to clean under them with a little bit of conpressed air.
   This is a great mechanical keyboard for gaming. The keys have good pressure and tactile feel while being very responsive and clicky. The key switches aren’t too loud or too soft, rather a happy medium. There’s plenty of colors and customization with the rgb lighting. I appreciate the extra long cord, and with the usb passthrough I can connect a controller or mouse to it and game from a little further away if needed.
   All in all I think this is a pretty solid gaming keyboard and would definitely recommend it!

4. 

   acidxfrost – November 6, 2020

   Rated 4 out of 5

   Honestly this is my first mechanical keyboard so I don’t have a lot to base this on. However typing on it is fantastic. I look forward to any opportunity I get to type something up. I’m just able to type so smooth and effortlessly. All the keys are just in the perfect place. It is very sturdy and at a good angle. I also like the customizable lighting on it and the volume controls. I had zero issues gaming. There was no latency and very responsive. Also I like that it has a built in USB port that I use to plug my mouse in and helps with cord management. Again no issue with latency or responsiveness with the mouse going through the keyboard. It pairs well with my Alienware desktop. Now some issues I had with it. First, when I pulled it out of the box 3/4 of the keys were laying in the bottom of the box. It was quite difficult to get all the keys back in the proper place and pushed in all the way. Secondly, instructions were severely lacking. I had to Google to figure out how to customize the keyboard. There were some built in themes to switch between but I had to download additional software to change the color to the one I wanted.

5. 

   mojo – November 7, 2020

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Having started on and still use IBM Model M keyboards, I’m tuned into the clickety-clack highly-tactile key feel and have found over the years very few KBs that get it right. My latest KB eventually cut like a razor on my patience, it’s slightly tighter keypitch leading me to toggle off the Caps Lock key in the KB software as I kept inadvertently turning it on. So using the Alienware AW-410K, while not built like the Model M and using different switches, is now my main KB. The switches allow for more WPM with their positive feel and short actuation stroke, this translate into fast response times whether typing or gaming. It has taken a very short period to adjust the lighter force need for actuation and shorter stroke.

   An onboard USB port is a necessity for me and is fulfilled here.

   The Alienware configuration app is a little quirky when to comes setting colors but is very detailed. It will add games automatically to its library, if desired, and can be used assign themes individually and allow you to selectively assign colors, macros and other settings on a per game basis.

   I can say without any reservations that this is the keyboard I’ve been looking for.

6. 

   jsnkc28 – November 8, 2020

   Rated 4 out of 5

   I have to say, this is probably one of the best feeling and easiest to type on keyboards I have ever owned! The keys have the perfect resistance and its very easy to type extremely fast on them! They are clicky but not too loud. The case for the keyboard is a nice solid and thick plastic.
   The lighting features are pretty much standard with what you find on all these types of keyboards. Lots of customization options as well as a bunch of preset colors and patterns. One of the major selling points of this keyboard that I have not seen on ay other gaming keyboard like this is that not only are the numbers illuminated, but the symbols underneath them like the #$%^ are illuminated as well!!!! I have owned 5 or 6 of these gaming keyboards and the symbols were never illuminated and it was very frustrating because I am more of a touch typist that is always looking at my keyboard.
   One thing I dont like about this keyboard is that there has been a few occasions when I am typing and keys will just pop off. They dont seem to be very secure. In fact when I opened the box there were 5 keys that had come off of the keyboard during shipping. So I think in the future that should be addressed for future models. ALso, there is no wrist rest included. Every other gaming keyboard I have ever purchased had a included wrist rest that would magnetically attach to the keyboard. You dont get one of those with this keyboard either.

   Overall, I love this keyboard more than any other keyboard I have ever used in my life. It is such a pleasure to type on it! The keys randomly popping off is a little annoying, but its worth it! Definitely give this one a try if you’re in the market for a gaming keyboard!

7. 

   HarvickFan – November 8, 2020

   Rated 5 out of 5

   Right away you can feel the quality of the AW410K.  Nice and heavy aluminum construction with a thick braided nylon cable that should be able to stand up to anything.  You get a full size keyboard, but the styling does make it feel slightly compact.  They have trimmed the bezels on all sides, making the keys the star of the show here, and boy do they shine.  I do wish they would have included some kind of ergonomic wrist rest, but I understand they were trying to keep the footprint small.  They do include multiple height positions though, through a dual height set of feet.  You can lay the keyboard flat, only use the inside of the feet to get a small height bump, or extend the outer portion of the feet to get the max height adjustment.  I love using it flat, but even using the mid height middle feet is also very comfortable.  And I love the USB pass through feature to connect other accessories or charge a device, very convenient.

    

   The AW410K comes with Cherry MX Brown keys.  They are placed in a floating design and require almost no actuation pressure.  That leads to incredibly fast and accurate responses from all the keys.  I don’t know that I’ve used a keyboard that feels as “fast” as this one.  I’ve used it for both gaming and office productivity, and when playing games, the keystrokes are so accurate and precise.  And since they require such little effort to register, you’re probably shaving milliseconds of response time off your reactions and gameplay moves, it is noticeable.  And for productivity, this keyboard outruns me every time.  I’m a pretty fast and accurate typer, but this keyboard pushes me to the max, and most of the time I cannot keep up, its simply too fast and accurate.  The Cherry Brown switches give the ever so satisfying click of each key, but not the overly loud and distracting kind.  The click is “just right” and feels great.  Perfect either by yourself, or in a setting where other mechanical keyboards with other switch types might drive those around you insane with the volume of their clicks.

    

   Out of the box the RGB lighting is set to a light blue, and by downloading the Alienware Command Center software,  you have access to adjust and customize it.  I would have loved to have some additional preset options for fully animated, full color options to just set and forget, but you do get the fully customizable options to edit per key, which is great.  You can select from an almost infinite amount of color choices and set the colors to your specific liking for either the entire keyboard, banks of keys, or each key one by one. You can customize your heart out.  I don’t normally use macro keys bindings, but with the Alienware Command Center, you have tons of customization options for Macros.

8. 

   Beradon – November 9, 2020

   Rated 5 out of 5

   I’ll start this by saying I have owned a LOT of keyboards. A LOT. And most of them have been gaming keyboards… and I’d say more than half of those have been mechanical keyboards. So having an Alienware mechanical keyboard was definitely something up my alley and something I was very interested in.

   To start, it’s packed like most keyboards, in a relatively narrow unassuming box. It doesn’t have an excess of documentation and rightfully so, it’s a keyboard. Once connected, it, of course, ‘just works’. Mechanical keyboards even gaming keyboards are still just keyboards. It doesn’t have any craziness going on with it outside of the RGB functionality, and it doesn’t need it.

   Typing on the keyboard is a dream. The keys are tactile and responsive without an excessive amount of travel time (for me). It really makes for a pleasurable experience. So off I went into some gaming.

   As expected, gaming with the keyboard is equally as enjoyable. I mean it has Cherry MX switches, you cant really go wrong there. It feels equally responsive in Arena and FPS games (Overwatch, Doom Eternal) as it does in more slow paced games like World of Warcraft.

   Setting the RGB is no issue. The software is unobtrusive which is a joy when compared to many of the RGB software solutions out there… Why most other companies feel the need to have this massive software suite just to change some colors is beyond me.

   All in all, it’s a wonderful gaming keyboard. You would do well to select this one.

9. 

   Panther68 – November 10, 2020

   Rated 5 out of 5

   I’ll be completely honest, and up-front…while I used to be a fan of Alienware, since Dell purchased the company they’ve mostly “ruined” the name. This is NOT to say that Alienware products are no longer good, as Dell, itself, makes high-quality products, and they maintain the same standards in the ‘Alienware’ line that they maintain for their own Dell products. Additionally, when it comes to peripherals, I’ve been a huge fan of Logitech products for a great many years, and I’ve found it INCREDIBLY difficult to replace them, in the long term, with keyboards & mice from other companies. A perfect example would be the Corsair K57 Wireless, K95 Platinum Mechanical, and Strafe RGB MX Silent Mechnical keyboards, as well as the Corsair Dark Core RGB Pro mouse, all of which got used for a fairly short period of time, before I reverted back to Logitech products (most recently, the G915 Wireless Mechanical Lightspeed keyboard (yes, you did read that correctly – wireless AND mechanical), and G502 Lightspeed mouse)…so, for what might be considered ‘obvious reasons’, I was already prepared to be seriously disappointed. For those who understand what I mean, and believe they don’t need to read any further, then feel free to stop reading right now, and go about your business. However, for those who want the “full scoop”, and possibly a few “surprises”, then…by all means…read on.

   UNBOXING AND INITIAL IMPRESSIONS:
   Packaging is quite nice – a strong/sturdy/thin corrugated cardboard outer ‘shell’, followed by a more traditional cardboard inner ‘tray’. For those concerned with environmentally-friendly packaging, know that the only plastic used is the “bag” covering the keyboard, and a 0.25” thick sheet of polyethylene closed-cell foam under the keyboard (to protect it). for those unfamiliar with this material, it’s the same material used in “pool noodles”, is very recyclable, and is biodegradable. While I give HUGE kudos to Dell’s/Alienware’s environmentally-friendly packaging, where included items are concerned, they SERIOUSLY fail. As with most peripherals these days, you must download the drivers/software, as well as the full “User Manual”, and the info for doing so is found on the included “Quick Start” guide. More on this under ‘SETUP’.

   Upon pulling the ‘tray’ out from the outer ‘shell’, and looking upon the keyboard for the first time, I discovered two keys missing. Worse, as I opened the bag, so as to remove the keyboard, I noticed three other keys appearing as if they were ready to fell off. By the time I removed the keyboard from the bag, those three keys had fallen off. Thankfully, all 5 “missing” keys were found, loose, in the bag. This led me to wonder about how well the keys “gripped” the mechanical switches. I replaced the five keys, and then proceeded to press every key on the keyboard. Next, I held the keyboard over my bed, upside-down, and proceeded to give it three “shakes”. On the first, one of the two keys that had been ‘missing’ when I opened the box slid partway off the switch, but it didn’t fall off. On the second, that key slid almost all the way off (but didn’t actually fall off), and two other keys (one of which was one of the previously-mentioned keys) slid partially off. On the third (the first two were “light” shakes, while the third was just slightly greater in force), the first key fell completely off, and the other two slid further off (but didn’t fall off). At this point, I was thinking Dell/Alienware has a quality-control issue on their hands. However, I don’t know if the problem is in the keys, themselves, or in the switches (my ‘guess’ would be the keys).

   SETUP:
   Starting with installing the drivers/software, unfortunately, Dell has completely failed to even include so much as the typical (and MUCH-needed) Quick Start guide. The ONLY notation included, which you’ll find printed along one of the lengthwise sides of the ‘tray’, is a URL…which leads to the next step of the buyer’s confusion, as you are presented with two “boxes” – an “Auto search” option, and a “Search support” option. if you haven’t already plugged the keyboard into an unused USB port, the “Auto search” option is useless. If you just type the keyboard’s ‘base’ model number (ie. 410K) into the box, nothing is found. If you look on the bottom of the keyboard (be careful to not lose any keys when doing so), you discover the “official” model name is ‘AW410K’, and typing that into the “Search support” box finally pulled up what’s needed – access to the Quick Start guide, User Manual, driver, and Command Center software (after all, this is an RGB keyboard, and you’ll need a way to customize it (and any other Alienware FX-capable products you have, such as my Alienware monitor…which, btw, through the monitor’s built-in menu, I had perilously disabled the FX lighting, but might re-enable). Truth-be-told, there’s no need to download/install the drivers, as they are also built into the keyboard, and install themselves when you plug it in. Once you’ve plugged the keyboard in, and downloaded/installed the Command Center software, you’re good-to-go.

   ACTUAL USE:
   First, I have to admit it’s been over a year since I’ve typed on a “standard” mechanical keyboard, as I’ve been using the Logitech G915 for the past year, and the actuation height on those keys is about half the normal actuation height of typical mechanical switches. That having been said, the keyboard, itself, is extremely nice – the actuation is great, and the travel is about as good as it gets. However, preferring “clicky” mechanical keyboards, I miss the audible ‘click’ when the keys reach their actuation point, as the MX Cherry Brown switches are virtually ‘silent’. The overall shape is very “alien”, meaning that it perfectly fits into Alienware’s ‘shape’ of things. Layout is typical, with three ‘volume’ keys (mute, volume down, & volume up) in the upper right-hand corner of the keyboard. Compared to the volume “scroll wheel” of the Logitech G915 I’ve been using, it’s not an ‘enjoyable’ way of controlling volume.

   On the ‘down’ side, for what’s supposed to be a “gaming” keyboard, it doesn’t have ANY gaming-specific keys (as you find on (pretty-much) all other “gaming” keyboards). Also, instead of having dedicated “media” keys (again, as found on most keyboards of this ‘level’), the Fn key utilizes the F9-F12 keys as “media” keys. On the ‘plus’ side, instead of having a switch (as some gaming keyboards do) to deactivate/reactivate the “Windows” key, the 410K uses a Fn+F1 combo. Another advantage is the Fn+F3 combo, which goes through the keyboard’s multiple FX lighting configurations. Unlike the Logitech keyboards, with their (limited) 3 configurations, the K410 gives you 5…which I find to be an even better ‘plus’ than the first. An even better ‘plus’ is the Fn+F5 & Fn+F6 combinations. While Logitech & Corsair provide a single (dedicated, mind you) button for cycling through the keyboard’s brightness levels, the 410K gives you individual control of “up” & “down” brightness levels. One-upping Logitech & Corsair, which only tend to provide 3-5 levels of brightness, the 410K gives you 10 (in addition to “off). Low-Med-Hi has NEVER been enough control, and even 5 brightness levels might not be enough for some people…but, 10 levels is absolutely fantastic.

   “COMMAND CENTER” SOFTWARE:
   Regarding Alienware’s “Command Center” software, not only can it control the FX lighting of the keyboard (and other FX-enabled items), but you can create different “themes” for games, which (I would assume) are automatically enabled when a ‘known’ game is started up. From Command Center’s ‘Home’ page, you can have it automatically scan your system for games, making the process easier. Unfortunately, I was ‘forced’ into doing a “clean install” several days ago, and haven’t gotten around to reinstalling my games…so, I currently have no way of testing this feature out (yet…but, I will). From what I have been able to “play around” with, your games (and associated FX settings) are found on the ‘Library’ page, lighting settings are found on the ‘FX’ page…and then there’s a “Power Management” section, found on the ‘Fusion’ page. The “Power Management” offers 3 preset configurations (Balanced, High performance, & Power saver), but also allows you to add your own. As for the settings, themselves, there are three – “Turn off display after” (1 minute, to 5 hour, plus ‘never’, options), “Sleep after” (same options), and “Alien FX” (‘On’, or ‘Off’). Command Center has some of the same power as Corsair’s CUE software, but with an interface that’s easier to use (similar “ease of use” as Logitech’s G HUB software). There are available downloadable “Alienware FX themes”…but, unfortunately, from what I’ve (so far) been able to determine, they are currently limited to Alienware laptops.

   FINAL VERDICT:
   Despite the loose keycap matter, the 410K keyboard is an excellent keyboard. And, truth-be-told, the keycap matter was probably an early-production “slip”, which Dell is now aware of, and should be resolved before retail units reach retailers. Although I have been a huge fan of Logitech keyboards & mice for a great many, many years, I will state that my Logitech keyboard has been transferred from my keyboard tray, to my wife’s, as I am now using the Alienware 410K Wired Mechanical Keyboard full-time. If you want to take that as a recommendation, by all means, please do so.

   Disclaimer: This product was provided free, or at reduced cost, for the purpose of reviewing the product. Nevertheless, the above review, be it positive, negative, or anywhere in-between, is a 100% honest review, and the price paid played absolutely no part in my review.

10. 

    Batlacit – November 10, 2020

    Rated 4 out of 5

    It feels a little odd describing any kind of mechanical keyboard as “mid-range.” Overkill is a concept baked into mechanical gaming keyboards at the most basic level. But after spending some time with the AW410K, it’s the only label I’ve come up with that fits.

    To be clear, this should not be taken as a bad thing. Alienware has checked just about every box for what you might be looking for in a premium keyboard with this thing. USB passthrough, programmable per-key lighting, support for on board lighting profiles, Cherry MX switches, media controls, it’s all here. It very much feels like a premium device – it’s just not priced like one. Which makes it a great choice for anyone looking for a slightly more affordable option for their gaming setup.

    Build quality overall is good. The frame is primarily plastic, however there’s an aluminum top plate to help add some additional rigidity. I did still note a small amount of deck flex in my testing, but not enough to strike me as a major concern. It has support for three separate angles of elevation with the built in two-stage feet, and while it lacks any kind of wrist rest the frame’s “chin” isn’t large enough to interfere with me adding one of my own. The switches are standard Cherry MX browns, and the keycaps are the usual single-molded translucent plastic with a thick layer of black paint sprayed over top. Connectivity is provided by a VERY thick braided USB cable with two connectors (1 for the keyboard and 1 for a pass-through port on the rear) that looks like you’d need a bolt cutter to get through. And there’s no rattling or shaking I can detect even when I’m banging away on the keys.

    Speaking of, the user experience is also good, though there is a bit of room for improvement. The keys are satisfyingly tactile without being completely deafening, it’s plenty responsive for gaming (though admittedly the brown switches are a bit better tuned for typing) and the RGB effects are clearly visible even in a well-lit room. The one weak point is the Alienware Command Center app you need to use to program custom lighting setups. The tools they give you for this are very rudimentary and the interface is not at all intuitive, and I hope that future updates to the tool will address this with a better interface and more complex options to mix the library of pre-defined effects (or at the very least compatibility with other RGB ecosystems.)

11. 

    BeingHonest – November 10, 2020

    Rated 4 out of 5

    Pro:
    -Even lighting
    -Solid caps and sturdy frame
    -USB port

    Con:
    -No wrist rest
    -Feels bulky
    -Alienware command center is clunky

    TL;DR This is a good no frills keyboard with stable keycaps and nice even lighting. The downside is that there’s no wrist rest, and the extra plastic on the body makes it look outdated and bulky. The Command Center app (at least in conjunction with an Alienware PC) is somewhat clunky, but gets the job done. However, for the full price, it would not be my pick.

    The keyboard itself is good. The frame is sturdy and the Cherry Browns feel responsive and tactile, and the lighting has a nice even glow without bleeding through. The cable is a nice thick braided cable. It has dedicated volume keys, but the rest of the media controls are FN keys. There’s also a USB passthrough on top. It has a metal faceplate bordered by extra plastic, which is one of the downsides. The angular design makes it feel extra bulky and outdated. There’s no wrist rest included and with the keyboard sitting at about half an inch high, it’s not a pleasant experience for my wrists especially after coming from more streamlined and thinner keyboards.

    The software controlling the lights and macros is the Alienware Command Center, which was already on my Alienware PC. However if you need to download it from their website, it takes way too many steps to get it. The app is clunky to use and the UI isn’t as intuitive as other apps I’ve used. The lighting effects are your standard fare effects, ranging from solid to various pulsing and waves. On top of that, you can add keypress effects, adding more reactive lighting to it. One of the quirks is that you would either have to select preset key groups, or do it one key at a time. There’s no drag and select. Also when you reselect a group, it resets back to the default color. Once done, you can store up to four profiles on the keyboard and switch with them on the fly with the profile button.

    You can record macros and setup keystrokes with pretty much any key. Again the navigation is a bit quirky. With the macros, you can reorder keys and add/remove delay but can’t insert a new key.

    Other than the quirky software, the 410K is a good basic mechanical keyboard. There’s no extra keys or fancy media rocker. It’s a bit bulky and has more plastic than I would have liked, and the exclusion of a wrist rest was big negative for me. While these negatives aren’t too terrible, I have other gaming keyboards from other brands which didn’t have these issues and were either cheaper or have more features for similar price.

12. 

    wase4711 – November 10, 2020

    Rated 2 out of 5

    i was excited to setup and use this cool new keyboard; Cherry Keys, RGB, what else could you want?
    How about Mac/IOS support? AFAIK, there are MILLIONS of folks using mac machines now a days; 3 in our house alone..

    Its sad when a great keyboard like this, has wonderful features built into it, but ONLY work with a windows program installed on your pc; NO customizations for a Mac/IOS machine, just lighted keys, and nothing else…great keys, nice feel to it, and the cherry keys are wonderful, but if you want to use all the rgb/lighting/other nice features this keyboard has, and you have a Mac machine…look elsewhere..

13. 

    yogidang – November 11, 2020

    Rated 5 out of 5

    The Alienware AW410K is a great keyboard for people who want to take their gaming experience to a higher level. I made the switch to this keyboard from a membrane keyboard and the difference was like night and day. The Cherry MX Brown switches feel like heaven compared to a normal membrane keyboard, and I feel like I play better just by having made that switch. Typing speed I feel is faster because of the raised keys.

    Gaming wise, I feel like this keyboard is a great choice if you want fast inputs and still hear that click. The Cherry switches feel so much better and they respond faster than my membrane keyboard used to. The only qualm I have with the keyboard is that the shift key sometimes momentarily stops sending an input. This causes you to suddenly start running in games and make noise. In games such as VALORANT, it’s possible for that to lose you a round, or even a game, so it’s something to keep in mind. It might only do that for my keyboard, but I feel that it’s still important to note.

    For typing or just doing general work I still love and prefer this keyboard over my old keyboard, or a laptop keyboard. I love how the keys feel more raised up and hearing the click makes me feel as if I’m typing faster. It’s also extremely satisfying to hear the clicks too lol.

    Overall a great keyboard to get if you want to have better performance in your games and your general work. The keys feel amazing when you click them and the audible click is always nice to hear. If you’re debating on whether to buy this keyboard or not, I would recommend you to get this keyboard (for what a random person’s two cents is worth).

14. 

    Jturn – November 11, 2020

    Rated 3 out of 5

    Overall, this is a solid gaming keyboard, sporting solid keys and a decent feature set, but I can’t help but feel that it’s ultimately let down by its shortcomings… The keyboard market is incredibly competitive and I’m not sure the AW410K does enough to stand out.

    To start, the important thing here is that it has some great keys, the very nice Cherry MX Browns. This is my first keyboard with these, and I do believe these are now my favorite. I’ve used Blues for years, owing to my love for the tactile feel they provide, but finally had enough of the overwhelming noise they make. Cherry MX Reds, on the other end of the spectrum, are very quiet, but the linear feel of those just didn’t suit my needs (I’m a programmer by day, hobby gamer by night). The Browns sit somewhere in the middle, offering about the same low noise level as the Reds, but with slightly more tactile feel. Not nearly the feel of the Blues, but they’re about 80% quieter and the tradeoff is worth it for me. Typing and gaming both feel great on this keyboard, simple as that. Another crucial feature on gaming keyboards is the presence of an extra USB passthrough port, which this board does have. This allows for easy use of wireless mice, which I use exclusively.

    I see two main issues here that prevent me from committing to this keyboard long term. First, the board has extensive RGB abilities, but customizing the RGB lighting requires installing Alienware Command Center. I’ve used this software previously on an Alienware PC, and it mostly got the job done. I no longer have an Alienware PC, and I’ve found trying to install ACC cumbersome and frankly, not worth the hassle. As such, I’m left with the out of box options, which is unfortunate. My second main issue is that build quality doesn’t feel great here. The base is very plastic feeling, and key presses tend to feel very clangy and hollow (for lack of better terms). Being accustomed to Logitech boards with aluminum bases, this is quite a noticeable change in quality. While the keys themselves feel great to type on, the keyboard feels fairly cheap when you bottom the keys out.

    Overall, this is a decent keyboard, with great keys and an essential added USB passthrough, but the downsides for me will keep this from being my primary board.

15. 

    IBEWSuper – November 13, 2020

    Rated 5 out of 5

    A mechanical keyboard is something new to me and I am really liking it. I can’t believe the difference in feel, the responsiveness is absolutely amazing and each key feels unbelievable. The aesthetics are really sleek & modern, completely changing the look of my setup. I have many HUE lights and can now have my computer blend in with the customizable lighting of this keyboard, the included software let’s gives you plentiful options with colors, patterns and key setup. I love this thing!

16. 

    Rivae – November 13, 2020

    Rated 4 out of 5

    Overall, this keyboard shows the premise behind Alienware’s new ability to try to reach out to the mid-level market versus just the pie in the sky best of the best. The keyboard itself is well apportioned with your standard litany of colored light schemes. The control system is a bit finicky and they definitely could do some work with the software to make it easier to play with.

    The MX brown switches are what you’d expect so the housing doesn’t detract from that. While I don’t prefer them for gaming, you definitely notice the benefits associated such as the more precise typing due to the longer travel providing better feedback. The one caveat I’ll add is that the keys are much easier to remove. I don’t know if that’s a feature of the brown switches, but pulling the keyboard out of the bag there was a key that had come loose. When I placed it back on and tested other keys, they had some level of hold onto the key but it was very very simple to remove them without much pressure aka no keycap puller necessary. Again this may just be a feature of the style, but definitely an interesting note and would make it super easy to change out your keys.

17. 

    CPWoody – November 14, 2020

    Rated 3 out of 5

    I selected the Alienware AW410K because I had been having issues with a product from a competitor that I thought might be the keyboard itself. This was great timing and I figured it wouldn’t hurt to test out the competition. There are two things I think keep this keyboard from being one that can strongly recommend. The first one is that unlike most keyboards at this price point, it’s plastic. The lack of a metal frame just makes it feel like you’re spending a lot of money for the lighting and programmability. Once it comes time to do all that programming you will find that the app is not user friendly at all. It took me a long time to figure out how to access the themes because it isn’t labeled logically. There’s also this whole concept of game-specific lighting themes that Alienware pushed to the forefront, and I think the priorities were just backwards there.

    As for keyboard feel – the Cherry MX brown keystrokes do not disappoint and are somewhat less “clangy” than the other colors. I find that I can type fast without distracting everyone on conference calls and when playing games the response time is impressive.

    All in all I think this is an alright keyboard for the price if you’re a fan of Alienware, but when compared to other products on the market you are likely to find others that feel more substantial and have easier to use interfaces.

18. 

    ChrisS – November 16, 2020

    Rated 5 out of 5

    This was my first gaming keyboard so I wasn’t sure what to expect when comparing to a standard keyboard. Right out of the box it is clear that the gaming keyboard has bigger, taller keys than a standard keyboard. It took some getting used to and I had to slightly change the way I typed but got used to it pretty quickly.

    The coolest part about this keyboard is the lighting. Make sure you download the app on your computer so you can program in the colors and macros that you desire. My favorite effect is to the have the keyboard flash colors each time you type. I should also point out that the colors under the keyboard actually light up the letters and numbers on the keys too, which is pretty cool. When you are in the dark it is much easier to type and the colors really make it fun.

    One last function worth commenting is the USB support. The keyboard has two USB cables. You plug one in to control the keyboard and the other to turn on the USB port on the back of the keyboard. That way you can use the USB port for phone charging or other needs without having to reach behind your computer to plug it in.

    Overall, I really like this keyboard and would recommend it.

19. 

    Rhostam – November 16, 2020

    Rated 4 out of 5

    Alienware – AW410K Wired Mechanical CHERRY MX Brown Switches Gaming Keyboard with RGB Back Lighting

    Summary:
    Smaller footprint typomatic RBG underlit keyboard.

    Pros:
    * Small footprint. If you’re looking to save space, this keyboard will help free up a few square inches.
    * Easily removable keycaps. Almost too easy, a few had fallen off in the box. This makes cleaning and replacement easy. If you have a few loose, don’t fret! Just plop them back on.
    * Underlighting of the individual keys is nice. It provides a feeling of floating keys.
    * Keycaps easy removable notwithstanding, the keyboard base is substantial and feels well made.
    * Two prong USB cable and an extra USB port on the keyboard. This makes connecting accessories really easy. Think phones, headsets, or whatever works.
    * High quality braided cables. These are similar to the braiding on my existing keyboard and they wear extremely well.

    Cons:
    * No macro keys. I own the AW768 and one thing I have wrestled with is the macro keys. On the one hand, for some games they are fantastic. On the other hand, I often press them when I don’t mean to in contexts that aren’t helpful. I thought I wouldn’t miss them with this new AW410K. I was wrong.
    * Volume control is there, but it feels an afterthought particularly coming from the wheel of the AW768.

    Use:
    I got this unit to replace my well-worn AW768 that was damaged in a move. This new AW410K is a fantastic keyboard, I just think it might be too small of a form factor for me. Still, every new piece of hardware requires an acclimation period, so I’m still holding out hope.

    Note:
    If you have bigger hands, like macro keys, enjoy being able to power off the LEDs altogether, you might consider a different keyboard like the AW768.

    This keyboard saves space and replaces most functions of my previous keyboard and provides an extra USB port. For these reasons, I would recommend it. But consider your use and ergonomics, as well.

20. 

    TaterMcTatums – November 19, 2020

    Rated 5 out of 5

    I am thoroughly impressed with my Alienware AW410K Mechanical Gaming Keyboard. I know that this is marketed as a gaming keyboard and admittedly it is a joy to game on. However, it is also fantastic to use for even mundane tasks such as writing a report. Honestly, I’m not sure if it’s the feel of the buttons as I press them or the resulting sound that I enjoy more. Typing on the Alienware AW410k reminds me of using an old electric typewriter my father used to own. Frankly, it kind of sounds like that too, minus the end-of-line bell and impact from the typebars of course. Personally, I enjoy the additional noise generated by using a mechanical keyboard. Though I could see it becoming an annoyance for others if you are rushing through a last-minute essay in the wee hours of the morning.

    The AW410K is highly customizable to suit your individual tastes/needs. I have it plugged into my Alienware gaming laptop so I already had the Alienware Command Center application installed. Through here, I can adjust the color and brightness of the RGB lighting, as well as any lighting effects I wish to have active. You can customize the color of each individual key separately or you can simply apply a global scheme. One nice touch is that the Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock buttons switch to white illumination when each feature is active. Unfortunately, this is also true even if the keys are already set to white and I didn’t see a way to choose another color for this. The Command Center also allows you to program up to 75 different macros which you can map to any button except the FN key.

    One thing I discovered about the AW410K is that the exposed key design makes the keyboard very susceptible to collecting dirt and dust. Or maybe the dirt is just more noticeable since there are no bezels for it to hide in. On the other hand, the lack of bezels also makes it very simple to clean.

21. 

    Jaron – November 20, 2020

    Rated 4 out of 5

    THE GOOD
    -Per key programmable lighting
    -Even, strong lighting across the whole keyboard
    -Pass-through USB port
    -Three tilt heights
    -No ghosting

    THE BAD
    -Unintuitive customization software
    -No wrist rest
    -Poor Caps- and Num-Lock indicators
    -Pass-through port on left side

    THE BOTTOM LINE
    The AW410K is a good, workhorse of a mechanical keyboard that ditches the pomp and flash of competing models, and I’m all for that. The RGB lighting is good and true to color, the keycaps are nicely shaped, and it has three different tilt angle levels instead of the more common two. The keycaps allow the backlight to pass through not only their primary label, but the secondary symbol as well ( like the number row and top F keys ), which is quite nice. Unfortunately the LEDs are on the back of the switch, behind the stem. This means the main key labels are on the top of the key and any secondary labels are on the bottom, which I don’t like. Also, the Caps-, Num-, and Scroll-Lock keys don’t have a separate indicator to show whether they’re engaged or not. Instead they just shift to a white backlight.

    A lot of the frame is plastic, but it does use a metal plate for the main base, so it’s still nicely sturdy. It is a bit higher than most keyboards I’ve used and sadly it doesn’t come with a wrist pad or rest, which it sorely needs. But the front edge doesn’t have any weird contours that keep you from using whatever rest you may already have. It uses a thick, braided cable to connect to your computer that’s generously long. The thickness is because it’s actually two cables: one for the keyboard and one for the pass-through USB connection. Oddly, the pass-through port is on the left side of the top edge. Not to rag on my southpaw brethren, but 90% of the world is right handed, so putting it on the left side and having my mouse and keyboard cables crossing over doesn’t make sense to me.

    The keyboard is completely programmable using Alienware’s software, in changing the lighting and remapping key input. I found the software quite unintuitive, and I’ve used software from Razer, Logitech, and Corsair in the past, so I’m far from pigeonholed. It’s not easy to find on Dell / /Alienware’s website either, as it’s mixed in with the regular drivers and other software downloads for all the Alienware branded hardware they have. Instead of having a dedicated key re-mapping section, that’s part of the “Macro” tab. Yes, “macro” means macroinstruction, and a single keystroke can be a macro. But to remap keys, first you have to create a macro for a single keystroke, save it, then assign it to a given key. It’s similar to Corsair’s method, and I didn’t like it then either. It’d be much simpler if you could just select a key and choose a remap keystroke in a single go and leave the macro creation only for the times I need to make a complex sequence.

    Changing the lighting is a little easier, but a few more tooltips and context menus would go a long way in explaining things. You also can’t change the lighting shift for the Caps-, Num-, and Scroll-Lock keys. This can be problematic because if you use a light blue or yellow color for your normal backlight, it can be hard to notice the difference from the white showing the Caps-Lock key is engaged. The upside is you can save profiles directly to the keyboard, allowing it to work the way you want even if it’s connected to a computer that doesn’t have the Alienware software. It also uses Alienware’s FX system, which can sync the keyboard lighting with certain games.

    In actual typing performance, it’s typical Cherry MX Brown. I couldn’t find any ghosted keys, and rollover isn’t a concern. I would like a dedicated calculator button, since I use it many times a day at work, but I don’t know how many people are like that use gaming keyboards for both work and play. Overall, the keyboard functions well and the downsides are pretty minor. If you’re a big gamer and you create and edit macros and game key profiles a lot, you might get tired of the customization software ( or you might just get used to it ).

22. 

    Static – November 23, 2020

    Rated 5 out of 5

    I’ve been on the look out for a mechanical keyboard for a while with Cherry keys and back-lighting. Compared a few brands, but this Alienware AW410K delivers everything I was looking for in a name that I’m familiar with. I’ve owned/used other Alienware products in the past, so I was pretty sure that I would be getting a quality product, and once again, they did not disappoint. It has everything I’ve been looking for in a new keyboard: programmable lighting for all keys, Cherry MX Brown switches, controls media (nice add) and USB. Can’t get enough of that “click-clack” sound while typing. Even though this is a gaming keyboard, I find myself using it more for daily activities like answering emails and typing up reports (when I work remotely). You can adjust the tilt on it per your preference. I’ve seen similar keyboards come with a wrist rest. I wish this one did, but I won’t hold that against Alienware. Overall, I’m very happy with the performance of this product.

23. 

    msumulong – November 26, 2020

    Rated 5 out of 5

    The Alienware – AW410K Wired Mechanical CHERRY MX Brown Switches Gaming Keyboard with RGB Back Lighting is a recent keyboard offering from Alienware. It is a standard sized full layout mechanical keyboard which is mainly plastic made. It is a Cherry MX Brown rated mechanical keyboard which is sort of a hybrid between gaming and typing. It offers a tactile feedback but yet has less noise which appelas to both types of users. But being an Alienware keyboard, this will always be touted as a gaming keyboard.

    The keyboard has two USB connectors presumably to add more power. But having tested it on my gaming class desktop and laptop, suffice to say there is no need for me for additional power to use this keyboard.

    There are no manuals included in the box. But upon initial connection the your PC, it automatically downloads the Alienware Command Center. While this may be a boon for some users as there is no need to search online for software, others may find it intrusive.
    Usage of the software to customize the common features of a gaming keyboard are pretty much intuitive. But I pretty much prefer the lighting customizations of other branded keyboards as they have a simple color palette to choose from. But that’s just me.

    While I see no main advantage of this keyboard to my other two gaming keyboard, I’s still recommend this as a solid gaming keyboard.

24. 

    Taylor – December 17, 2020

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Incredible keyboard. I’ve actually bought and returned 2 other mechanical keyboards this month. Both of which I was making all sorts of typos on and just wasn’t pleased with the key switches.

    This keyboard, my typing was spot on immediately. The cherry MX Brown switches really help with typing accuracy. These definitely are not silent switches. But they aren’t annoyingly loud like you’ll hear in switches designed to be clicky. Just enough audio feedback and actuation feel to let you know that a key has registered.

    My one complaint is that the keyboard arrived with about 70% of the key caps off of the board. They were all very easy to put back into the board and I’m sure no one would have a difficult time doing this.

    Overall very pleased with this purchase and would definitely recommend for anyone looking for a keyboard that will give you great typing accuracy while also being a great gaming keyboard.

25. 

    Jillb – December 27, 2020

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Bought as a gift for my son for Christmas. He is into gaming and is very happy with this keyboard.

26. 

    JakeNH – December 29, 2020

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Upon receiving the keyboard the packaging was what I would call standard for Alienware brand: stylish & practical, however, once I started unboxing I quickly noticed that quite a few of the keys were detached and floating around the plastics covering the keyboard itself. As most other reviewers have said, it is not functionally impacting, it just appears the keys are easier to remove then some people would expect. No big deal really. Once out of the box and keys reattached I hooked up the dual USB connections to my PC, one thing I should mention is this braided cord is much more flexible than my other gaming keyboards, making it easier to manage with the other cords on the desktop.

    Without downloading the Alienware Command Center app, you can manage getting through some of the preset color schemes, although the default static color is that Alienware “blue”. Using the Fn key you can change to a few different dynamic backlit effects, the first few are somewhat standard, however there is one that I thought was cool where the keys are unlit until you press them and they do this slow burn to fade effect. These things being said, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND installing the AWCC app if you do not already have it. This is where you get full customization of the keyboard you just spent $130 on. In the app you’ll find tons of different ways to customize your color scheming, especially for those that like to really create something unique. You can specify key groups, individual keys or just the whole keyboard and change their color or how they react to key strokes. There is also more options for keyboard effects, I personally found the “SCAN” effect to be my favorite. Really cool stuff!

    In the AWCC app you will also find the Macro customization’s, for me I do not use this too much in games (not as hardcore as I used to be) but I do like to use macro’s with everyday productivity things. Overall, standard macro setup, create the sequence, store in library, assign to key, etc. etc. Once you’ve created macro’s and color scheme’s you can save the theme – you can also assign a theme to a specific game so it will load up automagically when you load the game.

    Last but certainly not least, the physical feel and layout of the keyboard. Overall, a very small footprint on my desk, which has some advantage’s but not without some sacrifice. The keyboard is lighter but still feels sturdy to me, key strokes are excellent and without having a wrist pillow I can comfortably use it for a couple hours at a time (though I would recommend a wrist pillow for ergonomic reasons). The two adjustable stands actually have two stands within them, so you have two option for height without having to change any feet out or anything, well played Alienware! Now the only negative’s I see with this keyboard are the lack of dedicated keys or buttons to change color schemes that my other keyboard has, not a deal breaker but I got used to that option and miss it in this product. You’ll have to use the Fn and function keys to change schemes if you don’t setup the theme in the AWCC app. The only other thing I would have liked is a roll bar for volume instead of the typical volume up and down keys. To be honest I think all keyboards should have them as it is much faster and controllable when gaming. Again, I see these as negatives mostly because I am used to having those functions, but if you don’t already have them you won’t miss them!

    Overall, the AW410K is an outstanding keyboard in a market flooded with competition, it’s customization’s and easy to use AWCC app help set it apart from the rest. I highly recommend this product, you will not regret this purchase!

27. 

    JohnJaneDoe – March 24, 2021

    Rated 1 out of 5

    The all plastic frame/base/chassis makes this keyboard feel really really cheap.

28. 

    ChrisMcG – April 3, 2021

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Great feel and response. Excellent keyboard for the price

29. 

    darkmagevivi – May 14, 2021

    Rated 4 out of 5

    great keyboard for most people, but hard to type fast because the keys stick up so much. otherwise five stars, i wouldn’t have returned it otherwise.

30. 

    alpaka – July 16, 2021

    Rated 5 out of 5

    I LOVE the keyboard. I have the Alien gaming system and the keyboard is a plus and works great gaming.

31. 

    Keech – August 20, 2021

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Flawless craftsmanship. I purchased this to use in my home office. Exceeds expectations! #alienware

32. 

    Cookie – September 10, 2021

    Rated 1 out of 5

    I’m returning it tomorrow nothing else to say sorry

33. 

    JustMe – September 26, 2021

    Rated 5 out of 5

    This keyboard works great and looks even better. Definitely worth the price.

34. 

    Mike – February 2, 2022

    Rated 1 out of 5

    Trash, will fall apart. Dell Tech / support will not help you. Horrible horrible dell customer support.

35. 

    SamHarm – February 7, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Love this Product it so smooth and the response time is amazing. Never had any Issue LOVE THIS

36. 

    Candles – April 29, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    My husband loves this and it completes his Alienware set up.

37. 

    Princess319 – May 30, 2022

    Rated 1 out of 5

    DO NOT BUY THIS KEYBOARD!!! As soon as I plugged it into my laptop, it AUTOMATICALLY downloaded and INSTALLED the Alienware Command Center and my anti-virus software immediately said a Tracking Cookie has been installed on my computer and needs to be removed!!! My anti-virus wants me to pay to have this crap removed!! This is invasive and should be ILLEGAL to do!! I’ve never had a gaming keyboard do this before!! It’s a good thing I didn’t hook this up to my work computer!! THIS ABSOLUTELY SHOULD NOT AUTOMATICALLY INSTALL THEIR COMMAND CENTER WITHOUT YOU AGREEING TO IT AND ALSO SHOULD NOT INSTALL ANY TRACKING COOKIES!! NOW I CANNOT REMOVE THIS CRAP UNLESS I PAY!! ALIENWARE SHOULD PAY!! THEY SHOULD BE SUED!! I WILL NEVER BUY THEIR PRODUCTS EVER AGAIN!!

38. 

    Good – July 1, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    An excellent product is to recommend and is beautiful.

39. 

    Alienware – August 6, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    My son loves it. He uses it for his online gaming.

40. 

    Mina24 – August 8, 2022

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Awesome. Really adds to my setup. Caught it on sale to make it even better

41. 

    Almeshry – October 27, 2022

    Rated 4 out of 5

    I’ve both low and high profile and I used each one for different mode ;D

42. 

    Fierfaerie – May 1, 2023

    Rated 1 out of 5

    Unfortunately you cannot control or customize the RGB lighting with Windows 11. Their Alienware command control center does not support Windows 11, no matter how much I tried to configure it. Without the software, it is just one solid boring color. Returned it.

43. 

    romulus – May 10, 2023

    Rated 4 out of 5

    Very well designed from a hardware standpoint. Easier to keep clean than other mechanical keyboards I’ve owned. Where I had to take off a star is
    1) key-caps had ink residue inside, so some out-of-the-box TLC is recommended, if you don’t want repeated key presses
    2) as of this writing, no way to control RGB LED’s on Linux, even when using openRGB

    still a great keyboard, but I recommend cleaning before use, and to my fellow Linux users, don’t buy this if back lighting color is important to you. However, if, like me, you’re willing to accept that one missing feature for a keyboard that is excellent in every other way, this is for you

    To Dell and Alienware: give us drivers!

44. 

    J037 – June 25, 2023

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Contrary to another review it DOES work with Windows 11, custom light patterns, colors and all. I like it. It feels good. It takes up less space than my Logitech G910 did. I like the volume buttons better than the wheel that my old Logitech did. It has a mute button, which is good to have. The cost was much better than the Logitech was. I think Alienware Command Center seems much simpler than G-Hub though I’m yet to see the mouse part of it.

45. 

    Unknown – August 28, 2023

    Rated 5 out of 5

    excellent keyboard, very easy to use and soft to the touch 100% recommended.

46. 

    Banshee2244 – October 14, 2023

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Very colorful and vibrant. Love how the lights flow

47. 

    Genill – October 16, 2023

    Rated 5 out of 5

    I love this keyboard so much. I play a lot and this is what I was looking for

48. 

    Jonathan – November 26, 2023

    Rated 5 out of 5

    Perfect keyboard for my PC. Love the way it lights up helps a lot at night.

49. 

    skksms – December 8, 2023

    Rated 5 out of 5

    I have been loving this it is a great keyboard. Iwould recommend getting it