The Asus ROG Azoth is the Taiwanese tech big’s first actual fanatic gaming keyboard. And, truthfully, it is a doozy. That is a technical time period which interprets as a high quality keeb that ticks all of the bins, then attracts in some extra on the backside of the listing and ticks these off, too.
Asus is not any stranger to mechanical keyboards. I’ve examined a bunch of its earlier ROG mech boards, even its nearly good hybrid Claymore board which obtained forward of Mountain within the removable numpad recreation, however did not make it stick. I imply, actually. The floppy attachment of the additional keypad was one of many causes I hated it a lot.
But it surely’s solely actually ever simply dipped its toes into the fanatic keyboard market. Nicely, the ROG Azoth (opens in new tab) is Asus moving into with each toes, which is not any actual shock given the burgeoning marketplace for high-end customized keyboards.
Bizarrely, regardless of being within the midst of a worldwide financial fustercluck of bordering apocalyptic proportions, there’s by no means been a greater time to launch a stupidly priced gaming keyboard as a result of individuals are shopping for them. And after I say ‘stupidly priced’ I am not messing round; this factor is the primary $300+ keyboard I’ve ever seen.
ROG Azoth specs
Dimension: 75%
Base: Scorching-swappable
Switches: ROG NX Linear|Tactile|Clicky
Backlighting: Per key
Show: 2-inch OLED
Anti-ghosting: N-key rollover
Polling price: 1,000Hz
Dimensions: 326 x 136 x 40mm
Weight: 1,186g (w/out cable)
Connections: 2.4GHz|USB Sort-C|Bluetooth
Battery life: 130-hours (w/out lighting)
Worth: $350 | £270 (opens in new tab)
It’s although providing every thing you might presumably need from an fanatic keeb. The construct high quality is totally distinctive and the burden of the Azoth is excessive. And I find it irresistible for that. It is also been constructed with all of the pre-lubed, gasketed, dampened trimmings you may need for that premium typing expertise.
And premium it’s. The Azoth is a delight to faucet away on, much more so now that I’ve utterly changed all the provided ROG NX switches the board shipped with. Not that they are unhealthy in any respect, the customized linear mechanical switches are Cherry MX Crimson analogues, however do have a pleasant really feel. No, it is simply that I’ve obtained a bunch of pleasant Halo True switches that I purchased to enter my Mountain Everest Max (opens in new tab) board. That board’s been retired in favour of the Everest 60, and I’ve left the Mountain Tactile switches in place.
That is one of many necessities for any keyboard with fanatic pretentions—sizzling swappable switches. Us keyboard nerds love needlessly changing switches for an infinitesimal distinction in really feel that even the princess of pea fame would wrestle to note. And the Azoth fortunately caters for that, and with what I’ll say is my absolute favorite change puller bundled into the bundle. Sure, I really now have a favorite.
Perhaps I ought to get out extra?
However I’ve torn finger flesh on different pullers, and the bundled keycap-puller Asus provides within the field is simply as ergonomically efficient, too. That is not all, nonetheless, as a result of the corporate has gone all-out to show its fanatic leanings. With lube.
It is surprisingly straightforward, unsurprisingly tedious work.
Sure, lube is the brand new keeb fanatic badge of honour. In fact good switches ought to return pre-lubed. In fact. However with the Azoth Asus supplies slightly doohickey that simply splits both the usual MX model of change, or the brand new ROG NX switches, so to entry the mechanism inside. Then, with the li’l jar o’ lube within the field, and the comb with which to use it, you may lube up the mandatory plastic for tremendous clean motion.
It is surprisingly straightforward, unsurprisingly tedious work, and you must completely by no means do it your self.
Picture 1 of 3
All that fanatic shiz apart, that is additionally a really efficient gaming keyboard. It is primarily wi-fi, providing each 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity, in addition to a USB Sort-C wired connection for each energy and information. And it is also a small kind issue board, although vitally not an ultra-restrictive 60%.
It is listed as a 75% keyboard, so though it dispenses completely with a numpad you do nonetheless get a full row of perform keys throughout the highest, Ins, Del, PgUp/Dn, and extra importantly than all that you simply get cursor keys. It is an inevitably bigger board than the Mountain Everest 60 (opens in new tab), however that additionally means there’s extra separation and no frustratingly small shift key. I hate the positioning of the Delete key personally, however that is my solely gripe with the format itself.
Peripherals software program, it is the worst.
Then you definitely additionally get a two-tone OLED show within the high proper hand nook, with a three-way change that may be customised by way of the weakest a part of the entire package.
As is its wont, the ROG Azoth depends on Asus’ horrible Armoury Crate software program, and it simply takes…so…damned…lengthy…to do something. Simply switching between tabs within the app, or attempting to test for firmware updates, oh it is interminable. And generally it simply does not work in any respect—notably if you change from USB to Wi-Fi and vice versa—and the app will get caught on a everlasting loading animation, tanking all of the tweaked profile settings you have saved into it, in some way utterly resetting the gadget. Peripherals software program, it is the worst.
The irritating factor is that when you are in there it does really supply some fairly helpful knobs to tweak concerning the controls or the show. Apart from the requisite LED backlighting controls you are additionally in a position to alter the management knob to ship precisely what you need it to do. As commonplace the management has 5 discrete modes, which you’ll be able to cycle by way of by way of a button on the tip of it, however within the app you may add a customisable sixth and that may be for virtually something. There are three ‘buttons’ on the change (up, down, and a click on) and every can open an internet site, an utility, additional multimedia, keyboard or mouse capabilities, and even some preset enter textual content.
It is fairly damned highly effective.
Picture 1 of 2
I additionally like the truth that you may disable any modes you do not need. I did have it displaying off a number of system data, however I’ve obtained it at the moment set as a multimedia management solely, so simply with the amount adjustment and observe play/pause/skip performance. Meaning I haven’t got to cycle again round to get to the mode I am after. I’ve additionally obtained the OLED set to show the observe data and EQ, although generally Armoury Crate craps out and both flips it again to the picture of Princess Leia (no, not that one) I loaded to check out its customized picture/gif chops many firmware updates in the past.
The ROG Azoth is totally the very best gaming keyboard Asus has ever launched, and the very best fanatic keyboard I’ve ever seen from a correct established model that does not deal with the section. The utility of the Everest 60 and its removable numpad nonetheless will get my private vote, however it is a very shut second by way of its day-to-day use. And it is actually going to be my new workplace board… although provided that I can swing it with Asus to go away the costly Azoth with us. As a result of the actual sticking level is that worth.
I would by no means spend $300+ on a gaming keyboard, so I do not actually know the way I can advocate that you simply do. I find it irresistible as a keeb in its personal proper, however until that is mere pocket cash in your world, the price of the ROG Azoth is past prohibitive.
Leave a Reply