Asus ROG Azoth X assessment
Asus has been on a tear with its gaming keyboards these days. I’ve tried most of its current gaming keyboards, from the ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wi-fi to the compact Falchion RX, and I’ve favored just about each single one. You’d anticipate me then to bathe the ROG Azoth X with the identical reward, however I am not fairly as satisfied by this one.
The Azoth X is a refresh of the prevailing ROG Azoth. They share an important deal: a 75% structure, roughly equivalent chassis design (together with area to retailer the two.4 GHz dongle), and a 2-inch OLED display within the prime proper nook. On the floor, they seem extremely related, particularly for those who’re evaluating the Azoth X with the unique Azoth in white.
The Azoth X does change issues up a little bit. For starters, the switches have been upgraded to the corporate’s latest ROG NX V2 switches, both Snow V2 or Storm V2. I’ve obtained the Snow V2 model right here, which is a linear change and most suited to gaming.
I’ve at hand each the ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wi-fi and ROG Azoth Excessive with Snow switches, which makes for a theoretically simple comparability between the V2 and V1 variations of the change. But in all my years of urgent key switches—eight or so professionally—I can not massively inform them aside. The V2 might have a little bit extra spring to it, a smidge, however I have been tapping a pair keys on every keyboard for about 10 minutes straight now and I am undecided if any variations I am now noticing are my thoughts taking part in tips on me. All three really feel extremely easy, on account of the lube utilized on the manufacturing facility, and all are constant switch-to-switch, although there’s a distinct distinction of their total tone.
Azoth X specs
Dimension: 75%
Switches: ROG NX V2 (Snow or Storm)
Backlighting: Per key RGB
Anti-ghosting: N-key rollover
Polling fee: 1,000 Hz
Dimensions: 325.4 x 136.2 x 40 mm
Weight: 595 g (1.3 lbs)
Connections: 2.4 GHz | USB Kind-C | Bluetooth 5.1
Cable: USB Kind A to C cable
Value: $300 | £275
The Azoth Excessive has the perfect typing really feel, which is punctuated by the sunshine and ethereal pitter-patter of every key press as you kind. The Strix Scope II 96 Wi-fi mimics this to some extent, although feels a little bit spongier by comparability. The Azoth X is the clunkiest and least inviting on noise and total typing really feel, which I really feel comes right down to the keycaps. Keycaps which can be, in response to the Azoth field, produced from PBT, although they really feel cheesy and lack the marginally granular really feel of different PBT caps, together with these on earlier Asus boards. Although I ought to state that none of those three gives a poor typing expertise, simply completely different grades of excellent.
The keycaps are supposedly the large promote for the Azoth X. The keys are a bit on the market, with spacebar, enter, tab, shift, and caps lock keys brandishing planetary motifs and phrases equivalent to “Be part of the republic”. The letter keys even have skinny traces with a pink/purple gradient throughout them, which matches the gradient on the quantity row. The encompassing keys and a part of the perform row are available in a darker colourway, which I am not against—two-tone keyboards can look fairly nice, and this one does have one thing about it to attract the attention.
Picture 1 of 3
The look of this keyboard is bound to be a case of, for those who prefer it, you prefer it. When you do not, it is a bit a lot. Both manner, it does imply you are caught with this theming to your desktop, moderately than your individual machinations, which barely in my thoughts defeats the purpose of the addressable RGB lighting beneath every key. Hey, it does look good lit up in a purple or pink gradient to match, shining by means of the oddly designed semi-translucent keycaps.
These keycaps are translucent on three of 4 sides. The remaining aspect and the highest of the important thing comprise the legends, although these are not shine-through. What’s even weirder is the RGB LEDs on every key change face the opaque aspect of the change, sitting closest to the underside of every key (a so-called south-facing PCB design), and thus decreasing the seen glow by means of the translucent sides of the keys. It does imply the precise diode is hidden behind the opaque aspect of the change, stopping any undue ugliness, however I really feel a north-facing LED would’ve largely achieved this similar impact.
Picture 1 of 2
In Asus’ defence, it might have determined to make use of a south-facing PCB design because of this strategy stopping potential compatibility points with north-facing LEDs, whereby sure key profiles backside out on the LED housing moderately than the change’s true stopping level. Although I’ve by no means knowingly had that problem—or at the least I’ve by no means observed it.
It is tough to evaluate. It does not look dangerous, per se, however I really feel it may look lots higher. Particularly as I believe this keyboard’s promise is its out-of-this-world aesthetic, which is barely extra muted in actuality. Some form of ambient lighting or underside glow would possibly’ve added to the look, however the Azoth X appears such a carbon copy of the unique Azoth that Asus hasn’t modified wherever close to sufficient to get the whole look.
Picture 1 of 4
As for the display, I have been spoiled by the Azoth Excessive’s full color unit. The black and white panel on the Azoth X is similar because the one on the Azoth, and it is nowhere close to as shiny or handsome. Even the perfect keyboard screens I’ve used, nonetheless, I’ve regarded as fairly frivolous. A display could be reasonably helpful on a aggressive gaming keyboard with plenty of on-the-fly choices and customisable keys, equivalent to with SteelSeries’ Apex 9 TKL, although most of the time a display provides to the price and gives little in return.
As for the Azoth X’s display, it may be used to manage the lighting, brightness, and multimedia management. It is usually simpler to regulate these within the Armoury Crate app, nonetheless, and I discover myself wishing for simple multimedia controls in order that I may use the buttons extra reactively for quantity management with out unintentionally messing with anything.
Purchase if…
✅ You like sci-fi stuff: There’s something to love concerning the aesthetic of this board. It undoubtedly piqued my curiosity once I first noticed it. It appears to be like good in particular person, too, however I’m underwhelmed with the lighting.
Do not buy if…
❌ You simply desire a prime typing expertise and a compact board: The unique ROG Azoth is cheaper, although the marginally bigger Strix Scope II 96 Wi-fi is even cheaper nonetheless. Even higher, I might argue, for pure typing expertise, is the Keychron Q3 Max.
Positive, if the Azoth X was the identical worth as the unique Azoth, you would possibly simply assume it is merely a enjoyable, quirky colourway for the gorgeous well-liked compact keyboard. Nevertheless it’s nowhere close to the identical worth. The unique Azoth prices $209/£210 proper now. The Azoth X prices $300/£275. Whereas the older board is benefitting from low cost costs since its launch again in 2023, the Azoth X is definitely costlier than the Azoth was at launch.
There’s a small bonus for getting the Azoth X. There is a soft-touch silicone wrist relaxation included within the field, taking the place of the bathtub of lube and brushes included on the unique Azoth, in case you need to kill a night lubing up your switches a little bit extra. I have been there, it is a bit of a novelty to lube your individual switches as soon as, however I admire the wrist relaxation extra. Particularly because the NX switches are already pre-lubed. Although it is hardly sufficient to justify the leap in worth.
That is in the end the most important problem with the Azoth X. It is geared as much as be one thing new and thrilling, but it surely’s extra of a colourway for the prevailing Azoth than something actually contemporary. That makes its worth premium extremely robust to swallow. What’s extra, I desire the practicality, simplicity, and ease of the Strix Scope II 96 Wi-fi, which is $161/£126. We’re not even wanting past Asus but and we’re already discovering a lot better choices, however I might suggest the Keychron Q3 Max for another for those who’re looking for very good typing really feel and a two-tone model. I exploit this keyboard within the workplace and I’ve had many compliments on it, together with convincing one colleague to go and purchase one themselves. And whereas I do not assume everybody wants a Corridor impact keyboard, they’re nice for a lot of aggressive players, and you’ll nab the finest Corridor impact keyboard for lower than the mechanical Azoth X, too.
Greatest gaming keyboard 2025