What would you purchase in the event you had $250 to spend on one thing PC-related? A second-hand RTX 2060? A excessive refresh-rate 1440p monitor? How about an Intel Core i7-12700KF? Alternatively, you may blow the lot on the ROG Azoth, a wi-fi 75% keyboard from Asus.
That is fairly a price ticket for any keyboard, however then the Azoth is not simply any keyboard.
The Asus ROG Azoth has loads of options that make it stand out from a crowded market: a silicon gasket mount, tri-mode connectivity, hot-swappable switches, and a lube equipment. However the highlights for many individuals will in all probability be the tiny OLED show within the nook and the actual fact it is a kind of uncommon keyboards which are nice for each typing and gaming.
Earlier than shopping for my much-loved Razer Huntsman Elite, I owned a tenkeyless keyboard for fairly some time, so I am used to those small type components. However I used to be shocked to see that the Azoth is even smaller than I anticipated (12.83 inches in size), squeezing 4 dual-functional navigation keys into one column on the precise and the arrow keys beneath.
From the second you open the field, all the pieces concerning the ROG Azoth screams luxurious, from the Apple-like packaging to the smooth cotton fabric masking the keyboard itself. The very first thing you are more likely to discover is simply how heavy and well-made the keyboard feels; at 2.6 kilos, it is nearly the identical weight because the Huntsman Elite.
That is no dangerous factor as this little keyboard is so sturdy that you may use it as a weapon. It is premium construct high quality, enhanced by a cold-to-the-touch steel high plate and sturdy doubleshot PBT keycaps.
Charging the Asus Azoth is completed through the included 6.5-foot braided USB-C to USB-A cable. As soon as juiced, it may be linked to a PC through Bluetooth or 2.4GHz wi-fi by eradicating the tiny receiver that sits neatly contained in the keyboard and plugging it right into a spare USB-A port. You may as well use a wired connection, in fact.
There are many options within the Azoth that make it compelling, although the 2-inch OLED panel within the nook will doubtless be the one which makes buddies go, “Oooo!” Utilizing Asus’ Armory Crate software program — which is the worst a part of this expertise — it may be programmed to indicate preset or uploaded customized animations/GIFs, banners with customized messages in a wide range of kinds and fonts, spectrum equalizers that kick in when music is performed, or system info, which is my favourite.
Selecting system info provides the choice of displaying frequency, voltage, temperature, or utilization for the GPU, CPU, or DRAM, relying on which metric is picked.
Checking a few of these stats towards GPU Tweak Monitor and HWInfo64 confirmed them to be principally correct.
Subsequent to the OLED display is a small 3-way management knob that offers a satisfying click on when activated. Once more, its perform might be chosen from an inventory: system quantity, media playback controls, keyboard brightness, OLED show brightness, switching lighting results, or motherboard fan management. It may also be personalized with a sixth choice for launching functions and web sites, operating macros, and extra.
Asus says the Azoth affords an unequalled typing expertise, and it is tough to argue with that. Its silicone mount design makes use of three layers of dampening foam and silicone to cushion the keys as they’re depressed.
It sounds and feels beautiful – nearly squishy however in a great way, like petting a Shiba Inu – they usually’re extremely satisfying for quick and/or heavy-handed typists and anybody inside earshot. Take a look at the comparability with Razer’s clicky optical switches within the video beneath. The house bar is particularly spectacular, irrespective of the place it is pressed. Even with no wrist relaxation, this can be a typist’s dream.
Asus makes use of its personal proprietary key change answer within the Azoth reasonably than the same old Cherry MX switches, however these might be changed in the event that they’re to not your liking. The evaluate mannequin comes with ROG NX Purple switches, which have 40g of actuation drive and a 1.8mm actuation level. They’re clean and linear with no bump or click on. You may as well purchase this keyboard with tactile NX Brown and or clicky NX Blue switches.
The Azoth switches are pre-lubed, naturally, however Asus gives all of the instruments it is advisable take away and lube each its personal NX and Cherry switches: a lube station, change opener, brush, and a bath of Krytox lubricant. There’s even a how-to video accessible.
The Azoth is no doubt glorious for typing, however how does it fare with video games? This can be a wi-fi keyboard, in any case. Asus guarantees low-latency, dependable connections with its SpeedNova wi-fi know-how in 2.4 GHz mode, and it lives as much as that promise. Cyberpunk 2077, Atomic Coronary heart, and different FPS titles really feel responsive with no noticeable lag or delays.
Additionally, whereas this is applicable to all small wi-fi keyboards, I loved having the ability to simply transfer the Azoth into the proper place for my fingers to relaxation on WASD with out fuss or tangled wires.
Though I might immediately join utilizing Bluetooth through my motherboard’s receiver, it did not really feel fairly as snappy as the two.4 GHz mode, and the OLED’s performance is proscribed to displaying photographs and animations.
Battery life is one other incredible factor of the Azoth. Asus guarantees 2,000 hours utilizing the two.4GHz reference to the OLED display and lighting off. I charged the keyboard nearly two weeks in the past and have been utilizing it for round 10 hours per day with the lights activated and {hardware} data on the OLED, but I nonetheless have 40% battery life left.
In the end, the Azoth has only a few faults. The one negatives are the excessive value, although it is not the one keyboard this costly (the same SteelSeries Apex Professional TKL Wi-fi can be $250), and the Armory Crate software program, which might be buggy, sluggish, and tough to make use of.
So, is the Asus ROG Azoth value $250? That is dependent upon the particular person. Assuming you need one of the best 75% keyboard that is luxurious, incredible for gaming and typing, sturdy, wi-fi, extremely customizable, and has a really cool OLED display, then sure, it’s well worth the cash.