I wasn’t anticipating a brand new model of Asus’ wonderful ROG Azoth keyboard, however that’s precisely what I noticed at Computex 2024. The aptly named ROG Azoth Excessive is an upgraded model of the bottom mannequin, match with a set of modifications and efficiency enhancements worthy of the Excessive tag.
As an authorized keyboard snob that likes to mess with boards just like the Meletrix BOOG75 and Keychron Q1 HE, the Azoth Excessive presents an attention-grabbing dilemma. It has all of the hallmarks of a mainstream gaming keyboard, however with loads of fanatic steerage. In some methods, such because the adjustable gaskets, it even goes past what yow will discover within the DIY market.
An entire refresh
Let’s get acquainted first. The ROG Azoth Excessive makes use of the identical basis as the unique mannequin. You’re getting hot-swappable keys, a gasket mount, and pre-lubed ROG key switches, together with an OLED show. The inspiration is identical, however Asus is taking this mannequin a lot additional.
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One space the place that’s instantly obvious is the wi-fi functionality. You’re nonetheless getting a 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connection, however a brand new dongle from Asus permits the keyboard to run at an 8,000Hz polling fee wirelessly. It’s laborious sufficient to seek out an enthusiast-grade keyboard that does wi-fi, a lot much less one that may accomplish that at an 8,000Hz polling fee like aggressive gaming mice.
Asus’ new adapter that allows the 8,000Hz polling fee truly works with a ton of Asus peripherals, together with the unique ROG Azoth. Asus says it plans to launch the dongle by itself a while sooner or later.
Along with a quicker polling fee, the Azoth Excessive comes with a brand new OLED show. It may well now show colours — the unique mannequin was restricted to black-and-white — and it’s a touchscreen. You’ll be able to swipe by means of your settings with ease, and Asus even added some new widgets. One which stands out is the keystrokes per second view, which reveals you how briskly you’ll be able to fly throughout the keyboard in rhythm video games or aggressive technique video games like Starcraft 2.
By far essentially the most attention-grabbing improve is the adjustable gasket, although. Underneath the keyboard, there’s a toggle for the gasket mount, which makes it tighter or looser. Asus tells me it adjusts the peak of the change plate inside the keyboard, altering the texture whereas typing.
It makes an enormous distinction. Asus says there’s a very good motive for the adjustable gasket, too. The corporate pointed to the variability in DIY keyboards with a gasket mount, and the way you aren’t capable of get a constant really feel even with similar elements. That’s why there’s a change right here. It provides you adjustment factors so you will get the correct really feel.
The texture
Let’s speak about that really feel. The ROG Azoth Excessive feels unbelievable, a minimum of nearly as good as the unique. It sounds nice, too — although, admittedly, it was tough to listen to clearly within the crowded demo room. Though Asus might’ve simply gotten away with the identical general construct as the bottom ROG Azoth, it redesigned the internals.
You’re now getting a carbon fiber change plate, in addition to three completely different factors of sound absorption. The result’s a keyboard that actually feels fanatic grade. The gasket mount helps the texture, offering some bounce whereas typing, and the inner construction backs up the sound, eliminating the annoying pinging and clacking you discover with lesser mechanical keyboards.
That sound absorption is vital, too. The ROG Azoth Excessive is constructed solely of aluminum, and it’s hefty. Though the unique had an aluminum prime, it nonetheless had plastic on the backside of the board. This time round, Asus is utilizing aluminum in every single place.
That features the ft. As an alternative of low cost plastic ft, Asus consists of three pairs of metallic really feel that magnetically snap to the underside of the keyboard. They give the impression of being unbelievable, and though they aren’t strictly crucial, they positively assist the ROG Azoth Excessive really feel extra, effectively, excessive.
One query stays
I can’t wait to get the ROG Azoth Excessive in for testing. The unique mannequin stays one of the vital spectacular mainstream keyboards I’ve ever used, and this up to date Excessive model appears to be like even higher. Nonetheless, one massive query stays.
We don’t have pricing or availability particulars for the ROG Azoth Excessive but. The bottom mannequin already got here in at $250, and I’ve to think about the Excessive model can be dearer. It may be value that value, however I hope the keyboard isn’t so costly that it’s out of the query even for high-end customers.
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