Asus Rog Azoth Review

The Asus Rog Azoth dares to be different with its compact design. It’s smaller than your typical tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard, coming in at a compact 75 percent form factor. What’s unique here is the arrangement of the navigation keys. Instead of the standard three-by-three layout, the Azoth features just one column of four navigation keys. In this review article, we’ll delve into the design and construction of the ROG Azoth, exploring its compact layout, sturdy build, and all the cool features that make it a gaming and typing beast.

Design And Build

The Azoth, measuring a mere 12.75 inches in width, exudes compactness, boasting a conspicuous absence of a key-surround area or what is commonly referred to as a “bezel.” On its right edge, there stands a slender column, consisting of four vertically aligned keys – specifically Insert, Delete, Pg Up, and Pg Down. It would have been more user-friendly had the Delete key found its place at the top, thus enhancing its accessibility.

To the credit of Asus, the four directional-arrow keys are thoughtfully arranged in a small inverted-T configuration, a feature of paramount importance for gamers who rely on these pivotal keys to navigate by touch. The keyboard’s body showcases an upper section composed of metal and a lower portion crafted from plastic. It is further augmented by two foldable feet, each housing a nested insert, enabling a three-position adjustment for typing angles. Asus states that the plastic component is designed this way to allow for the transmission of wireless signals.

ROG Azoth Weight

Despite its plastic construction, this keyboard possesses a substantial weight relative to its size, tipping the scales at a robust 2.6 pounds. This weightiness is particularly noteworthy when compared to competing 75 percent models like the NZXT Function Mini TKL, which are as much as a pound lighter. The Azoth, indeed, is a keyboard with a substantial heft, a feature that defines its very essence.

Adjustable Feet

At the back of the Azoth, you’ll find two sets of flip-out feet. These nifty additions let you customize the keyboard’s height, ensuring that your gaming or typing experience is ergonomically sound. Whether you prefer a flat or inclined setup, the Azoth’s got you covered.

Premium Materials

Despite its compact size, the ROG Azoth is built like a fortress. It rocks a hefty metal top plate, elegantly finished in gunmetal gray. The dual-tone doubleshot PBT keycaps add a touch of class to the design. Underneath that top plate, you’ll find a sturdy plastic chassis. Asus opted for this to ensure peak wireless performance, and it does the job exceptionally well. The plastic chassis is robust and doesn’t detract from the keyboard’s overall build quality. Weighing in at a substantial 2.61 pounds (1186g), this keyboard exudes solidity.

OLED Smart Display Screen

One of the Asus Rog Azoth standout features is the two-inch animated grayscale OLED screen in the upper right corner. Next to the screen, you’ll spot a three-way control knob and button combo. These controls aren’t just for show. You can use them to adjust various onboard settings, from brightness to lighting effects, and even control multimedia playback. The screen can display a variety of information, including keyboard-related data like battery life and system parameters. The real fun starts when you delve into custom visuals and animations, which you can set up using Asus’ peripheral software, Armoury Crate.

OLED Screen Customization

As for the OLED screen, you have a range of customization options. You can set it to display an image or animation, whether preset or custom. Alternatively, you can opt for a custom text banner, display media information or an audio visualizer, or simply show date, time, and system information. I went ahead and uploaded a pop cat GIF – because why not?

Fn Shortcuts and OLED Screen

Notably, the Azoth features preset secondary keybinds (Fn shortcuts) printed on the keycaps’ south-facing side. These shortcuts enable actions like profile switching, macro recording, and lighting mode/brightness adjustments. Combine these with the OLED screen, and you’ve got a robust tool at your fingertips.

Switches And Keycaps

When you lay your fingers on the ROG Azoth, the first thing you’ll notice is the symphony it creates. This keyboard sports a gasket mount design, a unique feature that sets it apart. Silicone gaskets embrace the PCB, while three layers of dampening foam and silicone absorb any hint of echo and case ping. The result? An auditory experience that’s simply exceptional, even in the realm of mainstream gaming keyboards.

RED NX Switeches

Asus has determined the actuation force of their ROG NX Red switches to be 40 grams, with an actuation point of 1.8mm. This places them in the category of being somewhat easier to engage compared to their rival Cherry MX Red switches, which require 45g of force and a 2mm actuation depth, at least when we examine the pure specifications. However, it’s crucial to note that the tactile experience of these NX Red keys deviates from what one might expect from standard Red switches.

The key feedback generated by these NX Red keys can be characterized as a damped and relatively flat “thok” sound, in stark contrast to the high-pitched or chattery notes that other switches produce. These switches provide a linear feel without a discernible click to provide feedback. Consequently, most of the time, you’ll rely on the sensation of bottoming out the key to ascertain that you’ve indeed activated it.

The ROG NX Red switches from Asus not only distinguish themselves through their unique specifications but also in their acoustic and tactile characteristics. This divergence from convention may be appealing to those who prefer a quieter, more subdued typing experience without compromising on performance.

Keycaps

The Azoth comes equipped with matte black keycaps that sport shine-through primary legends and printed secondary legends. These mid-height keycaps are somewhat similar to Cherry profile keycaps and have curved, lightly-textured tops. While they’re made from doubleshot PBT, some users find them a bit slippery. If you’re prone to sweaty gaming sessions, you might want to consider swapping in more grippy keycaps for added control.

Typing Experience

This keyboard offers an exemplary typing experience, setting itself apart from the norm. The keycaps, meticulously fashioned from doubleshot PBT plastic, provide a subtly textured tactile sensation, elevating the typing experience. What truly distinguishes this keyboard is its exceptional stability – minimal wobbling occurs during key presses, ensuring uninterrupted typing flow.

The stabilizers, a critical component in large-key performance, exhibit remarkable proficiency, granting a sense of steadfastness to each keystroke. Notably, the switches and stabilizers come pre-lubricated from the factory, endowing them with a level of smoothness and consistency that places them in a league of their own when compared to many other gaming alternatives.

An innovation worth highlighting is the gasket-mounted design, which introduces a unique element of softness to the typing sensation. Layers of foam and silicone padding within the keyboard further serve to dampen the disruptive vibrations or resonances that plague certain gaming keyboards. In this regard, this keyboard stands resolute, offering a typing experience that transcends the common realm of mechanical keyboards in its price range.

Typing Noice

The auditory ambience generated by the utilization of the ROG NX Red switches in this keyboard is characterized by its unobtrusive nature, exuding a modest volume of 46.0 decibels. This feature renders it a harmonious companion for your workspace, ensuring minimal disruption to those in your proximity. It is noteworthy to mention that the ROG NX keyboard also offers alternatives in the form of ROG NX Brown or Blue switches, each with its distinct auditory characteristics. The Brown switches are anticipated to produce a marginally more conspicuous acoustic profile, whereas the Blue switches are expected to exhibit a considerably more resonant soundscape.

RGB Lights

The ASUS ROG Azoth keyboard features customizable RGB lighting that allows you to personalize your gaming setup. The keyboard offers a variety of lighting effects and colors to choose from. You can configure the RGB lighting using ASUS’s Aura Sync software, which provides a user-friendly interface for customization.

The Azoth keyboard supports a range of lighting effects, including static colors, breathing, wave, and more. You can choose from a wide spectrum of colors to match your preference. ASUS’s Aura Sync technology enables you to synchronize the lighting of the Azoth keyboard with other Aura Sync-compatible components in your gaming rig, creating a harmonious lighting setup.

Connectivity

When it comes to connectivity, the ROG Azoth doesn’t disappoint. Along the backside, you’ll find the keyboard’s connectivity controls. There’s a power switch that toggles between 2.4GHz wireless and Bluetooth, ensuring you have options for your preferred setup. A 2.4GHz wireless dongle is conveniently stowed in a storage port for a seamless wireless experience. Additionally, a USB-C port is provided for charging and a wired connection when you need it. The Azoth adapts to your connectivity needs effortlessly. For those who prefer a wired connection, the ROG Azoth has you covered with its USB-C option. It’s a nod to the old-school gamers who believe in the reliability of a wired connection.

ROG Azoth Battery

ASUS claims that the ROG Azoth can deliver up to a whopping 2,000 hours of battery life over a 2.4GHz wireless connection. That’s quite a bold claim, isn’t it? But, there’s a catch – this estimate is with the OLED screen and lighting turned off. Let’s break down this claim and see if it lives up to the hype.

15 Hours and Counting

To put ASUS’ claim to the test, I’ve been using the Azoth for about 15 hours since the last full charge. So, how does it hold up in a real-world scenario? According to Armoury Crate, I still have almost 70% of my battery left. Not bad, right? But keep in mind that this is with the RGB lighting at 75% brightness and a GIF of a cat popping its mouth open three times a second playing constantly. It’s not 2,000 hours, but the results are still pretty impressive.

Armoury Crate Software Support

The software facilitating the configuration of X Keyboard is aptly named Armoury Crate. It is compatible with the Windows operating system, ensuring a seamless experience for users in the Windows ecosystem. However, it’s essential to note that this software does not extend its compatibility to macOS, limiting its usage on this platform.

A notable feature of this keyboard is its onboard memory, a characteristic that is highly valued among users who demand a personalized computing experience. The keyboard supports multiple profiles, a noteworthy six or more, providing users with an extensive range of customization options.

Armoury Crate Software offers a gamut of customization possibilities. It empowers users to fine-tune various settings, including key assignments, macros, power configurations, and the dynamic RGB lighting. Moreover, it extends its versatility to the keyboard’s OLED screen, enabling users to adorn it with either preset visuals or personalized GIFs.

Nonetheless, it’s vital to acknowledge the critiques that have circulated within the user community regarding Armoury Crate. Despite our uneventful experience during our keyboard testing, a substantial number of users have voiced their discontent. This criticism mainly revolves around the perceived bloatware nature of the software, its relentless demand for updates, and its propensity to consume an undue share of system resources.

For users who favor lightweight software solutions or even the absence of software altogether, the robustness of Armoury Crate may present an obstacle, leading to a sense of frustration in an otherwise well-rounded keyboard experience.

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