ASUS ROG Azoth, the review of the company’s first custom gaming keyboard

Stand out at all costs, offer something different from others but do it with concreteness and knowledge of the facts: we have often talked about what is the best recipe for emerging in the now crowded market of gaming devices and ASUSwhich from this point of view is certainly not the latest arrival, seems to have taken this proposal literally.

In fact, it is difficult to describe a custom product like the otherwise ROG Azoth: it’s about a 75% compact mechanical keyboardwith triple connectivity (wired USB, SpeedNova 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth), ROG NX switches, AURA lighting, integrated OLED display and an avalanche of accessories that confirm the premium nature of the package.

The price will be €299: undoubtedly high, but adequate for the ambitions of a similar project, truly solid and important.

The ROG Azoth is a concentrate of technology: characterized by a compact 75% form factor, the keyboard appears extremely robust, with its metal body, and offers excellent typing comfort thanks to the factory pre-lubricated ROG NX switches; in our case the Linear Red which guarantee linear pressure, with a great click at the end of the stroke, not too deep. The body of the keyboard hides various levels of cushioning and the end result is a decidedly different experience than usual, silent and free of reverberations.

But let’s get back to the ROG NX Linear Red switch, characterized by an actuation point of 1.8 mm and an initial resistance of 40 gf and a total of 55 gf: a combination that favors the precision and reactivity of the buttons, which activate instantly. Needless to say, everything can be replaced: from the ABS key covers to the switches themselves, using the extractors included in the version supplied to us. Not only that: inside the package we also found a small container with extra lubricant and a brush to apply it as needed, as well as three spare switches.

The technical features of the ROG Azoth they talk about a 1,000 Hz polling rate, N-key rollover anti-ghosting technology, triple connectivity (wired USB, SpeedNova 2.4 GHz with almost zero latency and autonomy of up to 130 hours with lighting off, as well as Bluetooth), OLED display 2-inch monochrome to indicate the active functions (and scroll through them, thanks to the convenient selector) and the possibility of recording macros on the fly without the need for software, although the latter (the usual Armory Crate) allows you to go in depth with the various customizations and save five extra profiles in addition to the default one.

L’AURA lighting with per-key RGB LED boasts ten different modes (Static, Breathing, Color Cycle, Rainbow, Starry Night, Strobing, Music, Adaptive, Dark and Smart), which include all the most traditional presets and can be managed in terms of intensity and color, here too on the fly and without going through the official ASUS application. Via a key combination it is also possible record macros: a practical and immediate feature, especially when you are in the middle of a gaming session.

ASUS ROG Azoth data sheet

• Format: compact, 75%
• Layout: Italian
• Compatibility: PC
• Switches: ROG NX
• Key cover: ABS
• Programming: yes, macros and five profiles
• Connectivity: wired via USB, 2.4 GHz wireless or Bluetooth
• Autonomy: up to 130 hours with lighting off
• Lighting: Programmable RGB
• Accessories: extractors, lubrication kit, three spare switches
• Extra: Built-in 2-inch OLED display
• Software: Armory Crate
• Dimensions: 326 x 136 x 40 millimeters
• Weight: 1,170 grams
• Price: €299

The compact design of the ASUS ROG Azoth does not introduce any particular innovations, were it not for the 2-inch OLED display located at the top right: an accessory that we imagine contributes to keeping the cost of the keyboard high, but which turns out to be rather useful due to the information reported (see battery charge ). By operating the selector located to the right of the small screen we will view the active features, so we can modify them, but also animations and data relating to the clock frequencies of the processor and GPU.

The black color of the body enhances the available lighting modes, which give character to the ROG Azoth. However, there is also a lot of attention to detail: the feet have two adjustments, while the wireless micro-receiver is placed in a magnetic slot and a practical selector on the back of the keyboard allows you to choose the type of connection. The dimensions are equal to 326 x 136 x 40 millimetreswhile the weight is 1,170 grams.

ROG Azoth is a decidedly premium product, very solid, capable of boasting incredible construction quality and an at times obsessive attention to detail, which is then reflected in practice: the typing experience is excellent, both in normal typing and obviously in gaming applications, even with the inevitable limits of a compact layout like this. The version that was provided to us for the review then boasts a decidedly complete set of accessories in terms of accessories.

We had the opportunity to try the keyboard both in daily use and with various games, in this case the third-person action Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, the cooperative battles of Warhammer 40,000: Darktide and the SamaGame battles of Apex Legends. Both with the wired connection and with the 2.4 GHz SpeedNova wireless connection there is no latency, the response is very prompt and reliable, while in Bluetooth there are some small compromises.

The typing comfort, the cushioning system, the limited but satisfying travel of the keys are all elements that combine to offer aexcellent gaming experience, while the ability to record macros on the fly proves really useful with some applications. The integrated OLED display and Aura lighting complete the picture on an aesthetic level, confirming the goodness of a device that is clearly not for all budgets.

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