Introduction
The Asus ROG Azoth keyboard caught our attention at CES 2023, and we were so impressed that we awarded it the Best In Show. And let me tell you, it’s not just about looks. The Azoth has a sleek black-and-gray design, a departure from the usual bold, gamer-centric red-eyed theme of Asus’ ROG line. Not only does it look cool, but the typing experience is also fantastic. It’s like a top-notch custom keyboard had a wild time and became a fan of Fortnite – and I’m totally on board with it.
Admittedly, it’s not a budget-friendly option; the ROG Azoth is currently priced at $250. However, if you’re after one of the best gaming keyboards available, it might be worth the investment.
Specifications Asus ROG Azoth Review
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Switches | ROG NX Red mechanical switches |
| Lighting | Dynamic per-key RGB illumination |
| Onboard Storage | Storage for up to 6 customizable profiles |
| Media Keys | Equipped with an OLED screen and control knob/button |
| Game Mode | Enhanced gaming mode |
| Connectivity | Versatile connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, wired (USB-C) |
| Additional Ports | No additional ports |
| Keycaps | Durable double-shot PBT keycaps |
| Construction | Sturdy metal top plate with a sleek plastic chassis |
| Software | Utilizes the Armoury Crate software for customization |
| Dimensions (LxWxH) | Compact design: 12.83 x 5.35 x 1.57 inches / 326 x 136 x 40mm |
| Weight | Lightweight at 2.61lbs / 1186g |
| MSRP | Priced at $250.00 |
Pros And Cons Asus ROG Azoth Review
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Boasts a robust and durable build | Armoury Crate proves to be less than satisfactory |
| Delivers a premium enthusiast-like experience | Keycaps exhibit a slight slippery feel |
| Comes complete with an extensive set of accessories | Limited to only one layer of programmability |
| Features an eye-catching and versatile OLED display | |
| Impressive battery life |
Design Asus ROG Azoth Review
The ROG Azoth is a special wireless keyboard that’s not too big. It’s called a 75 percent keyboard, which means it’s smaller than a regular one. Instead of having a lot of extra keys, it has just one column of four extra keys on the side. This makes it smaller but still keeps important keys.
Even though the Azoth is small, it’s strong. It has a tough metal top part in a cool gray color and strong keycaps. The main part under the keys is made of good plastic. This keeps the wireless connection working well, according to Asus, the company that made it.
The keyboard is not light; it weighs about 2.61 pounds and feels strong. It even has adjustable feet on the back to make it higher if you want.
On the top right of the keyboard, there’s a small screen. It’s not colorful, just black and white, but it shows different things like how much battery is left. Next to it, there’s a knob and a button that you can use to change settings and control music.
On the back of the keyboard, there are buttons for wireless or Bluetooth, a place to store a small part for the wireless connection, and a USB-C port for charging.
You get a whole box of extra things with this keyboard. There’s a long cable, a thing to make the USB plug longer, tools for taking off keys, and even a kit to make the keys smoother. It’s a lot of nice things, especially for a gaming keyboard that’s supposed to be very good.
Typing and Gaming Experience Asus ROG Azoth Review
The ROG Azoth has a special design called a gasket mount. It uses silicone gaskets to cushion the circuit board, and three layers of special foam and silicone to absorb sound. This makes the keyboard sound really good, especially for one that’s meant for regular gaming, not the super expensive ones like Razer’s Huntsman V2 or SteelSeries’ Apex Pro TKL.
Even my husband noticed how the Azoth sounded. He just said it sounded “good” and “better than whatever you were using before.” That’s a big compliment from him. Usually, he only talks about my keyboards to make funny comments like, “Did you add something to make it louder?” or “Is this your way of getting back at the neighbor who joked about writers being unemployed?”
Typing on the Azoth feels amazing too. The gasket mount design makes it just flexible enough to be comfortable but not too much. The one we got had Asus’ ROG NX Red switches, which are smooth and quiet. But you can also get the Azoth with NX Brown (feels bumpy) or NX Blue (makes a clicky sound) switches.
The NX Reds need a light touch, just 40 grams of force, and they press down 1.8mm. That’s a bit lighter and shorter than the popular Cherry MX Red switches. I found them a bit too light, so I changed them to clicky Kailh Box White switches using the tool Asus included.
Smooth and stable
After the switch change, typing on the Azoth was fantastic. Every key felt the same, with just enough give without being too bouncy. I was especially impressed with the spacebar, shift, and enter keys. They have these special stabilizers that Asus says are “specially tuned with gamers in mind.” They felt smooth and stable.
The Azoth has black keycaps with letters that light up. The keycaps are kind of short, like the ones called “Cherry profile.” They have a slight curve on top and a bit of texture. They’re made from this material called doubleshot PBT, but they can get a bit slippery. I didn’t have any problems, but if your fingers tend to get sweaty, you might want to change the keycaps.
But, don’t think the Azoth is only good for typing. It’s made for gaming too. It has all the things you’d expect from a top-notch wireless gaming keyboard: it can press lots of keys at once, it sends information really fast (1,000 times a second!), it can connect in three different ways, and you can program the keys to do special things while you’re playing.
Whether you’re connected with a cable or playing wirelessly, the Azoth is fast and reliable. I got a bit sick once and couldn’t work, but I played a bunch of games without any problems. No keys were missed, and there was no lag in the connection.
Features and Software
The Azoth keyboard has some preset shortcuts called secondary keybinds, and you can find them on the bottom of the keycaps. These shortcuts let you do things like switch profiles, record macros, and adjust lighting mode or brightness. With the keyboard’s OLED screen, you can perform various actions directly without any software installation. But, if you want to customize keybindings, lighting modes, or the OLED screen, you’ll need to install Asus’ software called Armoury Crate.
I really don’t like Armoury Crate. In my experience, it’s a complicated and bloated program that causes more problems than it solves. I try not to have it on my PC unless I absolutely have to. This time, even after resisting for as long as possible, I faced issues like constant firmware update prompts and crashes while checking the version.
After multiple restarts, three clean installs, and a lot of troubleshooting, which involved unplugging peripherals and switching between computers, I finally got Armoury Crate to sort out its firmware situation. Then, I could explore the Azoth’s settings.
Most of the Azoth’s keys, except the Fn key, can be programmed, but only on the first layer. It’s a bit disappointing that you can’t program secondary keybinds like Fn shortcuts, especially considering the keyboard’s 75 percent size. This might be something that could be fixed with a firmware update if Armoury Crate can handle it without crashing.
knob and customize the OLED screen
Armoury Crate also lets you set up the control knob and customize the OLED screen on the Azoth. The control knob can cycle through six functions: system volume, media track, keyboard brightness, OLED brightness, switch lighting effect, and a custom option that you can program.
Regarding the OLED screen, you can customize it to show an image or animation (preset or custom), a custom text banner, media information (or an audio visualizer), or date/time/system information. I personally uploaded the first animation I found on my PC, which happened to be a pop cat GIF.
Wireless Experience and Battery life
The ROG Azoth comes with three ways to connect: 2.4 GHz wireless, Bluetooth, and wired using USB-C. Asus claims that the keyboard can last up to an impressive 2,000 hours on a 2.4GHz wireless connection, assuming you turn off the OLED screen and lighting.
I’ve been using the Azoth for around 15 hours since I fully charged it last, and as per Armoury Crate, I still have almost 70% of my battery remaining. This is with the RGB lighting set to 75% brightness and a GIF of a cat popping its mouth open three times a second playing continuously. It might not reach the full 2,000 hours, but I’m certainly impressed.
Conclusion
The Asus ROG Azoth may not be a budget option, as it comes with a $250 price tag, placing it among the top gaming keyboards like the Logitech G915 TKL Wireless and the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless. Despite the high cost, the Azoth offers impressive wireless gaming capabilities with low latency and remarkable battery life, even when using all the fancy features. What sets it apart is the inclusion of hot-swappable switches, delivering an outstanding typing experience. Moreover, it caters to enthusiasts with various accessories for adjusting sound and feel.
Finding a wireless gaming keyboard that combines gamer-centric features like on-the-fly macro recording with a satisfying typing experience can be challenging. However, Asus not only achieves this with the Azoth but excels at it. The Azoth stands out as a superb piece of hardware, though it’s unfortunate that Asus doesn’t show the same dedication to enhancing its software.
The Asus ROG Azoth stands as a top-tier gaming keyboard, delivering impressive wireless performance, hot-swappable switches, and a superb typing experience. While its premium price is justified by the enthusiast-friendly features, the software could benefit from Asus' attention for a flawless overall gaming package.
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Design
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Performance
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Connectivity
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