ASUS ROG STRIX Scope keyboard review - Mechanical Cherry Keys

All keys are mechanical, in our case making use of Cherry MX red RGB backlit switches. The idea behind mechanical switches is that they give a key press a more perceptible feel than the standard rubber membrane used in cheaper keyboards yet offering fast performance. Gamers overall prefer mechy's very much over dome based keys and ever since the past year or two mechanical keyboards have been on the rise. The keyboard registers ALL keys pressed at once, as such this is a full key rollover. 

The RGB Cherry MX speed switches should be able to withstand over 50 million key presses, personally, I stopped counting after 46 clicks, so I'll just have to trust that assessment. Each key switch is mounted directly on a top plate that ensures structural rigidity, topped with a translucent ABS laser-etched keycap to enable back-lighting. No PBT Double-shot keycaps though.

 
Back-lighting on a Cherry MX switch is much sharper than that of a membrane keyboard because each key is lit by an individual LED and not in an array. This means that if the user removes the keycap, he or she should see an LED directly under it that maximizes the lighting effect. Our keyboard houses Red Cherry MX switches (you can tell by the red colored keycap holder). Cherry offers many switches these days with silent and speed being the new ones. 

Each color switch feels different and Corsair actually has will likely make this keyboard become available in several color switches (for your personal preference). Cherry red is the most common preferred switch type. The keys overall are curved a little and are fairly slippery which gives them a unique feel. But since we see them activated here, let's talk about the LED back-lighting a little shall we?