Introduction

Asus ROG Azoth keyboard

The Asus ROG Azoth keyboard is the one we’re reviewing today. The last one from Asus ROG I had my hands on was the Claymore II (in 2021, a wireless 100% keyboard that earned a “Recommended” award). This time it’s the 75% form factor wireless keyboard initially shown at the CES 2023. What we’ll find interesting about this product? It’s not using the Cherry MX switches. Still, the custom-made ASUS ROG ROG NX (hot-swappable, pre-lubricated) switches are offered here, aimed at gamers and professionals. There are three variants available:

• Red (which we got) – linear and swift
• Brown – ultra tactile
• Blue – clicky & tactile

Azoth is an alternative for people thinking about building their keyboards from the components available on the market. This is not only a part of the chassis, switches, and cups. You also need sound-absorbing gaskets and, silicone inserts, a layer of foam to absorb the energy of the switches. You get here the best DYI components for custom keyboards and the OLED screen that can display helpful (or not so much) information. You get all that and only it (more about it in a moment) in this Asus ROG product. The 75% form factor is even more popular recently than the 60 and 65% (because it’s closer to the TKL).

What else is worth mentioning? You can find the metal top cover with a silicon gasket mount (which gives a more cushioned and pleasant typing feel) and three-layer dampening. The ROG NX mechanical switches are hot-swappable (but it’s better to swap when the keyboard is not powered on) and pre-lubed (like the keyboard stabilizer – it produces less friction, allowing longer keys to deliver keystrokes that stay true to the original switch feel). The keycaps are the PBT Doubleshot type (optimized with mid-heigh, similar to the Cherry profile), and you also get a switch lube kit (it includes a switch opener, keycap puller, switch puller, lube station, brush, and a bottle of Krytox™ GPL-205-GD0 lubricant). We’ve already mentioned the OLED display, which allows intuitive controls. Two pairs of keyboard feet of different heights give it three tilt angles to suit your preference. As for connectivity – there are three modes:

• USB Cable Type-C
• Bluetooth (you can connect up to three devices at the same time)
• RF 2.4 GHz mode with SpeedNova wireless technology

Armoury Crate™ software is used here to control the keyboard capabilities. It includes:

• Macro wizard and editor
• Custom key bindings
• Wide range of RGB features
• Software and Firmware Updater

You can record the macros on-the-fly and map them to fully programmable keys. The onboard memory saves up to six profiles, including up to five custom schemes, and you can use them anytime, anywhere. The 100% anti-ghosting & N-key rollover allows Every keystroke to be registered accurately, no matter how many keys are pressed. MacOS support will enable you to quickly toggle MacOS mode to remap the keys for use with MacBooks and Macs.

As for the pricing, it’s 249.99 USD. Let’s check the Asus ROG Azoth in practice on the following pages.