Mechanical Keys And Layout Impressions
The ROG Strix Scope II 96 keyboard features a solid construction with a compact design. Its appearance leans towards a minimalist aesthetic. This keyboard comes with a magnetic wristrest displaying the ROG logo. On the backside, you see a switch for your wires/wireless connectivity options as well as a USB port for that wired function and battery charging. Also, a small dock for the USB dongle can be found here.
Look at the photo below; typically, the delete key ('Del') is found near the Enter key for quick corrections. However, the Strix Scope II 96 has a modified layout where nine keys are eliminated, and four are moved to the top row between function and media control keys. Both the Ctrl and Alt keys are the same dimensions as alphanumeric keys and accommodate the navigation arrows.
An LED strip is positioned between the Enter key and the number pad, indicating functionalities like Caps Lock status and media controls. This new design took some getting used to, as I often mistook the '7' key for delete. The rearranged layout makes the keyboard approximately 20% smaller. The media controls could be improved, given the product's target audience of streamers.
While the keyboard has streamer-focused keys on the first five function keys, the media controls could offer more choices. It provides a scroll wheel and button, but I found their uses to be limited.
The inclusion of the Numpad is beneficial for spreadsheet work, ruling out a tenkeyless board for my needs. However, those who rely on navigation keys might find the design less convenient, while gamers might favour the added mouse space without the number pad. And here is a look under the hood of the keycaps.
The product package contains instruction booklets, a sticker sheet, and practical tools: a keycap/switch puller, an additional ROG space bar, a USB cable, and a dongle holder.
