In today’s review of gaming keyboards, we get to meet the current flagship of the ROG brand, the ROG Azoth. We’ve covered a lot of ROG keyboards in the past year and have experienced a lot of good ones, so what makes the ROG Azoth different? Is it the keyboard to end all keyboards? Is it more affordable than the others? Or is it ultimately a good keyboard to have? Let’s find out in this review!
ROG Azoth Review – Specifications
| Connectivity |
USB 2.0 (TypeC to TypeA)
Bluetooth 5.1 RF 2.4GHz |
| Size (Full/TKL) | 75 TKL |
| Lighting |
RGB Per keys
|
| AURA Sync | Yes |
| Anti-Ghosting |
N Key Rollover
|
| Macro Keys |
All Keys Programmable
|
| USB Report Rate |
(USB Report rate) 1000 Hz
|
| RF 2.4G Report Rate | 1000 Hz |
| USB Pass through | NA |
| Cable |
2M USB type A to C braided cable
|
| OS |
macOS® 10.11 or later
Windows® 11 (tested to work with Windows® 10)
|
| Software | Armoury Crate |
| Weight |
1186g PBT keycaps without cable
|
| Dimensions |
326 x 136 x 40 mm
|
| Color |
Gunmetal
|
| Box Contents |
1 x ROG Azoth, 1 x ROG switch opener, 1 x ROG keycap puller, 1 x ROG switch puller, 1 x lube station, 1 x lube brush, 1 x lube, 3 x ROG NX Switch, 8 x Stabilizer mat, 1 x USB dongle, 1 x USB extender, 1 x USB cable, 1 x ROG sticker, 1 x quick start guide, 1 x warranty booklet
|
ROG Azoth – At A Glance
DIY Lube Kit
Aside from the keyboard itself, you also get a bunch of extras for a fulfilling ROG Azoth experience. Included in the box are tools to replace keys, lube the keys, and a tray to organize them in an assembly line. In addition, ROG also included a nifty video that you can use to orient yourself on how to lube keys if you are still unfamiliar with the process.
ROG Azoth – Notable Features
75% TKL
For those not familiar with the 75 TKL form factor, it stands for 75% Ten Key-Less. It’s way smaller than the usual keyboard and is also a compressed version of the already compact TKL keyboard but not as tiny as a 65% like the ROG Falchion. You won’t see the Navigation/Extra Keys taking a whole lot of space here. If you want to work with something small that fits the coverage of your two hands without having to move your wrist, the 75 TKL form factor is probably for you.
OLED Display & Controls
Finally, we get something more practical. Doing away with the LED billboard seen with the ROG Strix Flare II Animate, we now have a full black and white OLED screen on the keyboard. What does it do? Well, it only displays status and controls such as Volume, LED Brightness, Multimedia Playback, and RGB lighting effects. Quite a lot for simple controls on a keyboard.
Aside from the controls and readable info stated above, you can also manually turn on other stats. You can view fan controls on your motherboard or you can make your own custom menu. In addition, you can even bind the control knob to run certain tasks and programs to your liking.
Use With Three Devices
The ROG Azoth can connect to three devices at a time. However, you can only use it actively only on one device. It can be connected via wireless USB (RF 2.4 Ghz), wired USB 2.0, or via Bluetooth 5.1. This essentially means that a total three PCs/tablets/devices can be partnered with it. You can make use of a switch located on the upper right corner of the ROG Azoth to switch between partner devices.
User Experience
The Lube Experience
Despite having the same ROG NX Blue switches that I currently use for my daily driver, the ROG Azoth sounds a bit softer. This is due to the switches being lubed and this results to a more muted click, giving it more of an audible “thock”. Aside from the difference in sound, the lube also makes the pressing a bit more smooth compared to an “unlubed” ROG NX Blue switch.
Good God, It’s Heavy
What is pretty apparent out of the box is how heavy the ROG Azoth is. It’s way heavier than the ROG Strix Flare II, a standard full-sized keyboard. This also makes the ROG Azoth a good and expensive paperweight.
Look Ma, It Has An OLED Display
IAt first glance at the ROG Azoth, aside from the heart-stopping price tag, you’ll probably notice the OLED display located on its upper right corner. As mentioned above, it gives you a good overview of multimedia information and a bit of controls for volume, playback, and lighting. I found it to be incredibly useful and its location is way better than having it on the upper left corner similar to the ROG Strix Flare II. It’s also a better execution of having lights on your keyboard compared to the ROG Strix Flare II Animate.
Can You Customize The OLED Display?
Yes. You can choose a couple of ready-made ROG-themed animations. You can also display text, a .jpg image, or a .gif. Finally a perfect way to personalize your keyboard.
What’s A Keyboard Enthusiast’s Take On This Keyboard?
Given that I’m not that well-versed when it comes to the custom keyboard hobby, I asked an enthusiast about the ROG Azoth given that it’s being marketed as a highly-customizable keyboard.
The ROG Azoth is a welcome custom keyboard in the niche mechanical keyboard space. With features such as gaskets and foams inside the board to achieve the feel and sound found on mid and high-end bespoke keyboards.
A point of contention for some is the non-compatibility with VIA/QMK software to remap the keys and OLED screen. For me, that’s fine since there’s a separate software for the ROG Azoth.
ROG Azoth Review – Verdict & Conclusion
The ROG Flagship Experience
It’s no mystery as to why ROG is branding the ROG Azoth as their flagship keyboard. It’s great and is hands-down one of the better mechanical keyboards out there. It presents itself well and is composed of hardware that can be deemed as above average in the market. For customization, you wont’ get any better given that it has its own OLED screen to brandish your favorite images or give you a glimpse of necessary info. Unfortunately, like any ROG device/component, this quality and features come at a cost.
Price Tag Above The Rest
Compared to its other ROG gaming keyboard siblings, the ROG Azoth has a pretty steep price tag. However, after consulting with a keyboard hobbyist friend, he can still say that it’s a good deal given that you do get a custom keyboard feel at almost half the cost of a high-end build plus you also get functional features. For custom builders, there may be options to get that can reduce the price to make something similar to the ROG Azoth. But for those not looking to trouble themselves with the assembly and lubing, and just want a working out of the box keyboard with plans to customize it later, the ROG Azoth is a safe bet.
ROG Azoth Flare II Review – Pricing & Availability
The ROG Azoth is available here in the Philippines and you can get them in either red or blue ROG NX switches. It has an SRP of PHP 14,120. Also note that you can hotswap the ROG NX switches for other compatible switches to your liking.
For alternatives, you can check out our review of the following keyboards:
- ROG Strix Flare II (non-Animate but the same keyboard)
- ROG Strix Flare II Animate (This keyboard, just with an LED billboard)
- ROG Strix Scope NX TKL (ROG TKL Keyboard with lots of choices for switches)
- TUF Gaming K3 (Affordable Gaming Keyboard)
- ROG Claymore 2 (ROG Flagship Gaming Keyboard)
- ROG Falchion (65% Form-Factor Keyboard)
To know more about the ASUS ROG Azoth, you can check out the official product here.
