Ever wondered if you can just split your keyboard in half without going through grief and anger? ASUS ROG has that covered. With their latest gaming keyboard, the ROG Falcata, you get a keyboard that’s split in half and has a surprising amount of features in it. Thankfully, we were able to get the ROG Falcata to review and test. Is it just a gimmick straight out of ROG’s design department? A product of madness and boredom? Or is it actually a great gaming keyboard that’s just so good it needs to be split? Read on!
| Specs | Details |
|---|---|
| Key Switch | ROG HFX V2 Magnetic Switch |
| Connectivity | USB 2.0 (TypeC to TypeA) RF 2.4GHz Bluetooth 5 |
| Lighting | RGB Per keys |
| Aura Sync | Yes |
| Anti-Ghosting | N Key Rollover |
| Macro Keys | All Keys Programmable |
| USB Report Rate | (USB Report rate) 8000 Hz |
| Profile Hot Keys | Fn + 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 (Default) |
| Lighting Effects Hot Keys | Fn + Arrow Key (Left, Right) |
| Brightness Setting Hot Keys | Fn + Arrow Key (Up, Down) |
| Clear On-Board Memory Hot Keys | Fn + Esc |
| Macro Hot Keys | Fn + L-Alt |
| Media Hot Keys | Fn + F5 – F11 |
| RF 2.4G Report Rate | 8000 Hz |
| Cable | 1 x USB type C to C braided cable,2 x Type C to C link cable |
| OS | Windows® 11 |
| Software | Armoury Crate |
| Dimensions | 327mm x 127mm x 38mm (without wrist rests) |
| Weight | 968g (without cable and wrist rests) |
| Color | Black |
| Contents | 1 x ROG Falcata, 2 x Wrist rest,8 x Keyboard feet,1 x Keycap puller, 1 x USB cable, 2 x Link cable, 6 x Screw, 1 x Extender, 1 x USB-C to A adapter, 1 x Allen Wrench, 1 x ROG sticker,1 x Ctrl keycap, 1 x Quick start guide, 1 x Warranty booklet. |
The left side of the keyboard is the main contact for both the PC and the ROG Falcata itself. For the keyboard to be connected to the PC via cable, the cable must be connected to the left keyboard. While the USB 2.4 GHz dongle has a dock on the right-hand keyboard, it does directly connect to the left keyboard to function.
What makes the ROG Falcata stand out is that it’s a gaming keyboard that’s split in two. While definitely not a new concept as some keyboards have already done this in the past, the ROG Falcata aims to introduce the gaming features found in high-end, premium ROG keyboards into the mix. While you can use it as a standard gaming keyboard, it connects the two parts via a series of magnets located at where the split occurs. Think of it as an ROG Azoth that can be split into two, it has switches that do mean business, and it has a boatload of features that are actually useful and practical. Which then leads us to…
The controls located at the left-hand side of the ROG Falcata allows the user to easily access its unique features. Simply pressing the ROG button on the top-left changes the active setting and through the roller, the settings adjustments can be fine-tuned. This means that most settings can be done on the fly without having to navigate through screens and menus just to configure the keyboard. Pretty handy if you use multiple devices as the settings are stored inside the ROG Falcata and not in the companion software.
The ROG Falcata, if connected via its wireless 2.4Ghz dongle, boasts an 8,000 Hz report rate. This means that the in each second, the ROG Falcata reports back 8,000 times to its host, making readings of each button press precise and leaving no room for errors when transmitting it. With this number, this makes the ROG Falcata on par with most gaming keyboard’s wired report rate.
The ROG Falcata already weighs at around 1kg without the wrist rest and cables installed. But when the wrist rests are installed, the weight increases substantially. The wrist rests are actually what makes the overall package heavy and while it does an awesome job of keeping your wrists safe and pristine, it does include weighty brackets which makes this keyboard a permanent fixture on any desk.
“Rapid Trigger” is how ASUS ROG calls its new feature on gaming keyboards. Say you are strafing in a first-person shooter game and you would constantly press between buttons A and D a couple of times in a single second. For normal keys to be pressed again, they need to reach a certain distance to “reset”, Rapid Trigger shortens this reset trip. This results in allowing the keyboard to reliably translate the multiple rapid presses into their own interactions, giving the player an edge in competitive FPS games. Good thing about this is that the ROG Falcata has the WASD buttons configured for rapid trigger out of the box. If you use different buttons for strafing, you can easily modify them using Gear Link. It’s also incredibly easy to turn on as you just turn a knob located on the top-left shoulder of the keyboard
In some ways, yes. The ROG Falcata’s split design allows the user to angle it depending on user preference. This also opens the possibility to just use the left-hand side of the keyboard, making it perfect to FPS games. This also requires almost half the desk space needed for a typical keyboard and mouse setup.
Typing with just half a keyboard can get weird at first because it actually is. It may take you time to adjust but then again, there’s the option to just go back to a normal keyboard. You can use the split or half setup only if you feel like it’s necessary for the task that you have. Furthermore, typing with your keyboard can be quite jarring initially as you try to fumble with two keyboards at once.
As you need to use the included cable to connect the two parts of the ROG Falcata, it does look a bit out of place if you use the keyboard in its standard form. The cable just sits there, reminding you to split it into two some time. If you want a clean look without any cables, this is not the keyboard that you are looking for.
One of the main selling points of the ROG Falcata is its ROG Hall Sensor and HFX V2 Magnetic Switch combo. Users can simply roll the wheel located to the left of the keyboard to instantly adjust the actuation. While you can do this more reliably using the browser-based settings, Gearlink, the ability to do this on the fly is simply amazing.
You can adjust how a key should start responding depending on when you want it and how you want it. No need to fumble with multiple switches and look for the perfect one. Just this single one would do. But it does come at a price.
Unlike most gaming keyboards, even ones from ROG, the ROG Falcata requires a bit of time to set up. You have to screw in the stands and you also have to install the brackets for the wrist rests. Afterwards, you also have to screw in the stands. In addition to that, you have to make use of an included USB cable to connect the two parts of the keyboard. It’s also worth noting that some screws are so small that you can lose them if you’re not careful enough.
Since reviewing a lot of ASUS peripherals, we’ve been very wary of the spitefulness and the unreliability of their ASUS Armoury Crate app, a controller for all things ASUS on your PC. It’s great when it works and it’s downright bad when it does not. Their pivot to Gear Link, an online site where-in you can use your browser to configure your compatible ASUS peripherals, including the ROG Falcata. In the site, you can set up the ROG Falcata’s RGB lighting, actuation parameters, and even modify Rapid Trigger. The great thing about it all is that you can virtually do this anywhere as long as you have an internet connection.
The ROG Falcata, while looking strange and odd most of the time, is a very viable and effective keyboard. It’s easy to handle and the customization options are mind-blowing. You can even say that it’s made to be a gaming keyboard that lasts given that you can set it up to do various things. It’s a literal all-in-one package that manages to deliver. Be it split or as a standard keyboard, you do have what you mostly need here. Oh and it’s also wireless.
Unfortunately, such convenience do come at a cost. And it’s ROG, so you also get the brand tax. With its price, the ROG Falcata can be considered a luxury for most gamers out there. It’s commanding a price that can buy an average user multiple keyboards for various use cases featured in this split-keyboard hybrid. That being said, it’s still an ROG gaming keyboard that has the bells and whistles, conveniences, and also the options that a typical and competitive gamer would usually need.
The ROG Falcata is available locally and has an SRP of PhP 19,590.
If you fancy a more expensive gaming keyboard, check out our ROG Azoth Extreme review. Or if you want a keyboard that’s small and compact, best read our ROG Falchion Ace HFX review.
