Asus ROG Azoth Review: Specifications And Price

 Introduction

Finding the best gaming keyboard can be quite a challenge, but we may have stumbled upon a real gem, and it's only been on the market for a month!

When we first laid eyes on the Asus ROG Azoth keyboard at CES 2023, we were impressed enough to grant it our Best In Show award. However, it's safe to say that the Azoth has exceeded our initial expectations. Not only does it boast an appealing black-and-gray color scheme, a departure from Asus' typically aggressive, gamer-focused design with its trademark angry-red-eye branding, but it also delivers an exceptional tactile and auditory experience. It's almost as if a top-tier enthusiast's custom keyboard kit went on a gaming spree and got hooked on Fortnite, and I must say, I'm completely taken by it.

Now, I must admit that it doesn't come cheap, with the ROG Azoth retailing at $250, but it's undeniably one of the finest gaming keyboards on the market.

Specifications

Switches: ROG NX Red

Lighting: Per-key RGB illumination

Onboard Storage: Available for up to 6 profiles

Media Keys: OLED Display with control knob/button for multimedia functions

Game Mode: Enabled

Connectivity: 2.4GHz wireless, Bluetooth, and wired (USB-C) options

Additional Ports: None

Keycaps: Double-shot PBT material

Construction: Metal top plate with a plastic chassis

Software: Utilizes Armoury Crate

Dimensions (LxWxH): 12.83 x 5.35 x 1.57 inches or 326 x 136 x 40mm

Weight: 2.61 pounds or 1186 grams

Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP): $250.00

Pros And Cons

Advantages:

+Strong and durable construction

+Has the quality and feel of a board for enthusiasts

+Includes a generous assortment of accessories

+The OLED screen is appealing and adaptable

+Impressive battery performance

Drawbacks:

-The Armoury Crate software is not good!

-The keycaps can be somewhat slick

-Limited to just one programmable layer

Design 

The ROG Azoth stands as a compact, wireless mechanical keyboard utilizing a gasket mount design, boasting a 75 percent form factor. It's designed to be smaller than the typical tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard, measuring a mere 12.83 inches (326mm) in length, which is more than an inch shorter than the 14-inch SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL. However, this reduction in size doesn't compromise its functionality, unlike more compact 60 percent or 65 percent keyboards.

Despite its diminutive size, the ROG Azoth is constructed with exceptional durability. It features a robust metal top plate in an attractive gunmetal gray finish, complemented by dual-tone doubleshot PBT keycaps. Beneath the top plate, the Azoth employs a plastic chassis, which Asus insists is essential for maintaining optimal wireless performance.

This plastic chassis is notably sturdy, preserving the keyboard's overall build quality. The Azoth impressively weighs 2.61 pounds (1186g), exuding a solid feel throughout. On the rear of the keyboard, you'll find two sets of flip-out feet that offer additional height adjustment.

An animated grayscale OLED screen, measuring two inches, occupies the upper right corner of the keyboard. Adjacent to the screen, there's a three-way control knob and button combination, allowing you to fine-tune various onboard settings, such as brightness and lighting effects, as well as control multimedia functions. The screen is versatile, capable of displaying keyboard-related information (e.g., battery life), system parameters, and customized visuals and animations, all configurable using Asus' peripheral software, Armoury Crate.

On the rear side of the Azoth keyboard, you will find the controls for connecting it to other devices. There's a power switch that lets you switch between 2.4GHz wireless mode and Bluetooth mode. You'll also notice a 2.4GHz wireless dongle that's plugged into a storage slot, as well as a USB-C port for charging and connecting with a cable.

When you get the keyboard, it comes with a whole box full of extra things. These include a 6.5-foot (2m) braided USB-C to USB-A cable, a USB extender, a tool for removing keycaps, a tool for removing switches, and a do-it-yourself switch lubrication kit. The kit for lubricating the switches includes a lubricant called Krytox GPL205-GD0, a tool for opening switches, a station for applying lubricant, a brush, and some extra switches. (Don't worry, Asus also provides a QR code that links to a video tutorial on how to use the lubrication kit.) The collection of extra accessories is not made up of particularly expensive or hard-to-find items, but it's a really nice addition, especially for a high-quality gaming keyboard that's aimed at a wide audience.

Typing and Gaming Experience

The ROG Azoth keyboard has a unique construction known as a gasket mount design. It incorporates silicone gaskets to cushion the PCB, and it includes three layers of dampening foam and silicone to absorb sound and vibrations from the keyboard, resulting in an impressive sound quality, especially when compared to other common gaming keyboards. This doesn't mean that popular gaming keyboards like Razer's Huntsman V2 or SteelSeries' Apex Pro TKL sound bad, but the Azoth sets itself apart in terms of audio experience.

Even my spouse noticed the difference in sound when using the Azoth keyboard. All he mentioned was that it sounded "nice" and "better than your previous one." This is quite a compliment since he usually only comments on my keyboards with sarcastic remarks like "Did you install some kind of special keyboard modification, like removing a muffler from a car?" or "Is this your way of getting back at the neighbor who thought 'writer' was a code for 'unemployed'?"

Typing on the Azoth is also an exceptional experience. The gasket mount design provides just the right amount of flexibility for comfortable typing without feeling too soft. The model we reviewed came with Asus' ROG NX Red (linear) switches, which offer smooth keypresses without a tactile bump or audible click. (The Azoth is also available with NX Brown (tactile) or NX Blue (clicky) switches.)

The NX Reds switches come with a 40g actuation force and a 1.8mm actuation point, which makes them a bit lighter and shorter compared to the well-known Cherry MX Red linear switches, which have a 45g actuation force and a 2mm actuation point. I found the NX Reds to be a tad too light and lacking in substance, so I replaced them with clicky Kailh Box White switches using the keycap removal tool and switch remover provided by Asus.

After switching the switches, typing on the Azoth keyboard was truly exceptional. Every keypress felt consistent and precise, striking the perfect balance between flexibility and rigidity without feeling overly springy. I was particularly impressed by the uniformity and reliability of keys like the spacebar, shift, and enter, which feature pre-lubricated ROG-branded stabilizers that have been specifically optimized for gamers.

The Azoth keyboard features matte black keycaps with illuminated primary labels and secondary labels that are printed on. These keycaps are of medium height, which Asus compares to the Cherry profile keycaps, and they have slightly textured, curved tops. They are crafted from doubleshot PBT material, but I did notice they were a bit slippery. Although I didn't experience any problems with finger slippage or typing accuracy, if you tend to have sweaty hands, it might be a good idea to consider replacing them with more grippy keycaps.

Don't be fooled by the enthusiast-level typing experience of the Azoth keyboard; it's still a dedicated gaming keyboard through and through. Its specifications are on par with other high-end wireless gaming keyboards: it supports n-key rollover, boasts a 1,000 Hz polling rate, offers tri-mode connectivity with low-latency 2.4GHz wireless, and features fully customizable keys with on-the-fly macro recording.

The Azoth keyboard is swift, responsive, and dependable during gaming sessions, whether you're connected to your PC or using it wirelessly. I found myself feeling unwell enough that I couldn't focus on work, but I was able to power through a backlog of approximately 23 impromptu Steam sale games with ease. I encountered no missed keypresses, and there was not even the slightest hint of connection lag throughout my gaming experience.

Features and Software

The Azoth keyboard comes with a few preset secondary keybinds (Fn shortcuts) that you can find on the bottom side of the keycaps. These shortcuts allow you to switch profiles, record macros, and adjust lighting modes and brightness. You can use these shortcuts along with the Azoth's built-in OLED screen to perform various functions directly from the keyboard without needing any additional software. However, if you want to customize keybindings, lighting settings, or the OLED screen, you'll have to install Asus' peripheral software, known as Armoury Crate.

I strongly dislike Armoury Crate. I can honestly say that I've never had a positive experience with Armoury Crate. It's a complex and bloated program that I prefer not to have on my PC unless it's absolutely necessary. I resisted installing it for as long as possible this time, and when I finally did, it didn't come as a surprise that I encountered numerous issues. The most notable problem was the constant request to update the Azoth's firmware, followed by crashes during the update process.

After several restarts, three clean installations, and a lot of frustrating troubleshooting, which included unplugging all peripherals and switching between computers multiple times, I was eventually able to get Armoury Crate to sort out its firmware issues long enough for me to access the Azoth's settings.

Most of the Azoth keyboard's keys, except for the Fn key, can be customized. 

However, it's a bit disappointing that you can only program the first layer of keys. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a way to customize secondary key functions like Fn key shortcuts. This feels like a significant omission, especially considering the keyboard's compact 75 percent size. It's possible that this could be addressed through a firmware update if Armoury Crate can handle such updates without any issues.

You can also use Armoury Crate to configure the control knob and personalize the OLED screen on the Azoth keyboard. The control knob can be configured to cycle through six functions: adjusting system volume, controlling media playback, changing keyboard brightness, modifying OLED screen brightness, switching lighting effects, and creating a custom function of your choice.

Regarding the OLED screen, you have the option to customize it to display various content. This includes preset or custom images/animations, a personalized text banner, media information (or an audio visualizer), or the date, time, and system status information. I uploaded the first animation I found on my computer, which happened to be a pop cat GIF.

Wireless Experience and Battery life 

The ROG Azoth offers three different ways to connect: wireless at 2.4 GHz, Bluetooth, and wired using USB-C. Asus claims that when using the 2.4GHz wireless connection without the OLED screen and lighting on, the keyboard can last for an impressive 2,000 hours on a single charge.

I've been using the Azoth for approximately 15 hours since the last full charge, and according to Armoury Crate, my battery is still nearly 70% charged. Keep in mind that I have the RGB lighting set to 75% brightness, and a GIF of a cat repeatedly opening its mouth is playing at a rate of three times per second. While it's not the full 2,000 hours, I'm certainly impressed with the battery life.

Bottom Line

The Asus ROG Azoth is not a budget option. It costs $250, which puts it among the most expensive gaming keyboards. It's in the same league as other top models like the Logitech G915 TKL Wireless and the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless. However, the Azoth offers some impressive features. It has fast wireless gaming capabilities and a long-lasting battery, even when using all the advanced settings. Additionally, it caters to enthusiasts with its ability to change switches easily, providing a great typing experience. It also comes with a range of accessories to customize the sound and feel.

Finding a wireless gaming keyboard that caters to gamers' needs while also providing a great typing experience can be quite challenging. However, Asus has managed to do just that with the Azoth. It not only meets these criteria but excels at them. The Azoth is a top-notch piece of hardware. It's a shame that Asus hasn't put the same level of effort into improving its software.

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