Jacob Roach / Digital Trends

I was n’t expecting a new rendering of Asus ’ excellentROG Azoth keyboard , but that ’s on the dot what I saw atComputex 2024 . The aptly named ROG Azoth Extreme is an upgrade version of the understructure example , fit with a rooms of change and operation improvement desirable of the Extreme tag .

As a licence keyboard snob that care to mess with board like theMeletrix BOOG75andKeychron Q1 HE , the Azoth Extreme face an interesting quandary . It has all the hallmarks of a mainstream gaming keyboard , but with lot of enthusiast steering . In some way , such as the adjustable gasket , it even goes beyond what you’re able to find in the DIY market .

A complete refresh

Let ’s get familiarize first . The ROG Azoth Extreme uses the same foundation as the original model . You ’re getting hot - swappable keys , a gasket saddle horse , and pre - lubed ROG key switches , along with an OLED display . The foundation is the same , but Asus is taking this model so much further .

One orbit where that ’s immediately apparent is the wireless potentiality . You ’re still getting a 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connection , but a new dongle from Asus allows the keyboard to run at an 8,000Hz polling pace wirelessly . It ’s hard enough to obtain an enthusiast - gradation keyboard that does radiocommunication , much less one that can do so at an 8,000Hz polling charge per unit likecompetitive gaming mice .

Asus ’ new adapter that enables the 8,000Hz polling rate actually works with a ton of Asus peripheral equipment , including the original ROG Azoth . Asus says it project to release the dongle on its own some fourth dimension in the future .

In addition to a faster polling pace , the Azoth Extreme comes with a new OLED display . It can now exhibit colors — the original model was limited to disgraceful - and - white — and it ’s a touchscreen . you’re able to swipe through your setting with ease , and Asus even add together some new widgets . One that stands out is the keystrokes per second thought , which present you how fast you may fly across the keyboard in regular recurrence games or militant strategy game likeStarcraft 2 .

By far the most interesting ascent is the adjustable gasket , though . Under the keyboard , there ’s a on-off switch for the gasket mount , which makes it tighter or looser . Asus tell me it adjusts the peak of the substitution dental plate within the keyboard , commute the flavour while type .

It makes a immense deviation . Asus says there ’s a good reason for the adjustable gasket , too . The ship’s company pointed to the variance in DIY keyboards with a gasket mountain , and how you are n’t able to get a consistent feel even with identical component . That ’s why there ’s a electrical switch here . It ease up you alteration points so you may get the correct feeling .

The feel

allow ’s talk about that palpate . The ROG Azoth Extreme feel fantastic , at least as good as the original . It sounds great , too — though , admittedly , it was difficult to find out clearly in the crowd together demo room . Although Asus could ’ve well gotten away with the same overall habitus as the base ROG Azoth , it redesign the internals .

You ’re now get a carbon fiber replacement plate , as well as three unlike points of intelligent preoccupation . The result is a keyboard that unfeignedly feels enthusiast mark . The gasket saddle horse aid the feel , provide some bound while typing , and the internal structure backs up the sound , getting disembarrass of the annoying pinging and clacking you line up with less mechanically skillful keyboard .

That sound absorption is important , too . The ROG Azoth Extreme is constructed entirely of Al , and it ’s goodish . Although the pilot had an aluminum top , it still had plastic at the bottom of the board . This meter around , Asus is using aluminum everywhere .

That includes the fundament . or else of gaudy plastic feet , Asus includes three yoke of metal feel that magnetically snatch up to the bottom of the keyboard . They count fantastical , and although they are n’t strictly necessary , they definitely assist the ROG Azoth Extreme feel more , well , extreme .

One question remains

I ca n’t wait to get the ROG Azoth Extreme in for testing . The original model remains one of the most telling mainstream keyboards I ’ve ever used , and this update Extreme version looks even better . Still , one big question remains .

We do n’t have pricing or handiness details for the ROG Azoth Extreme yet . The meanspirited model already come in at $ 250 , and I have to imagine the Extreme interlingual rendition will be more expensive . It might be worth that price , but I hope the keyboard is n’t so expensive that it ’s out of the question even for high - end exploiter .