For a long time, I’ve felt that there was too much of a gulf between the world’s mainstream gaming keyboards and the more audiophile-level options. The world of mechanical keyboards has grown from niche subculture to PC gaming standard – even forums that were once keyboard enthusiasts now have over a million members. With that in mind, companies try to make keyboards appealing to both parties, enabling audiophile functionality without losing the traditional gamer aesthetic or core audience.
It’s a tough line to walk, but Asus seems to have nailed it with their new ROG Azoth keyboard. It balances the traditional nerd appeal of a gaming keyboard—with gorgeous RGB, fun OLED screens, and great wireless connectivity—with enthusiast must-haves like hot-swap switches, a can of lubricant, and a spacer-mounted PCB, with For smoother typing at lower volumes.
Let’s talk design first. The Azoth has the usual Asus ROG allure, with an aggressive look, a ribbed plastic underside that contrasts nicely with the gray aluminum top case, and a mix of metal and plastic that makes the build quality here absolutely superb. Even though this is a 75% smaller keyboard, the Azoth is still pretty heavy at around 1.2kg. So it’s no surprise to learn that there’s no deck flex at all. Conversely, if you run into any intruders in your home and you want to reach for something that will knock them down, the Azoth will be a surefire way…not that I’m suggesting you hit people or anything.
The superior build quality and thoughtful nature of Azoth’s construction also extends to its PBT keycaps. They feel great under your fingers, and the textured finish makes this keyboard a joy to use and helps justify the Azoth’s higher price tag. Additionally, Asus has included a simple switch on the back of the keyboard for selecting between Bluetooth and 2.4GHz wireless modes, rather than making you try to remember an obscure key combination to do the same job; here’s another Bracket for 2.4GHz USB dongle.
The OLED display in the top corner is also a handy innovation (borrowed from SteelSeries’ Apex keyboard) that not only looks cool, but also serves a handy purpose. Here you can view important information such as battery percentage, and control things like media playback and the Azoth’s RGB lighting. The actual display itself is lively and the icons look sharp, while the switch in the upper right corner next to it feels snappy and arguably works better than the more traditional volume wheel.
When you get inside Azoth, though, the frenetic side starts to show a little more. There’s a layer of foam underneath the PCB inside the case to dampen sound and reduce any unwanted case popping – the Azoth’s acoustics are excellent. Plus, its gasket mount helps provide a more resilient but equally satisfying typing experience.
Azoth uses pre-lubricated NX Red switches, aka Asus’ own Cherry MX Red clone, which feel buttery smooth without the slightest scratchiness. That’s thanks in no small part to the fact that they’re pre-lubricated, which helps deepen the sound and smooth the switch. There’s also a complete lube kit in the box if you want to relubricate them yourself; first time I’ve seen something like this included. As lightweight linear switches with a soft 45g actuation force, they also proved to be a solid choice for gaming. CS:GO is my game of choice, and I must say, NX Reds feels great for stock switching.
With that in mind though, you can add any MX style switches you like as long as they have the standard 3 or 5 pin mount, since the board has a hot-swappable PCB. It was just as easy to swap out some MX Clear switches I had lying around for the Azoth, and it completely changed the feel of the keyboard. Having this kind of flexibility makes it a great gateway keyboard for those looking to get into mechanical boards at a higher audiophile level – without the tedious nature of soldering and desoldering switches from the PCB.
I also have to admit that the wireless connection, especially via the bundled wireless receiver, is excellent, making the Azoth feel responsive both in day-to-day work and in gaming afterwards. There’s also the Bluetooth option, which is more battery-friendly but suffers in terms of latency. Asus says the Azoth can last up to 130 hours on a single charge when you turn on the OLED display and no RGB, and more than 2,000 hours on a single charge without the OLED display or RGB. That’s pretty serious stamina.
The Azoth’s lights are also vibrant and look great, but the bundled Armory Crate software used to control it is a bit of a hassle. It’s very slow to do anything and freezes sometimes, but the upside is that the features here might be worth the wait, considering you can control not only the RGB lighting, but also the OLED display to show everything from system info to custom messages.
Then there’s arguably the biggest problem – price. All of these features mean the Azoth doesn’t come cheap, and at £270/$250, it’s one of the most expensive keyboards I’ve tested. Of course, that means it’s not for everyone, especially considering more audiophile-level options from the likes of the Keychron, which offer a very close feature set to the Azoth at slightly more than half the price.
With that in mind, though, the Azoth is one of those products poised to kickstart the trend of bringing more audiophile-style features and functionality into the mainstream — and hopefully at a more “mainstream” price point.
For the Azoth itself, it’s an expensive keyboard, but for all you get in the box, it’s probably worth it. If you decide to change its look or feel later, you can swap out its switches, keycaps, or cables for something that suits you better. After all, that’s the beauty of this hobby.
