Asus Azoth keyboard evaluate: Loopy customization ruined by software program

Keyboards are getting ridiculously costly, and gaming keyboards doubly so. Roccat needs $230 for its greatest keyboard as a result of it’s actually, actually shiny. Corsair’s is $280, as a result of it’s skinny.  Razer’s most costly mannequin is $250, as a result of it’s Razer. Asus needs the identical for the ROG Azoth…however may truly have the ability to justify it. 

See, the Azoth is certainly a gaming keyboard, but it surely’s additionally a mechanical fanatic keyboard. It’s packing all of the high-end options like a rotary wheel, pre-lubed switches, PBT keycaps, built-in case foam. And on high of that it additionally has some severe gaming chops, together with a considerably bodacious built-in OLED display. I haven’t seen a kind of since earlier than mechanical keyboards grew to become the norm. 

Finest Costs In the present day: Asus ROG Azoth keyboard

$249.99

$249.99

Is it value it? Effectively, sure…when you’re within the very particular area of interest of wanting each an enthusiast-grade mechanical keyboard and a high-end wi-fi gaming keyboard. It’s additionally a reasonably nice start line if you wish to dive into the deep finish of the mechanical keyboard customizing scene. However a few of its signature options—the display and three-way knob specifically—are let-downs. And the horrible software program truly manages to make in any other case good {hardware} materially worse. 

Additional studying: See our roundup of the very best gaming keyboards to find out about competing merchandise.

Asus Azoth options

For the sake of brevity, I’m going to record out the options of the Azoth as a substitute of describing them in prose. As a result of I ain’t bought all day, and neither do you. 

• USB, 2.4GHz wi-fi, and triple-device Bluetooth connection
• Fashionable 75% structure (solely the suitable Shift secret’s non-standard) 
• Excessive-quality PBT keycaps 
• Pre-lubed ROG NX switches and stabilizers 
• Sizzling-swap change sockets 
• RGB lighting 
• OLED display for controls, animations, and system information 
• Three-way management knob 
• Gasket mounting 
• Triple-layer inside case foam 
• Aluminum-polycarbonate physique with dual-stage keyboard ft 
• Onboard reminiscence and on-the-fly macro recording 
• Change lubing equipment included 

That may be a lot of keyboard options, even for the excessive $250 price ticket. It covers roughly all the pieces you could possibly ever need out of each a high-end gaming keyboard and a high-end, pre-made mechanical keyboard, with the doable exception of oddballs like optical switches. “Azoth,” an historic alchemical time period for an end-all, be-all treatment, an “endgame” drugs if you’ll, is suitable. 

I actually can’t determine what’s the extra outlandish characteristic: an OLED display (beforehand seen years in the past on units just like the Logitech G19, or in a more moderen modular type in Corsair’s iCue Nexus) or a built-in station that helps you disassemble and lube your switches. And sure, the equipment consists of lube and a brush. 

What’s the display on the Asus Azoth for?

Let’s concentrate on that display, because it’s the obvious standout characteristic. It’s about two inches diagonal, black and white solely—as a result of colour would simply be ridiculous, proper?—and paired with what Asus calls a “control knob” sitting on the suitable facet of the board. This features a little toggle that may additionally click on in, along with an enormous, spherical facet button. It’s NOT a wheel, although it’s the place you’d anticipate a wheel to be on a keyboard like this. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

The display switches between pre-programmed features with a press of the large facet button, at which level the toggle does various things. Urgent the button will cycle via quantity adjustment, multimedia controls, lighting brightness, OLED display brightness, and the keyboard’s RGB lighting impact. 

You is likely to be pondering, “Hey, there’s nothing in there that I can’t control with standard function keys.” By which case, you’re proper! However on high of a brand new and extra visible approach to management all these features, when not in energetic use the OLED display can show system information like your CPU and GPU temperatures, present a music equalizer, a little bit of {custom} scrolling textual content, or in its most superfluous mode, a pre-made or {custom} animation. These are, principally, display savers. 

Frankly, I discovered the display an especially superfluous addition to the keyboard. The one actual profit is a continuing readout of system data, which might simply as simply be proven in-game overlays on the monitor—you understand, that factor your eyes are already taking a look at. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

However I’d have the ability to ignore this, if it weren’t for the knob. See, in going with a toggle with a click-in operate (type of like a thumbstick on a contemporary sport controller), Asus has virtually actually re-invented the rotary wheel. That click-in operate—which defaults to a mute button in my most popular quantity setting—is extraordinarily finicky, and I usually discovered myself urgent it whereas attempting to boost or decrease the amount. Ergonomically, it’s a step backwards from the extra frequent wheel design. 

In the direction of the top of my testing interval, I discovered myself going to my custom-bound mouse controls, holding down a thumb button and utilizing the mouse scroll wheel, to vary my quantity. Let me repeat that: I went to a sub-function of mouse controls moderately than the devoted knob that’s alleged to make this operate simpler. That’s an enormous L when it comes to usability. So probably the most distinctive elements of this keyboard’s bodily design, the display and the knob, are superfluous at greatest and actively detrimental at worst.

How is the Asus Azoth as a mechanical board? 

As talked about above, the Azoth ticks just about each single field within the premium boutique mechanical keyboard guidelines. Our evaluate unit got here with Asus’ {custom} NX Brown switches, that are certainly a good bit smoother than abnormal tactile Browns, presumably owing to being lubed from the manufacturing facility. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

The triple-layered inside foam is spectacular—much more than you normally get with premium designs—although considerably wasted with tactile switches. If you would like a “silent” construct it is a excellent spot to start out, simply swap out the switches for one thing with some sound damping and also you’ll have it about as quiet as it could actually get. The stabilizers are pre-lubed as properly for some good, easy journey, and even the area beneath the area bar has some extra-generous foam. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

Stylistically, I’m not in love with the board. The PBT keycaps really feel good, a really tough texture that’s nice for typing. However the legends are very arduous to identify when the backlight isn’t on, and the white printing on the numerical and performance keys clashes with the all-black gamer look. The case has quite a lot of extraneous geometry, very consistent with the ROG theme, however I just like the easy-to-find energy mode change and useful USB dongle each on the highest facet. Each are nice selections for a board that makes an excellent touring companion. It’s undoubtedly chunky and heavy, however lower than it might need been because of a plastic backside. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

When it comes to typing, I discovered no faults. The personalized switches and gasket mounting give it a premium really feel with medium give. And when you didn’t perceive that sentence, that’s high-quality, please indulge me in my keyboard nerddom: It’s good. However you’ll must forgive me once more, as a result of Asus embody a complete additional set of instruments on high of the same old keycap and change puller—a bona fide change lubing station. 

Asus Azoth change lubing equipment

For the uninitiated, it’s doable to (very fastidiously and slowly) disassemble all of the plastic elements in a keyboard change and lube them as much as make them really feel much more easy, optionally changing bits just like the stem or the spring from different switches. For these with the time, cash, and saintly persistence, this creates an extremely {custom} expertise. It’s the keyboard equal of custom-tuning your automobile. And whilst a self-avowed mechanical keyboard nut who’s constructed a number of of his personal by hand, I admit I’ve by no means gone this far. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

The lubing station consists of a plastic brace to carry your change, a grabber device that can assist you pull it aside and put it again collectively, a tray on which to relaxation your disassembled switches, a brush, and a small little bit of lube in a tube. It must be famous once more right here that each one the switches that include the board and even the stabilizers (these additional bits underneath the lengthy keycaps) are pre-lubed, so when you stick to the Asus switches, you received’t must mess with any of this for six months to a yr. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

And also you received’t want to take action after that both, as a result of lubing switches is one thing that solely probably the most obsessive keyboard nerds do. However seen as an inclusion for a set that’s meant as an entry level for final customization, it’s a pleasant bonus. Maybe not so good that I might have paid additional for it, however I actually doubt that’s the case right here—if something’s pushing the worth up it’s that display. 

How is the Asus Azoth software program?

So we’ve established that the Azoth is spectacular as a boutique-grade mechanical board. How is it for gaming? Once more, fairly darn good. The tactile switches that got here with our evaluate unit aren’t ultimate for fast-paced gameplay, however they’re so easy that I actually didn’t thoughts. The two.4GHz connection and 1,000Hz polling charge are perfect for a wi-fi board, the battery lasts per week with the lights on and a couple of U.S. election cycle with the lights off. All fairly nice. 

There’s one enormous draw back for the Azoth, and it applies to each typing lovers and players. It’s Asus Armoury Crate, the administration and driver program. Usually I discover even the worst of those are not less than simple to disregard when you’ve arrange your settings the primary time, however that OLED display required a bit extra testing and tweaking. And by the way, it’s most likely why it was not possible to make use of one thing common like VIA or QMK, as much less gamer-focused boards do. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

And Armoury Crate is, in no unsure phrases, crap. I by no means managed to open the rattling program with out not less than a minute of ready. Every time I did, it wished to replace my motherboard (additionally from Asus, and also you surprise why I haven’t put in its Home windows driver program?). 

Simply discovering the a part of this system that truly manages the keyboard is a ache, as a result of this factor can also be attempting to serve up adverts for various Asus {hardware}, create system-wide app-based efficiency profiles, set Asus-brand desktop wallpaper, launch video games from completely different PC sport shops (in a number of tabs, for some purpose), and promote me video games in these shops! 

Asus, what absolutely the hell? You understand you’re making units for PC players, proper? PC players who hate software program bloat that slows down their methods? Who do you assume goes to a driver program trying to purchase new PC video games?! 

Michael Crider/Foundry

As soon as I managed to truly get into the a part of this program that’s designed to handle the keyboard itself, it’s serviceable. Extraordinarily gradual and annoying, however serviceable, and it’s the one method you’re going to customise that display and management knob. However good grief, that is the worst software program I’ve ever needed to cope with for a PC peripheral, and it’s actively discouraging me from attempting different Asus {hardware}. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

Asus, strip all of the pointless crap out of Armoury Crate on the earliest alternative. Failing that, launch a model that solely manages your {hardware}, and doesn’t attempt to do the rest to Home windows. Or promote me stuff. Good freakin’ grief. 

Is the Asus Azoth value it?

Asus positions the ROG Azoth as each an entry level for many who wish to get into the premium, customizable mechanical keyboard world, and an “endgame” for a similar individuals, an end-all, be-all of mechanical keyboards. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

It isn’t that. Frankly, anybody who’s that obsessive about keyboards goes to go to a bunch purchase or construct their very own. And when you’re simply interested in this market, you’re not able to drop triple digits on a keyboard anyway—try the wonderful and frugal G.Ability KM250, and use the distinction to purchase some enjoyable video games. Or perhaps a lubing station and a few additional switches, when you’re actually all-in on the customization.

However as a $250 various to different super-premium keyboards that supply lots much less performance, like Corsair’s K100 Air, the Azoth is fairly good. Premium supplies, an excellent structure, and good extras just like the lubing equipment make this a good center floor between a premium keyboard for players and for obsessive tweakers. I may take or depart the flowery display, and I’d a lot moderately have an everyday dial — perhaps a less expensive “Azoth Lite” mannequin with out the OLED and a extra typical dial could be a good suggestion. 

Michael Crider/Foundry

It’s only a disgrace that an in any other case respectable expertise is ruined by such horrible software program. And due to the character of the display and knob, you’ll don’t have any alternative however to interact with them not less than a few of the time. Asus wants to repair Armoury Crate, or eliminate it completely and substitute it with one thing smaller and fewer scatterbrained. It’s actively hurting the {hardware} it’s alleged to be enhancing.