The ROG Azoth Review: A Gamer’s Dream Keyboard That Almost Feels Custom
When my girlfriend surprised me with the ROG Azoth (or "Night Demon," as it’s dramatically nicknamed), I was skeptical. As a longtime split-keyboard enthusiast who values ergonomics, I never thought a "gaming" keyboard could win me over. But the Azoth isn’t just another flashy peripheral—it’s a thoughtfully designed 75% wireless mechanical keyboard with legitimately clever features. After two weeks of coding, writing, and yes, even gaming, here’s why it’s now my daily driver (despite a few quirks).
Kevin Zeng**Design & Build: Where "Gamer" Meets "Grown-Up"**
The Azoth avoids the RGB-overload typical of gaming gear. Its matte black case and subtle red accents feel premium, and the gasket-mounted design gives keys a satisfyingly bouncy yet stable feel. The 2-inch OLED screen is more than a gimmick—it displays battery life, connection mode, and even custom animations (I set mine to show a tiny Pac-Man). The three-way knob is genius: twist for volume, press for mute, or tilt left/right to skip tracks.
**Typing Experience: From Suspicion to Addiction**
I’m picky about switches, but ROG’s new "Snow White" linear switches surprised me. They’re buttery smooth with a 45g actuation force—lighter than Cherry MX Reds but with less wobble. The 75% layout takes getting used to (I kept missing the arrow keys at first), but the programmable layers saved me. Assigning a redo shortcut (Ctrl+Shift+Z) to a dedicated key was a game-changer for editing documents. Oddly, the degree symbol (°) requires a function layer—annoying for weather apps, but fixable via customization.
**Wireless & Battery: No More "Low Power" Panic**
The 2,000-hour battery claim isn’t marketing fluff. With RGB off, I’ve gone three weeks without charging. The tri-mode connectivity (USB-C, Bluetooth 5.2, 2.4GHz) is flawless—I Bluetooth-pair it to my iPad for travel, then instantly switch back to my PC. The 8KHz polling rate is overkill unless you’re an esports pro, but hey, zero input lag never hurts.
**Gripes? Of Course.**
- **Price:** At $200+, it’s steep for non-enthusiasts.
- **Software:** Armoury Crate is bloated. I’d kill for a web-based configurator.
- **Weight:** The aluminum top case makes it heavy (1.1kg)—not ideal for portability.
**Final Verdict**
The Azoth bridges the gap between gaming performance and productivity polish. It’s not perfect (I’d trade the OLED for a split design), but it’s the first "gamer" keyboard that doesn’t feel like a compromise. For writers, coders, or anyone who types more than they tweet, it’s a luxury worth considering—especially if your significant other is footing the bill.
**Score: 8.5/10**
*Pros:* Superb build, versatile connectivity, battery life, typing feel.
*Cons:* Expensive, clunky software, heavy.
*Now, if only ROG made a split version…*
Find more blog posts with similar tags