Closer Examination

The ASUS ROG Azoth is a 75% form factor keyboard using a modified US ANSI layout and you will note how it feels premium the second you take it out of the box. There are 81 keys on this version and I expect ASUS will have the Azoth in other layouts and languages too. All versions should be using the same gunmetal gray color scheme which itself results in two shades of keycaps for a subtle colorway. The lighter color matches the anodized aluminium frame around the keycaps too, although I do wish the bottom bezel was slightly smaller so everything was more uniform looking. Overall we end up with six rows of keys including the Fn row and the vast majority of the functionality of an 87-key TKL keyboard too. The right side of the keyboard has staggered sections to help touch typists more easily access the dedicated arrow keys at the bottom right corner, although there is not enough space on the keyboard to where R.Shift as well as the three keys to the right of the space bar are shorter than usual. Then we get to the top right corner where an OLED display is integrated alongside a multi-function control knob. There's up and down and a button on the side you press to toggle through different functions as we will see later on in this review. This does mean there are no standalone indicator LEDs as they are instead seen on the display. The keycap legends are placed on the top middle surface and have general secondary legends alongside the primary ones in some cases but underneath in others. Keyboard-specific secondary legends are also seen on the front, and anything not at the very top is opaque. Without backlighting the legends are also not the easiest to pick up here so ASUS could have done better with the colors chosen. Branding on the front is relatively clean with a subtle ROG logo on the Esc key only.


Turning the keyboard around shows where all the ASUS and ROG branding went! The bottom case panel is made of ABS plastic and has the usual certification label in the middle, albeit placed at an angle to match the cutouts here. There are four long rubber pads at the corners to help add friction against the desk and we see the plastic panel also helps with the inclusion of two sets of keyboard feet at the top—both with their own rubber pads on the bottom—to allow for three elevation steps to choose from.


On the back side facing away from the user is where you will find the various connectivity options. The right side has a dedicated switch to choose between Bluetooth, wired, and 2.4 GHz modes. Helping with the latter is the expected 2.4 GHz low-profile USB dongle itself, which is held in place magnetically for easy storage when not in use. The dongle can be plugged in directly or be located closer to the keyboard using the cable and the adapter from earlier. The cable itself is crucial for wired connectivity and the Type-C port is placed on the left side so as to not clash with a mouse cable for right-handed users. This is a decent cable in all black and comes sleeved with ROG-branded connector housings. USB 3.2 Gen 1 (USB 3.0) or better is recommended for power and data alike.


A look from the side shows the built-in elevation of the keyboard, which I would classify as medium profile without the keyboard feet used. You can also see how the aluminium frame goes around the sides and wraps down further to where it can be considered as a top case panel itself. This, combined with ASUS's take on the OEM keycap profile with the sides cut down slightly, result in shorter looking keycaps that may seem closer to Cherry profile but are not any different to type on than other OEM profile keycaps. They are barely floating in design though so a keycap puller is a must to get them out for examination, cleaning, and perhaps even replacement altogether! The provided keycap puller isn't my favorite for reasons previously mentioned but does the job well enough to remove some of them and help confirm the use of thick PBT plastic (average wall thickness 1.3 mm) with doubleshot-injected legends that should last the test of time while also being backlighting-compatible, although then we see the legends that are placed underneath the primary ones as well as on the front seem to be pad printed on. These are more likely to wear out, at least the ones on the top of the keycaps, while also being opaque for a double whammy.


There are three switch options for the ROG Azoth in the form of ASUS's own first-party ROG NX switches that offer linear, tactile, or clicky feedback mechanisms to cover everyone's needs. I have the ROG NX Brown switches on this sample which come with ROG branding on the top. The larger keycaps get plate mounted ROG stabilizers that are factory lubed to a decent standard which should help cut down the potential mushy feedback on the space bar key in particular. ASUS says these stabilizers are tuned with gamers in mind, although I don't see how that's any different from simply making smooth and responsive stabilizers, and that the ROG Azoth is compatible with costar-style stabilizers too. Note also the foam sheet underneath the space bar key to further dampen the large keycap bottoming out.


The provided switch remover tool allows for easier removal of the switches to take a closer look at both the ROG NX Brown switch as well as the 5-pin switch socket that allows for customers to go with their own Cherry MX-style mechanical switches here should these not be to their desire. I would still suggest trying them out, especially given these are deliberately chosen by ASUS to be used in this keyboard. These are 3-pin RGB switches with a translucent clear top and bottom housing and a brown-colored stem to match the name. Examining the hot-swap switch socket also reveals north-facing SMD RGB LEDs associated with each switch as well as more foam sheets used in the assembly of the keyboard.