In many ways, the ROG Keris is a typical ASUS product: incredibly solid hardware, but severely handicapped by either firmware or software. This time around, it is, or rather was, the firmware which complicated things greatly. With the default firmware, the ROG Keris had the highest level of smoothing, which usually would be reserved for higher CPI steps (11,700 and above), applied across the entire CPI range, resulting in an almost silly degree of motion delay. As such, straight out of the box, the ROG Keris is basically unusable, little more than an unusual-looking paper weight. Thankfully, ASUS fully addressed this issue in a firmware update, but of course, the second handicap comes into play here: In order to access said firmware update, installing Armoury Crate is required, which is something I—and probably everyone fond of unintrusive, easy-to-use software—would prefer not to do. In any case, with the proper firmware installed, the ROG Keris indeed shows its true potential and manages to be just as convincing as its wireless sibling, the ROG Keris Wireless.

Essentially, and as expected, the ROG Keris indeed is a wired ROG Keris Wireless. Two main differences can be noted: First, due to the lack of an internal battery, the weight is drastically lower, sitting at a highly competitive 63 g. As with the Keris Wireless, this weight is achieved without resorting to externally visible holes, and coupled with rock-solid build quality. All buttons and the scroll wheel are of very high quality, and as always with ASUS, the main button switches are hot-swappable, allowing one to easily swap the switches should double-click issues ever arise. A set of replacement switches is included, easing the process even further. The second difference pertains to the sensor. Unlike the Keris Wireless, the Keris isn't using PixArt's PAW3335, but rather the trusty old PMW3389. Even though the 3335 is a capable sensor for wireless applications, it rarely performs as well on wired mice—ASUS' own Chakram Core is a notable exception in this regard. Accordingly, I'm quite pleased to see ASUS going the extra mile on the ROG Keris by implementing a strictly wired-only sensor such as the 3389. As a result, and provided the firmware is updated, performance is excellent across the board. Particularly notable is the lack of smoothing up until 5000 CPI—typically, smoothing kicks in as early as 1900 CPI on the 3389, so having a greater CPI range without smoothing is no doubt welcome. The sensor excellency is complemented by the click latency, which yet again is just as exceptionally low as on the Chakram Core without suffering from double-clicks straight out of the box, or similar annoyances. Things are rounded off by the cable and mouse feet. While the former is incredibly flexible, easily rivaling the likes of the Endgame Gear XM1r or HyperX Pulsefire Haste when it comes to flexibility, the latter glide very well, and a set of replacement feet is included.

In short, when it comes to performance, the ROG Keris is simply stellar. Armoury Crate, on the other hand, continues to be less than stellar. For the record, once it is actually running, Armoury Crate works quite well once we look past the sheer number of processes running in the background and all the RAM they're eating. Rather, the mundane task of installing and uninstalling is the real obstacle here. Having gotten past these hurdles, the functionality is just fine, with the exception of the update function, which isn't as reliable as it should be. Be that as it may, installing Armoury Crate at least once is absolutely necessary to update the firmware, so there's really no way around this lovely piece of software for anyone interested in this mouse.

Where does this leave us then? Taken by itself and with the right firmware applied, the ROG Keris would no doubt warrant an Editor's Choice. However, unless ASUS starts shipping the Keris with said firmware, one is absolutely forced to first install Armoury Crate and update the firmware before being able to reasonably use this mouse. While I don't mind stock firmware having smaller issues here or there, I don't feel like rewarding a blunder as big as this one with an Editor's Choice, either. Accordingly, the ROG Keris gets a Recommended from me—with the big asterisk "with the right firmware." It's quite stunning how firmware can either make or break a mouse like that.

When looking at the competition, the ASUS ROG Keris does quite well. The Glorious Model D- has similar sensor performance, slightly higher click latency, a less flexible cable, and similar weight, yet plenty of holes, for $49.99. The VAXEE Outset AX comes with equally excellent performance, a less flexible cable, no need for horrendous software, no holes, but a higher weight and terribly noisy scroll wheel, for $59.99. The Xtrfy M4 doesn't requite software either, has great performance, fairly low weight, yet plenty of holes, for $59.00. Lastly, ASUS' own ROG Gladius III comes with great performance, exceptionally low click latency, second-generation push-fit main button switch sockets, an incredibly flexible cable, and fairly low weight relative to its size, for $89.99.