Packaging and Accessories

I can get behind this increasingly adopted trend of keyboard packaging that is subtle on the front and back with more distinguishing accents on the sides. ASUS's ROG brand has gone with black and red colors, which we have here in the form of a large black box that has the ASUS ROG logo, product name, list of salient marketing features, and large render of the keyboard all lit up. This continues on the back with another render also showing the various components on the Strix Flare II Animate, more information about the ROG NX switches, product specifications, and ASUS contact information. Other languages get their due on the sides, which is also where two seals keep the contents inside in place on their way to you. Open either seal and the side flap to access the inner box.


The inner box is also made out of cardboard, but has a simpler design with a mostly black color scheme. The ROG logo in a radiant red greets us on the front, and another side flap keeps it closed. Opening the box, we see an instruction guide about how best to use the included wrist rest, which is handy since it's not as trivial as you might think. The keyboard comes inside a soft fabric cover, again ROG-branded. The various accessories which come with the Strix Flare II Animate can be found either below the keyboard or separately packed in a cardboard compartment to the top.


ASUS packs in a wrist rest, which will be examined shortly, in addition to some ROG stickers, a warranty card, and pamphlet going over the contents you already know anyway. It also briefly summarizes the functionality of this keyboard, although it's not going to replace a full-fledged user manual by any means. At the time of writing, there is no available user manual on the ASUS website either, although I imagine it will show up eventually here. More relevant is that smaller cardboard box in foam cutouts; it contains a ROG-branded plastic keycap puller as well as a switch remover. Both of these are based on simpler designs, but given a ROG twist that somewhat makes these easier to use, though I still prefer a metal wire keycap puller instead to minimize the potential of scratching the sides of keycaps.


At first glance, the wrist rest is nothing unique from most others in this price range. It adopts a faux leather exterior with ROG branding subtly placed on the bottom left of the top and has soft foam lining inside to support your wrists and palms should you need it. Magnets on the surface will meet up with the keyboard, and we see plenty of rubber pads on the bottom to add friction against the resting surface. A closer look reveals the built-in elevation profile of the wrist rest, and a cutout on the mating surface with an integrated plastic diffuser. This is no doubt tied to the instruction note from earlier and works in conjunction with the lighting options on the keyboard.