Closer Examination

As we saw before, the ASUS ROG Strix Flare keyboard comes wrapped to keep it pristine and free of dust out of the box. Removing it, we get our first good look at the keyboard, and it is on the lighter side of average considering the relatively large form factor, which is mostly because ASUS uses a plastic case and internal steel plate as opposed to a thicker metal frame. Bezels are average in size, but the extra keys on top of the standard 104 (for US ANSI) add to the dimensions of the keyboard. We immediately noticed that the dedicated media control keys are not in the top-right corner above the indicator LEDs as is usually the case, but on the left instead. ASUS wants users who use WASD and nearby keys while gaming to be able to easily access these keys, which also include a Win lock key, volume scroll wheel, and brightness key. There is plenty of branding on the keyboard, be it the Strix print on the front right edge, Republic of Gamers printed on the front of the space bar keycap, or ROG eye in the acrylic insert in the top-right corner.

The case has a textured finish (what ASUS calls the ROG slash design) similar to what we saw on the wrist rest, such that they work well together. The numpad has secondary legends below the primary ones, with the alphanumeric section choosing to do the same with the modifier keys, but alongside the primary legends on the number row. This, combined with single legends being in the top-center, is indicative of where the backlighting will be more uniform, and those at the bottom may not end up as bright as those at the top. There are also some front-printed legends, including the ROG on the space bar we saw before, which are effectively tertiary legends in some cases and for the keyboard-specific pre-programmed functions.


Flipping the keyboard around, we see the usual certification sticker, but lower than usual and a bit to the left. There are three large rubber pads at the bottom, and two extensions at the top, to keep the keyboard from sliding around on the desk. Two feet at the top open up sideways to optionally elevate the keyboard, and these feet also have rubber pads to ensure they don't scratch easily. We see cable routing built into the back, but it isn't large enough to fit your typical mouse cable, if you were thinking of that. ASUS's own example are earphones, and this does seem like a limitation for no real reason. More ROG branding here, just in case you forgot, and the dual-textured case finish is more obvious here.


Installing the detachable wrist rest is very simple because the plastic hooks in the wrist rest fit into grooves on the underside of the keyboard. You simply push the keyboard in place from the top at an angle, which takes mere seconds at most. The wrist rest meshes very well with the overall design because the dual-textured finish and cable routing carry on as a natural extension from the keyboard itself.


The keyboard has a non-removable cable coming out at the middle of the front, and next to it is a USB pass-through port other peripherals or even USB drives can be connected to. As such, the keyboard cable is on the thicker side, comes braided in black, and terminates in two male USB Type-A connectors. Both connectors are USB 2.0 only, so be aware of this for the pass-through lest you expect USB 3.1 Gen 1 speeds from a portable drive. Also, the casing on these connectors is thick enough to where you may have a hard time plugging both into ports next to each other. The other thing here is the insert badge, which can easily be pulled out to reveal two RGB LEDs pointing outward for illumination, and this is also where you would insert the customized badge if you went that route with the spare badge ASUS includes.


The keycaps have an OEM profile, and the various rows are sculpted accordingly. They have a floating design despite the two-piece plastic case, which allows for easier cleaning, but causes more light bleed, which may or may not be to your liking. ASUS did not include a keycap puller, which is mostly because there are no included replacement keycaps. That said, the stock keycaps are worse than average, using thin ABS plastic and laser etched legends that will show signs of wear and tear sooner rather than later. This is the an area I do wish ASUS had spent more on since some of their more established mainstream competitors have better keycap sets available by default or optionally. Backlighting works well enough, especially for the legends on the keycap tops, although the front-printed legends are readily visible as well. Aftermarket keycap compatibility is high should you want to take that route for customization and/or durability.


The ASUS ROG Strix Flare uses genuine Cherry MX RGB switches, and the options are MX Red, Blue, Brown, Black, Speed Silver, and Silent Red RGB. This means there is an option for just about everyone with a specific switch preference, which I do appreciate. My sample came with the Cherry MX Red RGB switch with a translucent top housing to help diffuse lighting through the LED underneath. The larger keycaps use Cherry stabilizers, which makes those keycaps easier to remove and install as well, but at the expense of a slightly mushy and unsatisfying feeling when depressed normally.