In addition to the ROG Harpe Ace Extreme mouse, the range also includes a top-notch keyboard. A device that spares no expense when it comes to pampering gamers. In addition to its robust construction, it uses very high-quality materials, focuses on its versatility, and adds plenty of nice little features, mostly for the love of luxury. But all this comes at a cost, and the bill is steep. The ROG Azoth Extreme is available at €559 almost everywhere at retailers. A sum well above average, almost double the price of some large keyboards like the ROG Strix Scope 96 Wireless, which we tested at the end of 2023—a real favorite. Is this magnificent Azoth Extreme worth the investment? That's the big question, and we'll see about that right away.
The Azoth Extreme is excessive right out of the box
With a keyboard costing over €500, you'd expect a very big show right out of the box. It's safe to say that the ROG Azoth Extreme doesn't disappoint. The box is sturdy and articulated, while the keyboard comes in a fabric pouch to protect it. By lifting the keyboard's support, you'll find a second level where the wrist rest is located, and a myriad of tools. Interchangeable magnetic feet, a pair of tweezers for removing keycaps and switches, a reinforced braided cable, a USB adapter, a Ctrl keycap, and spare switches. Finally, a small envelope contains a warranty booklet and a few stickers. Yes, the package is loaded.
A super massive, well-designed keyboard with perfect finishes
Upon unpacking, the first thing that strikes you is the weight of the beast and even that of its wrist rest. 2.2 kg for the whole thing is enormous, but that's explained by the use of very resistant materials. The keyboard chassis is made of aluminum alloy coupled with a metal frame engraved with the ridged pattern typical of ROG equipment. On its official website, the keyboard boasts of having an extremely well-designed chassis, the result of a dozen manufacturing steps. It's hard to judge without opening it, but as it is, the overall quality of the finishes commands respect. There isn't a millimeter out of place, everything is perfect. Better still, the metal frame gives the keyboard an extra cachet, giving it a look with character. You can even finish it off with a small removable plate engraved with the ROG symbol that will fit under the keyboard to hide the storage for the small USB dongle, cleverly placed. The design of this ROG Azoth Extreme is therefore both well thought out and very well finished.
Ergonomics and comfort to perfection, it's hard to do better
Added to this is an immediate and fluid grip. The ROG Azoth Extreme is a 75% keyboard, which means it doesn't have a numeric keypad. The keys are thus somewhat reshaped, and some of them are now in a vertical line on the far right of the keyboard, at the same height as the rest. The space thus freed up after the F12 button is occupied by a 1.7-inch OLED screen that allows you not only to display small animations, but also to manage the multimedia section, the keyboard brightness, or even monitor the health of your hardware by displaying, for example, the temperature of your PC components. Everything is controlled with a small dial on the right edge, like those found everywhere. The ROG Azoth Extreme ultimately only adds the screen, a little for comfort, but a lot for show.
In the end, while its monstrous weight doesn't really allow it to be placed in the range of portable keyboards, its small size makes it the ideal companion for narrow desks or gamers simply looking for space. Furthermore, the adjustable feet allow it to be perfectly adapted to any inclination. You can change them on the fly by taking advantage of the different sizes offered in the box. Simply add a wrist rest that sits perfectly at the right height. With its aluminum frame and multiple pads, it is incredibly stable, while the silicone used ensures real comfort for our hands. It is also really very soft.
Exceptional typing for an exceptional keyboard
A softness that is also found on the keys. The only downside for us is the ABS treated with a ROG UV coating. Yes, we are still at the top of the range in terms of working method, but the use of ABS on a product of this range is heartbreaking. The typing is of exceptional quality thanks to the ROG Nx Snow switches which do a monstrous job. The Azoth Extreme is equipped with multiple layers of shock absorbers and a carbon fiber placement skeleton to ensure rock-solid stability. As a bonus, the internal joint can be adjusted to fine-tune the impact resistance for even more comfort. It's ultra-advanced, something I've never seen before at the time of writing. As a bonus, it's ultra-responsive with an activation height of 1.8mm for a force of only 40g—clearly top-of-the-line. Furthermore, they are all hot-swappable and the tools are provided.
Full of features and software support efficient
Like all Asus ROG peripherals, the Azoth Extreme is compatible with Armoury Crate, the in-house software. So, as usual, I still have a little trouble with the interface, which I don't find particularly welcoming, but the software itself is still just as powerful. You can adjust your settings as you see fit while taking advantage of all the features the keyboard offers (profile management, RGB, shortcuts, etc.). However, it will unfortunately not be possible to save more than one custom image for the keyboard screen, which is a shame.
Speaking of features, the keyboard can be used with three connectivity modes. You can opt for wired mode with the reinforced 1.8m USB-C cable or go wireless with Bluetooth or the Omni USB dongle. A frequency booster is even included to increase the polling time to 8000 Hz. It's completely crazy because it's so imperceptible, but it's a testament to the product's excellence. The battery is also very good quality and promises several dozen hours of use without flinching.
Technical Specifications
- Switch
- ROG NX Mechanical Switch (Snow / Strom)
- Connectivity
- USB 2.0 (TypeC to TypeA)
- Bluetooth 5.1
- RF 2.4GHz
- Lighting
- RGB Per keys / Asus Sync
- Anti-Ghosting
- N Key Rollover
- Macro keys
- Programmable keys
- USB / RF Report Rate 2.4G
- 8000 Hz with ROG Polling Rate Booster
- Cable
- 2M USB type A to C braided cable
- Dimensions / Weight
- 332 x 139 x 40 mm / 2.2 kg (with wrist rest)
- Box Contents
- ROG Azoth Extreme
- Wrist rest
- Magnetic feet set
- ROG Polling Rate Booster
- Maintenance tools
- Replacement keys
- 2 replacement NX switches
- USB dongle and extender
- USB C to USB A cable (2m)
- ROG Cleaning cloth
- Silicone feet (4L, 6S)
- A set of stickers
- Quick start guide
- Guaranteed
- Thank you card
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