Asus ROG Azoth X: A Modest Update with a Premium Price Tag

This review delves into the Asus ROG Azoth X, a mechanical gaming keyboard that aims to refine its predecessor's design. We explore whether its updated features, including new switches and a striking visual theme, truly enhance the user experience and justify its premium pricing in a competitive market.\n

Elevate Your Gaming Setup: Is the Azoth X the Upgrade You Need?

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A Familiar Foundation with Subtle Alterations

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Asus has recently launched the ROG Azoth X, a refined version of their acclaimed ROG Azoth keyboard. These two models share many core characteristics: a compact 75% form factor, a design that thoughtfully integrates storage for the 2.4 GHz wireless receiver, and a small, two-inch OLED display located in the upper right corner. At first glance, the Azoth X appears nearly identical to the white variant of the original Azoth, leading to questions about the extent of its enhancements.

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Switching It Up: The New ROG NX V2 Linear Switches

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A notable change in the Azoth X is the introduction of Asus's latest ROG NX V2 switches. My testing unit came equipped with the Snow V2 linear switches, designed for optimal gaming performance. Having extensively used keyboards with both the original Snow switches and the new V2 versions, I found the tactile difference to be minimal. Both versions offer a remarkably smooth and consistent typing experience, largely due to the factory lubrication. While the V2 might possess a slightly more pronounced springiness, the distinction is subtle. However, the Azoth X's keycaps contribute to a less satisfying acoustic and tactile feedback compared to other Asus keyboards, despite being advertised as PBT. They lack the characteristic granular texture found on other PBT keycaps, affecting the overall typing feel.

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Aesthetic Choices and Lighting Limitations

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The Azoth X distinguishes itself with a unique visual theme. The spacebar, enter, tab, shift, and caps lock keys feature celestial designs and phrases like "Join the republic," while the letter keys display subtle pink and purple gradients. The two-tone design, incorporating darker keys for certain functions, offers a visually engaging contrast. Yet, the appeal of this specific aesthetic will vary greatly among users. A significant drawback is the keyboard's muted RGB lighting. Despite individual key lighting, the legends are not shine-through, diminishing the impact of the vibrant backlighting. The south-facing PCB design, which places LEDs away from the legends, further reduces the light's visibility through the semi-translucent keycaps. This design choice, while potentially preventing compatibility issues with certain keycap profiles, sacrifices the brilliance of the RGB effects, making the keyboard's "out-of-this-world" aesthetic less pronounced in reality.

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The OLED Screen: A Feature in Question

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The OLED screen on the Azoth X, while a common feature in this keyboard line, is a black and white panel, unlike the full-color display on the Azoth Extreme. Its utility is limited to controlling lighting, brightness, and multimedia, functions often more easily managed through the Armoury Crate software. The lack of dedicated, intuitive multimedia controls makes on-the-fly adjustments cumbersome, leading to the impression that the screen adds more to the cost than to practical functionality.

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Value Proposition: Is the Azoth X Worth the Investment?

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The primary hurdle for the Azoth X is its price. Positioned significantly higher than the original Azoth, which is already available at discounted rates, the Azoth X's minor upgrades do not justify the increased expense. While it includes a welcome silicone wrist rest—a practical addition compared to the original Azoth's lube kit—this benefit alone does not compensate for the price hike. When compared to other options, such as the more affordable and equally capable Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless or the highly praised Keychron Q3 Max, the Azoth X struggles to compete on value. For users seeking a superior typing experience or more compelling features, other keyboards in the market offer better alternatives at a more reasonable cost.