ASUS ROG Azoth: What Real Users Actually Think

Listen, seriously, it's insane. I wanted to reassign keys (the keyboard has PageUp/PageDown and Home/End on a second layer (FN+PageUp/Down)). I am used to VIA. And was expecting the same functionality for the $250 ASUS keyboard. Nope: in Armoury Crate you have to click on a key, then go into a drop down and switch from 'default' to 'keyboard function' and then it asks you to press a key on your keyboard to assign the new key to the key you selected. Once you reassign one, there's no way to even see what it was previously set to.

The pricing range I've been seeing online is $200-$250. Which at $200 I was considering buying it. If it launches at $320 that's a hard no.

That's entirely inline with everything else ASUS makes, their hardware is absolutely solid, and really best in class in some areas, but their software is a garbage fire across the board which is a huge problem for things that need any kind of customization or on-the-fly control

With boards like the QK75 and Odin 75 coming soon at a similar or lower price with better features for the most part it's hard to recommend unless someone isn't too concerned with price and insists on having RGB, wireless, and OLED features. The Azoth doesn't make sense at $320 and really ought to be priced closer to half that.

I think we're looking at this the wrong way. It's a north facing board for shine through caps to work, maximizing RGB effect that's popular for those looking at gaming focused peripherals. The gaming aesthetic is the same, popular with the target audience. The software may not be QMK/VIA, but this is likely targeted to gamers that want a better typing experience rather than keyboard enthusiasts that play games.

So there seems to be some hype for the ROG AZOTH. Definitely a gaming keyboard first and foremost. Excellent wireless performance. Sound stock is very clacky and high pitched. Hotswap supporting 3 and 5 pins. Battery life excellent.

I have an ASUS motherboard and had to download Armory Crate to control RGB. That shit is malware I tell you, i uninstalled it immediately and won't ever touch it with a stick. My on-board RGB has stayed unused but it's better than dealing with Armory Crate.

The armory crate is a giant POS. I have an asus motherboard and needed the armory crate to actually get the Ethernet driver and it took over an hour to fully uninstall the damn software. It's more like a virus than anything else.

asus could be such a good company too. in fact I noticed their driver hub downloads all sorts of bloatware without consent. very disappointing to see all the predatory behavior.

just got the ROG azoth, coming from a custom keyboard. The improvement in latency is actually noticeable. I measured my old custom keyboards and the latency is definitely better. From approx .77MS to .22MS. Out of the box, the pre-lubed switches were nothing to write home about, but after lubing they are quite nice. The stabs are quite good, with no pinging or clacking.

No, I bought it and after a month the keys were registering double taps, a terrible purchase.

The literal first thing I did when I bought this was configuring all my profiles in AC, syncing it to the board, then uninstalling that POS. In a single day of using that software, it WRECKED my PC. Constant intrusions, blue screening my PC. It comes off as a needy child. Overriding any RGB software that you have so that it can insert its half baked functionality. I'll see how this keyboard fares. I'm liking it so far with the NX snow switches. I however do not dare to install that program again.

I have the exact same one, and i REALLY love the keyboard but the double key issue started and Asus are not much help. Either i return the keyboard spend 3-4 weeks and they send me a refurbished one or i pay up front and send me a refurbished and i have a time frame to send the old back. At the price that i paid for it...Pretty disappointed. And the DELAY is awful.

Not really, it's nice and all but it felt the SAME as my yunzii and my yunzii costs 70

Sadly ASUS is no longer the reliable company it used to be.

I also got mine a few days ago. Love it, So much so that I returned the Azoth Extreme today.

Holy crap, I just got it an hour ago and I didn't think there was even this much room for improvement from a decent mechanical keyboard. I'm not even sure how to describe it but something about playing with this thing feels sublime.

Very happy with mine (use it as my daily driver), except for one thing: you can't remap keys on the second layer (activated with Fn). Perhaps not important to the average user, but I feel this a significant oversight on a board of this price (and it should be easily addressable in firmware/software). Also, I did change the keycaps because I don't like OEM profile.

I got mine a month ago from eBay and its been the best keyboard I've used. Mine has the brown switches and I like them better than the reds. In my opinion, it's a very solid keyboard.

It's a great keyboard. I use it without the software.

I was juuust about to download Armory Crate even though I knew it was shit, because like you, I wanted to remap some of the nav keys. So even though this post is a month old, thank you so much for posting about your experience so that others don't have to go through the same misery. Guess I'll stick to the stock layout and learn to like it. I'm of the same opinion: the hardware is awesome, it's well-built, the NX switches even surprised me with how clean they sounded, but the software...

I'm more than happy with my 550€ Azoth Extreme. If it lasts it will be my last KB i bought in my life (i know that won't happen because it will break..).

I have had zero issues with my Azoth since I've had it. I have the white version with the NX Snows. Zero switch issues with double typing,etc. I love the typing experience; just buttery smooth. Is it worth it? Absolutely because everything on the board is hot swappable.

I love mine snow switches

My oled screen got burn in after only using it for 3 days :) I can see gpu and cpu texts on a white background gif...

The bad, it suffers from double press issue. It's fixable via keyboard chatter blocker. The good, in wireless mode, the kb lasted me 65 days on 1 charge. My use and setup: typing and gaming. 1 minute timeout, 25% brightness, oled off. Really a wonderful kb, looks and feel. But beware, as the chatter may occur even in brand new kb after few days and you might not know tech and github. It took me weeks to find a fix.

I have been using the black version of this for about 2 and a half years now. the keycaps have become slightly shiny due to 10+ hours of use every day, but I really ended up loving how asus keycaps feel, so I bought a cheaper wired TUF keyboard and put the switches from that onto my azoth. the battery lasts me around 70+ days on a single charge, 3 min inactivity shutoff, OLED at 50% brightness and only reactive mode lighting at 25%. I have not experienced any build quality issues.

I sent mine for RMA, the chatter kicked 2 weeks in. You get 2 years warranty, many units never had issues so it's def worth at a good price (if you can find one at 50% discount). The software fix worked even for me, but it's not acceptable to spend over 150 euros and need a third party software to fix the issue, since it is unclear whether or not it can be detected by online games and lead to a ban. There sure is an issue with the pcb or switches.

I use rgb off and last time I charged was about 9 months ago lol

Same happened to my Azoth. Bought it used €100 but was in good shape and complete. Few weeks in and the switches gradually start failing one by one until I run out of spares. I replace them all with gaterons and they're fine. One night I update the firmware and instantly the double typing starts. It's random and annoying and happens when the keyboard is connected to any interface. It's totally destroyed the basic operation of the keyboard.

My Azoth works perfectly fine for over the year now. I am getting Azoth extreme in couple of days.

I'm not reading all that but I love my Azoth. I'm not using it at the moment but it's such a good keyboard. No issues

Don't spill anything on it. My ROG Azoth died totally from like 2 drops of coffee

Never buy this keyboard. Seriously. Got it 2 years ago - first year was fine, then the double presses started. Figured it was one bad switch, swapped it out, no big deal. Then a third of the keys started doing it. Replaced all the switches at once. Still happening. Reset the firmware, updated it - nothing worked. Save yourself the headache and stay far away from this keyboard.

Agreed. I love this keyboard but the software is shit. It's sad really as even the strix scope 2 96 wireless is amazing at the price point all bottled down with crap software. Makes Ghub look like a saint. It's so sad because love typing and gaming on the azoth. Snow switches are amazing.

Ive had mine for a year now and its the absolute best keyboard ive ever had BAR NONE. paired it with a Glorious GMMK Numpad and its the best combo imo

I've got the og strix azoth 75% and it's been the best keyboard I've ever owned. I've put this bad boy through the ultimate torture test lol. It's drop proof for sure lol. I do wish I had the white chassis though to go along with my white mouse. I just checked and I've had it for over 2 years now.

Azoth is now my favorite keyboard of all time. The build quality and feel of the keys is just too good.

I must say it's too expensive. But I bought it anyway and I was really glad I did. The build quality is the best I've ever had. I got the red switches. The frame is really solid and it's got weight so you know the quality isn't a pushover.

I had it for a couple of months and it's been the single worst experience in recent memory. Stupid armoury crate is such a bad piece of software, but the worst part is, ALL the switches that were used the most (namely shift, W A S D, comma, control etc) all sometimes double pressed, falsely release pressed or didn't register at all. Luckily, it comes with 3 extra switches, which all broke after a week as well.

Upgrading from Logitech 915 tkl and Razer Huntsman elite, the Azoth feels and sounds much much better when typing and also it feels more responsive in game.

I find Azoth has nice curve to it and feels natural in the FPS games. What's missing though is a two point actuation option on the switches. BTW, I got both red and white switch options, White sounds better than red.