by ROG is no stranger to slapping extra screens or displays to their devices. We’ve seen this time and again with the AniMe Matrix display and with their Duo laptops. This time though, they slapped one into a mechanical keyboard. Will this extra gimmick, along with with the price tag hike, make you consider this board? or is it simply just a flashy creation from ROG. Let’s find out in our ROG Azoth Review!
Tiny yet stylish
The ROG Azoth sports a relatively compact and good-looking 75% body. It’s not your thin and sexy keyboard but it doesn’t look all that bulky either, . The Moonlight White unit we got is arguably the more sophisticated looking one compared to its Gunmetal counterpart. It’s not encased in full plastic either as we have a metal top plate that provides some sparkle.
From the moment you pick it up you’ll truly feel it’s a premium product as it has some heft to it. However, you won’t be able to truly appreciate it’s beauty until it’s turned on. It’s RGB lighting blends perfectly with its color scheme and that tiny screen on the top right corner, surprisingly, adds to its sophisticated look. Lastly, it’s nice to have keyboard feet and this one even has two height options, perfect in finding the right angle of comfort.
ROG’s very own NX switches
ROG’s line of keyboards has been using in-house switches for quite a while now. First with the RX and now the NX, which is what we have in the ROG Azoth. Our unit came with the clicky and tactile NX Storm switches. Although, you have other choices namely Snow, Red, Blown, and Blue. The Storm switches differ from the standard blue switches in that it has shorter actuation and higher click ratio. Plus it’s built different as it has a walled stem design for better stability.
If you’ve read my previous keyboard reviews, you’ll know I’m a sucker for the clicky and tactile switches and the NX Storms are just perfect. The force you need to register presses is similar to that of blues but because of the shorter actuation point, you’ll feel less stress during longer typing or gaming sessions. It’s not as clicky as blues but I do prefer it’s feedback more as it has a smoother feel in every press.
As for gaming, the Storm switches are great even in fast-paced games such as MOBAs and FPS. While they do require a bit more force versus a linear switch, it’s still not that heavy so you can register quick presses with relative ease. However, if you mainly play fast-paced games, we’d still recommend a linear switch, perhaps its Snow counterpart of NX switches. Overall though, I enjoy typing and gaming with these switches and they provide a very smooth and satisfying experience.
All the connections you need
Whether you prefer wired or wireless the ROG Azoth provides those options for you. The keyboard comes with tri-mode connection, meaning it can connect wired, wireless (2.4Ghz RF) or via Bluetooth. Switching between the three modes is also seamless and requires only a flick of a switch making it easy to swap between devices if you connect it to multiple ones.
An OLED display that’s gimmicky yet fun
Remember how we mentioned ROG loves slapping displays to their devices? Well, the Azoth kicks it up a notch with keyboards as it has a full on mini OLED display on its top right corner. What does it bring to the table? Well, visualization for your system parameters, battery indicator, multimedia info, and connection indicator. Plus, of course, like the AniMe Matrix display you can show custom graphics on it.
I mean, it’s fun for sure and can be helpful at times but a volume wheel with a side-button provides the same function, which it already has. You won’t be needing all the extras the display can provide like PC temps, display brightness, and volume as most of those you can already monitor in your main display anyways, where your eyes will mostly be glued to. If this is your main consideration in getting the keyboard then sorry to disappoint but it ain’t worth that factor alone.
A Battery that lasts
Despite the addition of an OLED screen and the ability to connect through multiple means, the ROG Azoth surprisingly has great battery life. It can last for about 5 days or more on 6 to 8 hours of daily usage. It also helps that when idle for a few minutes it auto sleeps, conserving battery.
However, it’s still very surprising that with a charge of only about 3 to 4 hours you’ll get days of use. This is with all the bling in full swing, turn off the RGB and limit the OLED screen time and you’ll squeeze even more juice out of it, which is insane.
Your own mini DIY lab
The ROG Azoth is trying to push the boundaries of what pre-built gaming mechanical keyboards can offer as it comes with a hot-swappable board. This is not something you normally see with brands that don’t specialize on keyboards, especially one as big as ROG. With this, you are able to swap out the NX Switches it came with to whatever other Switch you so desire. ROG also made it seamless by offering a keycap and switch puller.
That’s not all though as out of the box you also get your own lube kit for switches. You read that right, this keyboard comes with its own complete lube set to get you started, yet another thong you don’t usually see everyday. It includes a brush, a lube station, a Krytox™ GPL-205-GD0 lubricant, and extra switches to start with. Now that’s one way to introduce DIY to your consumer base.
Verdict
The ROG Azoth is one notable and surprising little machine. It looks and feels great and despite having a gimmicky feature it still delivers on what matters – performance and longevity. ROG’s NX Switches, different as it may be from the more common Switches we have, are an impressive bunch. The Storm variant we have on our unit is one of the better tactile switches out there. It has great feedback and short actuation. The typing and gaming experience was definitely above average.
While we think the OLED display is just a gimmick, it can still provide some useful information and is fun to tinker with. The most surprising of all though is how long the keyboard lasts on a single charge even in extensive use, considering all the battery hungry features it’s suppose to have. Then add to the list of positives the hot-swappable board and out-of-the box lube kit and you have a pretty amazing set. This makes the ROG Azoth a perfect gateway to DIY mechanical keyboards. Although, it does come with a hefty price tag of Php 12,995 (~$234).
