My one concern is how long that silicone dampener will last. That material type in other products has become a sticky mess in a few years. I would like to know how Cherry keyboards compare with Asus.
Not quite, I find myself hitting the arrow keys instead of num keys sometimes. The jamesdonkey RS2 2.0 layout is a better layout, where in arrow keys and numpad is distinctly separated
I really don't know, but since I very rarely use the numpad, especially in games, I think that having a separate wireless numpad is much better in terms of productivity and mouse space, since you can just put it away if you're not using it
When Eber was going over the hardware features, I was like ‘omg, a keyboard that ticks literally every single box I can think of - gimmieeeee…’ and then he said ‘armory crate”…..NOPE.
You don't have to install Armoury Crate for it. All the functions shown in the video can be done native to the keyboard except for fine control of the RGB and probably the macro function.
It would be really useful info if reviewers of wireless keyboards and mice tested the distance before connection dropouts/lag occurs. I would only buy this keyboard for couch gaming so it would need to be good for at least 3 metres range. I never see this on wireless reviews
@@stevePDxVery true, and I always do treat them as adverts really. To me that info would be a strong advertising point if they could demonstrate it working correctly from the other side of a room.
@@stevePDx Not true they bashed an asus keyboard when they were trash. The claymore I think. Truth is this 96 and the Azoth 75 are truly nice keyboards.
most likelly never, unless something causes a major change in the "Gamer Asthetic" fashion trend... that being said since is a mechanical then you can probably just buy replacement keycaps, & thankfully most RGB can be turned off
@@kharak6204 Is there a keyboard you'd recommend with comparable features to this one, at least the same layout (not just 96%, but more like 1800 Compact with some space betweeen the numpad) ?
@@Rhizix i don't remember seeing a keyboard in this size that actually keeps THAT many keys, it's pretty much the one advantage this asus board has over others. Most of the custom keyboards follow the standard forms to some degree, though there still are some more compact ones and it still depends a lot on what you actually need (sound, price, specific keys, knob). the only thing i can recommend directly is checking out some channels like keybored for reviews and examples
I've got this keybaord. The greatest ever gamer keybaord I have ever owned. And I have lost count how much I owned. I use it for work, home and play and it is just perfect. Looks amazing, the snow switches are smooth and fast and it is portable. 96% and the media keys are great. Build quality is out of this world.
my dad got this keyboard outta nowhere he told me to set it up and i was tapping on it like :0! I have a blackwidow ultimate v3 and this made me want to dump money
@@maximme Akko Cloud Driver software is functional but pretty barebone and does not need to run in the background. You can change lighting, setup 4 different layouts with most key can be reconfigured, record macros, check for software update and flash firmware. So far I have no complaint as it's pretty much set and forget, and does not get in the way.
@@maximme just got this kb today after hours and hours with that damn armory crate i found a alternative a program called open rgb you can at least set the color of your keys to a color not offered by the default keyboard i wanted blue to match my setup make sure your kb is plugged in to usb for it to find it on first scan then you can set the color ive tried alot of programs in my years but id have to say that fn!!!! armoury crate is one of the worst if u have it get the uninstall tool from the asus site then disable asus service in services it runs all kinds of bloatware to drag your pc down as good as asus products are idk why they have such a pos software hope this helps and saves you the headache myself and many others have had
This convinced me to replace my Logitech G915 and ooh boy, this was a great upgrade! The G915 is and remains great but this so feels so much better and an enormous update. Love it.
I cannot use a 96% keyboard. I use those 6 keys about the arrow keys all the time. I prefer a 100%. Arrows keys are too cramped. Even TKL would be better then then all others.
ok so i'm clearly way out of the loop on this, but why are Keybard fans/makers so OBSESED with portability, where are yall even taking your keyboard? i bought my basic Mechanical Keyboard & it only leaves the desk for desk cleaning. what social aspect I'm missing here?
glad to see more 'gaming' keyboard sellers adopting good practices from the custom mechanical keyboard hobby. arguably, there are still others out there that do it better and for less. Keychron comes to mind with the Q5 having full QMK support and hotswap for sub 200 bucks. On the other hand, this board wins on being wireless and having a lightweight, portable design.
yeah, it's that even though the more gaming-oriented keebs are actually starting to offer decent value, there are just so many less mainstream options, especially ones that target the custom keyboard market that just offer sooo much more functionality and style for the same money and yes, there are definitely downsides when it comes to certain offerings, like the lack of Bluetooth connectivity, but I feel like companies like Keychron and NuPhy just seem to have it all sometimes, and even in some of the cheaper models
I think they might start stealing a lot of market from the people who are on the fence between true custom from micro companies to ready out of the box like these. Good move on Asus , that and the Azoth.
Sorry for the late reply@@silver_toad but Keychron keyboards have horrendous latency and aren't suitable for gaming unfortunately. I had the Q6 TKL and I didn't like it. Went back to me K70 Vengeance that's now 9 years old!
I believe the keycaps are either doubleshot PBT or clear ABS that's UV coated black to make the legends. It's not UV coated doubleshot PBT. It's just region/language dependent since molds for doubleshot PBT for all languages don't make sense due to low volume.
I bought mine a few weeks ago, & as soon as I see it on sale I'm buying a spare just in case anything every happens to the one I bought. And I have huge XL hands, & it works great, I type about 80 words a minute, I'd bet I'm typing 100+ with this keyboard.
I was enjoying this review and then you said "Armory Crate" and it's an instant turn off. I love ASUS hardware, but their software is some of the worst in the industry IMO.
don't be ridiculous, that's extreme circumstances, no backlight, bluetooth not 2.4ghz, lowest pulling rate possible, this false marketing trend need to die and show actual usable config battery life. if you use it with 50 percent single colour rgb, 2.4ghz and 1000hz pulling rate? you d be lucky if can get 300 hours
i had a mech keyboard and i leaned on it too much while playing COD. I now own and love the MX KEYS S. Is there a mechanical keyboard out there that i can lean on without pressing it down? I can't be the only one that does this..
It’s great to see Asus and Razer actually listen to consumers and do something that many have been asking for and adding features such as hot swap switches, foam dampening, lubed switches, tape modding w/ dampening, gasket mounts etc and not charging extra for it!
@unholydonuts That is why I am sticking with this new segment of gaming "customs". This way I don't go play in the dangerous rabbit hole territory of group buys and stuff like that. So far I have the Azoth, and ordered this 96.
Same thoughts regarding the font. It is too gamer-ish. A normal san-serif would make it classy and appealing to normal typists. The ROG SNOW really is satisfying my taste. It is thocky and with enough amount of squish.
just got mine today...my first ever gaming keyboard and i'm so loving it. Had a hard time in choosing between rog azoth and rog strix scope ii 96 wireless but opted to the latter maybe because im used to the old full keyboard with numpad in it and longer battery life using it wirelessly...one happy lad here^_^
Not a bad 96% keyboard but it's over twice the price of the RK96 which has everything and doesn't require software. I've said it before but HC needs to do a collab with a Keyboard enthusiast channel like Hipyo tech or Switch and Click.
RK96 had a lot of problems from whatbI read from Reddit. Does not full charge which stop charging midway, inconsistent latency, buggy software and others noted. Was going to buy RK96 but then all these Reddit posts stop me. So..this Asus keyboard then I shall buy. Or do you have any other suggestions?
@@steriofoniq Whatever feels best for you really. I have had zero issues with my RK96, bought a couple for friends with same results. That said, it was a learning board for me and I built a fully custom Odin V2 with Gazzew Boba Gum pink silent linear 68g and currently Drop DCD Akatsuki Indigo caps.
Did you test for latency or is that just Asus talking point? Because I've checked their data on rting before and their latency has never been particular good be it on 2.4ghz or bluetooth for even their gaming line keyboard
I like it, except the font, my next keyboard is definitely analog switches though. But I would definitely buy this over my current mechanical keyboard if I had to choose. Wireless, form factor and lube out of factory are great features
@@Sinsanatis I understand what analog switches are, I don't get why you need your entire keyboard to be analog, except for consistency. But if you are going that route, I'd argue a dedicated gaming piece of hardware makes more sense. I can be wrong though. But never during my "office work" sessions have I thought "this is a problem I could solve with an analog key".
@@Sinsanatis everyone knows about it and that cheesy strap handle, but I hate 60%. The Azoth 75 and Strix 96 are great. I never felt I needed analog on my keyboard. If I race or fly I get a proper stick or wheel.
@@BrawndoQC i dont use the strap. i leave it stock tho besides lube since its more strictly a gaming board. but i wouldnt mind modding it at some point. maybe the new pc plate they came out with. i dont mind the 60% since all the features let me easily enable using keys i dont have without too much more hassle. if and when i build one tho id prob go for a zoom75 as of current. also i didnt get it strictly for the analog, i dont think anyone did. just straight up analog keys isnt a huge selling point. ppl get it for all the features it offers. also the lean towards making it custom friendly is a huge plus. but i was just referring to comment op, i didnt say everyone is out of the loop
Really don’t know if I want to get this or the Azoth in the future. This design is super cool but I also want to get into building keyboards in the future and the azoth seems to be a perfect starting point for such a thing along with having a sick screen built into it. Stumped.
The keyboard is really good, the quality and feeling of the switches. Also just works out of the box, no need for software if so desire. But I sadly had to return is because I just can't use a normal keyboard anymore it seems after getting used to a low-profile one like the Logitech G915 TKL. Will have to try a Razer Deathstalker v2 Pro TKL next since it seems to be the closest to the Logitech but with hopefully better quality of the keycaps. I broke one on my Logitech and the spacebar doesn't register inputs sometimes. But I highly recommend this keyboard for those who still prefer normal keycaps and find this size interesting :D
I got the g915 as well right now and your right it will be hard to switch i am considering the razer mini right now in wireless for pure gaming. I just switched my mouse today and even going from razer basi ulti to the razer v3 pro it's the same mouse but feels different.
Just received this keyboard. The sound is incredible. I've never paid attention to key sounds before but these are just such a nice compromise between click and thock. Space bar is the exception but easily modded to fix the hollow sound. But was plug and play out of box without installing any RAM hogging software - key labels and macro button/scroll wheel made it easy to configure rgb brightness/color the way i wanted. Connectivity has been confirmed as fastest around so just hooked dongle up to usb cable (with included usb c to usb a dongle) and have been firing away since. Absolutely no lag when waking keyboard from sleep mode - instantaneous. Super happy with this decision.
just got this kb today after hours and hours with that damn armory crate i found a alternative a program called open rgb you can at least set the color of your keys to a color not offered by the default keyboard i wanted blue to match my setup make sure your kb is plugged in to usb for it to find it on first scan then you can set the color ive tried alot of programs in my years but id have to say that fn!!!! armoury crate is one of the worst if u have it get the uninstall tool from the asus site then disable asus service in services it runs all kinds of bloatware to drag your pc down as good as asus products are idk why they have such a pos software hope this helps and saves you the headache myself and many others have had
So you can use it without the "Armory" Software and you will have no disadvantage in terms if the connectivity speed? Heard and read only bad stuff about the software.
@@LiRoG28 The only reason you need is if you want to set up power settings like when it goes to sleep, etc. or are really into dialing in the rgb. Otherwise no not at all - works perfect plug and play.
@@goofsaddggkle7351 perfect, so I definitely give it a try. I like the sound and feel of the keyboard. The software gimmicks I absolutely don't need. thanks man!
I’m still rocking the 915 TKL. Outside of it not having usb, there isn’t much more I’d want out of a keyboard. Anything else would be novelty, like I’d want a keyboard that has the typewriter design keys to it.
the video made it seem like they are only compatible with ROG branded switches. not more widely available standard hotswap formfactors such as Kailh/Cherry/Gateron/etc... @@Alkyno
I work in the IT industry and attend online school, so I'm purchasing mechanical/gaming keyboards. I really wanted to love a TKL keyboard like the Rog Azoth, but I could not do without the number keypad; so I'm returning it. As I type a lot of IP/MAC addresses, port numbers, ticket numbers, a number keypad would be beneficial. However, I do not care for the excess keys on a 100% keyboard. Therefore, this 96% keyboard-ROG STRIX Scope II 96 would be great for me and I'm ordering it now.
It's so close, as I wanted a small keyboard, but arrow placement and small num pad 0 I can't get past unfortunately. That said I am myself trying to imagine the best way it could have been done in such a small size, and it's not that simple. I guess I'll have to get the Razer which is 60mm wider (DS Pro 2). The Razer does have much nicer backlighting, so there's that at least.
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Last 3 keybords i bought i told my self b4 purchases that i wanted a small formfactor. But i always got persuaded by the full size offers. My latest buy was a Corsair k100 Air wireless RGB, with cherry mx red tactile, double shot keycaps. My best keybord i ever owned.
I've met Cidoo v65\75\87 recently)) And I bought V75 for ~120-130$. This board is OP comparing to most boards for it's price. Its even better than myy first custom that cost me 100-120$ 3 years ago)
@@Anugrah_Amriza No. It's got a very unique aesthetic, the RGB ring looks nice, but the pricing is bonkers for how bad the sound is because of the dated structural design... You can get a VASTLY nicer sounding and feeling gasket-mounted board, even ones with full CNC aluminum cases, for less. Cidoo V65/75/87 and their LMK67/81 counterparts (barebones w/ different case designs), Monsgeek M1/2/3/5, Xinmeng M71 / Womier S-K71, Cycle7, Neo65, MKC75, Aula F87/F99, RK R75/98, Leobog Hi75, GMK67, and a lot more.
@@Anugrah_Amriza I only watched for few reviews. it's good. Maybe the best among low profile boards if compare air model. I like how all models look but it seemed to be assembled a little bit simpler. I mean what it has inside for noise reduction. But anyway it almost equal to Cidoo. I almost bought it)) Then I found out Cidoo and it happened that Cidoo is just cheaper than Nuphy in my city
Just got mine and am pleasantly surprised. It has an exceptionally solid build and feels high quality. This is my first non-full sized keyboard and fortunately it wasn't as "too small" as I expected. I bought it specifically for its portability, being both smaller and wireless, I can use it to surf web from the bed while recovering from knee surgery. My version uses ABS rather than PBT which is fine. The vibrant RGB was the icing on the cake. I also have a wireless Logitech G915 but it is full sized and too fragile (very sleek & thin) for portable use. I didn't regret getting the Scope II 96 over the RX as I was initially worried that it may be too small as I'm so used to full-sized keyboards all these years. I collect keyboards and mice and I have to say the 96 trully stands out as one of the best in build quality.
The keyboard looks nice but I can't understand the appeal for the loud key press ? I mean streaming/recording while playing with this going through the mic must sound aweful
Meh, it's the dumb laptop design that squeezes the arrow keys in to make the whole board smaller. I'll stick to my normal full size thank you very much. Though I guess I will give them that they didn't also squish them vertically as well to be in line with the bottom row and make them half size keys.
If the software sucks or is limited to a single operating system/version, or requires the software to be running all the time or online, then it's a garbage product. Unfortunately this video didn't include any of this critical information for some reason.
I really like this channel, but I gotta say, reviewing this keyboard just didn't seem necessary. It's a bummer how RU-vid tech have become mostly about sponsored reviews for stuff that often doesn't even matter.
Stupid me bought a logitech mx key wireless without realizing the back lights do not stay on for over 10 seconds, so I am wondering if the backlights on this keyboard has a function that makes it stay on?
Personally, if a keyboard doesn't have at least 10 G-keys it's not suitable for gaming. Maybe I'm a snob but to me there isn't any more important feature.
Does it have memory for RGB profiles? I have the Asus Falchion and it cannot store them. If I knew I wold have not buy it. My Falchion is a good keyboard but the Armory Crate software is a bloatware.
Eber: Don't know if you've covered it in another video. But what bag do you use. I'm looking for a new bag.. maybe you could do a video on tech travel accessories and what you all use.. bags laptops batteries ect
This keyboard is a better made clone of the RoyalKludge RK96. To be fair the RK96 is less than a third of the price of this Keeb, but still its nice for lovers of numpads to have options.