ASUS’ Republic of Gamers brand has been giving tech enthusiasts computer parts to drool over for some time now, and with its latest products, ROG is getting even deeper into the fray. Two new ROG keyboards, the ROG Claymore II and ROG Falchion, are going to shake things up on your desk with the high-end specs you demand as well as a few special tricks up their sleeves.
Keyboards haven’t been a big part of ROG’s product offerings in the past. But the ROG Claymore II and ROG Falchion show that ROG isn’t about playing catch-up. These keyboards come with some of the tech you’d expect, like RGB lighting and N-key rollover, but ROG has some new tech on display as well.
The ROG Claymore II is the new star of the show. At its heart are the new, custom-built ROG RX switches. These have been designed from the ground up for a high-performance, consistent experience. The ROG RX switches can give you more responsive control with a 1.5mm actuation depth (compare that to Cherry MX Red’s 2mm actuation point). The switches also have a square stem and a scissor-like X-Stabilizer that keeps the key from wobbling, so every press is smooth and linear. Finally, since the switches are actually optical, rather than relying on traditional mechanical contacts, there’s zero debounce, so key presses register that much faster.
The in-house switch design doesn’t just improve performance though. It also improves aesthetics. By having a square stem, the switch leaves an opening in the middle for LED backlighting. This gives better illumination for the entire double-shot PBT keycap – no more half-illuminated legends.
That better lighting will come in handy, too, as it’ll let you lower the brightness while still getting good illumination of the key legends. Now, why would you want to lower the brightness? To stretch the battery life, of course, because the ROG Claymore II offers 1ms, high-speed wireless gaming. But don’t worry, even with the lights maxed out, ROG Claymore II can last through the week, and it supports fast charging and wired operation in a pinch.
The ROG Claymore II has one final trick: a modular design. While this is a full-size keyboard, it doesn’t have to be. The number pad is detachable, letting you go with a more compact, 80% layout when space is limited. You can even attach the number pad on the left side of the keyboard to keep its custom macro keys within easy reach of WASD. In effect, this will allow you a full-size keyboard with a number pad for getting work done, a TKL keyboard to give your mouse more space in FPS games, or a dedicated macro pad on the left side of your keyboard for all of your skills in MMOs and MOBAs.
Not every desk setup is perfect for large keyboards, though, and that’s where the ROG Falchion comes in. Like the medieval sword it's named after, the ROG Falchion is a more compact tool than the Claymore. The ROG Falchion is the keyboard to get for the minimalist. It has a compact design that won’t overtake your desk or cram your backpack if you take it on the go (something that’s made easier with the included keyboard cover). This 65% keyboard sticks with the keys you need to game, with the traditional Cherry MX mechanical switches many gamers are familiar with, but still cleverly manages to include volume controls or macro keys with a custom touch panel on the left side of the keyboard.
Like the Claymore II, the ROG Falchion also can run wirelessly. And, you really won’t have to worry much about the battery. If you leave the lights turned off, you can run the ROG Falchion for 450 hours.
Between the ROG Claymore II and ROG Falchion, ASUS’s keyboard armory has just gotten a big upgrade.
Where to buy the ROG Claymore II:
Where to buy the ROG Falchion:
