After a week of writing and gaming on the ROG Azoth Extreme Edition 20, its build quality and enjoyable typing feel stand out most. Switching from our Logitech G Pro X TKL surprised us within minutes. But one question is hard to avoid: can spending nearly €700 on a keyboard make sense, however pleasant it is?
Our test conditions
Our French AZERTY unit was purchased by Absolute PC, a Hardware Reference partner. We used it for about a week, averaging four hours a day, including writing this article and playing Counter-Strike 2 and Battlefield 6.
All testing used the wireless receiver with the screen and lighting on, without the ROG Polling Rate Booster. We did not disassemble the keyboard or replace its switches. This review describes our experience; we did not take instrumented latency or noise measurements.
An impressive finish
The weight is the first surprise. Despite its compact 75% layout, this keyboard feels very heavy. On the desk, the sense of quality is striking. We particularly like the combination of metal chassis, translucent keycaps and gold details. It catches the eye without looking excessive to us.
This Edition 20 celebrates twenty years of ROG with a commemorative plaque plated in 24-carat gold. ASUS uses aluminium for the structure and a carbon-fibre switch plate beneath the keys [1].
The packaging reinforces the premium impression. ASUS lists a wrist rest, two pairs of magnetic feet, the Polling Rate Booster, a USB-A to USB-C cable, a USB extension, keycap and switch pullers, and three spare switches among the included accessories [2].
A light touch that quickly grows on you
Compared with our previous Logitech G Pro X TKL, typing feels much lighter, almost too soft at first. That impression soon fades: we quickly found our bearings, both when writing and gaming.
We made few mistakes despite switching keyboards. The key spacing felt well judged, and we never felt that the slightest brush would trigger a keystroke.
Our unit has linear ROG NX Snow Edition 20 switches, which can be replaced without soldering [1]. We kept the original switches throughout the test.
Why we prefer Soft mode
A selector switches between Hard and Soft modes. It changes the flexibility of the typing assembly, not the spring force inside the switches [1]. In use, the difference felt fairly subtle. You can notice it when comparing the two positions, but it does not completely transform the keyboard.
The clearest difference to our ears is the sound. In Soft mode, typing sounds quiet and fairly delicate. Hard mode produces a rougher, more pronounced sound that we like less. We therefore prefer Soft for its acoustics. This is a matter of taste, not a reason to call either mode better for everyone.
Key legibility and wrist comfort
Transparent keycaps might raise concerns about legibility. We actually found the legends very easy to read. The keys also stayed fairly free of marks during the week. We should add that we kept food well away from the desk!
We have mixed feelings about the wrist rest. We would have liked its silicone surface on an aluminium base [1] to offer a little more cushioning. Its firmness is worth mentioning at this price. We cannot yet judge how it will age.
The magnetic feet caused no problems. Two heights are supplied; including the position without feet, there are three possible angles [2].
Our gaming experience
We adapted quickly in CS2 and Battlefield 6. We particularly appreciated the subdued key noise during repeated strafing, when rapidly alternating directions. Compared with our usual keyboard, resonance seemed much better controlled.
With the wireless receiver, we encountered no disconnections, missed keystrokes or unintended repeats all week. We could simply enjoy playing.
ASUS advertises a polling rate of up to 8,000 Hz with the Polling Rate Booster [2]. Since we did not use that accessory, our verdict does not cover this mode. We did not record the exact polling rate of our setup.
A nice-looking screen we rarely used
The OLED screen adds a pleasant visual touch. With the adjacent controls, it also gives access to information and a few quick settings. Honestly, we mainly saw it as decoration. Over the week, we never felt a particular need to use it.
We configured it through Armoury Crate. Trying macros and changing the lighting colours was straightforward, just as with the Harpe II Extreme Edition 20 we tested alongside it.
A week without battery worries
The battery dropped by around 30 percentage points over a week, averaging four hours of daily use. That adds up to about 28 hours, with screen and lighting on and without the Polling Rate Booster. We are happy with the battery life observed under those conditions.
We did not fully drain the battery: these 28 hours describe our usage, not a measurement of total battery life.
A keyboard we like more than its price
Prices observed during our test ranged from €650 to €700. Either way, this is a very expensive keyboard.
Edition 20 may appeal to ROG enthusiasts or collectors looking for this specific finish. Its presentation, details and perceived quality make that positioning understandable. Judging only the typing and gaming experience, however, we would have found €450 to €500 more acceptable.
The construction inspires confidence and makes us want to keep it for years. How the battery, electronics and screen will age remains to be seen.
At its current price, we would not replace our Logitech with this Azoth. It would take a very large discount, around 50%, for us to consider buying it. That does not diminish our enjoyment: the typing feel, finish and Soft-mode acoustics won us over. The firm wrist rest and limited usefulness of the screen in our routine are reservations, but price remains the main obstacle.
Key takeaways
We liked the build quality, black and gold appearance, light and easy-to-adjust-to typing feel, Soft-mode sound, readable keycaps and trouble-free wireless connection during our test.
We are less convinced by the price, the firm wrist rest and the screen’s everyday usefulness. To us, Hard/Soft mainly changes the sound rather than producing a marked change in typing feel.