When we reviewed the original Asus ROG Azoth in 2023, we gave it an Editors' Choice award as an outstanding and eminently customizable gaming keyboard. Then came the Asus ROG Azoth Extreme, also an impressive board, but with a $500 asking price that severely limits its appeal. Now, we're checking out the Asus ROG Azoth X, a wireless mechanical model that fits right in between its two predecessors, in terms of price. At $299.99, the Azoth X costs significantly less than the Azoth Extreme, likely because it backs off on some of the flashier upgrades. Meanwhile, its price matches our current Editors’ Choice pick for enthusiast keyboards, the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75% (which sports a better polling rate and features a magnetic wrist rest). So is the Azoth X a potentially good alternative? Read on.

Design: Black, White, and Red (But Not All Over)

Compared with the two earlier Asus keyboards, the Azoth X has more in common with the standard Azoth, right down to the molding of its back plate. However, the Azoth X comes in slightly larger than the standard, at 1.6 by 12.8 by 5.4 inches (HWD). Unlike the earlier model, it is available only with a white frame.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

As wireless keyboards go, the Azoth X has a pretty hefty battery, which Asus rates at 1,600 hours of use. In terms of connections, you can link up the keyboard to your PC via a USB-C cable (included), Bluetooth, or 2.4GHz wireless. The 2.4GHz wireless dongle is neatly nestled in a cutout next to the connectivity mode switch on the top right of the frame.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

The keycaps have black, white, or red/blue bases with patterns reminiscent of a 1980s retrowave aesthetic. The high contrast (white labels on black keys and black labels on white keys) helps keep the keys legible in low-light conditions, and even though the font is stylized, it’s still more readable than the setup on the Lemokey L5 HE. Beyond that, the keycaps are made of a frosted plastic that allows the sides of the keys to diffuse the RGB backlighting in a satisfyingly soft glow. The tops and fronts of the keycaps are molded with an opaque plastic.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

In the box, along with the USB-C cable for connecting and charging, Asus includes an extra set of keycaps if you’d like to replace the Windows-specific keys with Mac ones; there’s even an extra Control key to replace the Microsoft Copilot-branded keycap.

Features: A Nifty Built-In OLED Display

The Azoth X's signature feature is on the top right of the keyboard: an OLED display that you can fully configure using a desktop software utility (more on that later in the review). The display is black and white, unlike the color OLED screen on the Azoth Extreme. You use it mainly for controlling the lighting of the keyboard, such as RGB effects and backlight brightness, but it works for media control too.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

You can cycle through the screen's menus with a silver-colored toggle switch to the right of the display. Tapping a side button will cycle among volume control, media control, RGB brightness, and RGB effects. The toggle switch will control these functions, to adjust the volume or shift the RGB effects. If you leave the screen alone, a small Asus animation will appear as a screensaver. The toggle switch isn’t as satisfying as a volume knob or a roller like the one found in the NZXT Function 2 Mini TKL, but functionally, the toggle switch does all it needs to.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

We found typing on the Azoth X smooth and satisfying, due in large part to the multiple layers of sound-dampening foam. Unlike the original Azoth, the new model has two layers of Poron foam instead of just one, greatly reducing echoes when you hit the keys. Each keystroke has a very satisfying “thocc” to it that’s sure to satisfy even the most particular of typists. Meanwhile, the Azoth X uses Asus ROG NX Snow V2 switches—linear switches with 40 grams of actuation force—making this board a great option for typists who don't need tactile feedback.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

I used a quick Monkeytype test to judge typing performance. The test rated me at an average speed of 70 words per minute, slightly higher than my usual results with new keyboards.

Customizability: Tinker-Friendly, But No Wrench Included

In the tradition of the original Azoth—which was built to be customizable—the Azoth X is fit for fiddling with its components. To break into the keyboard, you'll just need a 1/16 Allen wrench (admittedly a rare size to find, but an inexpensive one) to unscrew the 10 screws holding the top frame. Then, you can use a Philips screwdriver to remove the internal layers by unscrewing them from the PCB.

These tools aren't included in the box, likely because Asus isn't targeting this keyboard to tinkering enthusiasts, but it's still nice to have easy access to the internals for making repairs or messing around. Asus does include a key-switch and keycap puller to help you change out switches from the hot-swappable PCB.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

Unlike the original Azoth, the Azoth X comes with a silicone wrist rest. It flexes easily, though we don't recommend doing this (it'll increase the likelihood of the silicone wearing down).

The wrist rest is a welcome addition, with one caveat. We expected to find some magnets embedded in the wrist rest, like those in the BlackWidow V4, but the Azoth X doesn't have any. We found that the silicone gripped a desktop surface enough to stay in place without the help of magnets, but it had a harder time staying stable on a large desktop mat, since it lacked anything to hang on to.

(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)

In terms of heft, the Azoth X weighs 2.6 pounds, nearly half the total of the similarly sized (and cheaper) OnePlus Keyboard 81 Pro, which clocks in at a comparatively hefty 4.16 pounds. But even though the Azoth X is relatively light, the frame’s four rubberized footpads do a good job of keeping it stable.

Software: Armoury Crate Unlocks More Custom Options

The OLED screen allows you to control many of the keyboard's functions, but for some specific features, you'll need Armoury Crate, the Asus desktop utility used to configure and update all of the company's peripherals.

(Credit: Asus/PCMag)

One of those special features is Speed Tap. Designed to give PC gamers an edge, the option lets your system prioritize the most recently typed key on your keyboard instead of the previous key you hit. Say you’re moving left in Doom: The Dark Ages, but a demon is getting ready to attack, so you strafe right to avoid the creature. If you press the right button too quickly, you might end up depressing both direction keys at once. Your computer would prioritize the first key—the left one—and you’d experience input lag. Speed Tap reverses that.

But this feature isn’t implemented by default, because it could lead to missed inputs when typing. When you activate it, you can set specific key combos (similar to how macros work) that Speed Tap will prioritize. A default configuration is set up for the A and D keys, but you can easily create others with the utility.

(Credit: Asus/PCMag)

You can also use this utility to change the idle animation on the OLED screen. While you can cycle through pre-loaded animations on the screen itself, you'll need the software utility to upload your own custom ones.