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WIRED
a day ago
- WIRED
I Surprisingly Can't Get Enough of the Space-Age Looks of This Asus Gaming Keyboard
A lot of mechanical keyboards struggle with aesthetics. It's hard to get right! If the styling is overdone, you might inhibit functionality or just have too much going on visually. If you stick to the basics, you might end up with a bland keyboard. Whichever way you go, there's still a chance you'll get it wrong and have something that doesn't look good. But there's been an influx of really well-designed keyboards of late: Keychron's K2 HE Special Edition is a great example, along with the Mchose GX87 Ultra, not to mention the countless high-end custom keyboard kits available today. With most of these keyboards, keycaps take a backseat—even if they look good, they're usually fairly standard and minimal. Asus takes the opposite approach with the ROG Azoth X: A simple white case, but colorful and stylized keycaps. It's not the most conventional design, but they look really good and manage to liven up a desk without taking over your setup. This keyboard manages to look good without sacrificing substance—the Azoth X has 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth connectivity, 1,000-Hz polling, and an internal assembly that makes it both fun to type on and easy to modify. It's available in white with either click or linear NX switches, and includes a silicone wrist rest. All that costs a pretty penny, though, at $300. Deep and Snappy Typing Photograph: Henri Robbins This keyboard is most comparable to Razer's BlackWidow V4 75% in typing experience. Both use a metal top case and a plastic bottom case with a gasket mount system and a plastic plate. The stiffness is similar, as are the sound profiles. The biggest difference is the switch options: Razer's 75% keyboard is only available with tactile switches, while Asus offers linear and clicky switches. The unit I received came with Asus's Snow linear switches. These are a fairly light linear switch with a deeper typing sound and a consistent smoothness throughout the entire keypress. They aren't the smoothest switches I've tested, but the friction felt when typing is both minimal and consistent, resulting in a typing experience that's still enjoyable. These switches also have minimal stem wobble, meaning keypresses feel stable and confident when typing. They require less force than a Cherry MX Red switch, requiring 53 grams of force to fully bottom out compared to the MX Red's 60 grams. This difference is noticeable and makes the switches feel more responsive without as much risk of mis-inputs compared to a truly lightweight (sub-50g) spring. The gasket-mounting system that holds the keyboard in place feels like a mix between a gasket mount and an o-ring mount, since the rubber gaskets are pressed tightly into the inside of the case. This means the typing feel is consistent across the entire keyboard, and feels more connected to the case compared to a standard foam gasket. It still has some of the bounce and softness expected from a gasket mount, but it is less than many comparable keyboards. The stabilizers in the Azoth X are standard plate-mounted, lubed from the factory. While plate-mount stabilizers are typically going to feel less stable than PCB-mount, the ones used here still feel good and have no rattle out of the box. Space-Age Aesthetics Photograph: Henri Robbins There are a lot of things I like about the design. The keycaps are slightly flatter than the average keycap and have a two-piece assembly with a transparent back for RGB diffusion. The case has a sleek and angular design that looks stylish and space-age without taking up a lot of room.
WIRED
05-06-2025
- Business
- WIRED
Asus' ROG Falchion Ace HFX Brings a Fresh Take to Hall Effect Keyboards
Every gaming keyboard manufacturer seems to be jumping on the Hall effect bandwagon, and why wouldn't they? The keyboard technology has been proven in both esports arenas and home office setups worldwide and offers countless advantages over standard mechanical keyboards, with no real performance compromises. Hall effect keyboards have also arrived as countless other technologies enter the keyboard space: Everything from gasket-mounting to touchpads is now in mainstream keyboards. That also means I regularly see new products, mechanical and Hall effect, with features I've never even considered before. Case in point, the Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX, a small keyboard with a large name and a lot of unusual features. This $200 wired-only keyboard has Hall effect switches, an 8,000-Hz polling rate, multidevice connectivity with two USB-C ports, and a programmable touchpad on the back edge. Not to mention countless on-keyboard controls and a flipable lever to enable or disable the rapid trigger feature found on most Hall effect keyboards. While it does have some strange design decisions, it has a lot of really clever ones too. Unique Switches Photograph: Henri Robbins Photograph: Henri Robbins Photograph: Henri Robbins The Falchion has one of the deepest typing sounds compared to other Hall effect keyboards. This is likely a combination of the keyboard's unique HFX magnetic switches, one of the few I've tested that aren't made by Gateron, and the sound dampening inside. It consists of multiple layers of foam, Poron, and silicone, and a sheet of small rubber domes. The switches feel incredibly smooth, even when pressed slowly, with a consistent feel throughout the entire keypress. They use a polycarbonate top housing, a POM stem, and a POM bottom housing, contributing to the deeper typing sound and ensuring smoothness across the entire keystroke. Unlike most Hall effect switches, the HFX doesn't have a hole in the center, instead, it moves the magnet to the front, where the metal contact leaf would typically be on a mechanical switch. This makes the Falchion incompatible with standard Hall effect switches, but likely improves the sound profile as well: Open-bottom switches tend to have a more hollow typing sound, which can be heard on competitors. The springs are weighted to 55 grams of total force, which is 5 grams lighter than the Gateron Nebula dual-rail switches used by Keychron, and 10 grams lighter than the standard Cherry MX Red. There aren't any other switches available for this keyboard, but because Hall effect switches are contactless, the existing switches can be removed without any desoldering or extensive disassembly. I didn't find myself wanting to change the switches, though—they have a poppy and deep sound that's incredibly crisp, and they feel responsive and smooth, especially with rapid trigger enabled. My largest issue with the typing experience was the keycaps. They have a rough texture that, while grippy, felt noticeably coarse and unpleasant when typing. It comes down to preference, but I found them less enjoyable than smooth or lightly textured keycaps.
WIRED
16-05-2025
- WIRED
The Best Ergonomic Mouse to Keep Wrist Strain at Bay
Photograph: Henri Robbins Keychron M6 for $50: If you like the design of the MX Master line, but would prefer a more gaming-oriented mouse, the Keychron M6 is a nice alternative. While the M6 doesn't have Logitech's advanced gesture controls or soft-touch exterior, it maintains the dual-mode scroll wheel, horizontal wheel, and general ergonomics while adding a 4,000-Hz refresh rate and shaving off almost half the weight of the 3S at only 78 grams. However, some small issues of build quality and a loss of functionality make this a less-than-ideal choice for most users—the dual-mode scroll wheel rattles during use, and the mouse feels lightweight to a fault. The higher-performance model's wireless receiver requires a USB-C cable to connect to a device, which is a lot less convenient for laptop users compared to the low-profile dongle included with the 1,000-Hz model (and most other mice today). Photograph: Henri Robbins Keychron M4 for $50: While you can realistically transport any of the mice on this list in a backpack or computer bag, I was impressed by just how compact the Keychron M4 is. I could easily slip it into a laptop bag or jacket pocket without any issue, and I even used it as a travel mouse for quite a while. While the shape isn't great, or even good, ergonomically, I found the claw grip quite comfortable even during prolonged gaming sessions. However, it isn't good enough that I would recommend it to anyone for daily use on a desktop setup unless they want the lightest mouse possible. The only real complaint I had with this mouse was the dongle: The 4,000-Hz model comes with a receiver shaped like a tiny keyboard with a USB-C port on the back, which meant I needed a cable to connect the receiver and a flat surface to place it on. Meanwhile, the 1,000-Hz model came with a simple USB dongle that could plug into the side of a laptop. Logitech Pro X Superlight 2 DEX for $180: While this mouse is intended for high-intensity competitive gaming, I found its sculpted shape to be practical and comfortable for any long-term use, and its lightweight (60 grams!), no-frills design was quick and snappy for both spreadsheets and shooters. The mouse felt incredibly sturdy despite its weight, and the 8-kHz polling combined with a 44k-dpi sensor makes it the best-performing mouse on this list. While pricey, the Superlight DEX is a great single-mouse solution for someone who works from home and immediately starts queueing up after clocking out. It has a far more gaming-focused lean than the Razer Basilisk V3, which, while not bad, means you're making a few more sacrifices to productivity in exchange for gaming performance. Photograph: Henri Robbins Logitech MX Vertical for $120: While this mouse's size and general shape both feel good for regular use, I found the shape to be a bit uncomfortable to fully grip and lift: A prominent ridge on the back dug into the space between my thumb and index finger, and the shape was just a bit too narrow to get a good hold on. However, the MX Vertical is still comfortable to hold with a looser grip, and it is perfectly serviceable for general office work and browsing, while putting less strain on the wrist than a standard horizontal mouse. Photograph: Henri Robbins Logitech Lift for $80: As one of the smaller vertical mice on this list, the Lift is just a bit too small. I found it difficult to comfortably grip this mouse for prolonged use, and friends with smaller hands found the same. That said, WIRED reviews editor Julian Chokkattu says his 5'2" wife uses the Life and finds it perfect for her small hands, so your mileage will vary. Regardless of hand size, a larger vertical mouse is typically more comfortable for most people. It's worth noting that the Lift is one of the only vertical mice I've tested with a left-handed configuration.
WIRED
30-04-2025
- WIRED
Corsair's K70 Pro TKL Keyboard Mixes Switches With Mixed Results
When I test a mechanical keyboard with 'Pro' in the name, I expect it to be the best of the best, with no compromises over its non-Pro variant. Razer has this figured out: The BlackWidow V4 Pro is better than the original V4 in every way, and it proves that a gaming keyboard doesn't need to employ Hall effect switches to be good. Conversely, Corsair demonstrated that Hall effect switches don't automatically make a keyboard better, especially when there are trade-offs to get them. The Corsair K70 keyboard has three flavors: Core ($100), Core Wireless ($150), and Pro TKL ($180). The Pro has an advantage over the Core because it has some Hall effect switches but skips wireless connectivity. It sports an 8,000-Hz polling rate, extensive RGB, and a magnetized wrist rest. It also has a few sacrifices that make it lackluster compared to the other K70 models and its peers. A Tale of Two Switches Photograph: Henri Robbins Corsair's product page for the K70 Pro TKL says the keyboard uses 'Corsair MGX V2 switches,' with no mention of standard mechanical switches in the Tech Specs section or elsewhere. In the exploded view of the keyboard, some of the switches have pink stems instead of blue and are listed as 'MLX Plasma switches.' Every key not part of the main cluster, like the function row, Escape key, arrow keys, and other navigation keys, are mechanical switches. Even on the packaging for the keyboard, this is only presented in small print on the top of the box, with the rest only mentioning the MGX Hyperdrive switches. Intentional or not, this is frustrating. When I buy a keyboard, I expect all the keys to have the same type of switches. If that's not the case, the company should be clearer than this. Thankfully, the keyboard doesn't feel bad to type on. The MGX V2 Hyperdrive switches are crisp and responsive without any softness at the bottom of the keypress. There is almost zero scratchiness when typing or even when pressing a switch down slowly, a feat possible thanks to the contact-free design of a magnetic Hall effect switch. (Read more about the tech here.) This is likely further improved by the double-rail design inside the switches, introduced with the Keychron Q1 HE and used in multiple keyboards since. Photograph: Henri Robbins The Hyperdrive switches share the same design as Wooting's Lekker switches, which means the two can be swapped between keyboards. However, both are made using an earlier design of Hall effect switches and are not interchangeable with the newer Hall effect switches used by Keychron (an issue I discussed when reviewing the Q1 HE last year). The MLX mechanical switches are enjoyable to use, although they feel heavier than the Hall effect switches. They have a deeper, full tone and a slight scratchiness that can be felt even when typing normally. It feels similar to the 'good' scratch of something like a Cherry MX Black. The MLX switches feel slightly slower to bounce back after a keypress. I felt continually thrown off by the mixing of the MGX Hall effect and MLX mechanical switches, since the two felt noticeably different. This is not to say that the MLX switches are bad; I enjoy typing on the standard K70 Core that only has mechanical switches. The issue is how the two blend. It was distracting whenever I had to use both switches back-to-back. Half High-Speed Photograph: Henri Robbins The K70 Pro TKL performs well for gaming. It has incredibly precise and responsive inputs, and more than that, the MGX switches' weight and rebound speed are tuned for responsiveness without being so light as to cause any accidental mis-inputs.
WIRED
23-04-2025
- WIRED
WobKey's Rainy 75 Mechanical Keyboard Punches Above Its Weight
The Rainy 75 is a common sight on the r/MechanicalKeyboards subreddit, a community that nerds out about the thock of a keyboard and, naturally, fun keycaps. It seems like every week or so, someone posts about their new purchase from WobKey, and every time, the consensus revolves around how good of a budget option it is. That's because, for under $150, the Rainy 75 has every feature you could want in a mechanical keyboard today. There are a few strange design choices, but I finally got my hands on one, and I'm impressed by this keyboard. The Rainy 75 is available in three flavors: Lite, Standard, and Pro. The Lite retails for $129 and includes HMX Violet linear switches, a polypropylene plate, and a 3,500-mAh battery. The Pro—the model I tested—includes Kailh Cocoa linear switches, an FR4 plate, RGB lighting, and two batteries totaling 7,000 mAh for $159. The Standard is in between and costs $139. Poppy, Crisp, and Smooth Photograph: Henri Robbins Typing on the Rainy 75 feels and sounds fantastic. It has that poppy, crisp typing sound you see in videos online, and typing feels every bit as energetic and enjoyable. I assume the 'Rainy 75' name comes from the typing sound, since its softer and rounded sound profile sounds like rain falling. The linear 'Cocoa' switches are manufactured by Kailh for the Rainy 75. These switches have a relatively light operating force of 45 grams, which is comparable to a Cherry MX Red, and use a polyoxymethylene stem (POM) and Nylon housing, which helps to create a marbly typing sound and a smooth typing feel. The switches are responsive, popping back up quickly after being pressed, and have hardly any scratch, even when pressed down slowly. The stems of these switches have little wobble from side to side or front to back, making keypresses feel sturdy. The stabilizers on this keyboard come pre-lubed and, despite being plate-mounted instead of printed-circuit-board–mounted, they feel fantastic. While I could talk about how smooth and quiet they are, it's easier to say that I didn't even notice they were there when typing. These stabilizers are tuned perfectly and don't require any work out of the box. That said, I imagine that, like most plate-mounted stabilizers, they will require a reapplication of lube after a while. Photograph: Henri Robbins The gasket-mount system holding the keyboard together is really impressive. It feels bouncy and soft without seeming too muted or mushy. The dampening from the gaskets is consistent across all of the keys, only becoming somewhat stiffer around the edges. Finicky Functionality This keyboard has some quirks that, while not huge, can be annoying. Sometimes, when pressing Alt+Tab on this keyboard, or any other key combinations involving the Tab key, I have to press the combination twice for it to work. I've resolved these oddities by turning the keyboard off and on. Typically, one of my favorite features on a mechanical keyboard is support for QMK and VIA. QMK, short for Quantum Mechanical Keyboard, is an open source firmware that allows for almost limitless customization of a keyboard's layout. VIA is a system for customizing specific QMK-compatible keyboards using an in-browser interface. These allow for simple and efficient customization of mechanical keyboards, meaning a QMK-enabled keyboard will have long-term support without reliance on proprietary software that may stop being updated after a few years.
