ROG Strix Scope II RX

Over the years that I have spent testing hardware, one brand has always impressed me. ASUS' Republic of Gamers division (which yes, has a very cheesy name) has produced tons of excellent gaming products, be it fantastic laptops, precise mice, and even quality keyboards. Talking about the latter, I have been putting the ROG Strix Scope II RX through the ringer as of late, and like many other ROG products, this gadget has impressed me.

This keyboard is a full-size device, which means it has all the regular keys, various additional function keys, a defined number pad, arrow keys, and various other helpful buttons too. Frankly, in my experience with keyboards, this is too much. There are so many buttons on a full-sized keyboard that you will literally never use, so the extra space saved by choosing a 60% or 75% variant is definitely a recommendation from me. That being said, the Strix Scope II RX is one of the smaller full-sized keyboards I have ever seen. It's slim and rather compact for its size, and it's quite light as well. I have used many small form-factor keyboards that feel bulkier and heavier than this device, so ASUS has definitely surprised on that front, even if the length of the keyboard will mean that you are likely struggling with desk space.

Looking at the build quality, this is undeniably excellent. It doesn't have that ridiculously premium feeling that HyperX's Alloy Origins series does, but the plastics that this device is made from are top-notch, and the keys are helpfully doubleshot so you can see the multiple inputs each often have. As for the switches, these are ROG RX optical switches, and they are some of the quietest (or least clicky, if you will) that you can find on the market thanks to the sound-dampening foam within, and this is even without adding spacers on top of this to reduce noise further. They're responsive and have plenty of push-back and are ideal for gaming and regular work and productivity.

Connectivity for the Strix Scope II RX is also excellent. It's a simple plug and play system that doesn't require any additional software to use, as you can customise many of the settings by using a multifunctional button and scroll wheel and alternative functions to adjust lighting, RGB patterns, and so on. If you do want to get a little more creative, you can do that as well by using the always intuitive Armory Crate software.

ASUS has even gone the extra mile in various places with this keyboard. If you're using Windows, you can take advantage of various function buttons that are specifically tailored for the Xbox Game Bar app, making PC gaming even easier in that regard. Likewise, the laptop is IP57 rated for dust and water resistance, meaning it will survive minor spills and long usage. For those who prefer keyboards at an angle, it has multiple stand options and even comes with an ergonomic and detachable wrist rest.

Overall, the ROG Strix Scope II RX really isn't all too different from its predecessor. It's slimmer and more refined, but the core high build quality that ASUS' ROG division is known for once again shines through. My main point of criticism would be its lack of wireless support, as being a solely wired device does feel a bit archaic for this era of peripheral technology. But, if that (or the proportions of a full-sized keyboard) don't bother you, then there's not a lot to go wrong when it comes to the ROG Strix Scope II RX.