The Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 didn’t come as a surprise to me after seeing their ROS Azoth. It appeared to be mediocre, with fewer features and less customization for the gaming keyboard. I’m glad I went with this idea instead.
While the Strix Scope II 96 is not as easy to build from scratch or purchase expensive alternatives like Keychron, it sets a new standard for mechanical gaming keyboards priced at $180. It boasts modern features such as hot-swap switches and three connection modes, as well as excellent sound quality that most mechanical games lack.
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What sets it apart?
The Strix Scope II 96 is set apart by several features, including the ROG NX Snow switches. These switches are factory-lubricated and feel great, serving as an introduction to Asus’ new Nx switch line.
The switch imitates the design of a Cherry MX Red with varying degrees of linearity. Although the actuation point and reset point are identical, making it effortless to fly across the keyboard without any discomfort.
The shell is the key to the superior sound and feel of the keyboard, as it features silicon foam under the PCB and dampening switch pads above the same structure. This sets the ROG Strix Scope II 96 apart from the Corsair K70 Pro RGB in particular.
Regardless of the brand, most gaming keyboards sound hollow and pingy. This is because they are hollow, so adding a little board foam to absorb sound makes it difficult to determine whether the keyboard is custom-built or not.
Pricey, but competitive.
Although the Strix Scope II 96 is expensive at $180, it is a much more affordable option than other gaming keyboards. The Corsair K70 Pro RGB, which comes with optical OPX switches for around $1160, is equally pricey but lacks intelligibility to wireless and hot-swappable switches.
Corsair is not the only one that has problems with wireless keyboards, as seen with the SteelSeries Apex Pro for $200 and the Glorious GMMK Pro.
Although the Strix Scope II 96 may be expensive, it doesn’t have as many features as its competitors. The SteelSeries keyboard has an OLED display, the Razer keyboard offers better media controls, and Corsair boasts optical switches. However, considering its sound, there are no downsides to the device. Additionally, this product is not cheap in materials; it only has a plastic bottom, but an aluminum top.
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Asus’ new keyboard is not without flaws, but it’s the best alternative for its $180 price. The keycaps are less appealing and unattractive, and they would be my first choice to replace on the Strix Scope II 96.
I don’t like the fact that the legends look blocky and robotic, while the tops have a slight graininess that reminds me of ROG keyboards. Additionally, I dislike the raised nub on the W key, which is commonly used on J and F keys but not on Asus.
Armoury Crate doesn’t meet my expectations either. The app is slow and unstable, but it still provides a variety of customization options such as macros, per-key RGB lighting, and key remapping. It also supports Aura Sync, which can be used to match it up with other Asus components.
The Strix Scope II 96’s price, sound, and feel make it a top choice among mainstream gaming keyboard options. It also offers enough flexibility to replace switches or keycaps in the future.
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