By akademiotoelektronik, 19/10/2022

ASUS ROG Claymore II test: performance, modularity and freedom

Design et ergonomie Fonctionnalités Connectivité et autonomiePerformances Prix et disponibilité ConclusionCommentaires

The gaming keyboards sometimes lacks flavor.Nevertheless, when manufacturers seek to stand out, this often gives amazing products like the Rog Claymore II passed under our fingers.

Source: Edouard Patout for Frandroid

The main particularity ASUS Rog Claymore II mechanical keyboard has a removable digital block which can be installed both on the right and on the left.It can also be completely deleted to enjoy a real TKL keyboard.

Proposed at a recommended prohibitive price of 289 euros, this keyboard offers a high-end service with a wireless operation, a point rest and the excellent ROG RX switches.

A neat design despite a complex design

One thing is certain: we are in the presence of a keyboard asus rog.The plastic frame is surmounted by a gray brushed metal plate.The angles are beveled, as often on the brand's keyboards which very clearly assumes its "gaming" positioning.

Source: Edouard Patout for Frandroid

A shiny and translucent plastic area is present on the upper part and houses the brand's RGB logo as well as a clever battery level display.This type of display is rare enough on wireless keyboards to be notified.Indication LEDs are also installed on the upper part of the keyboard.

Switches logically rest directly on the metal plate.An always appreciable feature that allows easier cleaning and allows the integrated lighting to better diffuse.Note that the ROG RX switches present here have a translucent body which reveals the red stabilization mechanism.

Source: Edouard Patout for Frandroid

The keys wear the usual font of the brand and offer perfect cutouts which allow good diffusion of lighting and facilitate the legibility of the characters.PBT point here since you will have to be satisfied with a very classic ABS plastic.A choice which is very difficult to justify on a keyboard at almost 300 euros, especially since it will be impossible to replace them due to the specificity of their fixing system ...

Connection and power management are logically relegated to the back of the chassis.We first have a switch to turn on the keyboard.It is associated with a USB-Type C connector to connect the keyboard to the PC thanks to the braided cable of approximately 1.8 m supplied.The USB port now will serve as a hub and will only work logically when the keyboard is connected in wired.Finally, accommodation is also provided for the USB dongle used for wireless connection.

Source: Edouard Patout for Frandroid

The underside of the chassis has the usual striated coating dear to the brand.There are also retractable feet (both on the keyboard and on the digital block) allowing the rear to be raised for more comfort.With more than a kilo on the scale and helped by non -slip skates, the Rog Claymore II logically remains well in place on the desktop.

Still in terms of comfort, ASUS provides a magnetic point rest to the dimension of the complete keyboard.The latter benefits from generous padding even if it seems to us unfortunately too narrow and leaves the base of the palm in the void which ultimately makes it uncomfortable for use.Especially since it cannot logically be used properly without the digital pavement ... Too bad.

Source: Edouard Patout for Frandroid

Let's go back to the digital pavement which is the real specificity of the Claymore range.This is therefore removable and can be installed both right and left of the keyboard thanks to a rail fixing system with integrated connector.The installation is no more simple and Asus thought of while providing magnetic covers to fill the "empty" left by the digital pavement.

Source: Edouard Patout for Frandroid

The fixings are solid enough not to start the rigidity of the keyboard when the digital pavement is installed.We almost regret that it is not possible to use the latter without connecting it to the keyboard, in wireless, which would bring even more freedom.The possibility of using Claymore II as needed with or without digital pavement is particularly appreciable and allows it to be adapted to each situation.

Source: Edouard Patout for Frandroid

This digital block also accommodates 4 additional keys which can be personalized using the Armoury Crate pilot (see below).A large volume adjustment wheel is also present and it is very pleasant to use.Only small negative point, we will not be able to take advantage of it when the keyboard is used in TKL format.

If it remains clearly typed "gamer", the Asus Rog Claymore II keyboard can boast of enjoying a solid construction, even if its modularity might suggest the opposite.It is particularly complete while enjoying a very appreciable modularity.

Armoury Crate features and pilot

Like the other keyboards of the brand, the Claymore II has several accessible shortcuts thanks to the "FN" key.The usual multimedia shortcuts are positioned on the F5 to F11 keys.The F12 button is dedicated to activating the USB Passrough port.It is also possible to finally personalize the lighting effects directly from the keyboard and to switch between profiles.

To go further, the Claymore II is logically compatible with the Armoury Crate software suite, common to all the brand's peripherals.If the tool does not shine by its responsiveness, it has the merit of being more complete and therefore offers many possibilities of personalization.

We take advantage of an interface to reassign all the keyboard keys with the functions of our choice.Here we have the choice between different functions as well as macros that can be recorded directly from the software.Note that during our tests, it was necessary to restart the tool with each connection of the digital pavement so that it is taken into account.

The light effects can be configured using different presets, animated or not.In the same way, the battery indicator can be personalized to choose the remaining battery or follow the rest of the lighting defined on the keys.

The rest of the options are dedicated to the power supply with in particular the possibility of personalizing the low battery alert threshold or the one before the keyboard on the keyboard.An energy saving mode is also available.

As always, the settings can be saved in profiles to associate with your games and applications.The keyboard also has an internal memory allowing to enjoy the different profiles without requiring Armoury Crate in the background.

A very enduring keyboard

As it can be used in wireless, the Rog Claymore II obviously has a battery in the main chassis which will also feed the digital pavement.Autonomy is not always the strong point of gamer keyboards even if some models like the G915 of Logitech are doing honorably.

Source: Edouard Patout for Frandroid

The Asus keyboard offers very interesting autonomy.During our tests, the keyboard was used mainly in TKL (without the digital pavement), with the brightness positioned at 25 %, which does not in any way start the readability of the keys.Under these conditions, the keyboard was used for more than two weeks before having to be recharged.

Very logically, with 100 % lighting and the digital block in addition, the values will be lower, but with classic use, the keyboard will be able to last several days or even a full week.We clearly do not reach the level of the best office keyboards, but the Rog Claymore II is certainly one of the most enduring keyboards in its category.

Source: Edouard Patout for Frandroid

Note that Asus has equipped its product with a fast load system allowing to recover between 15 and 20 hours of autonomy in just 30 minutes of load.Welcome feature, even if keyboard autonomy is already very convincing.

On the connectivity side, the user therefore has the choice between a classic wired connection and a wireless link at 2.4 GHz.During our tests, we have not noticed any malfunction or perceptible latency.We simply regret the absence of Bluetooth connectivity, which would have allowed simultaneous use on several devices.Shame.

A perfect strike experience

Beyond its design and design, the Rog Claymore II is distinguished by its performance.Asus has equipped the keyboard with its ROG RX Red Linear and Optics house switches.If homemade solutions are often based on existing models, things are here (positively different).

On paper, these switches logically approach the Cherry MX Red classics.The necessary activation force is 45 grams, with an activation point located 1.5 mm.A feature that makes Asus switches more reactive than Cherry.In addition, the initial activation force here is 40 grams thus making the switches more "resistant".

Source: Edouard Patout for Frandroid

In addition to these few differences in terms of characteristics, the construction of these switches completely differs.The keys rest on a square support and are held in the four corners.If this logically prevents the keycaps, this particularity brings significant stability to the key.

Better still, the body of the switches houses a chisel support which means that the keys remain perfectly stable throughout the descent, it does not matter whether the finger is positioned in the center of the touch or on a corner.Difficult to explain in writing, the feeling provided by these switches is very satisfactory and distinguishes them very clearly from everything we have been able to test so far.

In writing, the switches are very reactive, without being too much.The race is perfectly fluid and we particularly appreciate the slightly higher resistance which thus avoids non -voluntary activations.The keys also quickly return to the initial position and thus bring a slight "tactile" return under the finger.

Source: Edouard Patout for Frandroid

Very logically, the switches (linear we remind you) are perfectly cut to accompany the players.Thus, the keyboard is very effective on games where actions are linked like shooting games or MOBAs.The Rog Claymore II is therefore a companion of choice for demanding players.

In summary, ROG RX RED switches are simply the best general public linear switches of the moment.They offer exemplary performance accompanied by remarkable stability and fluidity.

The sound test

Small novelty, we now offer you an overview of the noise pollution generated by switches.We are here on a linear model ultimately rather noisy.The sound was recorded using the Hyperx quadcast microphone, positioned above the keyboard, around thirty centimeters.

Price and availability of the Asus Rog Claymore II keyboard

The Asus Rog Claymore II keyboard is available at the recommended price of 289 euros.