The ROG Strix Scope TKL Deluxe is a compact mechanical keyboard for gamers who prefer to use their desk space for a larger mouse pad than for a full keyboard with a numeric keypad or who often have to transport their keyboard to other locations. It is a high-quality keyboard with an aluminum housing and mechanical switches.
Key distances and travel are pleasing, and the obligatory RGB lighting is particularly noticeable here and can be configured in detail. In addition to light games, the associated software allows many macro options. However, there are no dedicated macro keys. A palm rest is included. This is attached by a magnet, which is not exactly very stable.
Asus ROG Falchion offers a mechanical variant with a 65% form factor intended for demanding gamers. Cherry’s MX Red switches are used here, characterized by a linear characteristic without a release click and a short release path.
The pressure required to release the keys makes the switches a good choice for typing longer texts. Since it is a compact keyboard, there is no palm rest. However, if you intend to work with the keyboard for a long time, retrofitting one is recommended. Despite the limited space, Asus has integrated a lot of functions. In addition to the usual RGB lighting, which can be switched through at the touch of a button, a touch panel on the left edge displays the remaining battery charge by default and can be used to control the volume. However, with the Armory software from Asus, many other functions can be assigned there, including fast copy, paste, cut, or use as an additional macro key.
Pros and Cons
| Asus ROG Strix Scope TKL | Asus ROG Falchion |
| Compact TKL design | Practical touch panel |
| High typing comfort | Best Battery life |
| Palm rest included | Excellent performanc |
| No special keys | No Palm rest |
| Expensive | Expensive |
Specification
| Asus ROG Strix Scope TKL | Asus ROG Falchion | |
| $ | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE |
| Brand | Asus | Asus |
| Released | 25 August 2020 | 14 July 2021 |
| Dimensions | 356 x 136.2 x 39.7 mm | 305 X 101 X 38.5 mm |
| Size | 80% size | 65 % size |
| Weight | 880 g with cable | 520 g without cable |
| Colour | Black and Gray | Black |
| Connectivity | Wired | Wireless |
| Mechanical | Yes | Yes |
| Keycap Material | ABS | Doubleshot |
| Latency Wired | 10.6 ms | 3 meter |
| Backlighting | Yes | Yes |
| Multimedia Keys | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth | No | Yes |
| Numpad | No | No |
| Battery | No Batteries | Yes |
| Compatibility | Windows 10 | macOS, Windows |
| Software | Armoury Crate | Armoury Crate |
Design & Features
The ASUS ROG Strix Scope TKL Deluxe makes a high-quality impression at first glance. The thick aluminum plate on the top, in particular, contributes to this. The plate is painted silver, and part of the right side is also brushed, giving the keyboard a slightly “used look.” The “Republic of Gamers” lettering is applied at the bottom left, while we find the logo at the top right. As already mentioned, this is a reduced or tenkeyless layout. The left CTRL key on the keyboard is very noticeable because it is significantly longer than we are used to from other models.
Under the keycaps are MX Silent Red switches from Cherry. An RGB LED is located in the transparent base of each switch. Each key can be individually illuminated. A special feature of the keycaps is the lettering, which is not only easy to read; the additional functions are not on the top but the front of the caps. This also makes the whole thing look very neat.
The wrist rest attaches magnetically to the keyboard. The shelf is softly padded and covered with PU leather. The Republic of Gamers logo is even stamped on the right side of the pad.
Five large rubber pads are embedded on the underside for a secure footing. To change the keyboard’s angle, it has feet that can be set up accordingly, which are also equipped with rubber pads. The black underside follows the Republic of Gamers’ design with the typical logo. A USB Type-C port is located in the middle on the rear edge. This allows the user to adjust the cable length to the respective setup with third-party cables.
The user can download the ARMORY II software from the manufacturer’s website to get the most out of the ASUS ROG Strix Scope TKL Deluxe. This can store up to five profiles on the keyboard’s memory, which contain various macros, key combinations, and lighting settings that were previously created using the software. Although this is also possible with key combinations without software, this is much less complicated via the software. The positive thing about the ARMORY II software is that it can also be used to control other ASUS ROG peripherals – in our case, this would be an ASUS ROG Gladius II Origin.
The ASUS ROG Strix Scope TKL Deluxe, each individual button can be assigned its own color if you want to make an effort. This allows for almost endless customization options. The lettering on the keys is modern but still very easy to read. The labeling on the side provides even more clarity. In addition, the ARMOURY II software provides various lighting effects and four brightness levels. In addition to the keys themselves, the Republic of Gamers logo is also illuminated.
The design of ASUS ROG Falchion is simple, discreet, and minimalistic. The dimensions practically coincide with the printed block of keys made in the “skeleton” style. Under them is a metal support panel 1 mm thick. The button layout is based on a modified ANSI standard with a long left Shift and a single row Enter. There are no separate function keys; editorial buttons and arrows are maximally squeezed under the right side of the keyboard. It is located in the central upper part of the buttons. The spacebar is shortened, due to which the right Alt, Fn, and Ctrl are shifted to the left side. On the one hand, it turned out to be as compact as possible; on the other hand, all the necessary buttons are always at hand.
Symbols of alternative commands are printed in white on the front faces of the corresponding keys. All of them are activated through combinations with the Fn button.
The highlight of the ASUS ROG Falchion is the touchpad built into the left side of the case. She is very sensitive. It has tactile notches in the form of “+” and “-“ symbols and seven dots, each highlighted in a different color, depending on the current indication or the nature of the user’s touch. For example, when you change the volume level, a white strip of light runs after your finger; with a single press in one of the three zones up, down, or the middle, red is displayed, and alternatively, the LEDs can display the current battery level or synchronize with the backlight of the keys. Beauty, and only. The LED strip on edge at the top duplicates the backlight of the side panel. At the top is the Win Lock indicator, and at the bottom is Caps Lock, both white.
Cherry MX switches with full-color backlighting are at the heart of each key. In our case, the switches are red – with a smooth ride without a characteristic click (actuation force – 45 g, stroke – 2 mm before actuation and 4 mm full). You can find ROG Falchion with blue switches characterized by a distinguishable click (actuating force – 50 g, pressing force – 60 g, stroke – 2.2 mm before actuation, and 4 mm full). You can listen to their work on the example of an audio recording:
As software, the ASUS ROG Falchion keyboard uses the heavyweight universal “combine” Armory Crate, which requires downloading from the official website and installation. We will consider only those tabs that touch the keyboard directly. The first screen of the application is called “keys.” Here you can reassign them. All buttons except Fn are available for this. You can assign text messages, keyboard and mouse commands, macros, launch a specific site or application, eight multimedia commands, and six basic Windows shell commands. Another key can be returned to default values ​​or disabled completely. In addition to the Win button, you can configure the Alt + Tab and Alt + F4 combinations to be disabled in-game mode.
Conclusion!
Asus ROG StrixScope TKL Deluxe: There is not much to complain about: the damped Silent versions of the mechanical Cherry MX switches trigger as reliably as usual but are much quieter than conventional MX Red. This makes the keyboard suitable for space-conscious gamers who play a lot of shooters or daddling other fast genres. In addition, there is a flexibly adjustable, rich RGB lighting and a high-quality aluminum top plate, which, in combination with the impeccable quality, leaves a consistently high-quality impression. Completing the gaming keyboard is a detachable, really snug wrist rest and a detachable, contemporary USB Type-C cable. The only point of criticism is the price, which is currently very high at around 154 USD.
ASUS ROG Falchion is one of the flagship solutions in the 65% keyboard segment. ASUS not only entered the market of this specific peripheral but burst into it, offering the most functional device that could only be created in this format. In our hands was an advanced mechanical keyboard with customizable backlighting for absolutely all characters, programmable keys and a touchpad, and a polycarbonate cover-stand. The keyboard can work surprisingly long on a single charge (depending on the backlight mode), which will allow you to take it on a trip even for a couple of weeks and not take the appropriate cable. If you understand that 65% of keyboards are suitable for your tasks and you have the opportunity to shell out about 155 USD for such a device,
