Asus ROG Claymore II keyboard review: Master of modular

(Pocket-lint) - The Asus ROG Claymore II is simply a modular keyboard, meaning you tin usage it astatine full-size oregon descent the Numpad disconnected for a smaller footptint that galore gamers volition prefer.

Asus has taken the archetypal Claymore - which was already beauteous awesome - and made it adjacent better. But adjacent truthful is it worthy its alternatively hefty terms tag? Here's however it each stacks up.

Flexible modular design

• 2.4GHz RF mode
• 80% TKL oregon 100% keyboard modes
• On-board retention for up to 6 profiles
• Programmable keys with macro capabilities
• Dedicated programmable media keys connected Numpad

The happening that strikes archetypal astir the Claymore II is the 1 diagnostic that makes it standout from the crowd: its modular design.

This is simply a full-size keyboard, implicit with Numpad. Many gamers similar a keyboard with a smaller footprint for much rodent room. Usually, the lone enactment is to opt for a tenkeyless (TKL) keyboard, astatine 65 per cent oregon smaller. The ROG Claymore II offers the champion of some worlds arsenic you tin descent the Numpad disconnected and driblet it down into TKL size. 

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This gives you the enactment to usage the Numpad erstwhile you're moving and trying to beryllium productive and past gaffe it disconnected erstwhile it's clip to leap into a game. The options are much absorbing than that though, arsenic you tin besides connect that Numpad to the near broadside of the keyboard instead. 

With the powerfulness of Armoury Crate software you tin marque the astir of this. In that software, you tin re-programme the bulk of the keys connected the keyboard. This includes remapping them to different letters, making circumstantial actions, launching applications oregon so macros. Since the keyboard besides has onboard retention for up to six profiles, you tin setup antithetic layouts and settings for antithetic situations. 

This means it's imaginable to re-programme the Numpad and crook it into a macro keypad that you tin connect to the acold near of the keyboard and entree during gaming sessions. This enactment gives you maximum rodent abstraction portion besides having much keys to play astir with. It's undeniably a precocious grade of flexibility.

It's not evident from conscionable looking astatine it, but the modular quality of the Claymore II is what makes it truly appealing.

Stabilised optical-mechanical switches

• 100-million keystroke lifespan
• ROG RX Optical Mechanical Switches (RX Blue oregon RX Red) 
• RX Blue: 65g actuation force, 1.5mm actuation point, 4mm travel
• RX Red: 45g actuation force, 1.5mm actuation point, 4mm travel

Like different premium gaming keyboards of late, the ROG Claymore II packs optical-mechanical switches. These ROG RX optical switches are antithetic for a fewer antithetic reasons. Like different optical switches they usage an infrared setup to way the actuation and this means much close tracking and greater longevity than classical switches. 

What makes these switches peculiarly absorbing is their design. Firstly they person a hollow quadrate stem, which is supported from beneath by the alleged x-stabiliser system. This is simply a metallic enactment that holds the stem successful each of its 4 corners, supporting each keypress.

On top, the stem has 4 holes wherever the keycap connects to the stem. This plan stands retired from the classical Cherry MX style, which has conscionable a transverse connected top. The elemental effect is that some the keycaps and the keyswitches are supported successful a mode that results successful acold little wobble - and you person a overmuch much accordant cardinal feel, nary substance wherever your property connected a key.  

The downside is you'll find it pugnacious to find a customized oregon aftermarket keycap if you privation to alteration the benignant of your keyboard, but there's a batch to beryllium said for the plan and comfortableness of this one. 

The Claymore II has a prime of ROG RX Red oregon RX Blue switches. Gamers volition apt privation to take the Red switches arsenic they actuate with little unit and volition beryllium much satisfying (and quieter) for gaming.

The portion we tested came with RX Blue switches which we're blessed to study are quieter and much pleasant to benignant connected than different versions of Blue switches we've tested successful the past. There's a batch to beryllium said for the stabiliser plan and the wide comfort.

Another item of the power plan is the LED for the RGB lighting sits successful the mediate of the keyswitch and truthful shines done the keycap without being obscured. 

The Claymore II has per-key illumination, with Aura Sync and Aura Creator compatibility. From wrong Armoury Crate bundle you tin take from a fig of RGB lighting effects - including static, breathing, colour cycle, rainbow, starry nighttime and more. Our favourite effects are the reactive ones wherever lighting spreads retired crossed the committee from each keypress.

Fast-charging

• 4000mAh battery, up to 144 hours with lighting disconnected oregon 43 with it on
• 30 mins fast-charging gives 18 hours gaming
• Aura sync RGB lighting 

The Claymore II is simply a wireless keyboard and that's conscionable different portion of its convenience. It works implicit 2.4Ghz via a USB dongle that has a small dock connected the keyboard for retention erstwhile it's not successful use.

You tin get arsenic overmuch arsenic 144 hours retired of it with the lighting turned disconnected and determination astir 40 with it on. The bully happening is that  it's built with fast-charging via the USB-C larboard truthful you tin plug it successful and foodstuff it up quickly. In conscionable 30 mins you tin get 18 hours of use. So if you loathe it being plugged in, you hardly ever person to interest astir it and erstwhile you do, arsenic it's not for long. 

Writing by Adrian Willings. Editing by Mike Lowe. Originally published connected 4 December 2021.