Asus ROG Falchion

You Have My Sword

ACCORDING TO WIKIPEDIA, the free encyclopedia, a falchion is a ‘onehanded, single-edged sword of European origin’. It’s clear how this factors into the naming convention at play here, since Asus also offers the chunkier Claymore keyboard within its Republic of Gamers brand, which can swap between 100 percent and 80 percent configurations. We’re half expecting it to release the ‘Zweihander’, a keyboard that somehow boasts a mythical 120 percent layout.

So, the Falchion is a compact gaming keyboard, with a 65 percent layout ( making it slightly bigger than conventional 60 percent keyboards) and wireless connectivity. It has all the usual trappings of a premium gaming keyboard; per-key RGB lighting, Cherry MX mechanical switches, programmable macro keys. Straight out of the box, this feels like a premium product. The price tag matches, too; $160 is no small order for a gaming keyboard, but the Falchion does the work to justify the cost.

The overall build quality is great, with an aluminum top plate and doubleshot textured PBT keycaps that feel satisfyingly grippy. On the underside of the keyboard are four rubber pads, with folding feet at the rear so you can angle the keyboard toward you. The Cherry MX Red switches in our review model have very little wobble and feel good for both typing and gaming; MX Blue, Brown, and Silver Speed models are also available.

The Falchion can be used in both wired and wireless modes, with the former charging the keyboard in the process. Wireless is achieved via a 2.4GHz USB-A dongle (housed in a nifty magnetic slot when not in use) and offers near-perfect input with no noticeable latency. The battery life is reportedly up to a phenomenal 450 hours, and while we weren’t able to verify this, we did find that with RGB lighting at full brightness, the Falchion operated for over 50 hours without needing a charge. Battery life is indicated by a small light bar built into the left-hand side of the chassis.

Below this light bar is the Falchion’s best innovation; a touch-operated volume slider, which lets you adjust the volume with quick taps or controlled swipes of your fingertip. It’s a great inclusion, adding dedicated volume control without demanding more space on the frame like a roller or extra buttons would. The light bar shifts to indicate the current volume when the slider is touched.

That 65 percent configuration is pretty sound, even for those who prefer fullscale keyboards. Asus has wisely opted to include the arrow keys here, as well as Ins, Del, PgUp, and PgDn squeezed in on the far right of the keyboard. Secondary key functions are clearly labeled in white on the front face of each keycap, with the arrow keys working in conjunction with Fn to swap between lighting profiles and brightness on the fly.

Speaking of lighting profiles; ROG Armory Crate is present for adjusting RGB effects and reprogramming keys. Sadly, it remains a second-rate piece of software that hands off some of its responsibilities to a second program (Asus Aura Creator). Armory Crate is functional and has a better UI than some proprietary peripheral software, but it’s still far from perfect.

The one slightly baffling part of this product is the polycarbonate cover that comes with it. This is essentially a plastic rectangle that covers the keys when not in use, or can be used as a mount of sorts for the entire keyboard. The

Falchion is theoretically a great on-thego keyboard, so including a case of some description feels warranted. However, this cover doesn’t properly attach to the keyboard (it just rests on top) so it feels less protective than a proper case and, at worst, a cumbersome addition.

It’s fair to say that our gripes are small, though. The ROG Falchion is one of the best compact keyboards we’ve seen, between its durable construction and solid typing experience. The RGB lighting is bright and colorful, and the volume touchpad is an inspired addition to an already good peripheral. If you’re after a new 65 percent keyboard, this is the one.

VERDICT 9 Asus ROG Falchion

SHARP EDGE Great battery life; smart 65 percent key layout; sleek volume slider.

DULL BLADE Keyboard cover is a bit rubbish; Armory Crate remains sub-par; a bit pricey.

$160, rog. asus.com