[ad_1]
We haven’t tested many low-profile keyboards here at PCMag, but most of the ones we have reviewed balance their features, prices, and aesthetic appeal well. The Asus ROG Falchion RX Low Profile ($169.99) is a compact wireless mechanical keyboard that continues this trend. Some of its noteworthy features include shine-through keycaps, a multifunction touch-sensitive control panel, and a mode selector for switching between Mac and PC layouts. Its compact size takes some getting used to, however, and its expense comes close to upsetting the balance. We’ll continue to recommend the Satechi SM1 Slim Mechanical Backlit Bluetooth Keyboard as the best low-profile keyboard overall, but the ROG Falchion RX comes close to unseating it and is likely a better choice for gamers (albeit, deep-pocketed ones).Design: Taking Typing Excellence on the GoAs a 60% keyboard, the ROG Falchion RX is missing the number pad and several other keys found on full-size keyboards, notably the whole function row. By truncating the board’s size to 1 by 12 by 4.3 inches (HWD), Asus ensures the ROG Falchion RX takes up a minimal amount of space on a desk.
Since 1982, PCMag has tested and rated thousands of products to help you make better buying decisions. See how we test.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The Low Profile part of the name refers to the low-profile key switches, which is why the overall height of the board is just above an inch. And because low-profile switches use smaller springs, they’re easier to press than traditional ones. The small size makes the Falchion RX extremely portable, too. At 1.3 pounds, you may not notice it as an extra piece of equipment in your laptop bag.Unlike the switches, the board’s overall look is anything but low-profile. Much like the Asus ROG Azoth we reviewed last year, the Falchion RX is as feature-rich as it is stunning to look at. The ABS keycaps have a shine-through design that works very well to show off the top legends, which are placed directly above the keyboard’s LEDs.
While the side legends are also shine-through, they don’t shine as well as the top legends do. For a moment we assumed they were just printed on, rather than shine-through, but testing in a darker environment confirmed they just don’t receive as much direct light, leading to a more reserved glow.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The Falchion RX has a plastic bottom frame and an aluminum top frame. The top edge of the frame features the “Republic of Gamers” branding, which lights up in RGB the first time you plug in the board (or turn it on, if you’re connecting wirelessly). The whole aesthetic reminds us of the Asus ROG Ally; indeed, it could make for a pretty good companion to that handheld gaming device.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Along the top of the keyboard you’ll find a selector switch for the three connectivity options: Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless, and wired. You’ll also find another switch for selecting Mac or PC layouts. A USB-C port is also up here, for wired mode and for charging the keyboard’s battery, which Asus claims can last 430 hours on a single charge with the backlighting turned off. Next to the charging port is where you’ll find a cutout to store the magnetic USB-A dongle for the 2.4GHz wireless connectivity function.On the opposite side of the keyboard’s top edge is a touch panel that functions similarly to the way a rotary knob would on a larger keyboard like the Corsair K65 Plus Wireless. By default, swiping to the right on this touch panel increases volume, while swiping left decreases it. But you can change which functions the panel controls by pressing the physical button next to it; it is visible here next to the strip…
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
In addition to volume, you get three more touch-strip options that you can cycle through by pressing the button. When in media-control mode, you swipe right to switch to the next track, left for the previous one, and tap to pause or play. When the strip is in RGB-control mode, you swipe right to increase brightness and left to decrease brightness. Additional functions can be tied to a fourth option via the keyboard’s software utility, and you can easily tell which function is currently active by glancing at the function-mode indicator at the keyboard’s top-left corner.In terms of accessories, the standout one here is an included plastic cover. It’s meant to sit over the keys to prevent any splashes, food crumbs, or dust from marring the all-white surfaces. We initially thought it was a carrying case, but the lack of a locking mechanism or even an elastic band to hold it in place dashed that idea. The cover can also be flipped upside down to act as a base for the keyboard to fit in while in use. You’ll find a thin layer of rubber inside the cover that keeps it from sliding across the keycaps when in place. The box also includes a USB-C-to-USB-A cable for charging, and an extender for the wireless dongle.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Typing on the ROG Falchion RX isn’t as satisfying as typing on a keyboard with traditional mechanical switches, but it definitely feels better than typing on a standard non-mechanical laptop keyboard. In fact, some people will find it a happy middle ground, with the springiness of a mechanical keyboard and the short travel distance of a laptop’s keyboard. The keys are quite sensitive; even the slightest key press or catching the corner of a key was enough to register in testing, so it might not be what you’re used to. But a few days of consistent use was enough to learn how to avoid most accidental presses, in my experience. In a Monkeytype test, I scored a 59-word-per-minute average, which isn’t too far from my usual rate, and would likely increase if given more time to adjust.ROG Falchion RX Software: Get the GearWe’ve grown familiar with Asus’ Armoury Crate, the control utility for many Asus ROG peripherals, and assumed it would work to control the ROG Falchion RX, too. After that software didn’t recognize the keyboard, some troubleshooting turned up a link on the Falchion RX’s product page to a separate utility that has a confusingly similar name: Armoury Crate Gear.Considering the number of control utilities a gamer might already have installed, creating yet another utility is not a good look, as far as the user experience is concerned. And although Asus claims Armoury Crate Gear is a more intuitive utility than Armoury Crate, some clearer directions on how to download it would’ve been helpful here. We went through a similar kerfuffle setting up the ROG Azoth, which required a long series of steps to get it working with Armoury Crate.
(Credit: Asus)
Once you download Armoury Crate Gear, you’ll find the standard control configurations you’d expect from a premium gaming keyboard. You can reassign keys, adjust RGB effects and colors, and create new profiles to which you can assign the settings you’ve tweaked. The keyboard has enough internal memory to store five profiles.
(Credit: Asus)
The Armoury Crate Gear utility will also let you assign an additional input to the touch strip, or disable the three default functions if you wish. Missing are additional control options for the touch strip that would make the unique feature even better, like adjusting its sensitivity or scroll speed. Verdict: Low-Profile Switches on a High-Profile KeyboardSome keyboards with low-profile switches keep a…low profile. But the ROG Falchion RX dares to live in the spotlight. Its list of talents includes RGB backlighting, which is rare in the 60% wireless keyboard category to begin with, and the implementation here beats some larger keyboards with traditional switches. Support for Macs and the unique touch strip round out the excellent experience. We would’ve liked to see a locking mechanism for the plastic cover so it could double as a protective case, and the software user experience is lacking, but those are minor quibbles.All things considered, we still recommend the Editors’ Choice-winning Satechi SM1 Slim in this category, as it’s clos e to half the price and has a similarly satisfying typing experience. But if you’re looking for a small, slim board with a gamer aesthetic to take on the go, the ROG Falchion RX is a fine alternative.
Asus ROG Falchion RX Low Profile
The Bottom Line
The Asus ROG Falchion RX Low Profile hides a surprising wealth of features in a trim package, making this 60% keyboard a go-to companion for on-the-go PC gamers.
Like What You’re Reading?
Sign up for Lab Report to get the latest reviews and top product advice delivered right to your inbox.
This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.
[ad_2]
