Many will recognize the ASUS brand name for its myriad of computing hardware, most notably its motherboards. The company also offers a wide array of standalone PCs, whether branded as an Asus (thanks to its core components) or as an entirely pre-built unit. What many may not know, is that ASUS has started to branch out from internal hardware into plug-and-play devices like mice, headphones, and keyboards.
Since 2006, the Taiwan-based electronics company has pushed out many devices under its Republic of Gamers (ROG) label, a series of peripherals (and some hardware) aimed at giving gamers the best experience possible when it comes to controlling and playing PC games. Their latest lineup is more ambitious than ever, with the ASUS ROG Strix Flare II Animate standing out among the pack thanks to its flashy design and built-in AniMe Matrix LED array.
Those that fell in love with the original ROG Strix Flare will find so much more to love in its upgraded, re-designed successor. What's so striking is that the ROG Strix Flare II Animate has managed to take everything that made its predecessor so aesthetically pleasing and refine it, while still maintaining a full-size design complete with a number pad and a series of sleek switches. Gone are the illuminated media buttons across the top of the board, this time replaced by a handy volume switch and media flipper combo that gives users the same functionality in a more compact fashion. Users can play, pause, skip forward, and skip back when it comes to music and other media, and a handy rolling slider makes it incredibly easy to quickly adjust the volume.
The best part about these re-designed media buttons is that users can easily change what they do with ASUS' Armoury Crate software. This intuitive software allows users to change practically any button function with the click of a mouse, providing easy-to-navigate menus and even small tutorials that play when someone opens the application for the first time. The Armoury Crate is definitely one of the most user-friendly interfaces on the market and includes a plethora of settings and customization options that give users a mind-boggling amount of control over their ROG Strix Flare II Animate.
Perhaps the most engaging part of this software is the inclusion of the Aura Creator (as an optional, separate download). This handy tool allows users to create their own RGB lighting options and offers an impressive amount of customization. With the ability to change individual keys, create lighting loops, and use an array of presets, it's simple enough for RGB newbies to create their own custom loops while in-depth enough for veterans to create some seriously complex designs.
It's easy to get lost in all the customization options that ASUS offers for the ROG Strix Flare II Animate, especially when it comes to the AniMe Matrix design studio. Each board has a small triangular dot-filled shape located in the upper right-hand corner. This "display" is capable of producing light-based animations and some of the stock variants that come pre-loaded on the Armoury Crate are quite impressive. It's even possible for users to upload their own images and GIFs to use with this display, although it was tough to get an image (perhaps based on size constraints) to look as good as the stock designs.
The keyboard itself is well-designed, with a sturdy aluminum frame and an extra thick braided cord to prevent fraying. This cord connects to the board itself directly (no swapping out cables on this one) and features a sturdy rubberized entry port that helps to keep the wire from breaking off at the insertion point should it accidentally get bent. The underside of the board features a unique diagonally-striped pattern with the ROG logo. It's actually quite a shame that users can't see this without lifting the board up as it's visually striking. Completing the underside are two elongated feet that can flip out to angle the board.
The real star of the show in terms of "accessories" to the board itself is the wrist rest. A set of magnets and a tongue and groove design ensure that the wrist-rest stays firmly attached to the board, and the wrist-rest itself is a plush, raised, pillow-like bar that feels incredibly comfortable when typing. The area where the wrist-rest connects even has a handy dust guard that can be taken off or snapped into the groove whenever the wrist-rest isn't in use. All of this is capped off by the fact that the bottom edge of the wrist-rest features an extension of the RGB lighting, which takes effect when the rest is snapped into the bottom of the board.
Much like its predecessor, the ASUS ROG Strix Flare II Animate features ROG NX switches for increased performance when gaming or typing (players can also choose Cherry MX switches if they like when purchasing). This setup is capable of providing a 0.125 ms response time thanks to its 8000hz polling rate. ASUS boasts that this is eight times faster than other leading gaming keyboards, and it certainly feels that way when typing or playing.
The keyboard also features sound-dampening foam that's been placed under the keys to cut down on "pinging sounds" and echoes. Users are even capable of swapping out switches to create unique typing experiences and feedback that feels truly custom. This is all made even better by ASUS' ROG Switch Stabilizer that helps to keep the keys rigid when in use. Overall, the "feeling" of typing or playing on this keyboard is great, and the keys are angled and spaced enough that it's easy to navigate the board without issue.
The ASUS ROG Strix Flare II Animate is a great gaming keyboard that offers a ton of customization without cutting down on important performance features. Gamers that crave a keyboard that they can truly "make their own" will instantly fall in love with all the available options via the easy-to-use Armoury Crate and Aura Creator software. That said, this keyboard feels good enough to be used as more than just a gaming peripheral. Users that are looking for something that's fun, customizable, and easy to type on may want to take a look at the ROG Strix Flare II Animate for themselves.
The ASUS ROG Strix Flare II Animate keyboards is available now for $219.99. Game Rant was provided a unit for this review.