If you’re been waiting for a split wireless keyboard with mechanical switches that don’t look awkward and plain ugly, the Asus ROG Falcata just unveiled at Computex in Taipei this week could fit the bill.
The 75-per-cent keyboard is compact without the number pad that many users don’t use. Plus, its magnetic switches promise top-notch key response for gaming while offering a flexible ergonomic design that is easy to adjust to.
You can join the two detachable parts of the keyboard into a regular shaped one but more likely, you’d be splitting it into two for a more ergonomic setup. By spreading your arms further apart, you don’t end up squeezing your shoulders, which causes ills like a slipped disc in your neck and other problems.
What sets the ROG Falcata apart is it lets you adjust the height with multiple adjustments through easy-to-remove feet at the back. If you want to set things up in an unusual reverse tilt – like on the Microsoft Sculpt Ergonomic keyboard – you can, too.
Completing the Asus keyboard’s design is a soft silicone wrist rest that is large and feels comfortable. It’s removable, too. Unlike many mechanical keyboards that focus on the switches and keys, there’s some thought here on an important part of a keyboard, especially for long hours of use.
Of course, the ROG Falcata is a high-end gaming keyboard as well, so it promises the precision and speed that gamers want.
Its hot-swappable ROG HFX V2 magnetic switch lets you customise keystrokes for 0.1–3.5mm actuation and at 0.01mm intervals. It is engineered for a solid feel with lightning-fast performance and a 100-million-keypress lifespan, according to Asus.
At least going by a quick hands-on test at an Asus event in Taipei yesterday, I can say the keys are responsive and relatively quiet. Great for typing, though I didn’t try it in a game.
Despite the ROG Falcata’s compact size, Asus has also packed in handy features for quick access to frequently used functions. A multifunction wheel and a button let you change settings like actuation point, sensitivity of the Rapid Trigger feature, volume, media playback, keyboard lighting, and more.
The Rapid Trigger toggle along the top edge of the Falcata lets you quickly switch to the fastest typing response and key repeat rates as well.
Notably, the ROG Falcata offers an ultra-responsive 8,000Hz polling rate and features ROG SpeedNova 8K wireless technology, which promises up to 610 hours of battery life.
As with high-end keyboards, you can connect up to three devices simultaneously. On the new Asus keyboard, this is done over Bluetooth, 2.4GHz wireless, or wired USB.
No indication of prices in Singapore yet, though going by previous ROG keyboards, this won’t be cheap. The ROG Falchion RX Low Profile from last year, which also featured a magnetic switch, cost S$289.
