25.10.2018

The Flare from Asus comes nicely packaged - another box I'm not going to want to throw away. The keyboad footprint is reasonable - the wrist rest (which can be optionally attached) extends this slightly but makes using the keyboard significantly more comfortable. The keys are Cherry MX (red) which give a responsive soft feel to typing. The travel is longer than you might be used to if your usual keyboard does not use mechanical switches. Noise wise it's quite clacky - if you're an enthusiastic typist - it will be heard.The keyboard is connected with a braided USB cable - which has a sensible length of around 2 meters. Ignoring for a moment the RGB lighting - the keyboad looks great - a set of media access keys are arranged across the top,a full size numeric keypad on the right and a extra function key (Fn) sits to the right of the right hand Alt key. This latter key can be used for quickly accessing different lighting profiles. The leftmost media control is a roller wheel for controlling volume, it looks good and works well. Although the chasis is plastic - the whole thing feels solid - rubber feet ensure it does not slip around on the desk surface as you tap and swipe at keys.Lighting can be a matter of taste - as well as one of practicality in low lighting. For fans of RGB lighting the Flare does not disappoint. Customisation requires downloading Asus Amoury II - software for (amongst other things) managing lighting setups. Six profiles can be customised and saved (and be quickly accessed by pressing Fn 1 to Fn 6). Given that just about every PC component can be purchased with lighting options - there seem to be a proliferation of non-standards and different systems. Lighting profiles extend to key level colouring - and can, via Armoury, be associated with specific games.How does the lighting look? Well great actually. All keys can be illuminated - except for the volume roller bar. Left and right underlighting is also present - might sound a bit much but actually it looks good. There is a clear plastic tab inserted into a cut out front right side of the keyboard. There are two tabs - one with a ROG symbol on it - one a clear plastic blank. The former looks pretty good - the ROG symbol illuminating nicely. The latter can be used to create a custom effect (at least one site on the web shows you some options for that). The only negative I have noticed is that some keys with two symbols on - e.g. { and [, where the latter is below the former, do not illuminate the lower symbol as well. This does not matter for the number keys - as the number and symbol sit side by side - so the (minor) problem only affects a few keys.Keys can be customised with macros - again via Armoury. The colour profiles are saved to the keyboard itself - so it can be used on another computer without need Armour installed there or for profiles to be set again.The keyboard sports a USB pass through - slightly awkwardly paced on the front side - however easy to find and reach once you're used to it.If you're looking to swap to a mechanical keyboard - and keyboard noise is not an issue - the ROG Flare should be high on your list - it's really excellent. If you're already a mechanical keyboard enthusiast - your view may be coloured (pun intended) by experience with other keyboards. I still think you'll like it...

12.10.2018

Testing out my new keyboard. You can definitely feel that the keys are linear and I’m not sure how I feel about them – they are much more sensitive than a rubber keyboard but without the feedback of a MX Brown key or Romer Tactile. Certainly, they are very easy to press in games but as a RTS player I prefer to have the tactile feedback than not.The lighting is superb – every key is lit and the lighting also extends around the base of the keys too, like they’re sitting in a pool of light. In addition, there are three extra lighting areas, one on the left and right sides of the keyboard which bathe your desk in a glow, plus a light glowing through a clear Perspex insert.You also get a spare blank insert to etch with your own design – they just pop in and out of the back. The only non-RGB lighting comes from the status LEDs for Caps Lock as well as the row of media keys as well as the dimmer and ‘Windows Lock’ key.If you’re into the lighting animations, they are very smooth and there’s a fair few you can use but I’m rather dull and always go for a static cyan which you can set up without any drivers. There’s a Function key just to the left of Alt Gr which allows you to pick up to 6 profiles and customise them in both lighting and macros.My only gripe with this is that the manual tells you that the Delete, End and Page Down keys all let you alter the red, blue and green colour respectively, but the Insert, Home and Page Up keys all do nothing. Given the natural arrangement- they would have been perfect for increasing or decreasing each colour but no, you have to keep pressing Delete until you get the right level. If you go over, then you have to keep pressing it until it starts back a zero again.I think this could be fixed in a firmware update but it’s not great how it is now. Unfortunately, if you want to update the firmware, you will need to install ROG Armoury – which is awful. Let thee count the ways1. You cannot enter RGB values to get exact colours2. Cannot use keyboard for fine tuning settings.(Well you can move sliders using the cursor keys but the values/colours do not update)3. It does support the colouring of keys using ‘custom’ but outside of predefined groups (e.g. WSAD, QWERT, numbers, etc) you have to click each individual key.4. The use of custom colour schemes causes the keyboard to lose connection every time you switch from one of the 5 user definable profiles.5. Sometimes you cannot change a colour or lighting mode and I have no idea why. Usually end up having to force quit the app and then relaunch it.6. There's no live preview so if you change a setting you have to click apply, every single time. This is a bit poor considering that you can change the lighting 'on-the-fly' using the keyboard itself.So yes, it’s a classic case of a cracking bit of hardware with some less than impressive software. Of course however, the ability to control the keyboard without drivers is a neat way to sidestep the issue and it also means that once you profiles are set up you can use them on any PC.I really like the ROG Swift and would highly recommend it so long as you never have to install ROG Armoury.

15.4.2020

So I bought this to complement my Asus Mouse, mouse mat, and laptop so all the RGB lighting is synched up, this looks very nice and works generally well. The Armoury crate is a little buggy, you will need to update firmware and software, and restart the software on first use.I do find that the software sometimes doesn't detect all the devices every time, normally reconnecting the devices will refresh the software. Additionally, I haven't quite figured out how to get the software to remember the lighting effects and to auto synch all the devices, this could be a bug or I'm not doing the right thing, but there are a lot of options.The keyboard weighs more than my Microsoft natural 4000 ergonomic keyboard,it is mainly plastic but it feels sturdy and robust despite this.The keyboard has excellent rubber feet, once planted it sticks to the desk very well, the wrist pad is removable but it's a bit too easy to remove, it doesn't clip in place, nor is it magnetic, it doesn't come off accidentally once in place but I feel it could've clipped in better.The design itself is a little muted, which I like, when it powered off it looks like a normal keyboard with some subtle design clues on the surface.The keys use the ROG font, the media buttons work well, the volume control is very good, nice and wide with decent feedback when adjusting the volume.There is a passthrough USB socket which is handy for connecting the mouse to, this does mean that the braided USB cord is very thick as it uses 2 USB sockets, one for the keyboard, one for the passthrough.This is my first mechanical keyboard and it's noticeably different to my MS ergonomic keyboard.Firstly the cherry mx red switches are fast, I don't have to press down very much to activate the key and this takes some getting used to but it's very different to what I'm used to, so although there is an audible click if you press all the way down, this is from the impact of the keys hitting the board, you don't need to press the keys all the way down so it's possible to type in relative silence.Secondly, as I've been using a MS ergonomic natural keyboard for so long, I haven't quite gotten used to the different layout, I can type reasonably fast but not as accurately , it's no worse than typing on a laptop keyboard but not as accurate as my MS ergonomic keyboard, this is my experience, most people will be used to non ergonomic keybaords so it won't apply to you.I do appreciate the double height enter key, I think this is what they call an ISO layout, rather than ANSI, the function key is on the right of the space bar but I don't use it much.For gaming it's excellent, the response is very quick, and I'm continually improving as I'm using it more and more, it hasn't replaced my MS keyboard for general typing but I will continue trying to get used to it.Recommended, especially for gaming, and especially so if you have other Asus Aura devices.

1.11.2018

This Strix ROG keyboard has all the required attributes for the gamer, Cherry MX RGB switches with a N Rollover so no matter how many keys are hit together they will all register, plus the programmable profiles to fit the game in use. This ROG Flare has some of the keys normally accessed with the right hand placed on the left of the board, so Volume, mute, windows key disable and adjustment to the RGB brightness as well as controls for media playback, so there is no need to stop firing to make adjustments.The setup is automatic, when the keyboard is detected by windows 10, Armoury II is downloaded and automatically installed,

30.10.2018

I like this keyboard. I know that some people have had issues with theirs, but so far mine works like a dream so no complaints here.So, this is a really solid keyboard. It's a decent weight, with excellent feet, meaning that when you're using it, it doesn't decide to start sliding around your desk surface. That's always a good start, and you'd be surprised at the number of gaming keyboards where that isn't true.It's mechanical, using the Cherry Red switches instead of the Brown that I'm more used to, but to be honest, I didn't really notice that much difference. Key response is really good, and all the features that you expect to be present, like anti-ghosting, are there and work really well.

29.2.2020

I have the Asus ROG Strix Flare with Cherry MX Red switches. In my opinion, this is an excellent keyboard for gaming as well as general typing/computer work. I have owned a gaming with blue switches which I do not like as much.Build quality is excellent. The Flare is indeed solid, nice and heavy, and sits well on a desk. Media volume scroll wheel is smooth.I must say that the RGB lighting is very bright, most likely because there are two USB's which plug into PC verses a single one which would limit the power going to the keyboard.Side lighting effects under keyboard are a very nice touch as you get a glow at the sides which match whatever colour RGB colour scheme is chosen.Braided cable is great quality.

5.11.2018

In a low light room this keyboard looks stunning. You will need two standard USB sockets for it to draw full power. The various settings keep the light show interesting. But what of the feel of the keyboard in use?Happy to report that the "feel" is stunning too. I'm old enough to remember mechanical keyboards before membrane bubble products took over - and each technology has a different feel to it. I had all but forgotten the satisfying feel of the mechnical variety, but this product bring it back in spades - it feels GREAT.All the usual multimedia controls and volume control roller and a nice wrist rest too. Excellent product.

4.5.2019

I got this for my 19 year old son, who's seriously in to COD online play, and it quickly became his keyboard of choice.Construction is high end, the mechanical keys provide instant response and it is fitted with non-slip feet, which my son pointed out is a must for a gaming keyboard. He did comment that he had a few issues with operating the keyboard on his Windows 10 OS, but he said they were quickly fixable. The lighting of the keyboard is bright and ideal for using in the dark, or low light. Proice wise, for me too expensive, but from my son, good value - you pay the premium for the high end quality of the keyboard.

7.6.2020

I will be Honest with you I am an Asus fanboy. I did only get this one thought because I had to send my Claymore back and the price change on it.Not disappointed in the slightest though. For me its great for gaming even though I am not that great and very nice and comfortable to type with. Look great and syncs up with all my other Asus devices nicely though Armor crate so all the RGB match's.A very good sturdy product and lives up to the Asus brand.

28.9.2019

I love this keyboard. Works well with my Zephyrus S laptop. Definitely use Armory 2 and not Armory crate because it will not save your Aura profile and you will need to adjust your colors every time you log into Windows. Double usb cable is great to get and the usb port on the keyboard working well and it is a nice touch. The keyboard itself is very solid and it's mechanical (my version is Cherry MX Red) and gives that satisfying click when you type.

9.2.2020

Got myself a little present once it came I knew it was another top product from ASUS ROG, their boxes are always fantastic. The keyboard itself is just brilliant, to the feel of the keys to the RGB and to finish it off having the media buttons. The RBG works better with Armoury crate then Asus aura. Another 10/10 for ROG.

1.9.2018

Firstly, the lighting and build quality are perfect. The backlight is bright and vibrant, and the key caps feel premium and durable. Aside from a few issues with windows 10 causing the keyboard to function incorrectly, which were easily fixed, there have been no issues with it.

3.3.2019

Overall a great keyboard, but the rgbs don't seem to be programmable per key unlike with corsairs software. I don't know if that's something that can be updated with firmware or not. So it loses a star because the aura software isn't as premium as the rest of Asus's products.

22.1.2020

Excellent keyboard, great integration with my Asus motherboard, with regards to RGB lighting. Very simple set up and configure on Windows 10.Comfortable, good mechanical keyboard that has quite a soft action so it's fine to type with.

26.11.2019

Great keyboard, looks great, quality materials have been used! Keys have a nice action to them.Aura sync is great and flows nicely with the rest of the system.Would recommend for ROG lovers.

Asus ROG Strix Flare - Reviews

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