ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless Keyboard Review

This keyboard has a Compact (96%) form factor. It has nearly all the same keys as a standard full-size keyboard, but there's less space between key clusters, and the keys are arranged so that the entire keyboard has a slightly smaller footprint.

This keyboard is missing dedicated keys for the End, Home, Scroll Lock, and Menu keys, which are often found on full-size models. However, there are hotkey combinations for all these functions.

You can also remove the included wrist rest. You can see an image of the keyboard without the wrist rest attached here.

The ASUS Rog Strix Scope II 96 has impressive build quality overall and only exhibits minor flexibility. The chassis is made of plastic and is topped with a metal plate. The keycaps are made of doubleshot PBT plastic with a slightly textured finish. There's also an included wrist rest that's made of plastic with a leatherette covering. Unfortunately, the padding is quite thin, and the wrist rest feels somewhat cheap, but it provides adequate support while typing.

The switches and stabilizers are pre-lubed from the factory. Most keys are quite stable and have a quiet, 'thocky' sound with minimal rattling in part due to sound-dampening switch pads and silicone foam inside the case. Unfortunately, the spacebar wobbles more noticeably and makes a more distinct rattling sound.

The keyboard stays in place fairly well while typing, but the rubber pads on the bottom of the flip-out feet are smaller at the medium and maximum incline settings, and the board is somewhat prone to sliding forward if you accidentally bump it.

This keyboard has acceptable ergonomics. It has a standard profile, and plastic flip-out feet provide two additional incline angles. It also comes with a wrist rest that provides reasonable support. However, this wrist rest feels a bit cheap and only has minimal padding.

This keyboard offers excellent hardware customizability. It has a hot-swappable PCB, allowing you to change the stock switches for other 3-pin or 5-pin Cherry-style switches without soldering. Just note that if you want to change the stock keycaps, the right-side modifier keys are the slightly less common 1u size as opposed to the standard 1.25u size.

This keyboard has full RGB backlighting with individually-lit keys. You can use the multi-function button or scroll wheel, hotkey combinations, or the customization software to change lighting effects, colors, and brightness.

This keyboard has impressive backlighting clarity. Most legends are clearly visible, but the light is somewhat uneven on some keys, and legends are a bit obscured.

This keyboard comes with a braided USB-A to USB-C charging cable. This cable retains some kinks from its packaging.

ASUS advertises this keyboard has a maximum battery life of up to 1500 hours of continuous use when connected wirelessly with its USB receiver and with all RGB lighting off.

This keyboard doesn't have any dedicated macro keys. However, you can program macros to any key using the customization software or directly on the keyboard using hotkey combinations listed in the user manual. You can see a digital version of the user manual here.

This keyboard offers a range of extra features, including a multi-function button and a multi-function scroll wheel, both in the top right corner of the board. Using these controls, you can adjust volume, navigate media, change the keyboard backlighting, or assign your own custom controls using the companion software.

There is a range of LED indicators that display connectivity information, media playback, and various keyboard locks, including Windows Lock. Additionally, a wide array of hotkey combinations allows you to control media, check battery levels, change Bluetooth connectivity settings, or adjust the backlighting. Also, by default, the F1 through F5 keys are bound to specific controls for Xbox Game Bar.

There's a full list of hotkey combinations you can reference in the digital version of this keyboard's user manual on ASUS' website here.

• ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless
• USB-A ROG Omni receiver
• USB receiver extender
• USB-A to USB-C charging cable
• Wrist rest
• Alternate ABS spacebar
• Keycap/switch puller
• Stickers
• User documentation

This keyboard provides a great typing experience overall. The keycaps are made of high-quality, doubleshot PBT plastic and have a slightly textured feel. There's also an alternate spacebar included with a shine-through pattern. However, this alternate spacebar is made of ABS plastic, which is typically lower quality as it tends to develop a shiny texture over time. That said, ASUS also indicates this spacebar has a UV coating intended to minimize this.

We bought this keyboard with linear ROG NX Snow switches that come pre-lubed from the factory and feel lightweight and smooth without much scratchiness.

Most keys, including modifier keys, feel quite stable, with only minor wobbling. However, the spacebar wobbles somewhat and makes a noticeable rattling sound. An included wrist rest provides support while typing, and sound-dampening switch pads and silicone inside the case help reduce the overall volume and pingingness somewhat.

Typing noise on this keyboard with the ROG NX Snow switches installed is quiet and very unlikely to bother those around you.

You can also buy this keyboard with ROG NX Storm switches, which are clicky switches that we expect are significantly louder with high-pitch clicks.

We bought and tested this keyboard with linear ROG NX Snow mechanical switches. You can also buy this keyboard with clicky ROG NX Storm switches. Both switch options are pre-lubed from the factory.

We bought and tested the ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 with linear ROG NX Snow mechanical switches. These switches are completely smooth on the downstroke without any tactile bump to overcome. They feel very lightweight and sensitive and are pre-lubed from the factory.

You can also buy this keyboard with ROG NX Storm switches, which feel heavier and have a satisfying tactile bump to overcome before actuation. They're also considerably louder, making a characteristic clicking sound on the downstroke.

The ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 has outstanding single-key latency performance. It delivers an extremely responsive-feeling experience for games in any genre and casual or competitive play.

The ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 offers excellent overall multi-key latency. However, the Key Release latency is fairly high compared to other gaming keyboards.

This keyboard has outstanding data transmission performance. It supports full N-key rollover and can send multiple keystrokes per USB report. It also fully uses its 1000Hz polling rate without being bottlenecked by other latency components.

This keyboard has very good 4-chord and 8-chord split delay performance, making it suitable for playing rhythm games that require multiple simultaneous inputs.

The ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 uses Armoury Crate for customization. This software is reasonably straightforward and allows you to customize various expected settings, including key assignments, custom profiles, macros, power settings, and RGB lighting. The software also works with ASUS Aura Sync, allowing for more extensive RGB effects that you can synchronize with other ASUS devices.

Much like with the software options from other major manufacturers, Armoury Crate is the source of criticism from the broader community. While we didn't experience any issues during the testing of this keyboard, many users online criticize this software for being unnecessarily bloated, requiring frequent updates, and taking up disproportionate system resources, among other complaints. This software may be frustrating if you prefer more lightweight software options or no software at all.

This keyboard is fully compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux. However, there isn't any customization software available for Linux or MacOS.

On MacOS, the Scroll Lock and Pause hotkey functions control screen brightness if you have a compatible Apple display.

This keyboard is fully compatible with Android, iOS, and iPadOS. However, the software isn't compatible with these mobile operating systems.

On iOS and iPad devices, the Insert/Scroll Lock hotkey function doesn't work.

all keys work as expected on Android devices.