Asus announced a new mechanical keyboard at CES 2021 called ROG Claymore II. It is designed for gamers, with customizable macro keys and RGB backlight per key. It is also the first device to feature Asus’ own ROG RX Blue or Red optical switches with a lifetime of 100 million key presses.
This model beckons people who just can’t get off the numeric keypad altogether: you can remove it to make Claymore II an 80% keypad if you need to save space or connect it magnetically when you need to crunch some numbers. The numeric keypad also offers more intuitive media controls, such as a volume dial.
The ROG Claymore II connects via a USB-C cable or wirelessly via 2.4GHz. If you use it wirelessly, your 4,000mAh battery should last up to 40 hours. Asus says the USB-C port supports fast charging and USB port to other devices. This model will be launched in the second quarter of 2021; Asus has not yet shared a price.
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Image: Asus
Asus has also announced its new ROG Gladius III Wireless gaming mouse. The mouse does not have a final price or specific release date (other than its target for the second quarter of 2021), but it is worth knowing the design and specifications. The Gladius III Wireless looks like the Razer DeathAdder V2, which we cite as the best wired gaming mouse to buy. The new device’s sensor supports up to 19,000 DPI and can be wired or wirelessly via 2.4 GHz or Bluetooth. Asus says that a purely wired version of this mouse will be released sometime.
Notably, the ROG Gladius III allows user-replaceable switches so you can find the right feeling for your needs – even allowing you to switch between three-pin mechanical and five-pin Omron optical switches. Most people will probably never put their mice under so much stress that they will reach the end of the life of their switches, but having the option to change them is certainly a good feature.