The perfection of gaming accessories is something personal and subjective, because everyone has their own requirements. But not when it’s obvious. The ROG Claymore II keyboard is perfect in every way. This is not so easy to explain if you don’t use it. At first glance, it doesn’t look like anything special, except for the removable number pad. But the experience of using it shows that this keyboard is an indispensable purchase for players. Let me explain why.
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What’s in the box
ROG Claymore II comes in a branded red and black box with a superfluous cover. We open it and see the following:
- mechanical modular keyboard ROG Claymore II in a protective fabric bag
- removable number pad
- soft wrist rest
- wireless USB key
- wireless key extender
- USB Type-C cable
- USB Type-C to USB Type-A adapter
- technical documents
- branded stickers
A complete set that greatly expands the possibilities of working with the keyboard right out of the box. That is, you no longer need to buy additional wires, adapters, etc. Everything is in place, just take it and use it.
Briefly about design and ergonomics
ROG Claymore II is a modular skeleton gaming keyboard with ROG RX RED optical-mechanical switches. It measures 462 × 155 × 39 mm and weighs approximately 1156 g (without cable).
Additionally, it has a removable digital unit, thanks to which it can be conveniently transformed from standard full-size (100%) to TKL (tenkeyless), which is 80%. This is simply the best feature that could be invented for ease of use. It gives the keyboard versatility: it is easy to use both for gaming and office work. For example, writing texts on it is incredibly convenient, but more on that later. It’s also an extremely practical solution for those who don’t have a lot of desk space.
A wrist rest made of artificial leather makes the use more comfortable, but if you are not used to it, it can be a bit of a nuisance. It is connected with a special magnetic mount located at the bottom of the keyboard.
The Claymore would seem ordinary if not for the backlight and the ability to synchronise with other ASUS components via Aura Sync. The keyboard is also wireless, but it can work via a USB Type-C cable or a Type-C to Type-A adapter.
As for the appearance: stylish, laconic, perfect. There is almost nothing to add here, because it looks very attractive. It has a metallic aluminium body with diagonal notches, which gives the appearance of natural scuffs. It does not bend or creak during use.
So, we’d like to start by saying that Claymore is a stylish and comfortable keyboard with flexible settings for individual setups. But appearance and comfort of use are not its only advantages. Let’s take a look at the device from a technical point of view.
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Digital unit
It should be noted that it can be connected to the keyboard from both (!) sides. This is a very interesting, but unusual solution, because the number pad on the left is a bit confusing and you just start to get confused with the keys. If you don’t need it, you can put it away in a box and connect it at any time. Without it, the keyboard becomes 20% smaller, which allows you to free up a little space and remove unnecessary keys for those who are used to using TKL. This unit can also be used as a programmable keyboard for multimedia or macros. It allows you to quickly execute game commands thanks to four hotkeys. Above them, there is a massive wheel that adjusts the sound volume.
Optical and mechanical switches ROG RX RED
We’ve come to the good stuff, because it’s the candles that are the main advantage of ROG Claymore II. They are incredibly tactile: every press is felt clearly, as if you had never used high-quality mechanics before! I would like to thank the developer for this feeling, because playing and working with this model is a heavenly pleasure. But let’s get back to the technical indicators.
ROG RX RED optical-mechanical switches have a 1.5 mm trigger point, an initial force of 40 gs and a full force of 55 gs. This ensures a smooth pressing feel and instantaneous response (1ms) with no lag. A stabilisation mechanism eliminates the issue of key jitter during keystrokes (100 million keystrokes).
Each switch has an individually integrated LED that can be individually configured.
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Battery life
We’ve already established that the Claymore works in both wired and wireless (2.4 GHz) modes. For this purpose, a cable or a wireless USB dongle and an extension cable are included in the package if you need a more stable signal. When the keyboard is connected via the USB cable, it works with constant recharging. The accessory has a built-in 4000 mAh battery for recharge-free operation. When the backlight is switched on at 100%, the device can operate autonomously for up to 43 hours. After an accelerated 30-minute charge via USB-C, the keyboard can operate for up to 8 hours with the backlight on and up to 18 hours without it. The charge indicator (upper left corner of the keyboard) conveniently shows the battery level.
Backlighting
The keyboard has full-colour Aura backlighting that is customisable for each key and synchronises with compatible devices. It works perfectly both via cable and wirelessly. You can also use the pre-set lighting effects in the Armoury Crate app. Players can also customise the keyboard by creating their own effects.
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Armoury Crate
The proprietary software allows you to configure the keyboard parameters. You can control the backlight, record macros, program buttons, etc. Let’s see how the programme looks like when working with Claymore:
- Keys. Allows you to reassign keys and change commands for media keys
- RGB indicator. Indicates the current status: synchronisation with the keyboard backlight or battery operation
- Backlighting. 10 ready-made visual effects and Aura Creator for creating personalised effects
- Power saving. Setting up wireless power saving options and battery percentage
- Firmware update. Check if the firmware is up to date
Summary
It is not often that gaming accessories fully meet the needs of the user. You have to compromise or choose something close to what you want. In my case, I found the perfect keyboard – ROG Claymore II. Materials, build, switches, backlighting, everything about it meets the requirements, as if it was created specifically for me. Almost a month has passed since I started using it, and this keyboard continues to impress me with its convenience and capabilities. I don’t use the stand and number pad out of habit, as I’ve had a regular TKL without the bells and whistles for a long time. The Claymore helps me to work on texts faster, as this is my main profession, which also requires a certain amount of convenience. The keyboard has an impressive tactility that suits me perfectly in terms of feel and sound (it has an incredibly pleasant, restrained click without the annoying ringing that many mechanicals suffer from). I play it with pleasure in my leisure time. I haven’t met a better keyboard yet, although there were expensive models with a wider range of features. For comparison, I need to try a custom one, but for now, as they say, this is number one.
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