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Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX: one-minute evaluation
Asus has launched one other implausible keyboard with the ROG Falchion Ace HFX. This 65% board, which compresses solely essentially the most important keys onto a brief panel, affords immense performance throughout a number of areas.
The drawcard of the Falchion Ace HFX is its unimaginable switches. Whereas the usual Falchion Ace is on the market with three swap selections, the HFX solely affords one tactile really feel possibility – snug to the contact magnetic keys, making this Asus’ first corridor impact keyboard. It’s some of the satisfying keyboards to make use of that I’ve ever laid my arms on.
Regardless of not providing a wi-fi connection, it does embrace a twin USB-C association in order that it might probably shortly swap between two computer systems with a press of a button on the aspect, much like how a monitor would possibly swap between gadgets. A USB dongle or Bluetooth resolution may need been extra sensible to drag this trick off, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a welcome means.
Extra attention-grabbing to me is the return of Asus’ proprietary contact bar, a singular design factor of the Falchion collection that compresses media controls, quantity, keyboard RGB brightness and different helpful options right into a contact panel, letting you modify settings with faucets and swipes of your finger. This characteristic rocked and is way more intuitive than a FN + key macro resolution, although the depth of macroing with this keyboard is immense, permitting you to rearrange fast instructions, web site hotkeys and fast Home windows instructions with a bindable keystroke.
With a lot optimistic to say in regards to the ROG Falchion Ace HFX, there aren’t many drawbacks, though those which are there would possibly maintain you from a purchase order. This board doesn’t come low cost and is without doubt one of the most costly choices that Asus affords. The dearth of a wi-fi variant may also depart consumers reducing down on cable muddle unimpressed, and people in search of wrist assist might want to make a separate buy.
Extra diehard keyboard consumers may also be left unimpressed by the dearth of hot-swapping performance, and that there is just one swap kind obtainable (although the usual ROG Falchion affords three completely different choices).
It’s an incredible piece of package. The ROG Falchion Ace HFX is without doubt one of the keyboards to beat in 2025, and it could be my favorite keyboard because the Logitech G PRO X TKL.
Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX: worth and availability
- How a lot does it value? $199/£239.99/$AU$359
- When is it obtainable? Obtainable now
- The place are you able to get it? Obtainable within the US, UK, Australia and different areas
The ROG Falchion Ace HFX is the fourth most costly keyboard that Asus affords, under the bottom mannequin Azoth, customizable Claymore II, and the extraordinarily costly Azoth Excessive. The value marked for the Ace HFX is reflective of the epic magnetic switches underlying its awesome-feeling keys, however given its 65% dimension profile, it lacks a variety of the sometimes important buttons current within the higher-priced fashions, together with a devoted operate row and numpad.
Not that you need to really feel it is advisable transfer up the vary for mentioned options, as a result of the Falchion Ace HFX is greater than competent and unique by itself phrases. In comparison with the competitors, it’s one of many solely choices to supply magnetic switches on a 65% board. Chances are you’ll need to think about the Logitech G Professional X 60 if you would like a good smaller board, or the Superb GMMK 3 Professional 65 if you would like higher customization, however there aren’t many main manufacturers providing magnetic switches proper now.
Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX: specs
|
Format: |
65% |
|
Swap: |
ROG HFX Magnetic Swap |
|
Programmable keys: |
Sure |
|
Dimensions: |
12.40 x 4.52 x 1.37 inches / 315 x 115 x 35 mm |
|
RGB or backlighting: |
Sure (customizable) |
Asus ROG Falchion HFX: design and options
- Extra reserved ROG design
- Sensible construct high quality
- Helpful multifunction panel and twin pc assist
Asus’ ROG gaming equipment are at their finest after they don’t look too gamery, and the Falchion HFX appears to be like pretty impartial in comparison with many different high-end boards provided by the producer.
Obtainable solely in black, the one factor about this board that I’d think about a tad extreme from a design perspective is the spelling out of ‘Republic of Players’ throughout the highest. RGB lights behind every key are programmable with a number of lighting animations obtainable.
On the prime left, you’ll see an illuminated image, indicating which setting you’ve bought your multi-function contact panel set to, cycleable with the press of a multifunction button within the prime left. The panel throughout the again could be swiped with a fingertip, and can be utilized to regulate brightness and quantity, change key actuation factors, play and pause media, and even pull off any devoted macros you keep in mind. Within the Armory Crate app, you may restrict which features the biking button switches between, permitting for a extra streamlined expertise (I merely have it set to quantity and media controls). This contact bar isn’t a brand new characteristic, because it’s been obtainable on different Falchion fashions since 2022, nevertheless it works particularly effectively on a small board like this.
There are additionally lights on the prime proper, indicating if win lock has been activated, if caps lock is at present on, and if ‘Fast Set off’ has been enabled, permitting for a lot faster keystroke response occasions than no matter your preset mode is about to.
Your keyboard’s RGB lighting and per key actuation factors can be adjusted within the ROG Armory Crate app, the place you may discover Pace Faucet mode. This modifications the operate of the keyboard to permit for faster directional modifications by prioritising the final pressed in key – so as a substitute of coming to a full cease when strafing in a recreation, you’ll transfer left to proper or vice versa with out lifting your fingers off the keys.
Asus ROG Falchion HFX: Efficiency
- 8,000Hz polling fee
- Magnetic corridor impact switches with 5 layer dampening
- Helpful aggressive gaming options
The Asus ROG Falchion HFX is a gaming keyboard aimed toward aggressive play, by means of and thru. It affords an distinctive 8,000Hz polling fee – an unlimited quantity of experiences the keyboard gives your pc in a second, theoretically enhancing response time. Because of this, click on latency is as little as 1.1ms on common with the Falchion HFX.
The keys really feel coarse in a snug method, permitting for satisfying tactile contact between your fingertips and your inputs. A raised dot on the W key means that you can place your arms for gaming with out trying down, good for low-light battle stations.
The actuation level of your keys could be adjusted readily on the fly utilizing the multi-function contact panel, permitting for way more shallow keypresses in case you so want. Backing all of this up is the truth that the keys are magnetic, and effectively damped to permit for a satisfying press whereas additionally being fast and never too loud. On the much less technical aspect, the keyboard has three adjustment angles with two units of toes beneath.
Many of those options might go above and past the wants of an off-the-cuff gamer and certainly are effectively previous the needs of any individual simply after a helpful typing software. However for a devoted gamer, the ROG Falchion HFX could be the precise machine on your passion.
Mechanical keyboard fanatics will possible be upset by the dearth of hot-swappable keys, and that there is just one swap to select from. Fortunately, the bottom mannequin ROG Falchion affords extra swap selection – the Falchion HFX is extra of a efficiency mannequin with its magnetic keys.
Ought to I purchase the Asus ROG Falchion HFX?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Score |
|---|---|---|
|
Worth |
The Asus ROG Falchion HFX isn’t a funds keyboard, nevertheless it’s additionally not attempting to be. |
4 / 5 |
|
Design and options |
A wise structure with intuitive media controls make the Falchion HFX a winner. |
5 / 5 |
|
Efficiency |
Magnetic key switches with customizable actuation are straightforward to like. |
5 / 5 |
|
General score |
The Asus ROG Falchion HFX is an especially spectacular keyboard, and it has me excited for upcoming magnetic switches from rivals. |
4.5 / 5 |
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Asus ROG Falchion HFX: additionally think about
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX |
Keychron C3 Professional |
Corsair K65 Plus |
Logitech G Professional X 60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Format |
65% |
TKL |
75% |
60% |
|
Swap |
ROG HFX Magnetic Swap |
Mechanical |
Corsair MLX Crimson |
Optical switches |
|
Programmable keys |
Sure |
Sure |
Sure |
Sure |
|
Dimensions |
12.40 x 4.52 x 1.37 inches / 315 x 115 x 35 mm |
14.4 x 5.4 x 1.2in / 365 x 138 x 30 mm |
12.59 x 5.35 x 1.37-inches / 319 x 135 x 35 mm |
12.59 x 5.35 x 1.37-inches / 290 x 103 x 29 mm |
|
RGB or backlighting |
Sure (customizable) |
No |
Sure (customizable) |
Sure (customizable) |
How I examined the Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX
I examined the Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX over 4 weeks, paired with different Asus merchandise together with an OLED monitor, mouse and headset. I used it solely on my Windows 11 gaming PC and performed video games together with Marvel Rivals, Avowed, The Headliners and Forza Horizon 5. I additionally used it for some productiveness duties, comparable to for typing out paperwork.
Over that point I used it throughout a number of lighting settings, enabled completely different macros and put it in numerous positions, whereas continually adjusting actuation factors and diving into toggles within the Armory Crate app.
- First Reviewed February 2025
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