Introduction
The Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 is a wireless mechanical gaming keyboard released by Asus in late 2022. As the name suggests, it is the second generation of the popular ROG Strix Scope line and adds wireless connectivity as one of the major new features.
The ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless follows the design philosophy and DNA of previous ROG Strix Scope keyboards but steps it up a notch with the inclusion of wireless technology and other upgrades. Asus designed this keyboard to provide top-notch wireless performance specifically for gaming, integrating innovative technologies like AI-assisted scanning and a polling rate of 8000 Hz in wireless mode.
Design and Build Quality
The Asus ROG Strix Scope II Wireless has an excellent design and solid build quality, as expected from the premium ROG gaming brand. It uses an aluminum alloy top plate which gives it a sturdy and rigid frame. The keyboard has minimal flex even when pressing down hard on the keys.
The plastic base has a matte finish which looks clean and resists fingerprints. The overall construction feels premium and durable. Asus has used high-quality materials like aluminum and ABS plastic for better longevity.
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At 1.5kg, the Scope II is on the heavier side for a 96% wireless keyboard. This weight gives it stability on the desk without rattling or moving around during intense gaming sessions. The added heft also makes it feel like a premium product.
The keyboard uses a raised ergonomic design with adjustable rear feet. The angle can be set according to personal preference for better long term typing comfort. Also very comfortable and premium looking is the included padded wrist rest.
Overall, the Scope II clearly lives up to Asus’ reputation for excellent build quality and design. It looks and feels like a high-end esports focused wireless gaming keyboard.
Size and Form Factor
The ROG Strix Scope II Wireless features a full-sized compact keyboard design that’s optimized for gaming while retaining portability. At 430 x 130 x 38mm, it strikes a nice balance between desktop and portable sizes.
The keyboard uses a standard ANSI layout with no irregularly sized keys, making it easy to find replacement keycaps. All the keys like modifiers, spacebar, enter etc are full-sized as you would expect on a gaming keyboard.
The compact frame shaves off unnecessary bezels and edges, resulting in a keyboard that takes up less room on your desk. This gives you more space for large mouse movements or other gaming peripherals.
Despite the streamlined design, the Strix Scope II Wireless doesn’t compromise on key spacing. There is sufficient gap between keys for comfortable and accurate typing. The subtle contouring on keycaps also aids fingertip ergonomics.
On the whole, the ROG Strix Scope II Wireless offers a thoughtfully designed compact layout that’s ideal for gaming setups where desk space is limited. It retains full-sized keys in a smaller footprint.
Switches and Keycaps
This keyboard uses hot-swappable ROG NX Mechanical switches. These are linear switches designed specifically for gaming. They have a short 1.8mm actuation distance and offer very fast response times.
The keycaps can be made of ABS or PBT and have, in my opinion, a stylish cyberpunk font. The keycaps have a shorter profile which ASUS claims allows fingers to move between keys faster.
Overall, the optical switches and quality keycaps help optimize the Strix Scope II for gaming usage. The fast actuation and response times give gamers an edge, while the durable keycaps can withstand heavy gaming use.
Features and Connectivity
The Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless comes packed with features focused on delivering the best wireless gaming experience.
- It uses a 2.4GHz wireless connection to provide super low latency while gaming. The wireless USB receiver uses AIROF technology to provide a stable wireless connection up to 12 meters away.
- For software, it uses Asus’ Armoury Crate software. This allows full customization of the RGB lighting, macros, and other settings. There are several preset RGB lighting modes that can be selected.
- The RGB lighting on the Scope II 96 Wireless is very impressive. Each key can be customized individually with full RGB colors. There are also light bars on the sides and top that can be customized. For gamers who want a slick looking keyboard with vibrant lighting, the Scope II 96 delivers.
- In addition to wireless, the Scope II 96 can also be used wired over the detachable USB-C to USB-A cable for charging or wired use.
Gaming Performance
The Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless is designed to deliver an exceptional gaming experience. It has a polling rate of 1000Hz, which means the keyboard checks for your input 1000 times per second. This results in extremely fast response times. When you press a key or move your mouse, the action registers instantly on screen. There is virtually zero lag or delay.
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Many wireless keyboards have lower polling rates around 125-500Hz, which can cause slight delays in gameplay. The 1000Hz polling on this keyboard matches top-tier wired gaming keyboards. You get wired-level responsiveness without any compromising on performance. This gives a real competitive edge in fast-paced multiplayer titles where every millisecond matters.
The optical-mechanical switches also provide excellent response times. They actuate at just 0.2 milliseconds, some of the fastest in the industry. From the moment you press a key, to seeing the action on screen is incredibly fast. Your commands and actions execute as soon as you make them. You can confidently use advanced techniques like double taps and rapid combos without worrying about lag messing up your timing.
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Overall, the ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless provides super-responsive controls for gaming. The high polling rate and fast switch response times result in a seamless gaming experience free of delays. Your gameplay will feel snappy and reactive, giving you split second execution.
Battery Life
The Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless has excellent battery life compared to other wireless mechanical keyboards. Asus claims the keyboard can last up to 96 hours on a single charge with the RGB lighting turned off. With the lighting enabled, battery life is reduced to around 40 hours, which is still impressive.
During testing, the keyboard easily lasted through over a week of heavy daily use with RGB enabled before needing to be recharged. The long battery life is thanks to the use of a large 6000mAh battery. Even gamers who play for many hours everyday can expect to get 3-4 days of use before recharging.
For connectivity, it uses a 2.4GHz wireless connection via a USB dongle. The connection is very reliable during gaming and typing. Asus Hyper-polling Technology allows for a 1ms response time, meaning the wireless latency is nearly indistinguishable from a wired connection.
Overall, the exceptional battery life is a standout feature of this wireless mechanical gaming keyboard. Gamers can enjoy over a week of gaming on a single charge, with no need to worry about wires getting in the way.
Software
The keyboard comes with Asus’ Armoury Crate software. This allows you to customize and configure various settings on the keyboard.
Through Armoury Crate you can:
- Customize the RGB lighting effects and patterns. There are multiple presets and modes to choose from. You can adjust colors for individual keys or zones.
- Create and save macro key bindings. The macro editor is intuitive with options to set delays if needed.
- Adjust gaming mode settings like key response time, anti-ghosting, macro repeat, etc.
- Update firmware when new versions are available.
- Monitor battery level and set power saving options.
- Link the keyboard to other Asus components through Aura Sync for unified lighting control.
Armoury Crate provides deep customization options without being overly complex. The software is well designed and user friendly. It adds value for gamers who want to tweak settings and have unified system control.
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Price and Availability
As far as pricing goes, it sits in the upper mid-range for wireless mechanical gaming keyboards. The Logitech G915 Lightspeed is a close competitor. More budget-friendly options like the Redragon K596 provide wireless mechanical gaming keyboards at lower price points.
Conclusion
The Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless is an exciting new wireless mechanical gaming keyboard that offers top-notch performance. Here’s a quick summary of the pros and cons:
Pros
- Slick and premium design with aluminum top plate
- Hot-swappable switches
- Solid build quality with IP57 water and dust resistance
- Extensive RGB lighting and effects
- Lag-free 2.4GHz wireless connectivity
- Long battery life up to 43 hours
- Dedicated media controls and volume wheel
- Useful but sometimes annoying ROG Armoury Crate software
- Wrist rest included
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Cons
- Expensive
- Relatively large footprint may not fit all setups
- The ABS keycaps seem like a fingerprint magnet
Overall, the ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless lives up to its premium branding and delivers an exceptional wireless gaming experience. The combination of robust performance, extensive features and versatile wireless connectivity make it easy to recommend for demanding gaming use. For those seeking a top-notch wireless mechanical gaming keyboard, the Scope II 96 Wireless is a worthy contender.
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