Low-profile mechanical keyboards; now that’s a term to get the purists’ rage boiling. But there’s something to be said about these small, light keyboards that offer the benefits of clicky, mechanical keys and portability. The new Asus ROG Falchion RX joins a growing list of low-profile boards like the excellent Corsair K100 Air and Vissles LP85. But for my two cents, the Falchion RX is easily the very best that I have ever used.
Retailing for about $279.99 (though the price varies wildly depending on which retailer), the Falchion RX is a 65 gaming keyboard that comes ROG RX optical-mechanical switches supports tri-mode connectivity of 2.4Ghz SpeedNova wireless, Bluetooth, and wired USB.
At the time of writing this, the board only comes in White, but I’m sure Asus will drop a black model soon enough. I’m not sure how that white will hold out over time but Asus also throws in a protective hardcover to keep your precious board safe from the elements during travel.
The Falchion RX follows in the steps of the Falchion NX; a 65% wireless mechanical keyboard that pioneered the interactive touch panel and polycarbonate cover that we see on this new board. The key difference is that the Falchion RX is significantly lower profile at just 26.5mm tall compared to the NX’s chunky 38.5mm.
Most of the other dimensions are similar, but the reduction in profile makes the RX far more appealing and travel-friendly than ever. The diminutive size doesn’t feel cramped in any way, giving you all the key functions you need.
Asus has been killing it in the design and build quality, and the Falchion RX is no exception. The keyboard deck is a silver metal that houses two layers of integrated silicone dampening foam, which absorbs pinging and echoes. The RX is about as silent as most membrane keyboards found on laptops. The board comes with a polycarbonate hardcover that serves as protection but can also prop up the board for extra height. It’s a little bit finicky though and doesn’t clasp onto the board or anything which can be annoying.
The ROG UV-coated ABS keycaps feel great to the touch, and the whole board has a reassuring heft to it. The keycaps are passthrough, so the Aura Sync RGB lighting shines brightly through them. Underneath the board are height-adjustable feet with two levels so you can get your perfect tilt.
The keys are all backlit, of course, and Asus includes an RGB strip along the top of the deck that proudly advertises Republic of Gamers, in case anyone was mistaken that this is a productivity board. All around, the lighting is gorgeous, and I like how the top strip responds to your interactions with the touch panel also located on the front edge of the board.
Here’s where your power switch, Windows/Mac toggle, USB Type-C port, and SpeedNova dongle also live. The board is OS-bilingual, so it has legends for both MacOS and Windows command keys, so you can easily swap between the different systems — something I actually do daily with my work MacBook Pro and my gaming PC.
Asus only offers the ROG RX Low-profile Optical switches, which are pre-lubed for extra smoothness, but they aren’t hot-swappable as far as I can tell. You can choose either RX Red linear or RX Blue clicky switches. I got the Reds in my review sample, which have a very short 1.0mm actuation and a 2.5mm total travel that can take a little getting used to. Even though the switches require 40 gf, the lighter touch required isn’t what your brain expects from a mechanical keyboard.
So, my heavy stabs were initially causing several typing errors, which exposed that after all these years, I’m still a pretty sloppy typist. It took me more than a few days to adjust, but once I did, it felt delightful. If you are coming from a laptop keyboard or something like the Logitech MX Keys S or Apple Magic keyboards, you’ll feel right at home.
I love how the switches have a satisfying rebound that almost makes your fingers feel like they are bouncing off the board as you type and thanks to all that dampening, are also very quiet indeed. That said, if you prefer stiffer and clickier keys of the Logitech MX Mechanical would feel better in that sense.
One of the coolest things about the Falchion RX is the interactive touch panel along the top left edge of the board. This panel allows you to adjust things like volume, media playback, zooming, or keyboard lighting by simply swiping your finger along it. There’s a button on to let you switch between various functions, and the top RGB strip responds with a cool gradient effect. Even though you can customize what the panel does, I couldn’t think of more useful functions beyond the default, but I’m sure you clever folks can.
Lastly, let’s talk connectivity. The Falchion RX features Tri-mode connectivity, which simply means it connects in three ways; 2.4Ghz SpeedNova low-latency Wireless, Bluetooth, and wired USB. I never had any issues with connectivity, and most people will be perfectly happy just using the SpeedNova connection. There’s absolutely no hint of latency, which is great when gaming.
Even better, Asus says the Falchion RX battery will go over 400 hours on a single charge while using the said SpeedNova connection. In the month of my testing, I charged it a sum total of once, and that was with RGB on all the time while swapping between SpeedNova and Bluetooth, so it’s safe to say battery life will never be a problem.
It’s worth noting that if you have a ROG mouse like the Harpe Ace Aim Edition, it can share the same ROG Omni Receiver USB dongle as the Falchion RX. This can save you a precious USB slot for other peripherals. I also love that the dongle has a permanent slot on the board itself, so you never have to worry about storing it if you travel with the board.
After spending a good month using the ROG Falchion RX as my daily driver, I can confidently say I don’t think I’ll ever need any other keyboard. Like the incredible ROG Azoth before it, the Falchion RX is almost perfect for what it is. I can’t find any real fault with the board, and I simply love it. Sure, I would love to see more tactile ROG RX Brown switches, but even with linear switches, the board feels fantastic to type and game on.
This is the best low-profile mechanical keyboard I’ve tested yet and could easily be one of the best wireless mechanical gaming keyboards right now. If low-profile, compact boards interest you, then this should be at the very top of your list.
Asus ROG Australia kindly provided the Falchion RX to PowerUp Gaming for the purpose of this review
