We offer a gaming keyboard with optical, wireless, RGB switches. It’s a lot of fun to use this keyboard and press the keys. This modular keyboard with the model number MA02 ROG Claymore 2 has a removable numeric keypad that may be mounted to the left or right. When it’s working and calculating, you may use it on the right, and when using macros in games, you can use it on the left. They have a beautiful design, and you can slide them in and out much like you would a magazine when playing a game.

The ROG RX Optical Switch used in this model, which has a lifespan of 100 million keystrokes, is of course the most crucial component.

Red Key or Blue Key?

The variant we tested uses ROG RX Blue optical mechanical switches in between the red and blue switches. These “Clicky and Speedy” keys, which stand for “clicking sound and fast,” produce an additional click sound at the exact location where the key is detected. If you fully depress the button, you will hear the second sound. Of course, you do not need to move the object a whole 4 mm; if you hear a click after moving the object 1.5 mm, the click is complete.
 
Models of the RX Red don’t have this extra click; all you hear is the key clicking. At 55 grams, Reds begin to move; Blues move at 65 grams.
 
Because they are printed at 2 mm and demand 58 grams of pressing force, the NX Brown versions are a good choice if you want to experience the traditional IBM keyboard flavor with even more of 

Optical Mechanics and Classical Mechanics Series

So what distinguishes the switch series RX from NX? NXs use mechanical switches, while RXs use optical switches. In classical mechanics, the command is detected when the electrical circuit is finished; in optical mechanics, the command is detected when the key light is turned off. Although, in general, optical keys last longer, we can state that the work always finishes with the series’ production quality.
 
The tactile ones, or tactile, produce a different resistance than the linear ones, which make the increase in pressure force feel linear. Your physical interaction with the keyboard will determine which event and key you choose.We might state that this is a matter of likes and colors rather than this is excellent, this is terrible.
 
Thanks to the key test equipment that ASUS gave us, here is a complete list of all the keys and their sounds.

RX Switches:

RX Red: Actuation, or the actualization of key presses, is soft, linear, and extremely quick.
 
55 grams of complete action force, 40 grams of front movement, and 1.5 mm of actuation point.
 
RX Blue: 1.5 mm actuation point, clicky, tactile, ultra-fast actuation. a tactile force of 65 gf.

NX Switches:

Smooth, linear, and extremely quick actuation in NX Red.
 
Clicky with more tactility and click sound in NX Blue. actuation point of 2.3 mm. a tactile force of 65 grams.

What exactly is tact? The effect that counters pressing a key is called a tactile bump.

Clicking noise: A clicky button is one that has extra audible button structure that generates a clicking noise when it is pressed.

Linear: With linear switches, you can train yourself to only press the keys up to the actuation point. The force required to press the key increases as you go down, decreases at the top, and increases in the depths.

Lighting, design, and more

The ROG Claymore 2 model is now back in focus. We carefully examined every issue, from the model’s design to its essential components, and we put it through a protracted testing process. It is the best mechanical gaming keyboard because of the quantity of quality and attention to detail.
 
When floating keys are employed, the keys appear to float above the keyboard’s surface.
 
These keys do not swing, though, as they do not sway to the right or left. The square pattern we observe when we pull the covers off the keys is what makes this possible. This key is more sturdy and flatter than one that locks simply from the center because the covers are fastened to the square-shaped key inner structure from four locations. There is no left or right.
 
Individually programmable RGB illumination is available for each key, which is already a common feature of high-end models. With the help of the ASUS ROG Armory software, you can precisely control the lighting of all ROG products.
 

The lighting of this device is Aura Sync compliant, meaning it can work with other hardware that has Aura Sync written on it.

Additionally, the lighting for the keys is compatible with the ROG, or Republic of Gamers, logo in the upper left. The battery indication lights to its right are shaped like step bars that ascend incrementally.

The product has a luxurious appearance thanks to the brushed aluminum surface with the 45 degree right slanting lines under the keys.

White notification lights are located directly above the F9 through F12 keyboard buttons. The Windows Lock and USB icons for these lights, however, are very impossible to see.The only real drawback, as far as we can tell, is that they were not made obvious in the design.

USB Passthrough: Pros and Cons, Wired and Wireless Usage…

Why then does a USB light exist? There is a USB Passthrough capability. In other words, you can plug the wireless receiver of your mouse into the keyboard’s USB 2.0 connector. The design objective is primarily to reduce the number of connections while keeping the mouse wireless receiver close to the mouse on the desk, albeit you can plug in something else. When FN+12 USB Passthrough is enabled and a Type-C to Type-A connection is used to connect the keyboard to the computer, it functions.

So, sadly, when using this keyboard wirelessly over a 2.4 GHz connection, we cannot use the extra USB port.Wired connections function on their own and offer USB Passthrough functionality, but we are still unable to link a wireless and another wireless receiver to the keyboard using this method.

To prevent losing the wireless receiver that comes with the package, they created a magnetic USB receiver storage pocket. You may easily take the side keypad off of this keyboard, insert the USB, and transport it to the competition in a bag.

Macro Recording Options and More…

It’s also convenient to have the option of On The Fly Macro Recording, or the ability to make macros as you use it. You can play macro, light, color, power-saving, firmware update, and detailed key functions under Armory Crate. Advanced functions include setting up a profile in accordance with the apps and activating the unique profile as soon as the game is opened.
 
It is quite helpful to utilize the volume up and down wheel in the upper right. Additionally, the four separate keys below are quite helpful, particularly for multimedia functions. Additionally, you can decide to turn off the Windows key, Alt+Tab, and Alt+F4 combinations.

Result Evaluation

Our favorite gaming keyboard, the ASUS ROG Claymore 2, features wired or wireless operation, a 1 millisecond reaction time, and superb optical mechanical keys that have a wonderful feel. The switch can be chosen to suit your preferences, but it is a product that works exceptionally well with both ASUS ROG gaming desktops and gaming laptops, making typing and playing much more fun and giving you a competitive advantage.

Price

$158.99 at Amazon.com (December/16/2022)

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