Review: Asus ROG Strix Flare

Software and Summary

Any RGB keyboard worth its salt is going to come accompanied by a software utility tasked with handling lighting and customisation Asus's Armoury II utility is mature enough to handle the basics with ease, and though we'd prefer a UWP app for automated updates on Windows 10, the lightweight utility is mostly unobstrusive.

Keys can easily be reprogrammed, the built-in Macro recorder is competent, and the same utility covers multiple Asus peripherals, allowing for one-click synchronisation of various lighting modes. There's plenty of flexibility when it comes to creating your own effects, though there are some limitations, too. The keyboards multimedia keys are backlit only in white, rather than RGB, and though the Armoury II utility takes care of multiple peripherals, other Asus hardware such as graphics cards require a separate Aura utility.

Summary

The ROG Strix Flare is the latest addition to Asus's burgeoning catalogue of Aura Sync-compatible hardware. Offering something familiar and something new, the keyboard takes tried-and-trusted Cherry MX key switches and applies vibrant RGB illumination, sleek design and repositioned multimedia controls.

Having the volume roller in the top-left corner makes sense, yet while the keyboard is enjoyable to use, a £150 asking price makes it easier to identify shortcomings. At this end of the market we'd expect a solid metal top plate as standard, and if we're nitpicking, the lack of RGB backlighting on the multimedia keys is an omission on a keyboard that emphasises illumination.

Bottom line: there are better keyboards available at this price point, yet if you're invested in the Aura Sync ecosystem, ROG Strix Flare remains a decent choice with well-placed multimedia controls and favoured Cherry MX switches.

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The Asus ROG Strix Flare mechanical gaming keyboard is available to purchase from Scan Computers.

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