Compare ASUS ROG Azoth X vs McHose GX87 Keyboard

Acoustics were usually praised as crisp, deep, creamy, or fantastic, although the spacebar inconsistency kept this from being universally excellent.

Acoustics were a standout strength, with reviewers repeatedly praising the thocky, poppy, solid, and very nice sound.

Actuation consistency was praised where discussed, with reviewers noting consistent switch feel and minimal friction across keypresses.

One reviewer found the switch actuation consistent, with only a slight scratchiness detectable during very slow presses.

Analog input support was consistently marked down because reviewers repeatedly called out the absence of Hall-effect or analog switch features.

Backlight brightness split reviewers: several found it exceptional or very bright, while one reviewer felt the lighting was underwhelming.

Battery life drew near-universal praise, with many reviewers calling it impressive even when RGB or OLED reduced rated endurance.

Battery life was strongly praised, with reviewers emphasizing the large 8,000 mAh capacity and long time between charges.

Build quality was generally sturdy and solid, but the plastic base, premium-price expectations, and scratch-prone finish produced mixed marks.

Build quality was a major point of agreement, with every review giving positive evidence around the aluminum body, dense feel, assembly, or lack of flex.

Cable quality had limited positive evidence: reviewers liked the sleeved/braided cable, though one noted its gray color did not match the white board.

Cable quality was a weak point in one review, where the included cable was described as cheap and not very good.

Compatibility was strong thanks to Mac support, PC/Mac switching, MX-style switch compatibility, and south-facing PCB keycap compatibility.

Compatibility evidence was positive where reviewers connected QMK and VIA support to deep, flexible keyboard customization.

Connectivity was highly praised: reviewers liked tri-mode support, dongle convenience, and smooth switching between wireless modes or devices.

Connectivity was mixed: reviewers liked the wireless and tri-mode feature set, but noted mode-switch delay, visible front controls, and minor connectivity issues.

Customization options were a major strength, covering disassembly, OLED settings, RGB, macros, web tools, and component tinkering.

Customization options were a major strength, especially the magnetic or ball-catch quick-disassembly case, hot-swap design, and easy access for mods.

Design aesthetics were divisive but mostly positive: reviewers often liked the bold sci-fi white theme, while acknowledging it will not suit every desk setup.

Design aesthetics were generally positive for clean, premium, and attractive looks, but some reviewers found the styling mundane or noticed mismatched colors.

Desk space efficiency was praised because the keyboard stayed compact without feeling cramped and saved space versus larger layouts.

Desk space efficiency was positive in one review, which liked that TKL saves space while leaving room for an optional macro pad.

Durability evidence was positive but limited, mainly tied to durable dye-sub legends and premium construction.

Durability evidence centered on the solid aluminum build and PBT keycaps, which reviewers linked to lasting use.

Switch replacement was praised as straightforward, with reviewers describing access or removal as quick and easy.

Switch replacement was mostly easy thanks to tool-free access and hot-swap sockets, though one reviewer found reinstalling switches harder because the PCB flexes.

Ergonomics were positive where covered, mainly due to the wrist rest and FR4/typing changes that improved comfort.

Ergonomics received limited but positive evidence because the fixed typing angle was expected to be comfortable for most people.

Extra gaming features were mixed: Speed Tap and the OLED were useful or fun, but reviewers questioned the OLED’s value and noted missing Hall-effect features.

Extra gaming features received positive evidence from one reviewer who highlighted the ultra-low-latency mode as a surprise at this price.

Frame rigidity was a strength, with reviewers repeatedly noting no deck flex, no rattle, and a stable body.

Frame rigidity was mostly praised for its solid, flex-free construction, though the quick-release design was seen by one reviewer as less sturdy than screws.

Gaming performance was positive for casual and mainstream play, but reviewers noted it is less compelling for players seeking Hall-effect or esports-focused features.

Gaming performance was viewed as more than adequate for casual or hybrid use, with reviewers reporting competent play across first-person and general gaming sessions.

Hot-swappable switches were seen as a meaningful enthusiast-friendly advantage, especially for users who want to experiment or replace switches.

Hot-swappable switches were consistently treated as a benefit because users can replace switches without soldering and personalize the board.

Keycap quality was mixed-positive: many liked the texture, printing, durability, and RGB diffusion, while some disliked the smooth or tacky feel.

Keycap quality was praised for PBT material, thickness, durability, and a profile that helped typing accuracy.

Key response was consistently praised as snappy, fast, and responsive across typing and gaming, especially with the light linear switches.

Key response was consistently praised, with reviewers describing the keys or switches as responsive and accurate enough for both typing and gaming.

Key spacing had limited mixed evidence, with one first-impression review noting the smaller-feeling keys may require adjustment.

Key stability was praised through minimal stem wobble, stable keypresses, and no wobble or echo in typing tests.

Key stability evidence was mixed: one reviewer disliked the plate-mounted stabilizer tradeoff, while another found the installed stabilizers secure and free of ticking.

Latency evidence was strongly positive, with reviewers reporting delay-free input and no wireless latency problems in testing.

Latency impressions were positive overall, helped by 1,000 Hz operation and an ultra-low-latency mode, though this is still framed as strong budget performance rather than elite Hall Effect speed.

Layout evidence was limited but positive, with one reviewer saying the layout made sense and was clearly labeled.

Legend visibility was mostly praised thanks to clear labeling, visible lettering, and sharper printing, though small display icons and stylized legends had caveats.

Macro customization was positive where discussed, with reviewers noting easy macro creation and broad remapping support.

Macro customization was positively supported by reviewers who noted easy macro setup through VIA or QMK-style customization.

Materials quality was mixed: PBT caps and metal elements helped, while plastic construction and finish complaints hurt the premium impression.

Materials quality was praised for the aluminum case, smooth finish, premium feel, and solid components.

Media controls were generally useful through the OLED and knob, but some reviewers wanted a more conventional or more satisfying control.

Noise level was mixed: dampening helped keep the board acceptable, but several reviewers complained about a loud or thunky spacebar and higher overall volume.

Noise level received limited but positive evidence from a reviewer who described the sound as muted and thocky rather than harsh.

Onboard memory was positively supported by stored keyboard customizations that persist when moving between devices.

Most reviewers found the 1,000Hz polling rate adequate, but several treated the paid 8,000Hz booster requirement as a caveat.

Reviewers treated the 1,000 Hz polling behavior as a strength, linking it to responsive inputs and low-latency use.

Portability had limited positive support, mainly from long battery life making the board better for LAN parties or mobile work.

Portability was a weakness because one reviewer said the heavy aluminum build makes it undesirable to carry to and from an office.

Profile management had limited positive evidence, with one reviewer saying profile switching was quick and easy.

Profile management was supported by the ability to store customizations on the keyboard so settings persist across devices.

Rapid trigger support was a repeated weakness because reviewers noted the Azoth X lacks true rapid trigger or relies on Speed Tap instead.

Reliability was mixed: wireless operation was stable, but software instability and finish scratching hurt confidence.

Reliability evidence was mixed to negative in one review due to occasional held-input recognition and rare multiple key registrations.

RGB customization had limited but positive support, with one reviewer highlighting bold color behavior and preset variety.

RGB customization was broadly useful, especially through VIA, QMK, or the MCHOSE software, though one reviewer found the RGB controls clunky.

RGB lighting quality was widely praised for its soft glow, strong brightness, and distinctive translucent-side effect, despite a few muted-lighting complaints.

RGB lighting quality was acceptable but not class-leading, with one reviewer saying the lighting options do not match bigger keyboard brands.

The 75% size was praised as practical, with reviewers calling it a useful and near-perfect form factor for gaming desks.

Size and form factor earned positive evidence from one reviewer who found TKL a comfortable step down from full-size keyboards.

Software quality was sharply mixed: Gear Link was praised as lightweight and easy, while Armoury Crate drew complaints about bloat, crashes, and setup friction.

Software quality was mostly praised for VIA, QMK, and the dedicated MCHOSE software, with caveats around VIA being basic and RGB customization sometimes clunky.

Sound dampening was a clear strength, with reviewers crediting the foam stack and damping layers for reducing ping and improving sound.

Sound dampening was praised for reducing ping, refining the sound, and isolating vibration through the case design and internal layers.

Stabilizers were consistently praised, with reviewers noting no rattle, tuned large keys, and clatter-free stability.

Stabilizer impressions were mixed: some reviewers found them tuned and issue-free, while others noted plate-mount tradeoffs or a need for more lube.

Reviewers generally liked the ROG NX Snow V2 switches, describing them as smooth, consistent, and pleasant, with a few noting they still lack Hall-effect gaming behavior.

Reviewers generally liked the switch feel, calling the Vintage White or stock linear switches smooth, responsive, crisp, and satisfying, with only mild scratchiness or preference-based caveats.

Switch choice received limited but positive coverage, with reviewers noting the option between tactile/clicky and smooth linear ROG NX V2 switches.

Switch choice was the clearest limitation: one reviewer wanted tactile options at checkout, while another wanted to try tactiles despite liking the included switches.

Typing comfort was strong, with reviewers describing long sessions as comfortable, pleasant, and easy.

Typing comfort was praised across reviews for its bouncy gasket feel, smooth typing, and balanced flex, though one reviewer found it slightly firm.

Typing feel was the product’s strongest attribute: most reviewers found it smooth, satisfying, comfortable, and close to custom-keyboard quality, though one found it clunkier.

Typing feel was one of the strongest areas, with reviewers calling it joyful, great, smooth, and close to ideal.

Value for money was the most common concern, with many reviewers calling the high price hard to justify despite the strong typing and wireless experience.

Value for money was one of the strongest areas, with reviewers repeatedly calling the keyboard exceptional for its price and feature set.

Volume control was useful for most reviewers, though the toggle implementation was less satisfying to some than a dedicated knob or roller.

Wireless performance was one of the strongest areas, with reviewers repeatedly reporting stable, drop-free, low-latency operation.

Wireless performance received positive evidence from a reviewer who found the wireless functionality impressive and quick to reconnect.

The wrist rest was broadly welcomed as comfortable and useful, though some disliked the lack of magnets or found it harder than alternatives.