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ROG Falcata: ASUS's Expensive Split Hall Effect Keyboard ReviewThis video reviews the ASUS ROG Falcata, a $360 split Hall effect wireless keyboard. It highlights its unique features like the split ergonomic layout, 8K polling rate, and ROG HFX V2 magnetic switches. The reviewer discusses the comfort, customizability, and performance, comparing it to other keyboards and software in the market. Ultimately, it's positioned as a niche product for gamers prioritizing ergonomic comfort and wireless Hall effect benefits.
1. 💰💸 Introducing the ROG Falcata: A Premium-Priced Split Keyboard
- ✅ The ASUS ROG Falcata is introduced as a $360 Hall effect split keyboard, positioning it as a premium product.
- ✅ It's highlighted as the world's first wireless split Hall effect keyboard with an 8K polling rate.
- ✅ The split design offers better ergonomics and comfort for long use, allowing for a wider range of posture adjustments.
- ⚠️ The reviewer emphasizes the need to personally experience the keyboard to determine if the comfort justifies the premium price.
00:00 - 01:25
1. 💰💸 Introducing the ROG Falcata: A Premium-Priced Split Keyboard
- ✅ The ASUS ROG Falcata is introduced as a $360 Hall effect split keyboard, positioning it as a premium product.
- ✅ It's highlighted as the world's first wireless split Hall effect keyboard with an 8K polling rate.
- ✅ The split design offers better ergonomics and comfort for long use, allowing for a wider range of posture adjustments.
- ⚠️ The reviewer emphasizes the need to personally experience the keyboard to determine if the comfort justifies the premium price.
01:26 - 02:46
2. ✨ Design and Build Quality: Aesthetics and Key Features
- ✅ The keyboard features a combination of a plastic bottom shell and an aluminum top frame, weighing just under 1 kg on its own and 1.7 kg with the integrated wrist rest.
- ✅ It has a split 75% layout, including arrow keys and function keys.
- ✅ The design is cleaner compared to previous models, with subtle branding and compact built-in controls.
- ✅ The keycaps are double-shot PBT with a grainy texture for durability and improved resistance to shine.
- ✅ The font choice is more neutral and cleaner, moving away from the overly bold gamer fonts of the past.
02:47 - 04:27
3. 🛠️ Internal Components and Typing Feel: Construction and Comfort
- ✅ The keyboard has a straightforward tray mount design, making it simple to disassemble.
- ✅ It includes silicon pads for dampening, along with poron case foam and a PE foam sheet.
- ✅ The typing feel is stiff due to the tray mount design, but the split layout improves comfort, especially with the included bumpons.
- ✅ The reviewer was surprised by the comfort and natural feel of typing on a split keyboard.
- ✅ ASUS uses ROG HFX V2 magnetic switches, an improved version of the original, providing a smooth typing experience.
04:28 - 05:12
4. 🚫 Limited Customizability: Switch Design and Options
- ⚠️ The keyboard's customizability is limited because the switch design is specific to the board, preventing the use of other switches.
- ❌ The unique magnet position locks users into using only these switches, which is seen as a downside.
- ✅ The reviewer expresses a desire to experiment with different magnetic switches, such as the Olaf TI, WXFlux, and Gateron Magnetic Jade Pros.
05:13 - 06:54
5. 🔊 Sound Profile and Wireless Performance: Audio and Connectivity
- ✅ The keyboard has a creamy but slightly muted sound profile due to the silicon pads.
- ✅ Stabilizers are well-tuned from the factory, being looped and rattle-free.
- ✅ The wireless performance is solid, with 0.1mm activation, rapid trigger as low as 0.1mm, and SOCD (though SOCD is a broken feature in CS2).
- ✅ It's the only Hall effect board that can do wireless with an 8K polling rate.
- ✅ The wireless connection has been rock solid with zero drops in connection during testing.
- ✅ The battery lasts up to 104 hours of normal wireless use, requiring charging every 4 days.
06:55 - 07:44
6. ⚙️ Software Experience: Gearling Web Software
- ✅ The Gearling web software is a major improvement over Armory Crate, eliminating the need for a buggy desktop app.
- ✅ It offers a more responsive experience with six profiles to customize.
- ⚠️ Compared to Wooting's utility, Gearling still has a lot to catch up on.
- ❌ Annoyances include having to click keys one by one when assigning activation points or rapid trigger, instead of drag-selecting multiple keys.
- ❌ Polling rate settings are restricted to either 250 Hz or 8K, with no options in between.
- ✅ The Gearling software is still in beta, with expectations for improvements.
07:45 - 09:37
7. 🎯 Target Audience and Final Recommendations: Is the Falcata Worth It?
- ✅ The ROG Falcata is aimed at gamers who want Hall effect benefits on a split ergonomic layout.
- ✅ If the split layout and its benefits are not a priority, the high price may not be justified.
- ✅ Split keyboards are generally more expensive, with average prices well above $250 up to $370, and most don't offer magnetic switches.
- ✅ If you specifically want a split wireless magnetic keyboard, the Falcata is currently the only option.
- ✅ The biggest benefit of the split layout is comfort, especially during long gaming sessions.
- ✅ The reviewer recommends testing the keyboard physically to see if the split layout is suitable.
- ✅ If ergonomic comfort is a priority, the Falcata might be worth it; otherwise, sticking with a normal Hall effect keyboard is a viable alternative.