For the retiring class , I ’ve been wondering where Asus ’ Hall Effect keyboard is . Hall Effect has been all the rage for PC gamers , pass through thebest play keyboardsyou can bribe , but Asus has stayed out from the vogue with releases like theROG Azoth Extreme . With the Falchion Ace HFX , we at long last have the first Hall Effect keyboard from Asus .
The fellowship has emerged as one of the leading keyboard brands for enthusiast - level lineament with mainstream sensitivity , especially with exit like theROG genus Strix Scope II 96 . The ROG Falchion Ace HFX is yet another showcase of Asus ’ expertness , and it comes with competitive feature like rapid trigger analogue switches and an 8,000Hz wire polling rate — it ’s just a ignominy that this otherwise wonderful all - plastic keyboard comes in at $ 200 .
Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX specs
Design
The Falchion Ace HFX may make big changes to the replacement , but the overall design fits mightily within Asus ’ Falchion range . Like theFalchion RX LP , this is a 65 % keyboard that ’s just a hair taller than a typical 65 % pattern due to the Republic of Gamers logotype and abstemious bar at the top . Compared to a modest 60 % design , you get some extra goodies with 65 % , admit your arrow key and key likeInsertandDelete . The major change Asus made on the key front is swapping out the rightCtrlkey for a Windows Copilot headstone .
In pure contrast to the Falchion RX LP , the Ace HFX is black , though not across the board . The cardinal caps are pitch-dark , as is the top light bar and the edges of the consistence . However , Asus discover up the design with a sorry - silver plate for the key switches , and two silver control condition on the back of the keyboard . It ’s a classy - looking blueprint . It ’s just not a classy - feel one , unfortunately .
This is a $ 200 keyboard , and I expected a least a little bit of metal in the grammatical construction , but it ’s all credit card here . You could argue that ’s a cocksure for an esports keyboard — at only 1.4 pound sign , you may easily reposition the Falchion Ace HFX in a fashion that it ’s well-fixed — but the material do n’t consist . Asus is using inexpensive materials to build the Falchion Ace HFX while still accuse a agiotage price .
Still , the Falchion Ace HFX expect great . Outside of per - key RGB , you get the aforementioned light saloon , which pull in double duty as a status saloon . On the back unexpended side of the keyboard , there ’s a rough-textured spell of atomic number 14 that you’re able to slew your digit on to access several functions , let in book and medium control . And as you adjust them , the light bar at the top will react . It ’s an ingenious way to give you memory access to medium control while maintaining a petite 65 % form element .
Sound and feel
Asus is using it own pre - lube Hall Effect substitution and stabilizer in the Falchion Ace HFX , and they actually feel reasonably undecomposed . A vainglorious part of that is the gasket mount and insane amount of sound wash pack inside the keyboard . The sound and feel is very exchangeable to what I saw with theWooting 80HE . That ’s to say , it ’s beneficial enough for type , estimable for gaming , and a small step behind something like theKeychron Q1 HE .
It ’s clear that Asus spend some time sculpting the sound of the Falchion Ace HFX . Something about the flavor does n’t quite play off up with the strait . There are two layers of Poron froth as well as two layer of atomic number 14 sound dampening , leading to a very muted sound . That ’s good in a sight of font . The typical high-pitched - close ping you find oneself on play keyboard is n’t present , and there ’s a low-set downhearted - terminal response when you ’re slamming away at the keys . Still , something is missing .
The sound find like Asus best out the midrange . You ’re getting the low - end thonk with just enough click with each keypress to let you cognize this is a mechanically skillful keyboard . But the lower midrange sound you get from something with heavy mechanically skillful switches and careful lubrication is n’t present here , and some of that might be due to the shaping construction .
That ’s my big issue with the feel of the keyboard . Although typing and gaming on the Falchion Ace HFX is solid for a Hall Effect keyboard , the fully plastic construction at $ 200 hustle . It makes the keyboard feel , in the hand , much more cheap than it actually is . And , unlike theRazer Black Widow V4 75 % , there are n’t extra goodies like a comfy articulatio radiocarpea residue or an OLED display to apologise that higher price tag .
In addition , you ’re engage into Asus ’ change over here . They ’re good , resembling a linear mechanically skillful electrical switch with 40gf for the initial propulsion , but you ca n’t swap out the switch . We ’ve seen newer keyboard like theGlorious GMMK 3that , although expensive , take into account you to swap between mechanical and Hall Effect switches in the same keyboard .
Features
The independent hook of the Falcion Ace HFX is in good order there in the name . Hall Effect flip-flop not only give you control over the propulsion distance of each key — from 0.1 mm to 4 mm — but also unlocks the rapid trigger feature . This fundamentally gives the replacement a dynamical actuation and reset point . Instead of iron and release a winder to the set points , the keys will spark and readjust base on what direction they ’re moving . you could keep this locked to only sure winder , too — by default , rapid trigger is only enabled on the WASD keys .
This is n’t a unexampled feature of speech for Hall Effect keyboards ; in fact , it ’s the main tie of them . Asus ’ contribution is a dedicated electrical switch on the back of the keyboard to bend the rapid induction feature on and off . I love that inclusion . Not only can you configure your keyboard without open any software but you’re able to also quickly toggle between the feature of speech being on or off without think of some hotkey . My only bitch is that the toggle is clean loose — you could well bump it and reverse off rapid trigger if you back with your keyboard at an slant .
In addition to rapid trigger , you also get a speed rap mode . This has been vulgarize by Razer and Wooting , and it ’s been denote to by some esports pros as shaft . In competitive FPS games , the idea is that you could strafe quicker between the A and D keys due to the fact that the keyboard prioritize the most late stimulation . You do n’t demand to full lift your finger off one key to register the next input . commonly , if you press the D key while the A key is still held , your character wo n’t move . With speeding exploit , you could strafe much quicker .
This lineament has already been banned inCounter - Strike 2,both on prescribed Valve servers and in ESL event . Other games have n’t banned upper tapping , though they could in the future . Regardless , Asus is play off the rivalry here for feature , and coming out slimly out front due to the dedicated rapid on/off switch shift .
On the competitive plication , the Falchion Ace HFX also includes two USB - nose candy inputs — one on either side of the keyboard . That ’s great for positioning the keyboard , though I ’m not indisputable how much the inclusion of an extra USB - deoxycytidine monophosphate port bloats the Leontyne Price , and I doubt how practical it is for a sight of gamers .
Software
For grapple the Falcion Ace HFX , you ’ll need to download Asus Armoury Crate . Among the many keyboard utility available , Armoury Crate is near the bottom of the list for me . It ’s just too dense . It ’s of import to call back that Asus get to desktops , laptop computer , motherboards , art cards , reminder , peripherals , and dozens of other product , and every single ROG - brand equipment is manage through Armoury Crate . If the Falchion Ace HFX is the only Asus equipment you own , there ’s a ton of bloat in Armoury Crate that just does n’t use .
Particularly on the RGB front , I can appreciate Asus ’ effort to unify different gadget with features like Aura Sync , but there ’s still a peck of bloat outside of these multi - gadget features . Asus packs in a tablet for secret plan deals , for deterrent example . You get some belittled discounts by registering your gimmick , but the quite a little are powered by GamesPlanet — a separate website that already has solid game deals . I ’d much rather find deals in my web web browser than bog down my keyboard utility .
Add on top of that news , user - created wallpaper , and yet another biz library where you’re able to spell the games installed on your microcomputer , and Armoury Crate has a lot of extras that extend far beyond managing a keyboard . More is n’t always better , and most PC gamers already have half a dozen utilities installed on their PC that do the accurate same matter . And just like those utilities , I suspect Armoury Crate will survive in the organisation tray , never to be touched , after you configure your keyboard .
As for oversee your keyboard , you have some option in Armoury Crate . you may record and set apart macro instruction , adjust the speed tap and rapid trigger feature , and swap basic lighting core . Unfortunately , you ca n’t go any deeper than Asus ’ canonical ignition effects through Armoury Crate . You need to download the freestanding Aura Creator app if you want to produce custom kindling effects on a per - key base .
The silver liner here is that you could mostly ignore Armoury Crate . you could become decisive functions like speed tap and speedy trigger on or off with the keyboard itself , and you could actuate macro recording on - the - fly . The textured strip at the back of the keyboard also supports usance bid , and you have place for six onboard profiles . Between these pick , you should n’t have to open Armoury Crate much .
Should you buy the Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX?
The Falchion Ace HFX is a honest Hall Effect keyboard in a vacuum , but it ’s just too expensive to recommend . That in the main come up down to its pumped connection and all - charge card twist . There are plenty of full metal Hall Effect keyboard that come in around the same price , include the Keychron Q1 HE and theMeletrix Boog75 . The Wooting 60HE+ is even less at $ 175 , and you’re able to tailor-make that keyboard in just about every way conceivable .
Although I like the Falchion Ace HFX , it ’d need to drop in cost to earn a recommendation . equate Wooting at $ 175 would be just , but a drop to $ 150 would make the Falchion Ace HFX very attractive . For now , you ’re spend up for Asus ’ first Hall Effect keyboard , and without the build quality that more ecological niche brands offer around the same price .
