A recent ROG live streaming event that focused on the new ROG Phone 3 also had some products of interest to PC enthusiasts, the most exciting of which is the ROG Falchion, Asus’ first ever mechanical keyboard with a 65% design.
Named for how small it is relative to a full-size keyboard, the 65% layout is even more compact than Keyless (TKL), and this is accomplished by removing the top row of F keys and placing the arrow keys and navigation in within the primary key set, like so:
Beyond its design, the main feature of the ROG Falchion 68-key is its interactive touchpad located on the left side. Details are still sparse, but we know it can be used to adjust volume, play and pause music, and zoom in or out on the main screen. It can also function as a macro key.
The keyboard is wireless via a 2.4GHz connection and offers a response time of 1ms. You also get RGB lighting on every key, programmable by key and compatible with Aura Sync, the first for a ROG wireless keyboard.
Asus reckons you can get up to 400 hours of ROG Falchion battery life, but that’s of course without the RGB lighting on, so if and how you use it will affect the actual battery life. The touchpad on the side also works as a battery indicator with its own RGB LEDs.
It is not known exactly which switch (es) the ROG Falchion will use, but we know that they will be Cherry MX RGB with tactile feedback. Browns or blues, therefore, appear to be possible candidates.
With a nod to its portability, Asus will also include a sleeve to protect the keyboard from dust and dirt every time you put it in a backpack. We also understand that it can be fitted to the bottom as long as it is not protecting the front.
That’s all we know about the ROG Falchion for now, as prices and availability have not been confirmed.
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