Earlier this month, ASUS contacted us to see if we were interested in covering their Electro Punk series of peripherals; which is heavily inspired from Cyberpunk and retrowave 80s “A E S T H E T I C S.” The black and pink design should also make K-pop fans excited or something too… (They scare me)
The ASUS ROG STRIX Scope Electro Punk will definitely turn off some, and for those they can check out the standard version, which comes in a gunmetal grey. But with many people excited for Cyberpunk 2077, there is certainly a market for this product. There are several other products including a mouse, keyboard, backpack, mousepad and laptop which ASUS will be sending over at a later date.
ASUS ROG STRIX Scope Electro Punk Keyboard
Developer: ASUS
Release Date:
Price: $109.99
This like the Razer Huntsman we reviewed a while back, and is another TKL keyboard which lacks the 10 keys. It is designed for being more compact for gamers who either need giant mouse pads, want a more portable solution, or lack space on their cramped desk.
It features an enlarged left control key, which makes it harder to accidentally hit the windows key in-game. In terms of actually using this keyboard though, I very much did like the longer left control key. It took a bit of getting used to, but it does make it easier to hit the key when needed.
The ASUS ROG STRIX Scope TKL also features a “stealth key,” which minimizes all apps and mutes audio for privacy. Which can have uses for gaming, but I think people will be using it for other- perhaps more lewd- purposes…
The keyboard itself uses ABS plastic and Cherry MX switches. The model I received uses Cherry MX red switches, though I have heard some users buying one with MX Blues. It also features a nice aluminum top plate with a slashed texture that is a bit more gritty than brushed aluminum.
At first I thought the bright pink RGB would get annoying, but over time the breathing effect displayed is not very intrusive. Though this is an RGB keyboard, and you can change the colors and breathing effect in ASUS’s Armory Crate, but honestly why would you?
Speaking of Armory Crate, its the software used by most ASUS peripherals. This links up to AURA Sync, which can also make use of the RGB in your RAM, GPU, Motherboard as well as keyboards, mice, and mousepads.
I generally avoid software like this unless I really want to customize the RGB in my system, but ASUS generally has had one of the better implementations overall. If you want to avoid using the software, you can use some controls on the keyboard by holding down the FN key and pressing 1-6 on the number row- or pressing FN and up or down- to cycle through the brightness settings.
The fact that the F keys need the Function Key to be used, and the media keys are on by default, took a bit of time to get used to. Eventually however, you get used to it. If you’ve used a Cherry MX red switch before, this is definitely a familiar typing feeling. If you hate linear switches, there is a blue variant that should be available in some markets.
The keyboard has a recessed USB-C port to connect the keyboard, and uses detachable braided USB-C cable, which is detachable for both portability and in the case of the cable ever breaking so you can easily replace it. ASUS said the ASUS ROG Strix Scope TKL is designed to fit inside a common backpack.
If you do plan on traveling with this keyboard though, I’d make sure to keep the keyboard in some sort of bag (maybe even the one it comes in), as the key caps sit a bit higher than normal and have a tendency to come off. I assume this is done for slightly better lighting, but it is something you should keep in mind.
Overall I did have a very good gaming experience with the ASUS ROG STRIX Scope TKL Electro Punk, but my productivity did go down. This was due to losing the number pad, especially when working on graphs in Excel, but most people who look at these or even smaller keyboards tend to mostly game.
The fit and finish on the keyboard is pretty high tier, and although there are cheaper keyboards that have similar features, this one sits at a respectable price with a nice bit of polish. It’s also probably the only pink keyboard you could ever own as a man and not get weird looks; might get you a gamer girlfriend too.
The stealth button is also something you lewd readers might appreciate. With all that said, this is probably one of the best TKL keyboards I’ve ever reviewed- so high marks all around.
The ASUS ROG STRIX Scope TKL Electro Punk is available now via Amazon and Newegg. Editor’s Note: This Amazon link is an affiliate link. Purchasing the product through that link will support Niche Gamer.
The ASUS ROG STRIX Scope TKL Electro Punk was reviewed using a retail unit provided by ASUS. You can find additional information about Niche Gamer’s review/ethics policy here.