Top-tier Asus ROG Azoth 96 HE keyboard is now in Czechia! It has an OLED display and Hall Effect switches, the price will blow you away

Keyboards with Hall Effect switches are no longer just the domain of hardcore esports players. They are becoming mainstream, but with that comes the need to differentiate. In the case of the ROG Azoth 96 HE for 9,199 CZK, Asus decided to build a new generation of ROG HFX V2 switches, an OLED display, and an 8 kHz polling rate even wirelessly.

Quick summary:
✅ Makes sense if you play competitive FPS, appreciate precise actuation point adjustment per individual key, and want a wireless keyboard with an 8 kHz polling rate. Czech layout is rare in the HE keyboard segment.
⚠️ Consider that for better money you can get a Keychron Q5 HE with an all-metal body. There are no spare switches in the package, and Asus does not sell them separately.
💡 For 9,199 CZK you get a 96% layout with Czech localization, hot-swap PCB, gasket-mount construction, PBT doubleshot keycaps, an OLED display with a rotary knob, tri-mode connectivity (USB-C / 2.4 GHz / Bluetooth), and battery life around 36–40 hours under full load.

What is Hall Effect and why you want it

Traditional mechanical switches have a fixed actuation point — typically around 2 mm. Hall Effect switches operate via a magnetic field, allowing them to register the force of a press in real-time. With ROG HFX V2, this means you can set the actuation point anywhere from 0.1 to 3.5 mm in 0.01 mm increments — for each key individually. You’ll want WASD to be as sensitive as possible, but not the spacebar.

In addition, there’s rapid trigger, which resets the key as soon as you start releasing it — an advantage in rhythm games and competitive shooters. Speed Tap (known as SOCD) resolves conflicts of opposing directional keys and speeds up strafing. Be careful, however, as this function is prohibited in Counter-Strike 2 and can lead to a ban, so make sure you know where to use it.

Price, competition, and who it makes sense for

Nine thousand for a keyboard is a lot of money, and Asus is well aware of that. Competitors like the Keychron Q5 HE offer an all-metal body for a significantly lower price, but lack advanced 0.01 mm adjustment and an 8 kHz wireless polling rate. The ROG Azoth 96 HE, on the other hand, only has an aluminum top and a plastic bottom part — sturdy, but an all-metal mechanism would be expected at this price point.

Where the Azoth wins is the combination of features you won’t find anywhere else. The OLED display with a rotary knob allows you to change the actuation point, volume, or RGB profiles directly on the keyboard, the gasket-mount construction with multi-layer dampening provides a pleasant sound even for typing, and pre-lubed stabilizers eliminate that annoying spacebar rattle.

Would you pay nine thousand for a gaming keyboard, or is that already beyond the limit you won’t cross?