Asus ROG Falcata: Ergonomics Meet Gaming, But Does It Justify the Price?

The Asus ROG Falcata attempts to bridge the gap between high-performance gaming keyboards and ergonomic designs. It's a split keyboard aiming for comfort during those marathon gaming sessions, but does it succeed, and more importantly, is it worth the premium price tag?

Design and Build: A Divisive Aesthetic

The Falcata's split design is immediately noticeable, a clear departure from standard gaming keyboard layouts. This is obviously to promote a more natural wrist position. The build quality is solid, as expected from Asus's ROG line, but the aesthetic might not appeal to everyone. It definitely screams 'gamer' with its sharp angles and customizable RGB lighting – if you are into that. But I think it might deter users from using it in professional settings.

However, the split isn't adjustable, which is a potential deal-breaker for some. Everyone has a different shoulder width and arm length so what works for one person might not for the next. The lack of adjustability is a strange oversight.

Performance and Features: Gaming-Focused, Ergonomic-Compromised?

Under the hood, the Falcata boasts the speed and responsiveness you'd expect from a ROG keyboard. The switches are fast and tactile, providing a satisfying gaming experience. Asus is marketing the fact that the keyboard has a 1000Hz polling rate and 1ms response time. It performed admirably in benchmark tests. However, the ergonomic benefits feel somewhat compromised by the gaming-centric design. The split is there, but the key placement and overall layout still prioritize speed over ultimate comfort.

WIRED notes its unique and expensive hybrid status, rightfully pointing out that it serves a pretty niche audience. It also comes with the ASUS Armoury Crate software that is infamous for consuming a lot of memory and resources. I think you will have to have a pretty beefy computer to run that software.

Value Proposition: A Luxury for Specific Needs

The Asus ROG Falcata isn't cheap. It's a premium keyboard aimed at gamers who prioritize ergonomics without sacrificing performance. If you fall into that category and are willing to spend the money, it could be a good fit. But for most gamers, a traditional gaming keyboard or a dedicated ergonomic keyboard might offer a better value proposition. I'm always skeptical when products try to be everything to everyone.

Ultimately, the Falcata is a bold experiment from Asus. While it doesn't fully deliver on the promise of merging gaming performance with ergonomic comfort, it does offer a unique option for a specific niche. But for that niche, there might be better and more affordable options on the market.