ASUS' "Republic of Gamers" brand has long offered computer parts for tech enthusiasts to drool over, but with its latest products, ROG has gone even deeper: two new ROG keyboards, the ROG Claymore II and ROG Falchion, will give you high-end specs you're looking for, plus a few extra tricks that will shake up your desk.

Keyboards have never been a big part of ROG's product lineup. However, the ROG Claymore II and ROG Falchion show that ROG is not playing catch-up. While these keyboards feature the expected technologies such as RGB lighting and N-key rollover, ROG is also showcasing several new technologies.

The ROG Claymore II is the new star of the show. At its heart is the new custom-made ROG RX switch. Designed from the ground up to deliver a high-performance, stable experience, the ROG RX switches have an actuation depth of 1.5mm (compared to the 2mm actuation depth of the Cherry MX Red) for more responsive control. The switch also features a square stem and a scissor-like X-stabilizer that prevents key wobble, ensuring smooth, linear operation no matter which key is pressed. Finally, because the switches are actually optical rather than relying on traditional mechanical contacts, there is zero debounce and key presses register much faster.

The in-house switch design not only improves performance. It also improves aesthetics. By making the stem square, an opening for the LED backlight is created in the middle of the switch. This allows the entire double-shot PBT keycap to be more illuminated, no more half-illuminated legends.

This better illumination is also useful because it allows the brightness to be reduced while keeping the key legend illuminated. Of course, the ROG Claymore II is not as good as the ROG Claymore II, because it offers 1 ms fast wireless gaming, and the ROG Claymore II offers 1 ms fast wireless gaming. But don't worry, the ROG Claymore II will last up to a week with the light on maximum, and in a pinch, it supports fast charging and wired operation.

The ROG Claymore II has one last trick up its sleeve. It is a full-size keyboard, but it doesn't have to be. The number pad is removable and can be made into a more compact 80% layout if space is limited. The numeric keypad can be mounted on the left side of the keyboard, keeping the custom macro keys within easy reach of the WASD. This allows you to use a full-size keyboard with a number pad to get the job done, a TKL keyboard to give you more room for your mouse in FPS games, or a dedicated macro pad on the left side of the keyboard to do all your skills in MMOs and MOBAs.

However, not all desks are perfectly compatible with large keyboards. Named after a medieval sword, the ROG Falchion is a more compact tool than the Claymore; the ROG Falchion is the keyboard for minimalists. Its compact design means it won't get in the way at your desk, nor will it be cramped in your backpack when you're on the go (the included keyboard cover makes it even easier). This 65% keyboard uses the traditional Cherry MX mechanical switches that many gamers are familiar with and sticks to the keys needed for gaming, but it also has a custom touch panel on the left side of the keyboard for volume control and macro keys.

Like the Claymore II, the ROG Falchion also operates wirelessly. Also, don't worry too much about the battery. If you leave the lights off, the ROG Falchion can run for 450 hours.

Between the ROG Claymore II and the ROG Falchion, ASUS' keyboard product line has undergone a major upgrade.

Where to buy the ROG Claymore II:

Where to buy the ROG Falchion: