Buying Guide
The Best Clicky-Switch Gaming Keyboards
From the K580 to the ROG Azoth: three keyboards ranked on layout and switches, with who should skip each one.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
Clicky switches give an audible click and a tactile bump. Every pick uses clicky switches, from the premium end down.
We sorted these picks by layout, switches and connection, working from the makers' own data; nothing here was tested in-house, and if a maker skips keycaps, the guide says so.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Premium Pick
ASUS ROG Azoth Wireless
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a silicone gasket mount with three layers of foam.
Best for: Buyers who want the most complete package.
Our take Check price for ASUS ROG Azoth Wireless (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
ASUS ROG Strix Scope II X
Hot-swappable pre-lubed switches.
Best for: Buyers who want hot-swappable pre-lubed switches.
Our take Check price for ASUS ROG Strix Scope II X (opens in a new tab)
Lowest Price Here
Redragon K580 VATA
A lower price than the Scope II X and the rest when we checked.
Best for: Getting 5 dedicated macro keys for the least money.
Our take Check price for Redragon K580 VATA (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a silicone gasket mount with three layers of foam. | Buyers who want the most complete package. | Check price for ASUS ROG Azoth Wireless (opens in a new tab) |
| Hot-swappable pre-lubed switches. | Buyers who want hot-swappable pre-lubed switches. | Check price for ASUS ROG Strix Scope II X (opens in a new tab) |
| A lower price than the Scope II X and the rest when we checked. | Getting 5 dedicated macro keys for the least money. | Check price for Redragon K580 VATA (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Premium Pick1 of 3
ASUS ROG Azoth Wireless on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
The ROG Azoth is ASUS's enthusiast 75% board: gasket-mounted with three layers of foam, hot-swappable, and wireless over 2.4GHz or Bluetooth.
Best for
- Buyers who want the most complete package.
Skip if
- Skip it if price comes first: the K580 cost less when we checked.
Why we like it
A small OLED display shows settings and battery. A 75% layout is unique to it among these picks, while the K580 uses a full-size (104 keys) layout. It also offers a hot-swap PCB with a switch and keycap kit.
Use the ROG Azoth's dongle or cable for games; Bluetooth suits a laptop or tablet. Another plus is ROG NX Snow linear or NX Storm clicky switches. Worth noting too: up to 2000 hours per charge.
Worth noting too: PBT keycaps resist shine. Only the Scope II X came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 3 picks.
Key dimensions & specs
- Layout: 75%
- Switches: ROG NX Snow linear or NX Storm clicky
- Connection: 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, wired
- Battery life: 2000 hours
- Keycaps: Double-shot PBT
Pros
- Compact 75% layout
- ROG NX Snow linear or NX Storm clicky switches
- Dongle, Bluetooth and wired modes
- Up to 2000 hours per charge
Cons
- Costs more than the K580 at the time of writing
Also Consider2 of 3
ASUS ROG Strix Scope II X on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
ASUS's Scope II X is a wired 100% board with hot-swappable, pre-lubed NX V2 switches and double-shot PBT keycaps.
Best for
- Buyers who want hot-swappable pre-lubed switches.
Skip if
- Look at the others if this bothers you: full-size board takes more desk width.
Why we like it
An aluminium top plate and a multi-function wheel round it out. It is a 100% layout with a number pad, an aluminum top plate and PBT double-shot keycaps over wired USB-C. The pre-lubed ROG NX V2 switches are hot-swappable and add an LED lens for brighter RGB.
No other pick in this guide offers a full-size (100%) layout; compare the ROG Azoth, which has a 75% layout. The Scope II X needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub. On price it sat second of 3, between the cheaper K580 and the pricier ROG Azoth, at the time of writing.
Key dimensions & specs
- Layout: Full-size (100%)
- Switches: ROG NX Snow V2 linear or NX Storm V2 clicky
- Connection: Wired
- Keycaps: Double-shot PBT
Pros
- ROG NX Snow V2 linear or NX Storm V2 clicky switches
- PBT keycaps resist shine
- Hot-swappable pre-lubed switches
- Aluminium top plate
Cons
- Full-size board takes more desk width
- Wired only
- Costs more than the K580 at the time of writing
Lowest Price Here3 of 3
Redragon K580 VATA on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Redragon's K580 VATA adds five dedicated macro keys and a media wheel to a full-size board.
Best for
- Getting 5 dedicated macro keys for the least money.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: full-size board takes more desk width.
Why we like it
Macros can be recorded without software. Its 104 keys are fully anti-ghosting, and double-shot keycaps are rated for 50 million keystrokes. Software is optional for advanced lighting and macros.
Five dedicated G1-G5 macro keys record combos on the fly without software, and there are dedicated media controls. You get a full-size (104 keys) layout here, which sets it apart from the Scope II X and its a full-size (100%) layout. The K580 needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub. No other pick here cost less at our last price check, and the Scope II X was closest.
Key dimensions & specs
- Layout: Full-size (104 keys)
- Switches: Blue clicky
- Connection: Wired
Pros
- Blue clicky switches
- 5 dedicated macro keys
- Media wheel
- On-the-fly macro recording without software
Cons
- Full-size board takes more desk width
- Wired only
How We Chose These Clicky-Switch Gaming Keyboards
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- How these picks were ranked
- We compared three keyboards on layout, switches, connection and keycaps as the makers state them. We did not test them in-house.
- The shared baseline
- All 3, from the ROG Azoth to the K580, state layout, switches and connection.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The K580 gives no keycaps.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the K580 ($50 to $100) to the ROG Azoth ($150 to $250).
What to Look for in a Clicky-Switch Gaming Keyboard
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Setup checks
Use the ROG Azoth's dongle or cable for games; Bluetooth suits a laptop or tablet. The Scope II X needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub.
Features beyond the spec table
The ROG Azoth: a small OLED display. The Scope II X: an aluminium top plate. The K580: a media wheel.
How much to spend
$50 to $100 buys the K580; $100 to $150 buys the Scope II X; $150 to $250 buys the ROG Azoth at our last check.
Match the pick to your priority
Buyers who want the most complete package: the ROG Azoth. Getting 5 dedicated macro keys for the least money: the K580.
Choose the layout before the switch
Full-size boards keep the number pad; tenkeyless drops it and gives the mouse more room. 75% and 65% boards keep arrows in a tighter frame, while 60% boards move arrows and F-keys to a function layer.
How to Choose a Clicky-Switch Gaming Keyboard
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Buyers who want the most complete package | ROG Azoth | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a silicone gasket mount with three layers of foam |
| Buyers who want hot-swappable pre-lubed switches | Scope II X | Hot-swappable pre-lubed switches |
| Getting 5 dedicated macro keys for the least money | K580 | A lower price than the Scope II X and the rest when we checked |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The ROG Azoth, the Scope II X and the rest, as their makers list them.
| Keyboard | Layout | Switches | Connection | Keycaps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ROG Azoth | 75% | ROG NX Snow linear or NX Storm clicky | 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, wired | Double-shot PBT |
| Scope II X | Full-size (100%) | ROG NX Snow V2 linear or NX Storm V2 clicky | Wired | Double-shot PBT |
| K580 | Full-size (104 keys) | Blue clicky | Wired | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The K580 was the lowest-priced pick and the ROG Azoth the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Keyboards |
|---|---|
| About $50 to $100 | K580 |
| About $100 to $150 | Scope II X |
| About $150 to $250 | ROG Azoth |
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes the ROG Azoth the Premium Pick?
It earns the label for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a silicone gasket mount with three layers of foam. It suits anyone who wants the most complete package.
Do the ROG Azoth and the Scope II X differ on layout?
The ROG Azoth uses 75%; the Scope II X uses full-size (100%); the K580 uses full-size (104 keys).
What should I check before buying the Scope II X?
The Scope II X needs a free USB port, so check cable length to your case or monitor hub. In this guide it ranks second of 3.
Beyond the specs, what sets the ROG Azoth and the Scope II X apart?
The ROG Azoth: a silicone gasket mount with three layers of foam. The Scope II X: hot-swappable pre-lubed switches. The K580: 5 dedicated macro keys.
Do Hall effect switches help in games?
Adjustable actuation and rapid trigger help most in fast strafing games. In slower games the difference is small.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the ROG Azoth, chosen for the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with a silicone gasket mount with three layers of foam. Look at the Scope II X for hot-swappable pre-lubed switches and the K580 for a lower price than the Scope II X and the rest when we checked if those matter more to you.
Keep a quieter board for calls if you stream.