ASUS ROG Falchion RX Low Profile Review

The ASUS ROG Falchion RX Low Profile is one of the most premium 65% mechanical keyboards on the market, offering a near-silent typing experience and a unique minimalist aesthetic. It does so in a compact form factor that maximises portability for those that need to take their keyboard on the go, while providing a huge amount of functionality and features to utilise.

The ROG Falchion RX Low Profile is one of many ‘Falchion’ variants that uses ASUS’ signature RX optical switches, but massively improves upon the design of its predecessors. This keyboard comes with a customisable digital display, tri-mode connectivity options, and vibrant RGB lighting that enhances the aesthetic of any setup.

But is the ASUS ROG Falchion RX Low Profile a worthwhile option versus other 65% mechanical keyboards on the market? After methodical testing and analysis we’re answering this question in this review, to see if the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile is a worthy contender within this highly competitive market. We’ve assessed the specs, design, keycaps and switches, along with the features, to see whether this keyboard is worth its hefty price point.

Specifications

The ASUS ROG Falchion RX Low Profile is a 65% keyboard with 69 keys. Those familiar with the ‘Falchion’ range will immediately recognise the compact and minimalist design, which has received some upgrades and changes in terms of the look and chassis material.

The ROG Falchion RX Low Profile uses ASUS’ signature optical switches which are creamy and smooth, but are a low profile design, which shortens the stem while still maintaining the familiar ROG feel. These in-house mechanical switches have an actuation force of 40g, alongside an actuation point of 1mm.

The ROG RX Red Low Profile switches are guaranteed for an impressive 80 million keystrokes, while offering full key rollover and 100% anti-ghosting. In layman’s terms, each key that is pressed down on the keyboard will activate without stopping or cutting out. While anti-ghosting guarantees that multiple key presses at once will provide a response, exactly in the order that each key was pressed.

The UV-Coated ABS keycaps are unique to this keyboard, as the coating provides a resistance to shine over prolonged usage. While these keycaps are ABS (which is a cheaper material compared to PBT plastic), this coating does lengthen their lifespan, while also maintaining a clean and crisp look.

On the connectivity front, the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile offers three choices: wired, 2.4GHz, and Bluetooth. Prospective buyers will be able to leverage up to 430 hours of battery life within the 2.4GHz mode with RGB switched off.

All of the keys of the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile are fully programmable, allowing you to rebind and customise each key press. All of the keys have their own dedicated RGB backlighting which can be configured within the ASUS Armoury Crate software.

Suggested Article: Corsair K65 Plus Wireless Review

ASUS ROG Falchion RX Low Profile Design

The ROG Falchion RX Low Profile is, in my view, one of the best looking keyboards that ASUS offers. The white and silver design is both striking yet modern and sophisticated, standing out against the sea of black-themed peripherals that exist in the current market. This keyboard utilises a metal top plate, further contributing to the stylish aesthetic, while also adding some weight and general improvements to the build quality.

The ROG Falchion RX Low Profile weighs 595g but doesn’t feel particularly heavy, despite the weight of the top plate. The rest of the casing is made almost entirely out of plastic, but has effectively no flex.

The ridged design on the bottom of the keyboard adds some depth to the overall aesthetic of the Falchion RX Low Profile, while providing a bit of grip when the keyboard is laid flat. It would have been great to see a full metal chassis, but I don’t feel the plastic takes away from the sleek design. Furthermore, the use of a cheaper material allows ASUS to make the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile more affordable.

ASUS have opted to use grey keycaps for the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile. I’m a big fan of the contrasting grey, as it provides a lighter theme without adopting a fully white look. White keycaps naturally darken or yellow over time, so it’s nice to see that ASUS have offered a brighter tone while providing moisture resistance.

At the top of the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile is a multi-functional touch panel that also provides lock indicators for the keyboard. While we’ll save an explanation of the functionality for later on, I think this touch bar looks gorgeous. It is highly reminiscent of the Apple Macbook Touch Bar, and adds an extra design quality that heightens the look and practicality of this keyboard. The bar also provides some additional RGB lighting too, which looks excellent.

It is worth noting that the touch bar only has two lock indicators that are visible when activated. These are the ‘Windows Lock’, and ‘Caps Lock’ buttons. It is a shame that ‘Fn Lock’ and ‘ScrLk’ aren’t included within this, as it is somewhat difficult to determine whether they’ve been switched on or not, but this isn’t a deal-breaker for us.

In the box, the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile arrives in a protective bag designed to keep dust away, along with a plastic keyboard cover to minimise any scratches on the chassis. I don’t feel the bag or cover is necessary, but I like that the bottom keyboard cover doubles as a tray mount. The rubber pads located on the corners of the keyboard cover hold the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile in place. This makes it perfect to travel with, especially for those that need some extra stability when typing.

In terms of the layout, this 65% keyboard has 69 fully programmable keys. When compared to a 75% keyboard like the Corsair K65 Plus Wireless, the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile slims down the amount of keys by removing the dedicated function row, while decreasing the unit size of keys like ‘Shift’ and ‘Backspace’. This does hinder functionality to a degree, but the use of a ‘Function’ key (labelled ‘Fn’) allows access to the function row, additional lock buttons, and media controls.

On the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile there are some additional function keys that provide a way to change the RGB preset, Bluetooth profile, and view the battery life. The extra functionality that this offers is great. I was particularly impressed by the battery indicator which is shown when the number keys light up blue. The higher the number, the more battery the keyboard has.

The ROG Falchion RX Low Profile has 3 different levels of height adjustments to choose from. The kickstands on the rear of the keyboard provide two raised angles. I personally prefer the lower kickstand height, but because this is a compact keyboard, the higher kickstand angle doesn’t cause any strain over prolonged periods of typing.

At the rear of the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile is the touch bar function button and slider, and towards the left side is the USB dongle storage hole, USB-C port, and connectivity switches. The switch closest to the USB-C port allows for changing between Mac and Windows support, while the other switch determines the connection method (wired, 2.4GHz, or Bluetooth).

Keycaps and Switches

The ASUS ROG Falchion RX Low Profile comes with either RX Red Linear Low Profile switches, or RX Blue Clicky Low Profile switches. ASUS sent us the RX Red version for testing, which offers a near-silent typing experience, with a smooth keystroke all the way to the bottom of the mechanical switch.

These switches are relatively similar to their RX full sized counterparts, but the major difference between them is that they are low profile, so the switch stem is smaller, resulting in a lower actuation point. The RX Red Low Profile switches have an actuation distance of 1mm, with an actuation force of 40g, and a total force of 55g.

I’ve always felt that ASUS in-house switches are impressive, but the RX Red Low Profile switches take this to another level. Each keystroke is incredibly smooth and refined, with effectively no noise being produced even once they’ve bottomed out. This is down to the fact that each switch has been pre-lubed which eliminates any spring noise once you’ve pressed down.

And because the RX Red Low Profile switches have a walled stem, as opposed to the standard cross shape found with other options, there is effectively minimal keycap wobble, which further minimises keycap noises during typing or gaming.

The keycaps of the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile are ABS plastic that are covered in a special UV coating to minimise keycap shine. ABS keycaps are generally much cheaper than their PBT counterparts because they use a very common type of plastic. Because of this ABS keycaps are quite glossy and will shine over time. However, the keycaps of the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile have a matte feel, and look very premium.

Each of the keycaps allows the vivid RGB to shine through, creating bright and vibrant lighting displays which can be customised through Armoury Crate. I’m very impressed by the keycaps that this keyboard uses. While they are cheaper in terms of manufacturing cost, they don’t feel cheap or less premium to use, which is great to see.

I’m taken aback by how good the RGB looks through the keycaps too. With the lighting brightness dialled up to the maximum, the RGB patterns shining through are pretty mesmerising.

Features We Like

Multi-Functional Touch Bar

The most standout feature of the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile, is the touch bar located towards the top of the keyboard. This bar provides some additional RGB lighting, but also adds plenty of extra functionality. The button on the rear of the keyboard provides a way to control different settings of your PC, such as the volume, media playback, keyboard brightness, and the addition of a customisable macro.

Located next to the button is a slider that provides control of the individual modes I’ve mentioned above. For example, when selecting the media playback mode, swiping to the right skips the current track, swiping to the left plays the previous track, and double tapping will either play or pause.

This is an incredibly unique feature that I’m really fond of. The vast majority of 65% keyboards require you to press a number of different key combinations to control settings or use the media functionality. But the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile does this in a way that is both stylish and useful.

Tri-Mode Connectivity

The ASUS ROG Falchion RX Low Profile can be connected up to a PC in three different ways, these are: wired, 2.4GHz, and Bluetooth. It’s excellent that there are a number of different ways to get this keyboard connected up, which opens up more options for those taking the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile on the go.

The 2.4GHz mode utilises the ASUS SPEEDNOVA wireless technology which provides near-zero latency gameplay, offering highly responsive feedback during moments of intensity.

This keyboard also features the ASUS ROG Omni receiver which provides a way to connect a mouse and a keyboard up to your system with just one USB 2.4GHz dongle.

Near-Silent Operation

The ROG Falchion RX Low Profile is one of the quietest keyboards that we’ve tested. This keyboard has two layers of silicone dampening foam which absorbs any pinging noises, while filling out the chassis to minimise reverberation. This works in tandem with the low profile switch design to keep noise levels to a minimum, providing a pleasant typing experience.

Highly Customisable

Through the ASUS Armoury Crate software, the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile can be fully customised. Each key is fully programmable both in terms of the keybindings, and the RGB lighting. Macros can also be added to the touch panel to provide some extra functionality. The ROG Falchion RX Low Profile comes with fully configurable RGB lighting, where each of the keys can be assigned varying colours and patterns. Alternatively, ASUS includes preset lighting effects that can be used instead of the individual customisation options.

Features We Don’t Like

Switches Aren’t Hotswappable

We’ve seen a huge rise in premium keyboards offering hotswappable switches, providing the ability to swap out the mechanical switches for alternative options that you prefer. Unfortunately, because the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile uses optical switches (which don’t utilise the same pin layout as standard mechanical switches), the board isn’t hotswappable.

There are some PCB designs that allow for hot swapping of other optical switches, but ASUS have not specified whether this is a viable feature. Regardless, for those that like to tinker and swap out their mechanical switches for other designs, it may be worth considering other premium low profile keyboards.

Conclusion

ASUS ROG Falchion RX Low Profile

Product Name: ROG Falchion RX Low Profile

Brand: ASUS

• Features
• Design
• Versatility
• Value For Money

4.8

Summary

The ASUS ROG Falchion RX Low Profile is one of the best mechanical keyboards that I’ve had the luxury of testing. This 65% option offers a refined and smooth set of switches and keycaps that other manufacturers will struggle to rival. ASUS pushes things a step further by incorporating a unique touch bar that provides additional functionality while also contributing to the overall sleek and sophisticated aesthetic of the ROG Falchion RX Low Profile. This keyboard has a huge amount of functionality on offer through Armoury Crate, and via the vast number of key combinations that can be used to change various settings on the fly, with minimal hassle involved.

I feel the only major caveat of this keyboard is that it won’t be for everyone. The smaller form factor while highly portable, does take some getting used to, especially if you’re more familiar with a function row and numpad. Those who aren’t used to smaller sized keyboards should consider a 75% option instead, as this provides most of the important keys and acts as a solid middle ground by coming in at a less extreme size versus 65% designs.

Pros

✅ Smooth and silent switches

✅ Unique touch bar

✅ Sleek aesthetic

Cons

❌ Switches aren’t hotswappable

❌ Form factor won’t be for everyone

❌ No wrist rest