Best Overall
ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96
Key details
- Layout
- 96% with numpad
- Keycaps
- Double-shot PBT
- Switches
- Hot-swap ROG NX Snow
- Connection
- 2.4GHz, Bluetooth, USB
The 96% layout is the first thing we noticed, and it is why this is our top pick. It keeps the number pad and the function row while staying only about a centimeter wider than an 80% board, so you get the keys you use for work without giving up mouse room. That is a more useful compromise than a pure TKL for a desk that has to do both jobs.
The typing feel is premium without being fussy. The pre-lubed ROG NX Snow linear switches are smooth and quiet, and the PBT keycaps have a dry, grippy texture that feels more substantial than ABS. We also like the hot-swap socket: if the stock linear feel ever stops suiting you, the board can change with the switches. The multi-function wheel and the F1-F5 hotkeys are small conveniences that make sense on a board this size.
Battery life is the quiet win. Expect weeks between charges rather than days, especially if you keep the RGB modest, so the cable can stay in the drawer. The 2.4GHz SpeedNova link is the mode to use for games, with Bluetooth there for a laptop or tablet. For a board that has to do both work and play, that freedom from the cable is the advantage that matters.
Pros
- Full-size keys in a near-TKL footprint
- Tri-mode wireless with 2.4GHz SpeedNova
- Hot-swap pre-lubed NX Snow switches
- Weeks of battery between charges
Cons
- Compressed navigation keys take adjusting
For a do-it-all wireless board that keeps the number pad without the sprawl, this is the one we recommend first.