Split keyboards are a very niche market, but even more niche is a split keyboard made from the smaller and more compact custom keyboard form factor. To ASUS, it wasn’t ridiculous; it was a challenge that it accepted and made manifest in the form of the ROG Falcata.
What Am I Looking At?
The Falcata is a 75% keyboard, which itself is already a form factor that feels foreign to me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m used to TKL keyboard designs, but shrinking it further has me wondering how anyone could type on it. But more on that later.
Specs-wise, the Falcata boasts ASUS’ ROG HFX V2 Magnetic key switches and Hall sensor, which in my hands, feels very, very linear and silent. Adding on to the sensitivity is the Rapid Trigger toggle at the top of it that, when flipped, makes the WASD keys so sensitive, you’d think they’re kids from the Emo phase or emotional Gen Z kids. Or whichever description best describes the sensitivity. As for the split, it is down the middle; it isn’t exactly a symmetrical split. In all honesty, the design of it looks and feels more like a jigsaw puzzle, with it feeling a little awkward for my hands – my left thumb is usually able to hit the “B” key, but in this orientation, it takes a considerably more effort doing that.
Because of its split nature, both halves of the Falcata are connected via a USB-C Link cable, which does limit how far you can keep them apart from each other. In this case, no lying on the bed and typing with one half on each side. On the flip side, if you’re a hardcore FPS gamer, you can simply detach the right half of the keyboard and keep it aside, freeing up more space for your right hand to swing that mouse. That is, if you’re the kind of gamer that really like to set your sensitivity really low.
Flying through the rest of the specs, you have the ROG switch button at the top left that allows you to switch between quick access functions such as the volume, play/pause, RGB brightness, and all the other stuff. Right at the bottom is the scrolling wheel that complements it, allowing you to adjust them. Oh, and there’s a cubby hole for the USB-A dongle on the right of the keyboard, clearly for when you’re on the move, and you have a choice between three connectivity options: USB-C, 2.4GHz, or Bluetooth.
What’s Good About It?
Once you’ve gotten used to the feeling, typing on the Falcata becomes almost effortless. I say almost, because there are some caveats that I will address in the next section.
The key switches on this keyboard are, in a word, sublime. They’re fast and responsive, and thanks to the two silicon layers and Poron pad underneath, my fingers just glide through each keystroke. Heck, I didn’t even need to switch on the Rapid Trigger function. Still on the subject of typing, because of the Falcata’s overall weight and density, this two-piece accessory does not flinch, bow, or feel hollow. Just to be clear, the Rapid Trigger function is typically isolated to the WASD keys but if you install ASUS’ Gear Link software, it is possible to customise it to be applied on the other keys.
Its battery life is another selling point, lasting for more than a week on a full charge, which is impressive, given the consistency in which I am either typing or gaming with it.
What’s The Catch?
In order to connect the two halves of the Falcata, you need to use the provided proprietary USB-C to USB-C cable that comes bundled with it. Using a third party cable doesn’t work, believe me, I tried.
One clear irony with the Falcata is, despite the goal of its design, it’s not really all that ergonomical, and assembling the wrist pads and legs is not exactly effortless, as some manual screwing is required. On that note, the orientation of the feet underneath will determine if the Falcata sits steady on your desk or if you’re going to be playing a balancing act, ensuring that it sits flush on the desk.
For another matter, the scroll wheel or media wheel isn’t easy to use, with it being it stiff and moderately difficult to roll about. Seriously, you really need to apply a moderate amount of pressure on the wheel in order to interact with it.
Another sticking point is the price of the Falcata. Brand new, the keyboard costs RM1,548, which is way more than most keyboards costs, but on par with the likes of those custom keyboard brands. Also, it has some heft to it.
Should I Buy It?
The Falcata offers both a great typing and gaming experience, the latter more with FPS titles than anything else. Again, there is a steep learning curve towards getting used to a split design, and more importantly, the 75% form factor.
The RM1,548 price tag also doesn’t help it further its case, nor is its weight. To be fair, though, this keyboard is essentially ASUS’ love letter to the custom keyboard community. It’s far from unusable, but personally, I’ll stick to the standard TKL design if I ever choose to forgo the full-sized keyboard form factor.
Photography by John Law.
@lowyatnet Ever gotten so tilted, you just want to break your keyboard in half? Well, save your energy, cause ASUS has beaten you to the punch with its ROG Falcata. ASUSROG ROGFalcata GamingKeyboard PCGaming GamerLife ROGMalaysia ASUSMalaysia GamingSetup KeyboardEnthusiast SplitKeyboard
