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Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX: one-minute review
Asus has introduced another fantastic keyboard with the ROG Falchion Ace HFX. This 65% board, which compresses only the most essential keys onto a short panel, offers immense functionality across several areas.
The drawcard of the Falchion Ace HFX is its incredible switches. While the standard Falchion Ace is available with three switch choices, the HFX only offers one tactile feel option – comfortable to the touch magnetic keys, making this Asus’ first hall effect keyboard. It’s one of the most satisfying keyboards to use that I’ve ever laid my hands on.
Despite not offering a wireless connection, it does include a dual USB-C arrangement so that it can quickly switch between two computers with a press of a button on the side, similar to how a monitor might switch between devices. A USB dongle or Bluetooth solution might have been more practical to pull this trick off, but it’s still a welcome ability.
More interesting to me is the return of Asus’ proprietary touch bar, a unique design element of the Falchion series that compresses media controls, volume, keyboard RGB brightness and other handy features into a touch panel, letting you adjust settings with taps and swipes of your finger. This feature rocked and is much more intuitive than a FN + key macro solution, though the depth of macroing with this keyboard is immense, allowing you to arrange quick commands, website hotkeys and quick Windows commands with a bindable keystroke.
With so much positive to say about the ROG Falchion Ace HFX, there aren’t many drawbacks, although the ones that are there might keep you from a purchase. This board doesn’t come cheap and is one of the most expensive options that Asus offers. The lack of a wireless variant will also leave buyers cutting down on cable clutter unimpressed, and those seeking wrist support will need to make a separate purchase.
More diehard keyboard shoppers will also be left unimpressed by the lack of hot-swapping functionality, and that there’s only one switch type available (though the standard ROG Falchion offers three different options).
It’s a tremendous piece of kit. The ROG Falchion Ace HFX is one of the keyboards to beat in 2025, and it may be my favourite keyboard since the Logitech G PRO X TKL.
Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX: price and availability
- How much does it cost? $199/£239.99/$AU$359
- When is it available? Available now
- Where can you get it? Available in the US, UK, Australia and other regions
The ROG Falchion Ace HFX is the fourth most expensive keyboard that Asus offers, below the base model Azoth, customizable Claymore II, and the extremely expensive Azoth Extreme. The price marked for the Ace HFX is reflective of the epic magnetic switches underlying its awesome-feeling keys, but given its 65% size profile, it lacks a lot of the typically essential buttons present in the higher-priced models, including a dedicated function row and numpad.
Not that you should feel you need to move up the range for said features, because the Falchion Ace HFX is more than competent and exclusive on its own terms. Compared to the competition, it’s one of the only options to offer magnetic switches on a 65% board. You may want to consider the Logitech G Pro X 60 if you want an even smaller board, or the Glorious GMMK 3 Pro 65 if you want greater customization, but there aren’t many major brands offering magnetic switches right now.
Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX: specs
|
Layout: |
65% |
|
Switch: |
ROG HFX Magnetic Switch |
|
Programmable keys: |
Yes |
|
Dimensions: |
12.40 x 4.52 x 1.37 inches / 315 x 115 x 35 mm |
|
RGB or backlighting: |
Yes (customizable) |
Asus ROG Falchion HFX: design and features
- More reserved ROG design
- Brilliant build quality
- Useful multifunction panel and dual computer support
Asus’ ROG gaming accessories are at their best when they don’t look too gamery, and the Falchion HFX looks fairly neutral compared to many other high-end boards offered by the manufacturer.
Available only in black, the one thing about this board that I would consider a tad excessive from a design perspective is the spelling out of ‘Republic of Gamers’ across the top. RGB lights behind each key are programmable with several lighting animations available.
At the top left, you’ll see an illuminated symbol, indicating which setting you’ve got your multi-function touch panel set to, cycleable with the press of a multifunction button in the top left. The panel across the back can be swiped with a fingertip, and can be used to adjust brightness and volume, change key actuation points, play and pause media, or even pull off any dedicated macros you have in mind. In the Armory Crate app, you can limit which functions the cycling button switches between, allowing for a more streamlined experience (I simply have it set to volume and media controls). This touch bar isn’t a new feature, as it’s been available on other Falchion models since 2022, but it works especially well on a small board like this.
There are also lights at the top right, indicating if win lock has been activated, if caps lock is currently on, and if ‘Rapid Trigger’ has been enabled, allowing for much quicker keystroke response times than whatever your preset mode is set to.
Your keyboard’s RGB lighting and per key actuation points can also be adjusted in the ROG Armory Crate app, where you’ll find Speed Tap mode. This changes the function of the keyboard to allow for quicker directional changes by prioritising the last pressed in key – so instead of coming to a full stop when strafing in a game, you’ll move left to right or vice versa without lifting your fingers off the keys.
Asus ROG Falchion HFX: Performance
- 8,000Hz polling rate
- Magnetic hall effect switches with five layer dampening
- Useful competitive gaming features
The Asus ROG Falchion HFX is a gaming keyboard aimed at competitive play, through and through. It offers an exceptional 8,000Hz polling rate – an enormous amount of reports the keyboard provides your computer in a second, theoretically improving response time. As a result of this, click latency is as low as 1.1ms on average with the Falchion HFX.
The keys feel coarse in a comfortable way, allowing for satisfying tactile contact between your fingertips and your inputs. A raised dot on the W key allows you to position your hands for gaming without looking down, brilliant for low-light battle stations.
The actuation point of your keys can be adjusted readily on the fly using the multi-function touch panel, allowing for much more shallow keypresses if you so wish. Backing all of this up is the fact that the keys are magnetic, and well damped to allow for a satisfying press while also being quick and not too loud. On the less technical side, the keyboard has three adjustment angles with two sets of feet underneath.
Many of these features may go above and beyond the needs of a casual gamer and indeed are well past the desires of somebody just after a useful typing tool. But for a dedicated gamer, the ROG Falchion HFX might be the exact device for your hobby.
Mechanical keyboard enthusiasts will likely be disappointed by the lack of hot-swappable keys, and that there’s only one switch to choose from. Thankfully, the base model ROG Falchion offers more switch variety – the Falchion HFX is more of a performance model with its magnetic keys.
Should I buy the Asus ROG Falchion HFX?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Value |
The Asus ROG Falchion HFX isn’t a budget keyboard, but it’s also not trying to be. |
4 / 5 |
|
Design and features |
A smart layout with intuitive media controls make the Falchion HFX a winner. |
5 / 5 |
|
Performance |
Magnetic key switches with customizable actuation are easy to love. |
5 / 5 |
|
Overall rating |
The Asus ROG Falchion HFX is an extremely impressive keyboard, and it has me excited for upcoming magnetic switches from rivals. |
4.5 / 5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Asus ROG Falchion HFX: also consider
| Header Cell – Column 0 |
Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX |
Keychron C3 Pro |
Corsair K65 Plus |
Logitech G Pro X 60 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Layout |
65% |
TKL |
75% |
60% |
|
Switch |
ROG HFX Magnetic Switch |
Mechanical |
Corsair MLX Red |
Optical switches |
|
Programmable keys |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Dimensions |
12.40 x 4.52 x 1.37 inches / 315 x 115 x 35 mm |
14.4 x 5.4 x 1.2in / 365 x 138 x 30 mm |
12.59 x 5.35 x 1.37-inches / 319 x 135 x 35 mm |
12.59 x 5.35 x 1.37-inches / 290 x 103 x 29 mm |
|
RGB or backlighting |
Yes (customizable) |
No |
Yes (customizable) |
Yes (customizable) |
How I tested the Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX
I tested the Asus ROG Falchion Ace HFX over four weeks, paired with other Asus products including an OLED monitor, mouse and headset. I used it exclusively on my Windows 11 gaming PC and played games including Marvel Rivals, Avowed, The Headliners and Forza Horizon 5. I also used it for some productivity tasks, such as for typing out documents.
Over that time I used it across several lighting settings, enabled different macros and put it in different positions, while constantly adjusting actuation points and diving into toggles in the Armory Crate app.
- First Reviewed February 2025
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zac.kelly@futurenet.com (Zachariah Kelly)
