ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard
Bottom line: The ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard ($142.99 on Amazon as of 2026-10-06): 96% layout keeps the number pad, only 1 cm wider than an 80% board; main trade-off: NX Storm clicky switches are loud for shared offices or open mics.
As an Amazon Associate, SpecPicks earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure →
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ 96% layout keeps the number pad, only 1 cm wider than an 80% board
- ✓ Up to 1,500 hours of battery in 2.4GHz SpeedNova wireless mode
- ✓ Tri-mode: Bluetooth for 3 devices, 2.4GHz, or USB wired
- ✓ Hot-swap sockets plus a bundled 2-in-1 keycap and switch puller
- ✓ Sound-dampening foam and switch pads cut pinging and echo
Cons
- ✗ NX Storm clicky switches are loud for shared offices or open mics
- ✗ 96% layouts squeeze arrow and nav keys together, causing early mistypes
- ✗ Gear Link browser tool needs a connection; no offline desktop app cited
Manufacturer description
The ROG Strix Scope II 96 packs a full number pad into a footprint just 1 cm wider than an 80% board, so you keep the Numpad keys without surrendering mouse-swing room. ASUS builds it around tri-mode connectivity: Bluetooth for up to three paired devices, low-latency 2.4GHz using ROG SpeedNova, or USB wired, with a rated battery life of up to 1,500 hours in 2.4GHz mode. The hot-swappable, factory-lubricated ROG NX Storm clicky switches give you crisp tactile feedback out of the box and let you swap in NX Snow linears later using the bundled 2-in-1 keycap and switch puller. Sound-dampening…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the gaming peripherals category. Compare with similarly-priced alternatives in the gaming peripherals category before committing. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for gaming peripherals of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this keyboard have a number pad?
Yes. It uses a 96% layout that retains the full number pad while measuring only about 1 cm wider than a standard 80% TKL keyboard.
How long does the battery last on the ROG Strix Scope II 96?
ASUS rates it at up to 1,500 hours in 2.4GHz wireless mode. Actual runtime drops with RGB lighting enabled; Bluetooth and wired use differ as well.
Can I connect it to more than one device?
Yes. Bluetooth supports up to 3 paired devices, and you can also use the 2.4GHz SpeedNova receiver or a USB cable, for three connection modes total.
Are the switches replaceable?
Yes, the board is hot-swappable. It ships with pre-lubed ROG NX Storm clicky switches, and a 2-in-1 keycap and switch puller is included in the box.
Does it work with a Mac?
Yes, ASUS lists PC and Mac support. Customization runs through Gear Link, a browser-based tool that adjusts RGB and key functions with no download required.
Key Features
- TKL Size with Full-Size Functionality and Num Pad: Experience a compact, space-saving design that's only 1 cm wider than a standard 80 percent keyboard, while still retaining the keys and number pad you would have in a 96 percent keyboard.
- Versatile Tri-Mode Connectivity: Seamlessly connect via Bluetooth (supporting up to 3 devices), low-latency 2.4GHz wireless with ROG SpeedNova technology, or a reliable USB wired connection. Compatible with both PC and Mac, and boasts an exceptional battery life of up to 1,500 hours in 2.4GHz wireless mode.
- Enhanced Acoustics: Integrated sound-dampening foam and switch-dampening pads effectively absorb pinging noises and echoes, resulting in improved keystroke acoustics.
- Hot Swappable, Pre-Lubed Mechanical Switches: Customize your typing experience with your choice of ROG NX Snow linear switches (for smooth, thocky keystrokes) or ROG NX Storm clicky switches (for crisp, tactile keystrokes). Both switch types are factory-lubricated for enhanced stability and optimized acoustics. Features per-key RGB lighting.
- Optimized for Gaming, Streaming, and Daily Work: Pre-programmed hotkeys (F1-F5) provide convenient control over the Xbox Game Bar and recording functions. A multi-function wheel allows for intuitive media and lighting adjustments. All keys are fully macro-programmable for advanced customization.
- Ergonomic Comfort: Enjoy comfortable extended use with three adjustable tilt positions and a detachable wrist rest.
Full Specifications
| Brand | ASUS |
|---|---|
| Color | Black |
| Style | Strix Scope II 96 (Mechanical) |
| Theme | Gaming |
| Material | Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene |
| Generation | 1st Generation |
| Model Name | X901 STRIX SCOPE II 96 WL/NXSM/CA/PBT |
| Style Name | Strix Scope II 96 (Mechanical) |
| Unit Count | 1 Count |
| Switch Type | Clicky |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, USB, 2.4GHz |
| Model Number | X901 STRIX SCOPE II 96 WL/NXSM/CA/PBT |
| Power Source | Battery Powered |
| Compatibility | PC, Xbox, Switch, Mac |
| Built-In Media | ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless, USB cable, ROG sticker, quick start guide, Warranty booklet, wireless receiver, USB extender, ROG-themed spacebar keycap, wrist rest, 2-in-1 ROG keycap & switch puller |
| Number of Keys | 96 |
| Button Quantity | 104 |
| Connection Type | Wired |
| Keyboard Layout | QWERTY |
| Mfr Part Number | X901 STRIX SCOPE II 96 WL |
| Full listing title | ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - Black | 96% Full-Size, Tri-Mode Connectivity, Hot Swappable Pre-lubed ROG NX Storm Clicky Switches, PBT Keycaps, RGB, PC/Mac Support |
Ready to buy?
ASUS ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless Mechanical Gaming Keyboard - Black | 96% Full-Size, Tri-Mode Connectivity, Hot Swappable Pre-lubed ROG NX Storm Clicky Switches, PBT Keycaps, RGB, PC/Mac Support is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.
Related Gaming Peripherals
More guides & deep dives from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all articles & guides →- How to Build a Windows 98 Retro PC in 2026
- Emulation Hardware in 2026: FPGA, Software, and Cart-Reader Ecosystems
- RTX 4070 Super vs RX 7800 XT — Which to Buy in 2026
- Best Budget Gaming PC Build 2026 — ~$1,000 ($800 on Sale)
- The Complete Voodoo5 5500 AGP Driver Guide (2026 Edition)
- Best 1440p Gaming GPUs in 2026
- Best Retro Handhelds in 2026 — From $35 to $500
More reviews from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all reviews →- Continuous Blood Pressure Monitoring Without a Cuff in 2026
- GeForce 4 Ti 4600 AGP in a Windows XP Build: Drivers, Gotchas and Benchmarks
- AI Coding Agents Find the Right File but Miss the Lines — What Local Code Models on a 12GB GPU Get Wrong
- Ryzen AI Max 400 Gorgon Halo vs RTX 3060 for Local LLMs
- Can You Run Kimi K3 Locally? VRAM Math for the New Open Model
- The Pentium III 1 GHz Race: When Intel and AMD Broke the Gigahertz Barrier in the Same Week
- Imaging a 1998 IDE Drive and Letting an LLM Rebuild Win98
- Gemma-4-Harmonia-31B Uncensored on RTX 3060 12GB: Quantization, VRAM, and tok/s
- Best Raspberry Pi Alternative for AI Inference in 2026: When to Step Up
- Sega Saved Nvidia in 1996: The NV1 Gamble That Shaped Every GPU
- Voodoo 3 3500 TV vs GeForce 256 DDR: The Last Great 1999 Gaming GPU Showdown
- DeepSeek on the US Entity List: Running V4 Locally in 2026
- Best PC Gaming Controllers in 2026: 5 Picks for Every Budget
- Raspberry Pi 5 8GB Review (2026): Still the SBC to Beat
- Best Budget Ryzen Gaming PC Parts in 2026: 5 Picks That Punch Up
- Best Gaming PC Build Components for 2026
- Intel llm-scaler-vllm 1.4: What Arc Pro B70 Support Means for Sub-$1500 Local Inference
- RX 9060 XT vs RX 9070 XT: OLED 1440p or 4K IPS?
- Build a Raspberry Pi 4 8GB NAS with SATA SSDs in 2026
- Qwen3.6 27B on a Single RTX 3060 12GB: Why MTP Drops Context From 137K to 14K
- Best Controller for Steam Deck Docked Mode in 2026
- Backing Up Vintage IDE Drives to CompactFlash in 2026
- Fable 5 as Manager: The Delegate-to-Sonnet-5 Cost Pattern
- Best Budget Gaming Peripherals in 2026
Earliest SpecPicks reviews
Browse full archive →- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 8B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 14B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 70B (2026)
- Best GPU for DeepSeek-R1 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 405B (2026)
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 14B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 70B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run DeepSeek-R1 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090