Asus is a big name in the computing world, and it makes some of the best mechanical keyboards out there. Alas, the Asus TUF Gaming K3 Gen II isn’t one of them. Don’t get me wrong: there are quite a few things to love about the keyboard. It’s built extremely well, and its optical-mechanical switches are some of the best I’ve tested. They’re highly responsive in both typing and casual gaming, making the K3 Gen II a versatile keyboard.
But those are pretty much the only things to like about the K3 Gen II. Its divisive anime-themed design is a tough sell, and so are its sticky ABS keycaps and frustrating companion software. If you can overlook these faults, perhaps you won’t mind the keyboard, but they’re too significant for me to overlook.
