Asus recently added another gaming mouse to its ROG brand. At a glance, the new ROG Keris II Ace looks like an ergonomic version of the ROG Harpe Ace Aim Lab Edition, but upon closer inspection, both mice actually have some notable differences.
And one of those differences is a higher asking price; RM720, to be specific. This is quite a bit more expensive than the Harpe Ace, which can be purchased now for about RM200 less. But given its higher asking price, the Keris II Ace does have a number of upgrades, including a more capable 42,000 DPI ROG AimPoint Pro optical sensor.
What It Is
This being a gaming mouse, the Keris II Ace’s ROG AimPoint Pro optical sensor is certainly one of its highlight features. With “industry-leading <1% deviation,” as Asus puts it, the mouse is touted to be particularly accurate, allowing gamers to “track and flick with absolute precision.” More on this further down the review.
Beyond that, the Keris II Ace also has a lightweight 54g ergonomic shell, up to 8,000Hz polling rate in wired mode – 4,000Hz in wireless mode – when the ROG Polling Rate Booster is used, ROG optical micro switches that offer up to 100m clicks, ROG SpeedNova wireless technology for low latency, and up to 137 hours of battery life in Bluetooth mode; 107 hours with the provided 2.4GHz dongle.
As mentioned, the ROG Keris II Ace retails at RM720 in Malaysia, and it is currently available for pre-order through Shopee and Lazada. Curiously, the Shopee listing has an estimated shipping date of 10 May, while Lazada has a slightly later 15 May shipping date.
The Good Stuff
Without a doubt the ROG Keris II Ace is an accurate gaming mouse. Whether I’m using it for gaming or productivity tasks, the ROG AimPoint Pro optical sensor feels very capable. While I am not a competitive gamer, it does feel like the mouse can translate my physical movements to the on-screen cursor very closely without missing a beat.
Wireless performance of the Keris II Ace is (unsurprisingly) good too. Thanks to its ROG SpeedNova wireless technology, there’s no noticeable difference between using the mouse in wired mode or 2.4GHz wireless mode with the ROG Omni receiver and ROG Polling Rate Booster. This is despite the fact that the mouse actually has higher 8,000Hz polling rate in wired mode compared to 4,000Hz in wireless mode.
Further enhancing the gaming performance of the Keris II Ace is its lightweight nature. Tipping the scales at only 54g, this is one of the lightest gaming mice in the market now. It’s really a joy to game with such a lightweight mouse, and it still has solid build quality as well with no creaking when I apply pressure to the shell.
I’m also quite a fan of the Keris II Ace’s matte finishing on the shell, and the textured grooves on both sides of the mouse add a good amount of grip too. Of course, grip tapes are bundled with the mouse if you want to add even more grip.
What about the ergonomic shape of the ROG Keris II Ace? Well, it’s quite comfortable! While the shell can feel a tad too small for folks with bigger hands, it feels just right for my hand. The hump is tall enough to support my palm, and all the buttons are right where my fingers naturally rest on.
And that brings me to the ROG optical micro switches of the Keris II Ace, which has a lifespan of up to 100 million clicks. Both the left and right buttons can provide a satisfying, consistent clicking feel, and the minimal pre-travel of the buttons improve the overall responsiveness of the mouse too.
Last but not least is the gliding performance of the Keris II Ace. Whether in wired or wireless mode, the ROG Paracord and 100% PTFE feet ensure smooth gliding motions. Extra PTFE feet are also provided with the gaming mouse.
The Bad Stuff
I’ve only got minor qualms with the ROG Keris II Ace, and they are similar to my issues with the Harpe Ace. The side buttons, for one, are still a tad too small for my liking. Granted, they are positioned within easy reach of my thumb, but it would’ve been great if they were just slightly bigger for a more comfortable user experience.
And then there are the grip tapes that come bundled with the Keris II Ace, which are…not any less gaudy than the ones bundled with the Harpe Ace. While I myself don’t feel the need to use the grip tapes, it would’ve been nice if the “gamer aesthetics” of the tapes were toned down a bit to match the minimalist design of the gaming mouse itself.
Is It Worth It?
The ROG Keris II Ace is a lightweight gaming mouse with a capable ROG AimPoint Pro optical sensor, long-lasting ROG optical micro switches, and a comfortable ergonomic shape. Besides some minor shortcomings and the rather steep RM720 price tag, there’s no denying that this is an excellent gaming mouse.
But if the Keris II Ace was just a tad more affordable, it would easily get the Nextrift Recommends badge, which was awarded to the ROG Harpe Ace. That is not to say this gaming mouse is not worth it, of course, though I do think its value proposition could be better. Nonetheless, if you’re looking to get a capable gaming mouse with an ergonomic shape, the ROG Keris II Ace is a great option to consider.