ASUS Mechanical Keyboard M801 Review: A Razer Black Widow priced at 400 yuan?

As a major domestic hardware manufacturer, ASUS is gradually showing its style as a top domestic brand. After becoming the world's number one motherboard manufacturer and the world's number three graphics card manufacturer, ASUS seems to have quietly set its sights on the field of mechanical keyboards. In response to the current trend of the e-sports era, ASUS has launched a number of gorgeous and dazzling mechanical keyboards, covering the entire market of high, medium and low-end products, which is astonishing.

Now, ASUS has quietly launched the M801. The M801 has a rare large ladder-shaped bottom with a pure black color scheme, just like the Razer Black Widow from 2014. So, does the M801 really feel similar to the Razer Black Widow?

Basic data

87 keys

Domestic Kaihua red axis

Comes with abs keycaps

Key line separation three-exit wire duct

6/Non-ghosting of all keys

Overall design style

The moment I got my hands on the ASUS M801 keyboard, I was really impressed by the Black Widow series keyboards. They both have almost the same ergonomic design: the keyboard bodies are similar, but the ASUS M801 uses an ultra-narrow frame, so unlike the Black Widow series, there is no widened part on the side of the keyboard; both keyboards are compact and have the same curvature. Both are designed with separated keys and cables, and also have three-exit cable ducts with slightly different appearances.

But if you look closely, you will find that although the shapes are similar, the two have completely different design styles.

BlackWidow inherits the consistent style of Razer, a lighting manufacturer, emphasizing the ultimate lighting experience, while other aspects follow the design style of traditional keyboards. ASUS M801 does not have a prominent lighting design, and the keyboard has a simple pure red three-level brightness and four modes. But the overall style of the keyboard is simple but not simple.

The ultra-narrow frame design and 87-key compact layout initially reflect the overall concept of this keyboard: simplicity.

The ASUS LOGO is placed on the side of the keyboard, making full use of the keyboard body space and making the keyboard itself look purer.

The keycaps are made of ABS material with a skin-like coating, which can improve the feel and the oiliness of the ABS material to a certain extent. However, the skin-like design requires more frequent cleaning and good usage habits, which is worth noting.

The spacebar is designed with a sheet-shaped and grooved nesting design. This improved balance axis does not have the obvious back and forth shaking of ordinary balance axes, and the keystrokes feel more refreshing than satellite axes, which can be regarded as the highlight of this keyboard.

Keyboard-cable separation design. The cable routing groove provides sufficient bending space for the cable, so that the cable can be routed through the side groove without any strain. This is also a commendable detail treatment of this keyboard.

The keyboard itself is simple in style, so it is reasonable to give up the gorgeous lighting effects. The only drawback is that the keyboard body is still too heavy, and the simple style inadvertently highlights the huge size of the keyboard. In this regard, Amilo, which also attaches great importance to practicality and simplicity, does a better job.

Core: Kaihua Red Axis

The red axis keyboard has almost no paragraph feeling when typing, and the key travel is very short, but compared with the black axis keyboard with the same characteristics, the red axis keyboard has a very low pressure gram, which makes it easier to type. The overall feel is soft, suitable for users who do not have high requirements for the typing feel. The ASUS M801 keyboard uses the Kailh axis, which feels softer to the touch than the Cherry axis, the rebound force is slightly uneven, and the axis has a slight shaking feeling. However, considering the characteristics of the red axis, this defect is not obvious.

Can the 400 yuan positioning be successful?

Compared with the keyboards previously launched by ASUS, the design of this keyboard can be regarded as a breakthrough attempt by ASUS, and it even always makes people feel that it has absorbed some of the more unique details of Razer Black Widow. Based on such an overall design, the creation with simplicity as the theme is still remarkable.

Based on the similar appearance, we also unconsciously compare the switches of the two. Both are non-Cherry switches. The green switch developed by Razer is indeed much better than the Kailh switch used by ASUS M801 in terms of feel. Of course, the Razer switch is easy to break, which is a major criticism, while the Kailh switch has undergone a lot of durability control. In this respect, ASUS M801 is still trustworthy.

Asus has launched the M801 this time, which is specially equipped with a Game mode switch function, and it is obvious that it hopes to occupy another place in the mid-to-low-end gaming mechanical keyboard. However, at the same price, the Flamegun Cooler Master series with the same red axis seems to be more in line with the definition of gaming mechanical keyboards for most players.

Although the details are attractive and the style is unique, the lack of sufficient media support functions and macro command keys makes this short and compact ASUS M801 without a numeric keypad, after entering the market with an initial price of 399 yuan, undoubtedly still need to consider how to magnify its uniqueness and how to truly cater to the appetite of players like ASUS's ROG brand.

As a winner of Toutiao's Qingyun Plan and Baijiahao's Bai+ Plan, the 2019 Baidu Digital Author of the Year, the Baijiahao's Most Popular Author in the Technology Field, the 2019 Sogou Technology and Culture Author, and the 2021 Baijiahao Quarterly Influential Creator, he has won many awards, including the 2013 Sohu Best Industry Media Person, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Beijing Third Place, the 2015 Guangmang Experience Award, the 2015 China New Media Entrepreneurship Competition Finals Third Place, and the 2018 Baidu Dynamic Annual Powerful Celebrity.