Everyone knows a mouse & keyboard is superior to a console controller. You cannot match the accuracy and speed a mouse offers to aim. But the keyboard part of that equation isn’t as great as it can be, and several just prefer the more logical movement of a thumbstick. With a keyboard, you want to keep your fingers on the WASD keys, which means attempting to press a myriad of other keys sometimes is not possible without lifting your movement fingers off first. What if you can have the better of both worlds though? You can. The Azeron gaming keypad is not a keypad at all it is more like an ergonomic extension of your fingers, with buttons plastered all over it, and a thumbstick for movement. Each button is conveniently placed, and there is a small effort needed to travel between keys. Let us take a closer look.
Table of Contents
Azeron Specifications
- 19 fingertip switches
- Thumbstick
- 4-way digital hat
- Thumb switch
- Two onboard switchable profiles
- Portable
Customize All the Things
The Azeron is customizable in many ways. First, you can opt for either the full-size Classic Azeron or the small Compact model. The Classic has the most keys. You can opt either left or right-handed versions and a small and large, depending on the hand size. You can select between a flat or curved palm rest (the flat being a small better for large hands). There is a wide range of colors to select, too. You can also specify up to 8 characters to be printed on the size of the device rather than the standard Azeron. It is fantastic for streamers or just anybody who wants to show off a little bling.
Hand-Crafted, 3D Printed with Analog Thumbsticks
Each piece of the Azeron Keypad is 3D printed aside from the baseplate, hand rest as well as the electronics, which are produced using standard manufacturing procedures. With the shell and fingertip switches being entirely 3D printed, the resulting product does not feel 100 percent top quality for how much cash you are putting into it.
- 3D printed components need more user-service as which includes replacement.
- There are product feedbacks of other users who end up resetting their keypads or are not tech-savvy enough to attempt to fix the product themselves.
- The company provides to send out parts for users to risk fixing themselves at the house.
- 3D printed means it will components require to be more replaced and needs user-service
The Azeron gamepad uses effective small tabs that may be reached without glancing down. There are a total of 30 buttons, with a D-pad. There is the thumbstick on top. Set at a usable 90 degrees, and it is intended for thumb movement. For right-handed gamers, the thumbstick will be captained by your left thumb. It takes a small getting used to, but the learning curve on this switch is steep. Azeron has announced they now include custom key mapping software, which has a feature to allow rotating of the analog stick.
Using the Azeron
Before you can use your Azeron, you will want to adjust the fit. On the underside, you will find some little hex screws holding every finger and the thumbpad in place. Unscrew all of these using the provided tool if they are not loose. Then find the angle and distance that you find most comfortable, and lock every finger off one by one. There is an absurd number of keys on the Azeron Classic, various of which you cannot use depending on the game. Every finger has a minimum of 4 buttons: one directly beneath it such as a traditional keyboard; one that you pull into; one you can push into; and another on the row above. Your Index and 1st finger have a more key that is curled over the top; while your 1st finger has a bonus key to the right of it. That is 19 keys literally at your fingertips. Then you have the thumbstick, digital hat, and bonus thumb button. You will find yourself tweaking your key profiles frequently as you first start for using the Azeron. You can start by assigning keys rows to logical functions, like a set of weapons. But later, also you can move to a more per-finger approach such as the first finger for special movements, Index finger for grenades and deployable equipment, and 3rd-finger for squad actions like marking targets.
Should You Buy the Azeron?
For both casual & serious gamers, the Azeron is an incredible device for elevating your game. It can find niche uses in the VR community for seated games such as flight and space sims that require multiple keyboard buttons that are otherwise hard to locate while wearing a headset. But there will be an adjustment period though. For the 1st week or so you will be tweaking your profile and learning a completely new set of muscle memories. This means you will play worse for a while than you’d with a keyboard. But after that, you will play faster and more responsive than ever, never struggling to find the right key again. If you have problems with a regular keyboard and mouse even, then Azeron will not be a good fit for you. While a device that makes you move your hand and fingers less can be fantastic for your gaming performance, it would not help any underlying physical conditions you suffer from. If you are worried, opt for the flat palm rest which is apparently more accommodating of large hands and provides a little further flexibility with placement.
Pros
- Solid switches
- Good lighting effects
- Supports most games
- Sturdy build
- Great value
Cons
- This 3D-printed product will not have the polish you did find with an off-the-shelf controller. And buying turnaround time is not quick.
- Because of the long distribution times of the product, Azeron won’t even be able to offer to replace your product on time anyway.
| Razer Tartarus V2
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| Razor Orb-weaver
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Split fish: A Unique WASD Alternative  |
A Unique WASD Alternative | |
| Joystick and Mouse
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An Effective Combo | |
| XFUNY Gaming One-Handed Keyboard
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Azeron Gaming Keypad Alternatives
Razer Tartarus V2
The Razer Tartarus V2 is the best keypad. With so several buttons, you might have everything at the tip of your fingers, and the combinations look almost endless. Thanks to Hyper shift, it will be difficult to run out of buttons for everything you want, laid out in a simple to access grid. The Razer Tartarus V2 is a haven for any MMO player looking to save desk space or who easily needs the most powerful macro pad around.
The Tartarus V2 is full-featured keypad sporting a new, still classic, look. Razer has taken the Tartarus back to its roots with a design that’s further reminiscent of their original Razer Nostromo. The keypad has a matte black finish, accompanied by non-textured keycaps. Razer is keeping the same font as the Black widow V2. As with previous models, the palm-rest is adjustable as well as now features a faux leather pad for added comfort and support. It’s a step in the right direction. It contains Razer’s new Mecha-Membrane technology. These new switches combine the soft cushioned touch of a membrane rubber dome with the crisp tactile click of a mechanical switch. Every key actuates mid-height for a quick response. After hours of gameplay, you will think the tactile review and click of the keys will get old, but it is just the opposite.
Pros
- Expanded keys – 32 programmable, including a scroll wheel
- Hyper shift mode doubles your key count
- Simple programmability thanks to Synapse 3.0
- Quick, syncing between devices
Cons
- Wrist-rest padding is a touch thin
Razor Orb-weaver
It provides a level of comfort and control, even the best gaming keyboards fail to match. The Orb-weaver takes everything best about the Nostromo and adds design elements that adjust to your perfect hand shape and programmable controls that may be tailored to your games as well as style of play. With so much going for it, it is simple to see why the Orb-weaver is or Editors’ option for gaming keypads. The Orb-weaver measures 2.2 by 6.1 by 8.0” (HWD) and comes with a 6-foot-long USB cable. It is considerably narrower than the Logitech G13 Advanced Game board, so it will not take up quite so much space on your desk. The Orb weaver’s design has a higher palm rest, which really provides good support than the low-rise G13. What the Orb-weaver doesn’t provide, however, is a digital display like, on the Logitech. The base of the device has big rubber feet, so once you have got it in a comfortable position, it’ll stay put. It has 3 adjustable parts: the 2-piece wrist rest, a keypad having 20 programmable buttons, and a thumb module with a thumb-friendly joystick and 2 thumb buttons. The complete device is shaped and molded to provide simple access to all of your control keys while cradling the wrist and palm in a comfortable position, allowing you to play for hours without experiencing wrist strain.
Pros
- Many adjustable parts for optimal comfort.
- 20 programmable keys.
- Excellent thumb controls available.
Cons
- Keys can use more tactile differentiation.
- No color choices for the backlight.
Split fish: A Unique WASD Alternative
Split fish is crafting WASD alternative controllers for years, but they approach it from a different angle. They bring mouse accuracy for consoling. Thumbsticks do not hold a candle to mouse aiming. Anybody using a mouse on a console has a big benefit and that’s Split fish’s business model. Of course, if you are reading this, you are a PC gamer. Do not worry though, many Split fish products are PC compatible, such as the FragFX 360. It comprises a mouse with more buttons on the side and a Wii-like nunchuck. Together they replace each button on an Xbox 360 controller. On PC, split fish emulates a keyboard, with every button hard mapped to a key.
Cons:
The FragFX nunchuck can mimic a keyboard digitally. It means, there will be no analog movement or no feathering. There can be custom scripts that can get about this. However, you can get more buttons than the Nintendo JoyCon, with 2 shoulder buttons and a full d-pad.
Joystick and Mouse: An Effective Combo
This one’s a small wilder, but it’s viable. You can use a joystick or flight stick instead of WASD. A joystick is like a giant thumbstick. You push forward & backward to move, use left and right to strafe, and the remaining buttons as many inputs. And the movement is analog. Once you are accustomed to it, the controls feel natural and instinctive. There have been controller prototypes along this line like the ill-fated Wasdio.
Cons:
The 1st is fatigue. A flight stick needs more physical movement to go forward, back, left & right, which can wear you out. The 2nd problem is setup. You will require a key mapper, and you will have to configure it for every game. Yet, if you have got a joystick kicking about this can be worth a shot.
XFUNY Gaming One-Handed Keyboard
XFUNY mechanical gaming keyboard is an RGB-backlit device with Kailh Bluе switches. Let us figure out what it’s. The device works out of the box, but it’s necessary for installing the software for backlight settings and macros. There are no issues with it as its software is nimble and simple without any irritating advertising. The keypad backlighting is used flexibly. Xfuny has offered an option of a pile of interesting and bright effects that gamers generally love this feature. The keypad looks stylish. The large triangular button is distinguished up until being set, the keys are a cut version of a standard keyboard. Regular keys including Ctrl, Alt, Tab, Shift, Esc, and F1-F6 have been installed. Of course, any of them can be re-assigned with the help of special software. The case is firm, and once you turn the keypad over, you’ll see a robust metal base. The plastic used is matte; the hand rest is convenient so it’s pleasant to use the device which feels premium.
Cons
As for the drawbacks, there are no retractable legs and the stand can’t be adjusted.
