The keyboard alternative that made me a better speedrunner is on sale for Black Friday
Nov. 27, 2024I think Azeron’s keypads might be the future of gaming controllers, and you can get one this Black Friday
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I sucked when I first started speedrunning it, and I have no problems admitting that. I was never a fan of mouse and keyboard and using a pro controller was definitely slowing me down. Then, I tried out the Azeron Cyborg - a hybrid mix between a controller and a gaming keyboard. This robot claw vastly improved my times, and its latest version, the new Azeron Cyborg II, is seeing a 10% discount thanks to Black Friday which brings itdown to $216 (was $240) at Amazon.
The Cyborg II keypad has a Hall Sensor thumbstick you can map to the WASD keys, allowing you to control your character’s movements like you would with a controller. Then, you use your fingers to click its 30 mappable keys, which you assign to keyboard functions that work for you and the game you’re playing. You can even set them to be comibnations, making tricky speedrunning strats that little bit more achievable.
The Cyborg II only launched earlier in the year, so its appearance inBlack Friday gaming dealsis the first time its price has dropped.
Azeron Cyborg II|$240$216 at AmazonSave $24- This 10% deal is the first-ever discount we’ve seen for the new Azeron Cyborg II, which comes at Amazon with a few different color options. We like the Galaxy Purple edition, but it’s also available in full Black, Blue, Green, or Red.
Buy it if:
✅ You’ve never liked using a keyboard✅ You’re transferring from console to PC✅ You like creating custom controller profiles
Don’t buy it if:
❌ The learning curve is a turn-off❌ You’ve always liked using a keyboard
UK:£229 at Amazon
The Cyborg II really does offer you the best of both worlds, it’s partgaming keyboard, andpart PC controller. With your other hand, you use a mouse as you would with a keyboard, which helped me hone my blinking aim as Corvo to get through each level a bit quicker.
For me, the Cyborg is so much easier to use than a keyboard because you never have to lift your fingers out of their home position to find another key’s exact position. You can adjust this device to your hand shape, and with simply flexing or straightening your fingers, you perform in-game actions with increased speed over the travel time on a keyboard.
Should you buy the Azeron Cyborg II?
Outside of speedrunning, there are loads of reasons I’d recommend the Azeron Cyborg II. It’s ergonomic, it’s adjustable, and there are loads of ways you can tailor its colorway and look to what you’d prefer. Yes, it requires a bit of a learning curve, and it can be a bit of a faff making and learning new controller maps for it, but once you pass a threshold with it, it’s like nothing else.
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But what makes the Azeron Cyborg II stand out from the olderAzeron Cyborg? The newer version comes with six on-board profiles compared to the original’s two - so there’s less messing around in the brand’s software to switch profiles. Moreover, the Cyborg II uses omicron switches, and a hall effect thumbstick, adding to its longevity, but in my opinion, greatly enhancing its feel.
The switches on the first Cyborg were great, particularly because they’re lightweight and easy to press with a slight twitch of your finger. Now though, the Omron switches have a slightly heftier feel to them, striking a balance between what’s easy to actuate and a premium product that aids gamefeel. The top towers in particular now actuate at a different angle, making them much more useful, and more sturdy.
I have more to say about the Cyborg II in my review, which I’ll likely jump to right after Black Friday, but as a brief teaser for now, this is one of the best gaming peripherals I’ve ever used, and that’s coming from someone who reviews pro controllers for a living.
For more Black Friday coverage, check outBlack Friday Meta Quest deals,Black Friday Secretlab deals, andBlack Friday Xbox deals.
One of my earliest memories is playing SuperMario64 and wondering why the controller I held had three grips, but I only had two hands. Ever since I’ve been in love with video games and their technology. After graduating from Edinburgh Napier University with a degree in Journalism, I contributed to the Scottish Games Network and completed an Editorial Internship at Expert Reviews. Over the last decade, I’ve been managing my ownYouTube channelabout my love of games too. These days, I’m one of the resident hardware nerds at GamesRadar+, and I take the lead on our coverage of gaming PCs, VR, controllers, gaming chairs, and content creation gear. Now, I better stop myself here before I get talking about my favourite games like HUNT: Showdown, Dishonored, and Towerfall Ascension.Location: UK Remote
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