2.5K PHP Keyboard + Mouse Combo Any Good?
The ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) remains as the top-end gaming, and enthusiast level line-up from ASUS. The words affordable, and budget oriented are not practically the best words to describe the line-up. The ASUS STRIX family isn’t even near the budget line, #FFS. To make things a little better, ASUS introduced the Cerberus gaming line-up. Which is basically the budget gaming oriented offering from ASUS. At the moment, the ASUS Cerberus consists of 4 core products: The Cerberus headset, gaming mice, mouse pad, and gaming keyboard.
We got 2 out of 4, specifically the ASUS Cerberus Gaming Keyboard and Gaming Mouse. These products are aimed towards budget conscious gamers offering LED lighting, braided cables, appears to be solid pieces of gears, and a few other quirks here and there. Based on those alone, ASUS is not compromising the quality standards that they have set through the years. But is that so? Well, there is one way to find out.
Cerberus Gaming Keyboard is an LED backlit USB gaming keyboard with a splash-proof design, rugged reliability, and fully rubberized feet for enhanced stability. Nov 28, 2017 The ASUS Cerberus Mech RGB keyboard delivers a basic user experience that works, without many bells and whistles. The typing experience is very pleasant, the RGB lighting does its job well but without impressing us like more expensive RGB switches, and the software works, even though it has some bugs that need to be ironed out.
When it comes to software, there are no drivers provided by ASUS. The Cerberus gaming mouse is the sort of device you plug and play, without special software. It is compatible with all versions of Windows, including Windows XP, and all you need in order to use it, is a USB 2.0 port.
PACKAGING, BECAUSE WHY NOT:
While they may not be lavish, ASUS is kind enough to use a simple yet effective packaging to market and ship the products in good shape which is what we always wanted. Up front, ASUS really gave this “in your face” vibe with both products, showing their prominent features in an aggressive passion.
The back, as usual, features the product’s elaborate specifications, along with the layout of the products. Serials are also located here for reference and don’t you dare trash these guys because you might be needing them in the near future. Just in case. Contents are nothing special, excluding the products of course. We’ve got a user manual for the keyboard, a warranty card, and that’s just about it. No paper works for you, Cerberus Mouse.
ASUS CERBERUS KEYBOARD TOUR: SPECS HERE / 1,560 PHP
The ASUS Cerberus Gaming Keyboard is a full sized 108 + 6 key gaming keyboard. Aggressive is what the styling would be, and it sure looks familiar with the rest of the recently released gaming keyboards from the likes of CoolerMaster. Both keyboard shares the same styling, and is probably from the same OEM too. This thing weighs in at 1.1 kilograms by the way.
Full size, yet extended, the ASUS Cerberus Gaming Keyboard features an approximately 18.5″ x 7.5″ of foot print. It’s not huge, certainly not compact either – and will most probably sit happily on your desk. At the top lies the extra multimedia keys, with the 12 hybrid Function and Macro keys below.
Key switches are definitely dome-switch membranes, and don’t expect them to feature a satisfying mechanical-like feel. However, I find them better over your average membrane keyboards especially with the inclusion of a 19KRO anti-key ghosting. They are snappier, has better resistance, and bounces faster than the average ones around the 1000 PHP mark. Membrane keyboards are known to wear over the course of time by the way, so we are not sure how these characteristics will last. Individual key lifespan is at around 8 Million strokes.
Key caps are made out of ABS material, with a stem that enables the keys to travel top to bottom in a consistent linear pattern. The key caps are actually transparent in nature, with a matte coating that is not really great for sweaty gamers – definitely not the best on my book. Based on our measurements, the key caps appears to feature around 4mm of travel time.
This keyboard is quite heavy for a membrane based one, and it’s mainly due to the inclusion of a galvanized steel plate underneath. It is added for the rigidity of the gear and sure does add up. Together with the braided USB cable, the Cerberus Keyboard features an extendable rubber footing. There isn’t much to talk about the gear on this side but there are drain holes situated here should the keyboard got spilled with liquid during an accident.
ASUS CERBERUS MOUSE TOUR: SPECS HERE / 899 PHP
The ASUS Cerberus Gaming Mouse is one of the most affordable gears from the Cerberus series. It features a semi-ambidextrous body, lighting effects to distinguish the DPI levels, and a set of side buttons at the left side. Hence, the semi-ambidextrous nature. The DPI button is situated at the middle most part of the mouse which is kinda hard to utilize due to its position. Not that hard compared to the Zowie ZA11 I got though.
The texture is a combination of hard plastic, rubber coated plastic for the top shell, and a pair of rubber thumb grips on both sides. The overall feel of the mouse is just alright, not the best on my book, but it is certainly not on the cheapest side of things. The weight is substantial, yet the mouse is not heavy at all. Passing quality so far, but not with flying colors.
The sensor used is an optical one, but ASUS never disclosed what optical sensor model is used specifically. One thing I know though is that the damn thing’s so bright, we might as well just call it the Sun. On a more serious note, ASUS opted to use a generic set of mouse footing, as opposed to a larger set commonly found on major gaming mice out there. I’m glad they braided the cable though.
WOMBO COMBO FOR 2, 500 PHP?
Overwatch is one of the most recent IP at the FPS gaming industry today, and with that said, it is one of the best shooters to test the gears with its fluid fast paced gameplay. We spent more than a week of testing with it, figuring out the pros and cons of the setup for such title. For a second opinion, I frequently swap gaming hours with my siblings during the testing – trying their own games (DOTA2 & CS:GO) so we could get an idea on how the Cerberus Gaming Keyboard and Mouse works with different play styles and genres.
First off, let us talk about the Cerberus Mouse, particularly with its lift off distance. To be honest, this is what I hate the most about the Cerberus Gaming Mouse. For a gaming oriented device, I expected it to feature a lower LOD value – somewhat around the 2 mm mark. Far from that value, the Cerberus Gaming Mouse actually features around 6-8 mm of LOD – meaning that it continues tracking until that distance. For starters, gaming on a high LOD device is unforgivable due to the sensor’s inaccuracy when you lift it off – continuing to track starting from the time you lift it up, until you landed it. To make matters worse, it gets messier when you increased the DPI beyond 1000 DPI.
Buttons are wobbling a bit, especially the main mouse button / top shell construct but they are within the passable mark so they are alright, I guess. The Cerberus Mouse is certainly larger than what I am used too, but it is comfortable enough for both palm and claw grip style gamers. But then again, comfort is practically useless in gaming if the sensor keeps ruining your experience.
Going over to the brighter side of things, let us now talk about the Cerberus Keyboard. I have literally nothing major against this one, except that it is membrane of course but that too is hardly a complaint – since the Cerberus is not really your average membrane-domed switch keyboard. It features good feedback, with keys registering smoothly all the way down and back.
There’s no need to argue that it is styled aggressively, but the dual LED back lighting shows that it could appeal to gamers that requires either a Red or Blue themed gear to go with their systems. Lighting that comes from the keys are not that bad either, featuring an even amount of glow through the keys and the translucent plating. Do note that with the Blue LED mode, you cannot use the key swapping and the Macro feature.
The Macro functionality built within the keyboard is not really all that awesome for intense gaming since they are only available for the function keys. Meaning that you have to stretch your fingers in order to use them. This is a personal complaint and I’m sure that keyboards with such Macro features located at the function keys are commonly used to store chatter and pressure-free in-game commands.
At 1, 560 PHP the ASUS Cerberus Keyboard is a symbol of what a budget gaming keyboard should be – with good features commonly found on higher end models. I’d say it is one of the best membrane based gaming oriented keyboards around the 1, 500 price bracket, and is a great starting point for gamers who wishes to expand their experience with features made strictly for them.
As for the Cerberus Gaming Mouse, I cannot simply recommend it. It may be comfortable, has braided cables, and is semi-ambidextrous but make no mistake that its high LOD sensor serves no purpose in competitive gaming that requires precision. At around 899 PHP you have to look for other options. Skip this one.
ASUS CERBERUS GAMING KEYBOARD |
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ASUS CERBERUS GAMING MOUSE |
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- PERFORMANCE
- BUILD QUALITY
- FEATURES
- AESTHETICS
- VALUE
Summary
At 1, 560 PHP the ASUS Cerberus Keyboard is a symbol of what a budget gaming keyboard should be – with good features commonly found on higher end models. I’d say it is one of the best membrane based gaming oriented keyboards around the 1, 500 price bracket, and is a great starting point for gamers who wishes to expand their experience with features made strictly for them.
Pros
- Attractive design
- Great sound quality
- Robust build
Cons
- Might not fit bigger heads
- Metal band can be annoying
- In-line mic isn't great
Key Specifications
- Review Price: £60
- 53mm drivers
- Weight: 344g
- Detachable boom mic + in-line clip-on mic
- 1.2m cable + 1.2mm splitter cable
- 3.5mm jack
- Three colour options
- In-line mic mute toggle + volume wheel
What is the Asus Cerberus V2?
Gaming headsets from big-brand computer companies are all the rage again, and Asus has re-entered the mid-range market with the Cerberus V2. It faces tough competition from the likes of HyperX, but with its stylish design and good audio quality, this is a top-notch stereo headset for those who want to step up their gaming audio without breaking the bank.
Related: Best gaming headsets for PC, PS4 and Xbox One
Asus Cerberus V2 – Design, build and comfort
The Cerberus V2 comes in three colour combinations. You can choose black with blue, red or green, so whether you’re a fan of Intel, AMD or Nvidia, your loyalties are very much covered. Asus sent me the green set for review and they’re certainly more distinctive than other headsets in this class.
The headset takes the form of a metal band that holds the lot together, a faux leather padded strap for weight distribution and fitting, and two earcups that are mostly made from plastic. It doesn’t look cheap by any means, although the black plastic earcups are probably the biggest hint as to its pricing when you get close up.
Thanks to the slightly elasticated headband, there’s no faff in adjusting this headset for your head size. Those with very large heads, however, might struggle to get this headset on because the fit is limited by the non-movable metal headband.
The cups have little flexibility, meaning they can’t be rotated to fit more easily into a bag. This is something the HyperX Cloud Stinger manages for £10 less, but that headset is also quite a lot smaller and designed for travelling, where the Cerberus V2 is very much a stay-at-home headset.
Fit is tight enough, and I’d be happy walking around with this headset on, plugged into my phone.
Comfort over long periods is pretty good. The faux-leather earcup pads do a fine job of keeping sweat away, and the cups themselves are large and airy enough to prevent overheating.
As for other features, there’s an in-line omnidirectional microphone on the braided 1.2m cable, along with a microphone mute toggle, a lapel clip and an output volume wheel. Along with the in-line mic, there’s a uni-directional boom mic with a foam shield to prevent popping and sibilance. The boom is detachable, which is a nice touch for when you don’t need to be voice chatting in-game.
If you’re using a computer with separate input and output jacks, Asus supplies an extra-long splitter cable that turns the single input/output 3.5mm jack into two separate 3.5mm connectors.
Related: Best gaming keyboard
Asus Cerberus V2 – Audio and microphone
A robust build only goes so far, and top-notch audio quality is a must for a £60 headset. Fortunately, the 53mm drivers are more than half decent, and put in solid performances in both games and music.
They tend towards slightly bassier performance than perhaps the keen audiophile would prefer, but for me the balance is just about fine. If you’re after a more finetuned music experience, certainly take a look at a dedicated pair of wired or wireless headphones.
From a gaming standpoint, I was very impressed. Playing hours of F1 2017, Codemasters’ work on improving the audio of this game was immediately obvious. The low rumble of the kerbs, the faint but useful sound of overstretched tyres along with the impending threat of the motors of faster rivals all add to the immersion.
Performance in more violent games is also excellent; I could hear threatening footsteps in Battlefield 1 multiplayer, as well as distant artillery fire in Men of War 2, all not only adding to atmosphere, but increasing my awareness and overall performance.
There’s one weird design flaw that occasionally affects the experience: because the headset’s band is made from stainless steel, if you happen to accidentally bash it with nearby objects (such as the wings of your chair’s headrest) you’ll get a rather unpleasant and loud metal clanging noise in your ears for around five seconds. It feels like this could have been fixed with just a tiny amount of damping where the band meets the earcups.
Microphone performance is good, not exceptional. The boom mic is clear, but it has a nasal quality and some background hiss that is common on cheaper headsets that means it’s probably not suitable for voiceovers or Twitch commentary. It’s fine for in-game chat, as the hiss dims whenever you actually speak.
It’s not immediately obvious, but the boom mic can only be attached at one specific angle; you have to line up the flat edges of the jack and the port on the headset. If you fail to do so, it’ll feel like the boom mic is attached but you’ll actually be channeling your voice through the in-line mic instead.
Asus Cerberus Software Price
The in-line mic is a bit muffled even when clipped to my shirt collar; your gaming pals probably won’t appreciate you using it for any length of time as the boom is substantially better. The built-in mute toggle works on both the boom mic and the in-line mic, which again isn’t clear but very useful nonetheless.
Audio quality overall will vary significantly depending on the device you’re using. Cheap laptop and PC audio connectors will introduce some static into the mix; this is particularly obvious with the microphone. If you want the best quality, consider a USB audio adapter to reduce interference.
Related: Best gaming mouse
Should I buy the Asus ROG Cerberus V2?
For £60 the Cerberus V2 headset is a decent little buy. It’s chunky and not particularly portable and its metal headband can be occasionally annoying, but audio quality and overall build more than make up for this.
Asus Cerberus Rgb Mechanical Keyboard Software
If you fancy something a bit smaller, more practical and cheaper, consider the HyperX Cloud Stinger.
Verdict
A big, robust mid-range headset with loads to like.
Trusted Score
Cerberus Keyboard Driver
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