Looking for a more comfortable, ergonomic, and efficient way to play your favorite PC games? If you are tired of struggling to quickly and effectively reach all the keys you need when you are playing games like Fortnite or Call of Duty, you may have taken an interest in the gaming keypads developed by Azeron. In this article, we take an in-depth look at the Azeron Compact Gaming Keypad. We’ll discuss its overall construction, its customization features, its ease-of-use, and its pros and cons.
What is the Azeron Compact Gaming Keypad?
I’ve never been a fan of gaming with a traditional keyboard. That was true even back when I was playing older FPS games that didn’t require much more than the standard WASD.
But with current games, the traditional keyboard is even more problematic. When I started playing Fortnite, I was overwhelmed trying to reach all the key binds while still managing the WASD movements. But now, that is a problem of the past, thanks to the Azeron Compact Gaming Keypad.
The Azeron Compact Gaming Keypad looks pretty bizarre—but its form is built entirely around its function. It is an alternative to the traditional keyboard designed for the left or right hand (you choose) which puts all the keys you need within direct reach.
There is also an Azeron Classic Gaming Keypad; obviously the Compact version is a little bit smaller.
I was thrilled to get a chance to test out and review the left-handed version of the Compact keypad. I was hopeful it would solve some of my Fornite woes, and it did.
Overall Design and Appearance
Like I said, the Azeron Compact Gaming Keypad looks pretty weird—but also really cool! It features a palmrest similar to a mouse; you can choose between flat or curved and medium or large. I picked the medium curved version and found it very comfortable.
There are keys surrounding each of your fingers so you can push your fingers down, forward, back or to the side. You can choose the colors you want for the keys. There is also a 5-way hat and an analog stick.
The USB cord that comes with the keypad is long. I did not need to grab another one.
Controls and Customization
In total, there are 24 keys within easy reach on this device. As I mentioned, you can reach most of them by just nudging your fingers in the wells, but an extra row across the top offers you four additional keys that you can reach just by extending your fingers upwards.
All these keys are programmable. So you can set them up as you need them for whatever games you are playing. They can function as keyboard buttons, mouse buttons, or controller buttons. As to the analog stick, you can use that for your movements if you want, or stick with the keys for that if you prefer.
Not only that, but you can store two profiles on the keypad and switch between them anytime. So, that is ideal if you want to have two maps stored for different games, or if you have two users who want to share the keypad.
Ease-of-Use and Ergonomics
Now, what is impressive about the Azeron Compact keypad is that the customization goes way beyond simple key mapping.
You can physically adjust the all the components of the device for the exact lengths and angles you need for your hand. You then can open up the software and optimize the analog stick’s rotation to suit you. Pretty cool!
I’m going to be honest. I did not learn how to use this keypad in an instant. In fact, it took me a few weeks to really get my muscle memory to align to it.
But now, I love it. I barely have to move my fingers at all while playing. With all the customization, it feels like this device was made personally for me, mapped to both my hand and my preferences as to what feels intuitive for me.
Has my performance improved in Fortnite? Well, I’m still not the world’s best player, but I am a bit faster, and I am screwing up a lot less. I used to push the wrong keys by mistake a lot while straining to reach with my regular keyboard—or I’d suddenly stop moving while trying to get at a key bind. That doesn’t happen anymore. I don’t hit the wrong keys nearly as often, and I certainly don’t stop moving in the middle of a fight.
Pros of the Azeron Compact Gaming Keypad:
- You can customize the mapping and the fit. By the time you have finished, you will feel like you have your own personalized bespoke keypad.
- Everything you need is within instant reach. Even the top row of keys is easy to reach; everything else is almost effortless.
- This is a more ergonomic way to play. With a regular keyboard, you have to position the keyboard and the mouse oddly to fit them both in front of you. This keypad gets rid of that issue. Traditional keyboards were not made for gaming. This device is.
- You can enhance your performance. Reaching keys is much faster with this keypad. You are less likely to hit incorrect keys as well.
- The overall experience of gaming with this keypad is more immersive. I am able to think less consciously about what I am doing with my hand, and just focus on the action in the game.
Cons of the Azeron Compact Gaming Keypad:
- A couple of my keys feel a bit flimsy. They seem sturdy enough for now, but I don’t know if they will continue working over the long haul. I could just be paranoid though.
Our Verdict
I am really glad I got the chance to try out the Azeron Compact Gaming Keypad. Aside from not being sure about the longevity of some of the keys yet, I am in love with this keypad. It is comfortable, intuitive, and customizable on a level I have never experienced before. It isn’t just optimized for gaming—it is optimized for how you game. If you are sick of the problems of gaming with a regular keyboard, give it a try. I think you’ll be amazed by what a quality of life improvement it is.