Azeron Cyborg II Keypad vs Gaming Keyboard: Which provides better control and comfort?

Nov 27, 2025

Have you ever experienced limitations with your current gaming keyboard and are now exploring alternatives that offer better control mechanisms and comfort? Even though modern gaming keyboards offer fast mechanical switches and compact layouts (including TKL Keyboards), almost all PC keyboards share the same century-old QWERTY arrangement, originally designed for typewriters [5], not for controlling in-game characters.

The Azeron Cyborg II offers a unique solution. It can replace standard WASD key movement with a 360° Hall Effect thumbstick, freeing the three typical WASD fingers to access 22 mappable keys. The thumb controls the thumbstick and the remaining 8 inputs, providing up to 30 total inputs.

In this article, we will compare the Azeron Cyborg 2 keypad and traditional gaming keyboards across four critical areas: movement control, input capacity, speed, and sustained comfort, to determine which device objectively delivers better ergonomic comfort and input mechanisms. Let's dive into the most fundamental difference: control and movement.

Control and movement: WASD keys vs Analog thumbstick

The limitations of 8-way movement

For a long time, WASD keys have been the most convenient and ergonomic way to control characters in video games on the standard QWERTY layout [3]. W and S control forward and backward movement, while A and D control left and right [4]. The WASD control method on the keyboard remains popular and seems casual for PC gamers, but it has some limitations.

Azeron

Of course, it depends on what type of gaming keyboard model you use, but most of them operate similarly, with on/off switches, restricting WASD movement to 8-way directions, and a single movement speed (0% or 100%). In this case, you can either stay or move at maximum speed, without the option to move at a lower speed, except by using another command, which can impact the speed ("slow walk" or "crawl"). This binary system limits nuanced control, making precise and smooth actions much difficult [4]. Nowadays, there are games where the WASD layout can be very challenging if you need to move while pressing other commands simultaneously. Most of the time, you will be forced to change the hand posture to execute them. As a result, it can limit input capabilities and execution speed, sometimes making it impossible to do so.

For example, in Fortnite, continuously strafing left (A) or right (D) while executing complex build commands (Wall: Z, Floor: X, Stairs: C) is highly restricted because the same fingers needed for movement are blocked from performing these critical inputs.

Can this WASD paradigm be changed?

Analog thumbstick: the advantage of 360° movement

Console gamers are more familiar with analog movement, but now it is also available on PC. The Azeron Cyborg II keypad, as a keyboard and joystick hybrid, can actually overcome these WASD limitations, providing true analog thumbstick precision. Using magnetic Hall Effect sensors, this contactless technology delivers consistent performance with no stick drift and minimal dead zones [1]. If the game supports gamepads, the thumbstick can provide a full 360-degree movement freedom, enabling variable movement speed. It means you can tilt it slightly for slow movement or push it fully for maximum speed, providing console controller fluidity while maintaining the precision advantage of mouse aiming. This hybrid input method also allows you to free up WASD fingers, transferring movement controls completely to your thumb.

Azeron
Compatibility notes:
For true 360-degree analog control, the user should select “Xbox 360 Joystick” mode in the Azeron Software, which is only compatible with games that support gamepad input. While in “Keyboard” mode, it provides 8-way WASD movement but works universally across all games where the keyboard is enabled.

Xbox 360 joystick mode works best with games that support simultaneous input from multiple devices (for example, gamepad and mouse). Games without this support may exhibit control conflicts or interface glitches when inputs are detected from different sources.

Azeron 🔗Learn more about the Azeron Cyborg II keypad

Inputs and ergonomics: The advantage of adjustable keys

Fixed keys vs Adjustable keys

Most gaming keyboards follow a "one-size-fits-all" approach. Key positions and angles remain fixed, forcing your hand to adapt to the keyboard's design, which can create finger angles that can slowly cause tension and lead to repetitive strain injuries [2]. Studies show that gamers using traditional keyboards for extended sessions experience higher rates of RSI and hand fatigue [2].

Azeron

Unlike compact gaming keypads that look like mini mechanical keyboards, the Azeron Cyborg II features a completely different modular design built specifically around hand ergonomics. To perfectly adjust all the accessible inputs, the Cyborg II keypad allows players to customize:

- Thumbstick rotation and angle
- Tower angles and tops + distance from palmrest
- Angle between tower rails

Additionally, when ordering, you have the option to choose between curved and flat palmrests.

This adjustability ensures buttons align where your fingers naturally rest, eliminating stretching and reducing repetitive strain. The optional Azeron Adjustable Stand adds five angle settings (15°, 24°, 30°, 37°, 42°) for further wrist position optimization.

Why does wrist angle matter:

Your wrist should naturally stay straight and aligned with your forearm, not bend upward or sideways [6]. Flat keyboards force your wrist into an unnatural upward angle [7], which compresses nerves and strains tendons, causing the hand pain, numbness, and fatigue that gamers experience during extended sessions [8]. The adjustable stand's five angle settings allow you to find the best position for your wrist, so it stays naturally straight, preventing these issues [9].

Azeron
Image source: Cornell University Ergonomics Web

Unlocking 30 mappable inputs for faster reaction time

The necessity of continuous WASD movement locks 3–4 fingers into fixed positions, restricting simultaneous command execution. While up to 15–20 keys are technically accessible from the central WASD position, players can typically only release one or two fingers for other critical actions (like crouching, reloading, or activating abilities), often forcing movement to stop or change for a moment. The Azeron Cyborg II solves this by transferring all movement control entirely to your thumb.

The transformation:

- Input capacity expands from 15-20 keys to 30 mappable inputs accessible with minimal finger movement.
- Those 3-4 WASD freed up fingers gain unrestricted access to 22 mappable keys, allowing the execution of movement and complex abilities simultaneously.
- Commands execute instantly without hand repositioning, speeding up your reaction time.
- For players who play more competitive games, this ergonomic keypad design can provide sustained comfort, reducing the hand fatigue that traditional keyboards can impose [2].
- Flexibility to configure each input as keyboard keys, controller buttons, mouse inputs, or macros using Azeron Software.
- Onboard memory can store up to 6 keybind profiles directly on-device for instant game switching without software. However, you can store an unlimited number of keybind profiles (Software profiles) in Azeron Software on your PC.

Azeron 🔗Download optimized keybind profiles for popular games
🔗Join the Azeron Forum or Discord community for advice, tips, and experience exchange.

Conclusion: Cyborg II keypad vs gaming keyboard - which delivers better control and comfort?

In this Azeron Cyborg II keypad vs gaming keyboard analysis, the main differences come down to control mechanisms and ergonomic design.

Gaming keyboards excel at:
- Universal compatibility with all PC games
- Familiar WASD muscle memory for most players
- Lower learning curve for new users
- Durable and various types of mechanical switches (linear, tactile, and clicky)

Azeron Cyborg II keypad excels at:
- 360° analog movement via Hall Effect thumbstick
- 30 mappable inputs accessible without hand repositioning
- Fully adjustable key positions for personalized ergonomics
- Reduced repetitive strain during extended sessions
- Hybrid control combining gamepad fluidity with mouse precision

Azeron

The choice depends on your priorities:
- If you value traditional layouts and immediate compatibility, without a longer learning curve, gaming keyboards remain the best.
- If you seek superior movement control, expanded input capacity, and ergonomic customization, the Azeron Cyborg II can transform how you interact with games.
- For those who are experiencing hand fatigue, this comparison favors the Azeron Cyborg II keypad's adaptive design, particularly in game genres that require complex ability executions (MMORPGs) or instant reactions (FPS, MOBA, TPS).

Azeron project manager, gaming expert Daniel Payne, shares his experience:

"Despite using both a traditional gaming keyboard and the Cyborg II keypad, I admit that after spending time with the Cyborg II, going back to WASD feels 'weird and not in a good way.' The turning point came when ability demands increased in games like Path of Exile 2. After switching to the Azeron Cyborg II keypad, I logged 700+ hours without hand fatigue. I never touched the keyboard for that game again."