Verdict
One of the best gaming keyboards accessible proper now providing glorious construct high quality, infinite customisation choices and a few progressive new concepts.
Pros
Keys are absurdly responsive and ripe for customisation
OLED sensible show is compelling and properly executed
Robust and classy construct high quality
RGB lighting is delicate and explosive in equal measure
Cons
Making probably the most of its customisation options requires funding
Lacks dual-function keys
Key Specifications
Review Price: £199.99
Adjustable mechanical key switches
0.4 to 3.6mm actuation level
Aluminium chassis with magnetic wrist-rest
OLED Smart Display
Customisable RGB lighting
The SteelSeries Apex Pro is a premium gaming keyboard with a uncommon expertise: customisable actuation factors for each key.
While this received’t alter the texture of the keyboard, it’ll let you customise the sensitivity of every key. For instance, you might set the WASD keys to be tremendous delicate in order that they set off from the slightest of presses, whilst you may configure the ‘G’ key to require a deeper press to keep away from unintentional grenade tosses.
While this new gaming keyboard innovation is actually spectacular, it’s not fairly as fleshed out because the likes of the Wooting One or Razer Huntsman V2 Analog, which may bind a number of inputs to a single key at totally different actuation factors. But the SteelSeries Apex Pro is £50 cheaper than the latter, with an RRP of £199.99.
While it’s costly, the Apex Pro greater than justifies its asking worth with a variety of spectacular options and construct high quality that sits among the many increased echelon of units I’ve reviewed in recent times. Those in search of a cushty, sturdy and customisable keyboard of the best calibre needn’t look a lot additional than this.
Price and availability
The SteelSeries Apex Pro is out there proper now, from each the official SteelSeries retailer and third-party retailers akin to Amazon.
The Apex Pro is formally priced at £199.99/$199.99/€229.99, though it’s doable to get it even cheaper from the likes of Amazon Renewed.
Design and construct – Stylish, sturdy and endlessly customisable
A £200 gaming keyboard clearly geared toward fans
Sports an aluminium alloy body described as “aircraft” grade
Comes with an elective magnetic wrist-rest for further consolation
Upon eradicating it from the packaging, the Apex Pro left an instantly placing impression. It possesses a notable heft, touchdown on my desk with a ‘thunk’ as I plugged it in and was greeted by a beautiful show of RGB lighting. The aluminium-alloy body has been described as “aircraft” grade, which means it may possible stand up to quite a lot of punishment, though I wouldn’t advocate hurling it towards a wall in order for you all of the keys to stay intact.
That apart, figuring out the Apex Pro will definitely final via a good quantity of damage and tear makes it really feel like a premium product, a aspect additional bolstered by its slick OLED sensible show, scroll wheel and assortment of different options that elevate it above a regular gaming keyboard. You’ll additionally discover a USB passthrough port on the again, very best for plugging in controllers or different units that could be eliminated in fast succession.
You can customise the aforementioned OLED show with a variety of totally different statistics, and even modify it your self to show bespoke photographs or textual content to suit your preferences. I’ll admit, it’s a reasonably pointless characteristic for almost all of players, however when used accurately, it’s a delightfully complimentary factor that I’ve come to understand throughout my time with it.
By customary, the OLED display screen will flip between the present temperature and utilization of your GPU, CPU and RAM. This is nice for testing how exhausting the most recent video games may be pushing your rig, or evaluating what number of Google Chrome tabs it might stand up to earlier than buckling.
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Delve into the customisation settings, nonetheless, and this show turns into an awesome basket of prospects. It can be utilized to indicate your present music, management the actuation factors of various keys, and even provide a simple solution to swap between totally different profiles on the contact of a button
You can even regulate quantity and pause movies and different media with the scroll wheel and accompanying button. It solely takes up a small quantity of the keyboard’s general actual property, however this sensible show is arguably what makes the Apex Pro stand out subsequent to a lot of the competitors. Animated GIFs and pictures may even be transplanted onto the show, however such a feat would require plentiful willpower and very small customized decision codecs.
Performance – A gaming keyboard that sits on the prime of the pile
Actuation level may be customised for each key
Key actuation factors vary from 0.4 to 3.6mm
Smart show creates a compelling multimedia expertise
The SteelSeries Apex Pro is definitely among the best gaming keyboards I’ve used in recent times, possessing so many distinctive options and a blazing quick efficiency that it’s truthfully exhausting to fault.
The keyboard is constructed utilizing SteelSeries’ distinct OmniPoint switches. These boast a really snappy 0.7 millisecond response time, with an actuation level of simply 0.4 millimetres. As a end result, the Apex Pro feels supremely satisfying to make use of every day, whether or not smacking 1000’s of phrases into Google Docs, or enjoying just a few rounds of Overwatch within the night. This isn’t merely a peripheral for players, though it actually leans closely in that route.
Each key options an actuation level starting from 0.4 to 3.6mm, which may be customised to your liking. Bespoke actuation factors housed in their very own switchable profiles might be very best for players who’re critically particular in regards to the responsiveness of their keyboard. For instance, aggressive gamers may have one profile centered on Overwatch, whereas one other may be devoted to League of Legends. Switching between them is carried out with a few button presses, as long as every part is confirmed in SteelSeries Engine beforehand.
It’s comparatively seamless, and the distinction you can also make in how keys reply to your contact is genuinely astonishing at occasions. More informal players will possible be proud of the Apex Pro’s default setup, because it feels completely snappy outdoors of the field with minimal fiddling, though ignoring this characteristic arguably defeats the purpose of shopping for such an costly peripheral.
The solely main subject right here is that customising the actuation level for each key for particular person video games generally is a prolonged and intimidating course of, so it’s in all probability finest reserved in your most performed video games. The added time required to make use of this keyboard to its full potential would possibly deter some, however I actually assume the additional little bit of schooling is greater than worthwhile. However, it’s a disgrace which you can’t bind two capabilities to a single key like you possibly can with the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog and Wooting One.
SteelSeries has stated the Apex Pro will stand up to over 100 million keypresses, so count on to maintain it round for years to return upon throwing down £200. I’ve been utilizing it for a number of weeks now, and I haven’t seen any drop in efficiency or ease of use. If something, the Apex Pro has solely grown extra intuitive as I’ve begun to gel with its distinctive design sensibilities, solely strengthened additional by delicate but sturdy keys that enable me to sort at blistering speeds with little to no errors.
Software and lighting – Gorgeous RGB show with loads of room to experiment
The RGB customisation choices are nearly limitless
You can have it sync to music and a choice of video games
Easy to mess around with in SteelSeries Engine
The Apex Pro’s RGB lighting possesses the identical stage of absurd customisation because the keys themselves, with your whole choices being housed in SteelSeries’ bespoke programme. It’s simple to make use of, permitting you to register a variety of profiles, every with their very own distinct lighting patterns. Individual keys may be adorned with their very own color, so you might doubtlessly make any picture you want, as long as it labored inside the area provided.
RGB lighting may be made to pulse or explode in a cavalcade of vibrant colors if you happen to so want, and even pulse alongside music, video games and purposes to make the expertise extra immersive. Once once more, you’ll have to dedicate a little bit of your individual time to learn the way the Apex Pro works finest, however for my part it’s definitely worth the funding. This is a few of the finest RGB lighting I’ve seen on a gaming keyboard in a while, proving itself to be each explosive and delicate in equal measure.
SteelSeries Apex Pro conclusion
The SteelSeries Apex Pro is a unbelievable gaming keyboard, that includes quick and snappy mechanical switches, whereas additionally bragging progressive options akin to configurable actuation factors and an OLED show.
It’s a disgrace that the Apex Pro misses out on dual-key capabilities, making the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog a extra tempting proposition if you happen to’re ready to fork out an additional £50, but the SteelSeries Apex Pro continues to be one of many best possible gaming keyboard choices you possibly can at the moment purchase.
You can purchase the SteelSeries Apex Pro if…
You need among the best gaming keyboards roundThe SteelSeries Apex Pro has obtained important reward from gamers and critics alike, and such reception is greater than deserved. If you need among the best keyboards accessible proper now, that is one properly value contemplating.
Customisation is vital to youThis is a keyboard that provides a strong stage of customisation, not just for its RGB lighting, but in addition for the actuation of the keys themselves. You can dig extremely deep right here if you happen to so want, so this might be one for hardcore tech followers.
You’re a aggressive participantThe capacity to modify between totally different efficiency profiles on the contact of a button makes the Apex Pro a great keyboard for aggressive players. It’s sharp, correct and cozy to make use of in a approach that will vastly profit such an atmosphere.
You shouldn’t purchase the SteelSeries Apex Pro if…
Price is an obstacleComing in at £200, this can be a very high-end gaming keyboard, and truthfully gives an expertise that displays such an asking worth. But in order for you one thing cheaper, there are many nice choices on the market.
You need one thing simpleA time funding is required to make use of the SteelSeries Apex Pro to its full potential, so customers in search of a keyboard that’s merely “plug in and play” would possibly wish to look elsewhere. That being stated, the vanilla providing right here stays beautiful regardless of this.
You need twin capabilities per keyThe SteelSeries Apex Pro has an abundance of options, however misses out on the potential of assigning two capabilities to a single key with differing actuation factors. If you’re keen to spend further for this characteristic, try the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog.
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Gaming Editor
Jade is the Gaming Editor at TechSwitch. She handles all issues gaming whether or not it’s information, evaluations, occasions or foolish options. Seen at retailers akin to MTV UK, Kotaku and TechSwitch (clearly…
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