SteelSeries Apex Pro (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review

Name: SteelSeries Apex Pro
Item: SteelSeries Apex Pro
Rating: 9.6
Author: Issac

Product Information:

Official Store: https://steelseries.com/gaming-keyboards/apex-pro

The first gaming keyboard with OmniPoint switches - providing useful customization or just another gimmick? Let's find out!

attachFull210362

SteelSeries want to bring a new level of customization to the table with its flagship mechanical gaming keyboard, the Apex Pro - sporting their OmniPoint switches on the majority of the keyboard. What are those switches, you ask? They are mechanical switches with an analogue Hall Effect magnetic sensor, that measure the current produced by a magnetic field in each switch. What does this mean? It means that you can decide when you want the switch to trigger, by setting the actuation point to your desired height. It also means that there is no mechanical trigger point that gets worn down, so SteelSeries guarantees 100 million key presses, but it could surely outperform that. These switches are only available on the main keyboard area, below the F-keys and to the left of the arrow keys. The rest of the keyboard has linear red switches which has a very similar tactile feeling, but not an adjustable actuation point (2 mm). Not only are you able to set the actuation point for all the keys as a group, but you can set it on each individual key. Want shallow actuation on movement and crouching buttons, and really deep actuation on the grenade throwing button? No problem. Do you type medium hard on all the keys but press the space bar a little bit too lightly, like me? Make the space bar more sensitive.

Actuation is set up as an arbitrary number from 1 to 10, in integer steps. That resolution is good, but it would be nice to know what those numbers mean. From my experience, it feels like "5" corresponds to 2 mm actuation by comparing to the non OmniPoint switches.

attachFull215167

These switches are the "Pro" part of the Apex line of keyboards, which all feature a couple of eye-catching features: A small OLED display and a scrolling wheel (the only exception is that the Apex 3 does not include the screen). What can these be used for? One big use is to help set up the actuation points. You are able to view the actuation live, to see when it actually triggers. It was easy for me to see how I tend to press the space bar lightly, or rather at one side, so I could pick an actuation point that suited me perfectly. You can also use it to pick various profiles and settings, like the back light of the screen. You can also do most of this in the included mandatory software except monitoring the actuation and setting the back light of the screen. The screen can also be used to show some stats in a few games, like K/D ratios in CS:GO, for example. But the selection of supported games and applications are very limited, and this feels like a lot of wasted potential. In a current update that was released while writing this review, you got the ability to display the workload on your GPU, CPU and RAM. Personally I would love to be able to see the currently playing song, or the volume (which can be controlled with the scroll wheel), but this is only possible if you use Tidal. There is no support for any other media player, so the only use this screen has for me when I'm not tinkering with the settings is to scroll the GBAtemp logo.

The keyboard body is made out of aircraft grade aluminum alloy and is sturdy beyond belief--no twisting or creaking when moving it around or hammering down on the keys. Together with the rubberized magnetic wrist rest, this brings an incredible feeling of high quality. The rest stays securely attached to the keyboard, yet is very easy to remove and reapply. The only deviation is that the keycaps are ABS plastic instead of PBT, which might have an impact on the perceived quality. The keycaps have the letters in the proper top left corner instead of centered in the middle of each key, which feels just right, and show the RGB light effects really well. Yes, this keyboard is jam packed with RGB lights too, with plenty of effects and settings to play around with! Each individual key can get a custom static color or any effects you wish, or certain sections, or the whole keyboard, only your imagination is the limit. What's great about this is that it can be saved into five on-board profiles or an infinite amount of profiles in the computer software. These profiles can also be linked to applications or games, so that they load up automatically - super useful to highlight the tool shortcuts in Photoshop, the WSAD keys in games, or just about anything you can imagine. These profiles can also include the custom actuation points, of course.

attachFull215170

There are a few games and applications that are supported for the RGB lights as well, like having the number row display your health in Minecraft, and lighting up the arrow keys as a compass. Having the numpad flash orange if you get a notification on Discord, and having the number row correspond to different people in a voice chat, lighting up when they speak. With only 18 games and applications supported at the time of writing, this too feel like a feature that isn't more than a tech demo. You can tinker and make your own apps for the SteelSeries Engine, but the documentation is fairly lacking and it feels like you have to implement the support when developing your own game, rather than creating a third party app for an already existing game or software.

The last thing to mention about customization is that you can bind any key to either a macro, another key, or a function. Do you want to change your QWERTY layout to an AZERTY or even DVORAK? It's perfectly possible, just note that the height of each keycap is set for the default layout. There is a SteelSeries button which gives you the option to create even more hotkeys and bindings--"Meta Bindings." There are five that are default: changing profile, triggering / recording macros, lowering and raising the light intensity, and "gaming mode," which just disables the Windows-key. All of these hotkeys light up in a bright red color when you hold down the SteelSeries button, so you will easily see which keys you have used already and which are free, and in the case of the Windows-key, it will change from red to blue when it's activated.

attachFull215168

The keyboard is connected with a really thick and stiff USB cable that splits into two USB connectors - one for the keyboard itself, and one for a pass-through, lit up USB port located on the left side of the keyboard, between the ESC and F1 buttons. I would personally have preferred a braided cord, but unlike a mouse, you don't move around the keyboard that often so it's not a big deal.

All in all, it's an extremely well-made keyboard, perfect if you like red linear switches. Pricey but well worth the investment considering how long these switches will last (infinitely, in theory). I just wish the display would be used for more things or easier to develop for. Highly recommended!

Tech Specs

Number of Keys: 105 keys (Nordic ISO layout)
Switches: 44x SteelSeries QX2 Red Linear Switches (actuation at 2 mm, total travel 4 mm)
Switches: 61x SteelSeries OmniPoint Linear Switches (actuation at 0.4 - 3.6 mm, total travel 4 mm)
N-Key Roll Over: 105 Key
Anti-ghosting: 100%
Body Material: Aircraft grade aluminum alloy frame and top (plastic backside)
Keycap Material: ABS
Available in American and UK English, French, German and Nordic layouts at the time of writing, with Japanese, Thai, Korean and Taiwanese on the way.
Connection: 2x USB (one for the keyboard, one for pass-through USB connection)
Compatible System: Mac, Windows, Xbox One, PlayStation 4
Dimension: 437 x 140 x 40 mm (210 mm depth with wristrest)
Weight: About 970g / 2.14 lbs

attachFull215173

Package Contents

1 x Keyboard
1 x Magnetic wristrest
1 x Product information guide

Verdict

What We Liked ...

Oozes quality through and through
Incredible customization options
Adjustable actuation points
Will last for ages

What We Didn't Like ...

High price point
Underutilized display
Not all keys have OmniPoint switches

9.6

out of 10

Overall

If you are a fan of linear switches, this is the keyboard for you. Well worth the investment if you are serious about quality and customization. If only the display had more functionality for your everyday usage, this would receive a perfect score.

Reactions: maoglabe88 and Chary

omni what

Owenge
Aug 10, 2020

I have the apex 7 tkl, the build quality is insane. And I love the gateron red switches as well.

Reactions: Issac

Issac
Aug 10, 2020

Owenge said:
I have the apex 7 tkl, the build quality is insane. And I love the gateron red switches as well.

Yeah, I am really blown away by the build quality! These red switches are also perfect for me, who don't enjoy too noisy keyboards.

Reactions: Owenge

Owenge
Aug 11, 2020

Issac said:
Yeah, I am really blown away by the build quality! These red switches are also perfect for me, who don't enjoy too noisy keyboards.

The linear switches are just... mmm

Reviews

Hardware
MelGeek CYBER01 Magnetic Switch Rapid Trigger Gaming Keyboard

Today for review, we’ll be taking a look at the latest gaming keyboard from Meltek, the CYBER01 magnetic switch offering!
Hardware
GEEKOM XT12 Pro Mini PC

Claimed to be the world's most cost-effecient i9 Mini PC, we check out the latest from Geekom.
Hardware
Kospet Tank T3 Ultra

Tough enough to navigate and conquer the rugged wilderness.
PlayStation 5
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants

The Turtles are back for their umpteenth game outing, but is this one worth it?
PlayStation 5
Alone in the Dark (2024)

Alone in the Dark is a Survival Horror game available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X and PC.

More reviews

Product Information:

Tech Specs

Verdict

Overall

MelGeek CYBER01 Magnetic Switch Rapid Trigger Gaming Keyboard

GEEKOM XT12 Pro Mini PC

Kospet Tank T3 Ultra

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Arcade: Wrath of the Mutants

Alone in the Dark (2024)