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0 What’s that I hear you exclaim? More SteelSeries hardware on the site! It sure is! This time is the turn of the Apex Pro Gen 3 Keyboard. Retailing at around £225 on the SteelSeries website, the keyboard certainly isn’t cheap. However, it does constantly remind you that it is a quality product.
Is This The New Apex Predator?
Just what does this new keyboard have under the hood? Let’s check it out!
Design Features
Let’s start with just how much has gone into the build quality of the Apex Pro Gen 3. With so many layers, you could mistake it for an opera cake. Well, not quite, but there is still a fair amount to go through. With a triple-layer sound-dampening foam, designed to keep the typing experience nice and crisp. Alongside per-key lubrication, which means that each key feels smooth and responsive. SteelSeries has even added stabilisers to reduce keycap wobble.
Each key is also RGB-lit, meaning way more options when it comes to the bright lights. Create a matching setup by choosing from 16.8 million colours, and you can even match your theme across other devices using Prism. Talking about keys, at the top of the Apex Pro Gen 3 is the command centre. Comprised of a little OLED Smart Screen, which, when paired with the roller and button next to it, let’s you edit your settings on the fly. Whether you want to change the activation point of the key or even set up some new macros, it can all be done quickly and efficiently. Even better you won’t have to interrupt whatever you are currently doing.
If you play a lot of fast-paced shooters, then one mode you will enjoy is the SteelSeries exclusive feature, Protection Mode. This mode helps reduce accidental key presses by reducing the sensitivity of selected keys around where you are currently pressing. This effectively prevents you from accidentally pressing down on a key and instead means that you need to be more purposeful with your key press.
Keys Are On Point…
One of the biggest selling points of the Apex Pro Gen 3 is the OmniPoint 3.0 switches. The redesigned Hall Effect Switches are the most technically advanced you can get. Featuring a couple of great functions like Rapid Trigger, but also being adjustable to activate anywhere between 0.1mm to 4.0mm. Meaning however you like to press, you can get that perfect balance.
Rapid Trigger is something I’ve not experienced a lot of; it eliminates the latency from releasing a key, so as soon as it’s released, it is active again. Then you have the Rapid Tap, which allows you to overlap your key presses. Previously, if you pressed A to run left and then D to run right, you had to release one before the other would activate. With Rapid Tap, it doesn’t need to release the previous key. You can only create 5 pairs using the software, but this is all you need to ensure that you are always fast and on your game.
Another near function that can be incredibly useful is the 2-in-1 Action Keys. So, take, for example, a movement key, W. Normally, you would press this to run, and you would have another button for walk, and possibly another for sprint. With the 2-in-1 Action Keys, you could set W to both run and sprint. Depress it slightly, even with the lightest of touches, and you just run. Fully depress it, and it could trigger a sprint. Giving you way more control over some potentially advanced combos.
Customisation
Alongside the RGB customisation, there is also a whole host of presets available to you. Choosing from a library of games it will give you some nice presets to make use of. You can even create your own if there isn’t something just right.
When you purchase your Apex Pro Gen 3 it comes in a few variants as well. We were provided with the full size model; however, a TKL and a 60% variant exist. You also get to pick your keyboard language (layout). We were sent the US English version; however, there are also French, German, Nordic, and UK English options. Meaning you can get the right setup for your locale.
The only negative point about this keyboard may well be that it is wired only. Now personally I don’t mind a wired keyboard, but there are people out there that love going for the wire free aesthetic. This one might not be to your liking.
Final Thoughts
Having used pretty much the majority of the top-tier keyboards, it was great to finally get fingers on with a SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3. Thankfully, it lived up to the hype and delivered in pretty much every way.
With a whole host of features designed to amplify your gaming experience and a build quality that oozes high-quality. This keyboard is setting the new standard for what I want out of a gaming keyboard. Sure, it won’t be to everyone’s standards, but from my point of view, it’s practically perfect.
The SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 gets the Thumb Culture Platinum Award.
Disclaimer: A sample was received to write this review.
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