SteelSeries Apex 3 Gaming Keyboard

At first, this keyboard was just a replacement purchase. The free one I got with my PC years ago finally gave out, so I ducked into PBTech to buy a new one. I spied this keyboard with a very attractive 'on sale' tag adorning its position on the shelf, so without thinking too hard, I bought it. I've only had it for a couple of weeks, but I can say for certain it's the best keyboard I've ever used. It's not as flash as other gaming keyboards with their many programmable buttons, but it's very comfy, doesn't make a racket when you type, and it actually looks pretty nice to boot. I never really thought of keyboard quality until I bought this, and now I can really feel the difference when I use the cheap ones at work. It just feels NICE to use, and I'm very happy that I ... MoreAt first, this keyboard was just a replacement purchase. The free one I got with my PC years ago finally gave out, so I ducked into PBTech to buy a new one. I spied this keyboard with a very attractive 'on sale' tag adorning its position on the shelf, so without thinking too hard, I bought it. I've only had it for a couple of weeks, but I can say for certain it's the best keyboard I've ever used. It's not as flash as other gaming keyboards with their many programmable buttons, but it's very comfy, doesn't make a racket when you type, and it actually looks pretty nice to boot. I never really thought of keyboard quality until I bought this, and now I can really feel the difference when I use the cheap ones at work. It just feels NICE to use, and I'm very happy that I have it. Onya, Steelseries.

A Better Typing Experience Than Corsair K70 MKIISE

I bought this keyboard to use at work. I spend most of my day sending and replying to emails, writing content and coding HTML. It is a very pleasant keyboard to type on for long periods of time. The keys are quiet enough for the office. The included magnetic wrist wrest is a very nice accessory. The attached cable is good quality and can be routed to the left or right in the cable routing channels on the underside of the keyboard. Very nice feature! For the price, I would say that this keyboard is a tremendous value.

A high-average keyboard with bad software.

Overall: The keyboard is solidly constructed but somewhat smaller than expected, making it a little harder to get used to. Bottons offer solid, tactile, immediate, and QUIET response. I tested out the various color switches, and TBH, there's only a couple of % separating this dome switch keyboard from the brown or blue switch ones; not enough difference to be worth the racket those things make. It's also higher than it really should be, which means that you will likely have to use the wrist support provided (because they know their product has an issue), unless you don't have rooom for it, it which case, train your wrists to stay straight, right? The backlighting comes in lots of pretty colors, which TBH, I couldn't care less about. While the keys are backlit, ... MoreOverall: The keyboard is solidly constructed but somewhat smaller than expected, making it a little harder to get used to. Bottons offer solid, tactile, immediate, and QUIET response. I tested out the various color switches, and TBH, there's only a couple of % separating this dome switch keyboard from the brown or blue switch ones; not enough difference to be worth the racket those things make. It's also higher than it really should be, which means that you will likely have to use the wrist support provided (because they know their product has an issue), unless you don't have rooom for it, it which case, train your wrists to stay straight, right? The backlighting comes in lots of pretty colors, which TBH, I couldn't care less about. While the keys are backlit, Unfortunately, the lighting is zonal, and not particularly brilliant, so not too much makes it up through the keys... which is really why I bought it in the first place. It got better after I color shifted the whole thing to "white," which is actually a "whitish-blue," because somebody is using older LEDs. The surface is mat-black hard plastic, which, unlike the stupid rubberized coatings, can actually be cleaned without becoming a gummy nightmare. Fingerprints and tears caused by gaming losses are easily removed. You'll need that, as EVERYTHING leaves prints. Good thing it's water-resistant. All in all, it's a slightly unusually sized solid keyboard with average back-lighting and no inovation whatsoever. There is one item of particular note that bothers me, however: The GG (DL) software is simply a way to track you around... you don't need it at all. One would think that a Danish hardware company could write a decent software program, but the basic Engine software (DL) is a programming joke. Is is intuitive? Sure. Can you use it to change the lighting pattern? Yes. Sometimes. When it feels like it. It seems to be confused by the zone thing, so sometimes, you have to back up to where it lists your "gear" to get it to work. Furthermore, there is nothing under the settings button that I could see. There are boxes to click and buttons that should say SOMETHING, but don't. I even went looking for older versions to make certain it wasn't just an issue with their latest. Nope. Not a single one of them is correctly programmed. It's an RGB keyboard. I'm already embarrased to own it, so the least they could do is get the software right, because it's half the purchase, and the only thing that justifies the price. Support? What's that? Overall, it's a beautiful, well-made keyboard with some nice features, but the keys that are just a tad small. The backlight doesn't quite get where it needs to be (it's a keyboard, not a float at the Disneyland Light Parade). The (DL) Engine software program brings shame to the Danish software engineers at SteelSeries.

A piece of plastic with cheap Christmas lights

To start off, I liked my MSI laptop that was equipped with the Steelseries keyboard and software on it. Because of that I decided to buy myself one of their keyboards. But, it turns out I wasn't what I was exactly going to expect. The first for most is that you there aren't a lot of RGB modes you can change this into. I wanted it to change to audio visualizer but it doesn't have that. Except, have it shift from vertical or horizontally. I bought his a couple of years ago so I don't know if they updated the software? Second is the material feels really cheap and flimsy not very clickable and feels like one those cheap standard keyboards you could easily get for $20 or less. I don't even appraise this for being $50. This keyboard should be worth $15 or less. If your ... MoreTo start off, I liked my MSI laptop that was equipped with the Steelseries keyboard and software on it. Because of that I decided to buy myself one of their keyboards. But, it turns out I wasn't what I was exactly going to expect. The first for most is that you there aren't a lot of RGB modes you can change this into. I wanted it to change to audio visualizer but it doesn't have that. Except, have it shift from vertical or horizontally. I bought his a couple of years ago so I don't know if they updated the software? Second is the material feels really cheap and flimsy not very clickable and feels like one those cheap standard keyboards you could easily get for $20 or less. I don't even appraise this for being $50. This keyboard should be worth $15 or less. If your looking for a keyboard for a economical price better than this one I recommend getting the Razer Cynosa. Really great keyboard packed with a lot of features. Check that one out.

Decent Keyboard For The Price

I'm not a gamer, but I have a preference for using a lighted keyboard on my business computer. I've owned this keyboard for about two weeks now and this is my experience so far. PROS: The keyboard is relatively quiet. In fact, it quieter than the last couple of keyboards I've owned that were much pricier. I have not experienced any keying errors or missed strokes. So whatever keys I press, it records it with 100% accuracy. I paid $40 for this keyboard and I feel like it is a decent deal. However, I have only owned it for two weeks. I'll have to see how long it lasts. CONS: The lighted letters and characters on the keys are a little dim, even at the brightest setting. The SHIFT key characters are displayed at the bottom of each key, not at the top where they normally ... MoreI'm not a gamer, but I have a preference for using a lighted keyboard on my business computer. I've owned this keyboard for about two weeks now and this is my experience so far. PROS: The keyboard is relatively quiet. In fact, it quieter than the last couple of keyboards I've owned that were much pricier. I have not experienced any keying errors or missed strokes. So whatever keys I press, it records it with 100% accuracy. I paid $40 for this keyboard and I feel like it is a decent deal. However, I have only owned it for two weeks. I'll have to see how long it lasts. CONS: The lighted letters and characters on the keys are a little dim, even at the brightest setting. The SHIFT key characters are displayed at the bottom of each key, not at the top where they normally are. That can be a little confusing. This is my biggest pet peeve. The CAPS LOCK light is hidden behind the numeric keypad. The SCROLL LOCK light and the W light (what's that for?) are hidden behind the numeric keypad as well. Unless you type with the keyboard directly under your nose, you'll have to physically lean forward to see which lights are on. That can be a little annoying. I happen to type with the keyboard about 6" in front of me and I cannot tell if those lights are on or off. That is a design flaw on this keyboard. I have included a photo to show the keyboard from my perspective. The hidden lights are right below the steelseries logo on the right side of the photo. The proper placement of the lights should be ABOVE the logo, not below it. I'll rate this keyboard 4 out of 5 stars.

Good but...

New keyboard arrived today. It has a nice tactile feel to it and keys are responsive, especially compared to the Razer I just dumped into the trash. Not sure if it's me, the letters seem quite big for a smaller size keyboard; easy to see though. Couple of things, can't tell if the caps lock is on - the light sits behind the numlock key and you cant see it without peering over the top. Did not even notice the multimedia wheel and would not have known it was there had I not had the little booklet in my hand. Comes with a rather carnival multi-light set up but I cant be bothered downloading software for it right now. This is as I said, smaller than I expected, it's like a 3/4 size, whether that causes issues gaming hard out, we'll see. Oh, as one other reviewer said, ... MoreNew keyboard arrived today. It has a nice tactile feel to it and keys are responsive, especially compared to the Razer I just dumped into the trash. Not sure if it's me, the letters seem quite big for a smaller size keyboard; easy to see though. Couple of things, can't tell if the caps lock is on - the light sits behind the numlock key and you cant see it without peering over the top. Did not even notice the multimedia wheel and would not have known it was there had I not had the little booklet in my hand. Comes with a rather carnival multi-light set up but I cant be bothered downloading software for it right now. This is as I said, smaller than I expected, it's like a 3/4 size, whether that causes issues gaming hard out, we'll see. Oh, as one other reviewer said, it's relatively quiet as well.

Gorgeous, vibrant colours! Lovely soft touch.

This is a beautiful keyboard! There are several things I love. First, the colours are just so vivid and bright that they are clearly visible even during the day; at nighttime they are stunning. To my eyes, it's about 10x brighter than the KeyChron K10. When I come into my office in the morning I feel joyful just seeing the bright colours! The bright, backlit colours also make it easy to work on the keyboard in my home office in the evenings, even when the lights are off. Second, the fonts on each key are really large and easy to read. Third, the keyboard has a smooth, soft, buttery touch that I really like - more like a soft Mac keyboard that a harsh mechanical keyboard. Fourth, it's quiet to use, so I don't disturb my colleagues. BTW, I am not a gamer - I use this ... MoreThis is a beautiful keyboard! There are several things I love. First, the colours are just so vivid and bright that they are clearly visible even during the day; at nighttime they are stunning. To my eyes, it's about 10x brighter than the KeyChron K10. When I come into my office in the morning I feel joyful just seeing the bright colours! The bright, backlit colours also make it easy to work on the keyboard in my home office in the evenings, even when the lights are off. Second, the fonts on each key are really large and easy to read. Third, the keyboard has a smooth, soft, buttery touch that I really like - more like a soft Mac keyboard that a harsh mechanical keyboard. Fourth, it's quiet to use, so I don't disturb my colleagues. BTW, I am not a gamer - I use this for work like Python coding and financial analysis. But I'm so glad I bought it as it's made my work a lot more productive and pleasurable. By way of background info, I'd previously bought a KeyChron K10 mechanical gaming keyboard from another store, but hated it for three reasons: the colours were so muted they were barely visible even in a darkened room; the fonts were so tiny I could barely read them; and it was so clunky and noisy to use that my work really slowed down. The Steel Series was what I bought instead, and it solves all the problems with KeyChron.

Great Keyboard - Great Value!

A couple of years ago I decided to spend a few bucks on my office setup to make it more comfortable considering how much time I spend there. I game on a Logitech G815 at home but was not looking to spend that much money. I tried a Logitech G613 and was extremely unimpressed. A few things about the Apex 3 caught my eye: the price, quiet keys, waterproof. After two years it still works like a charm. The key stroke is tactile and punchy but still very quiet; perfect for an office setting. The audio wheel, while small, is very easy to use. The wrist pad is showing some wear but even it is in great condition. My wife was so impressed with this keyboard we picked one up for her as well. In hindsight, I might have saved the money over my G815 and just picked this up. It is ... MoreA couple of years ago I decided to spend a few bucks on my office setup to make it more comfortable considering how much time I spend there. I game on a Logitech G815 at home but was not looking to spend that much money. I tried a Logitech G613 and was extremely unimpressed. A few things about the Apex 3 caught my eye: the price, quiet keys, waterproof. After two years it still works like a charm. The key stroke is tactile and punchy but still very quiet; perfect for an office setting. The audio wheel, while small, is very easy to use. The wrist pad is showing some wear but even it is in great condition. My wife was so impressed with this keyboard we picked one up for her as well. In hindsight, I might have saved the money over my G815 and just picked this up. It is seriously that good. My Logitech has had a similarly fantastic user experience but at a much higher price.

Great features, low price

Needed a new keyboard as my previous one has so much wear some of the keys weren't working anymore. For a budget hybrid mechanical/membrane keyboard this is a pretty great choice if you're looking for quieter keys. I mostly went with this keyboard because I wanted a backlit keyboard and it was less expensive than the all black standard Logitech. I just have the lights static on one color so it's not too distracting. The only reason I gave the keyboard 4 stars is because I was having all kinds of problems with it while it was connected to a USB hub. It's possible it might require a powered USB hub to function properly if it's not plugged directly into the PC/laptop. Plugging in directly to an onboard USB port resolved my issues. Errors included missed key entries and ... MoreNeeded a new keyboard as my previous one has so much wear some of the keys weren't working anymore. For a budget hybrid mechanical/membrane keyboard this is a pretty great choice if you're looking for quieter keys. I mostly went with this keyboard because I wanted a backlit keyboard and it was less expensive than the all black standard Logitech. I just have the lights static on one color so it's not too distracting. The only reason I gave the keyboard 4 stars is because I was having all kinds of problems with it while it was connected to a USB hub. It's possible it might require a powered USB hub to function properly if it's not plugged directly into the PC/laptop. Plugging in directly to an onboard USB port resolved my issues. Errors included missed key entries and stuck keys repeating until I unplugged the keyboard. There was also a delay in entered keys which felt real messed up. I was just about to return it but decided to try it direct connected first. All issues resolved after direct connection.

Nice keyboard with one weird feature

Although this is a gaming keyboard, I bought it for business use because I like the look and feel of it. The key backlight colors are quite customizable. There are 10 vertical "zones" across the keyboard, so you can have 10 different colors, or just set them all to the same color. If you want the numeric keypad to be a different color from the rest of the keyboard, you can do that. The keyboard has a wheel in the top right to set the PC volume, and pushing it down mutes the sound. There is a lit button below that wheel for other music controls: press once to pause, twice to skip a track, three times to play the previous track. I tested this with Spotify and it works well. One design feature that I don't understand why they implemented: the symbol keys have the ... MoreAlthough this is a gaming keyboard, I bought it for business use because I like the look and feel of it. The key backlight colors are quite customizable. There are 10 vertical "zones" across the keyboard, so you can have 10 different colors, or just set them all to the same color. If you want the numeric keypad to be a different color from the rest of the keyboard, you can do that. The keyboard has a wheel in the top right to set the PC volume, and pushing it down mutes the sound. There is a lit button below that wheel for other music controls: press once to pause, twice to skip a track, three times to play the previous track. I tested this with Spotify and it works well. One design feature that I don't understand why they implemented: the symbol keys have the symbols "reversed" on the key. On most keyboards, the symbol that is on the top of the key is the one you need to press SHIFT to type. On this one, they moved those symbols to the bottom of the key. This also goes for the number keys along the top of the keyboard. It doesn't affect how this keyboard types -- you will still press SHIFT-5 for a percent sign and SHIFT-= for a + sign It just means that you have to keep in mind that you're pressing SHIFT to get the symbol on the bottom of the key, not the top. I took off one star for this weirdness, It can be confusing when I'm using the symbols on the right side of the keyboard that I don't use often. Overall though, I am happy with this keyboard after over a week of using it.