Computers are way more than Excel, Word, Chrome or Netflix. Nowadays Gaming clearly prevails any other activity associated with desktops among teenagers, young adults and not that rarely – even retirees. That is why our basic peripherals have to make space for our new gaming oriented keyboards, mice, headsets or mouse pads.
In todays overview I am going to share those both basic and more important changes between the models of keyboards offered by SteelSeries and created for gaming professionals. Firstly thought, I would like to introduce the company to whom it concerns.
SteelSeries is one of the leading producers if it comes to gaming peripherals. They’ve created and implemented a lot of unique features to their products. Software used to control their products is the highest quality if it comes to the accessibility, value of options and customisation – such as ability to change led lightning color, which is a feature of nearly all of their products.
SteelSeries Apex 3
Let’s kick off the list with the most standard keyboard from the producer.
Apex 3 is the most known membranical, water resistant gaming keyboard on the market as for 2021. Customizable 10-zone RGB illumination reacting to the Games you currently play as well as full Discord integration makes it one of the best lightning illuminations implemented into an keyboard of its kind.
Below you can see both, listed from the left – Apex 3, and Apex 3 TKL, which in thanks to numeric keyboard removal is a more gaming oriented version.
SteelSeries Apex 5
The main changes in Apex 5 compared to its lower tier model are really a step ahead. It features OLED Display, completely new hybrid mechanical blue switches, and an improved RGB illumination, now allowing you to separately customise each buttons color.
In my opinion this OLED Display previously mentioned is a real game changer, it allows you to actively display your in-game details such as your characters health points for instance in shooting games, money balance in games such as grand theft auto series, laps left to the end of your race in Forza Horizon, song title from Spotify, time left to the end of your Netflix’s movie and really much more!
SteelSeries Apex 7
Our list of mechanical keyboards just started, Apex 7 and its even more gaming oriented TKL version are both here. Basically the only difference between Apex 7 and Apex 5 or Apex Pro are the switches, in currently listed Apex 7 we can decide between three SteelSeries’s QX2 Mechanical RGB Switches: Blue, Red and Brown, having different sound and feel.
Blue and Brown switches are both tactile in feel, and if it comes to the sound – Brown switch is really quiet while Blue tends to be really clicky.
Red switch from the other hand is the most comfortable for people switching from membranical keyboards since it’s both Linear and Tactile in sound – meaning that it sounds even quite than the Brown switch.
Below you can see a few photos of Apex 7, Apex 7 TKL, and it’s limited, white themed edition – Apex 7 “Ghost”.
Steelseries Apex Pro
Incredibly advanced OmniPort switches are finally here.
Response time at 0.7ms is a true game changer (standard mechanical switch, same as speed switch both have 6ms response time), each switch customisable (from built-in options in SteelSeries’s software) activation point is also breathtaking, from 0.4mm to 3.6mm is incredibly amazing, especially when you realise that a standard mechanical switch has an 2mm activation point, and the speed switch around 1.1mm.
Honest Opinion
After taking all of SteelSeries’s products into my hands, and testing each of them for a longer period of time I came to a few honest conclusions.
Firstly, in my opinion there is completely no point in paying over $50 more to get OmniPort switches, unless you really do professional e-Sport gaming. Of course there is a huge difference between 0.4mm activation point they offer and 2mm activation point of a standard mechanical switch, however my personal needs did not overcome the standard activation point.
If it comes to Apex 3 and Apex 5 comparison – I would not pick Apex 3 even thought the TKL version really stole my heart if it comes to it’s design. Sadly I am the type of a person that wants their stuff to be just the best, zone RGB customisation (even thought there are twice as much zones as in other keyboards on the market) is just not for me.
That is when Apex 5 and Apex 7 comparison finally comes.
As you know switches are the main difference here, personally the choice was not that hard, Apex 7 is $50 more expensive than Apex 5, and $100 more expensive than the standard Apex 3 priced for $49.99.
In my opinion $99.99 sounds as a fair price for a keyboard, especially hybrid mechanical one. Furthermore, I am used to membranical keyboards since years, as I used them for daily usage, and I did not want to have a loud keyboard due to tons of typing that I do, that is why I decided to keep Apex 5 for myself, even thought it has way worse switches.
The only thing I regret is that the producent did not release, or even plan to release its TKL version, if I could get Apex 3 TKL with Apex’s 5 illumination then that would certainly be my last keyboard.
This post made me want to buy one, and not only because of the RGB illumination! Even though these ones are for specific purpose, I think keyboards in general are largely underrated.
Great post. Steelseries is known for its robust and reliable products. Personally, I use corsair keyboard for several years now and I still love it 🙂