INTRODUCTION
Much like regular membrane keys/switches have improved over the years with some quite interesting products to show for it (Mad Catz S.T.R.I.K.E.7, COUGAR 450k/500k and more) it was just a matter of time before manufacturers once again took it upon themselves to improve on current mechanical switches by developing their very own. Razer started the race with their green switches (optimized tactile feedback) which feature a life span of up to 60 million actuations, have an actuation point of 1.9mm (+-0.4mm) and require 50g of actuation force. SteelSeries followed soon after that with their very own QS1 switches which offer an identical life span of up to 60 million keystrokes, have a shorter actuation point of 1.5mm and require just 45g of force. Of course Logitech couldn't stay out of the game so they also made their very own Romer-G switches which offer a higher life span of up to 70 million actuations and feature the same actuation point of 1.5mm and 45g actuation force as the QS1 by SteelSeries (Razer and SteelSeries did so in collaboration with the Chinese Kailh while Logitech did so with OMRON). We've already tested keyboards wearing both Razer Green and Logitech Romer-G mechanical switches so the time has come to also test the Apex M800 by SteelSeries featuring their QS1 mechanical switches.
SteelSeries is a gaming brand that leads the market in building peripherals with quality, innovation and purpose. The company’s passion has been the driving force behind many first-to-market innovations and technologies that continue to become the industry standard and have-to-have requirements of gamers. The global brand continues to support the growth of competitive gaming tournaments and electronic sports leagues through professional team sponsorships, partnerships and community support. The company surrounds itself with the passion and the commitment to being the best. It is with this mentality that SteelSeries chooses to partner with some of world’s most respected and recognized brands that work together to push the growth and evolution of the gaming industry into an even greater proposition.
Much like Logitech and their Romer-G mechanical switches SteelSeries also had gamers in mind when developing their QS1 ones so it comes as no surprise that both types feature the same actuation point of 1.5mm and require the same actuation force of 45g. Because of that alignment in specifications however both manufacturers market their models as the fastest mechanical gaming keyboards in the market a claim which based on these numbers isn't far off. Of course whenever we receive a new keyboard our final conclusion is decided by the feeling/feedback we get from its keys (typing speed included) followed closely by its construction quality, looks and available features. Well the M800 also scores highly in number of available features since SteelSeries has equipped it with two microprocessors, full N-Key rollover (NKRO), 6 quick-access macro keys, full anti-ghosting, swappable feet and individual RGB (16.7 million colors) backlit LED illumination for the keys with several available patterns. So let's move forward with our review and see whether or not the Apex M800 is the perfect mechanical gaming keyboard currently in the market.
SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES
PACKAGING AND CONTENTS
SteelSeries ships the Apex M800 inside a long box with a large product picture at the front and a small cut-out section from where you can actually test the keys for yourself.
Two extra product pictures are placed at the base of the box.
All of the product features and specifications are printed at the rear of the box and showcased via several pictures and drawings.
The product serial number, barcodes, layout and countries of design and manufacture are all placed on a small sticker on the left side of the box.
Packaging is actually very good since the Apex M800 is placed inside a formed piece of flexible plastic.
Aside the Apex M800 mechanical gaming keyboard inside the box SteelSeries has also placed a pair of taller rubber feet, 3 keycap replacements, user manual and a warranty information paper.
THE APEX M800
The Apex M800 is a medium sized hard plastic keyboard and so it measures 510mm in length, 174mm in width and weighs 1390g.
Since we had the G910 Orion Spark here at the time we started working on the Apex M800 we decided to place them next to each other to see that they are quite similar in size.
As expected from any high-end gaming keyboard the Apex M800 has a column of 6 fully programmable macro keys on the far left side.
Some people have told me that the large space bar is not very easy to use but i think it makes things easier while playing fast paced games.
The company logo is placed on the upper right corner of the keyboard.
A LED stripe is placed on both sides of the keyboard.
The Apex M800 also has two USB ports at the front center as you can see from the above picture.
At the base of the keyboard we see four large round rubber feet.
The two placed on the upper end can be swapped with the bundled ones
Here you can see the height difference between the two rubber feet pairs.
At the end of the 2 meter long braided cable we see two USB plugs (not gold plated).
The QS1 mechanical switches consist by a square plunger with a small spring a combination which results in more than just enough space in the middle for a LED (the end result is improved key illumination compared to regular mechanical keyboards).
ENGINE 3 SOFTWARE
As usual in order to use this device by SteelSeries you will have to visit their official support page to download the latest Engine 3 software.
Once you install the latest Engine 3 software it will prompt you to update the firmware of the keyboard to the latest version.
The Engine 3 software gives you control over the Apex M800 via a large product picture.
From here you can change the keyboard region, program any of the keys (including the 6 macro ones), create macros, load one of the default keyboard configurations (or save your very own), choose color for the RGB LED system (either for the entire keyboard or for each of the keys) and of course you can also use the available illumination effects.
If you're an avid gamer the GameSense area of the Engine 3 software allows you to control just how the keys of the Apex M800 can alert you of various events (by switching colors and effects at will).
Here we’ve placed pictures of all the available patterns and zones you can choose from with the Apex M800.
AUDIBLE FEEDBACK
Many people ask my opinion on what keyboard they should get for their needs. Some want a “silent” model for use in their living room or even in their bedroom while others ask for a model with good audible feedback for use in the office or for gaming. Because of this I decided to test keyboards by placing our ExTech HD600 vertically over each keyboard (5cm distance) and typing NikKTech a total of 6 times with each (after that the max recorded number - max hold - is placed in the graph). I have to admit that this may not be 100% accurate but it does give a good idea on what you can expect from each model since aside the type of switches used keycaps and keyboard material also matter.
CONCLUSION
So is the Apex M800 Customizable Mechanical Gaming Keyboard the best one money can buy currently? Whenever I test keyboards or mice I always tell people that my opinion of that product may not match theirs so with that into account your needs may not be the same as ours. With that out of the way I can say for certain that the Apex M800 is one of the best mechanical gaming keyboards to reach our lab ever since I got my very first test sample roughly 6 years ago. It looks great, is quite sturdy, the low-profile keycaps can help you type faster, the RGB illumination system is nothing short of excellent, the swappable rubber feet work well and keep the keyboard steady (although not as convenient as the usual height adjusters) and the Engine 3 software offers so much more compared to most. Now when it comes to the QS1 keys although I had no problem with them while playing games I can’t say I liked them much while typing since more than once although I had pressed a key it just didn’t register. This is obviously due to the lack of good audible and tactile feedback from the low-profile keycaps but unless you want a keyboard for lots of typing like I do this isn’t really a bad thing.
With a current price tag set at USD178.91 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and at 173Euros inside the EU (Amazon.co.uk) the Apex M800 is not only one of the best mechanical gaming keyboards out there but it’s also among the most expensive ones too. Is it really worth the extra bucks? Well that depends on your needs and on how much you can spend for a keyboard but if you can afford it and plan on using it for lots and lots of gaming and not typing then in my honest opinion it’s worth every penny and that’s why it gets our Platinum Award.
PROS
- Build Quality
- Design
- Full RGB Key Illumination (16.7m Colors)
- Individual Key Illumination
- QS1 Mechanical Switches (60M Actuations / Relatively Silent)
- Fully Programmable Keys
- 6 Dedicated Macro Keys
- Available Effects
- Side Illumination
- N-Key Rollover With Full Anti-Ghosting
- 2 USB Ports
- Engine 3 Software
CONS
- Low Audible/Tactile Feedback (Not really suitable for typing)
- Price (For Some)