CONCLUSION

   Just like with past keyboards we ended up using the Apex Pro for a total of two weeks with games like Borderlands 3, Terminator Resistance (quite good for a low budget title) and The Outer Worlds. I also used it to type three reviews including this one with a variety of different actuation points to see if this is indeed its strongest selling point and at least for me the simple answer is yes. By “setting” the actuation point of the keys higher not only can you increase reaction times in games but also typing so SteelSeries is actually true in everything they say about their brand new OmniPoint switches. The OLED screen on the other hand although somewhat useful is just too small and so it’s not very easy to keep track off when playing games or working (had SteelSeries done what Logitech had in the past and placed a larger screen or at the center of the keyboard we feel that would be far more effective). As for the RGB lighting system well nothing new in that regard except from the fact that the Engine 3 software makes it a lot easier for the end user to create his own custom theme either using per-key mode or by selecting specific areas of the keyboard. Finally, the magnetic wrist rest is one of the best we’ve ever seen with a keyboard and unlike many other models it’s actually a lot more stable even if you raise the keyboard slightly.

   The Apex Pro Mechanical Gaming Keyboard already counts almost 5 months in the market and currently retails for USD199.90 inside the USA (Amazon.com) and for 230Euros inside the EU (Amazon.co.uk) a price tag which although set quite high is really on par with the top of the line model by SteelSeries (which is also probably the most advanced keyboard in the market at the time of this review). Overall however even though we really liked the “versatility” of the OmniPoint switches, the useful OLED display and the superb build quality at the end of the day the Apex Pro might just be “overkill” for the majority of consumers since the gains don’t really justify climbing that high in terms of budget. On the other hand, however for serious gamers and even professionals who type a lot the Apex Pro is without doubt the best choice and that’s why it gets our Platinum Award.

PROS

- Excellent Build Quality (Series 5000 Aerospace Aluminum Frame)
- OmniPoint Mechanical Magnetic Switches (Adjustable Actuation Point / 100 Million Keystrokes)
- OLED Display
- Full RGB Individual Key Illumination (16.7m Colors / 11 Effects)
- Dedicated Media Keys
- Fully Programmable Keys
- NKey Rollover With 100% Anti Ghosting
- USB 2.0 Pass Through
- Three Way Cable Routing
- Detachable Magnetic Wrist Rest
- Engine 3 Software

CONS

- Price (For Some)
- Number Of OmniPoint Switches (61/104)
- Small OLED Display