Gaming Keyboards
SteelSeries Apex 9 Optical gaming keyboard review: All play, no work
The SteelSeries Apex 9 is the corporate’s first-ever gaming keyboard with hot-swap optical switches, however do they actually make a distinction?
Mechanical Keyboards have taken over the PC gaming neighborhood over the previous decade, with all kinds of switches obtainable to fit your particular pursuits.
Nevertheless, there’s a brand new contender on the town — optical switches. Providing a quicker, extra responsive change they’re slowly making their approach into an increasing number of avid gamers’ keyboards, we’ve already examined them within the astonishing Wooting 60HE, and the likes of the Razer Deathstalker V2 Pro.
SteelSeries is right here to assist that with the Apex 9, obtainable in 60% ‘Mini’ and Tenkeyless ‘TKL sizes which are decked out of their customized Optipoint switches.
At a aggressive $129 for the Mini and $139 for the TKL, are SteelSeries’ newest choices definitely worth the buy?
Key Specs
- Change Sort: SteelSeries Linear OptiPoint Optical
- Keycaps: Doubleshot PBT
- Connectivity: Wired USB-C
- Kind Issue: TKL and 60%
- Lighting: RGB, customizable via SteelSeries GG
- Options: Two actuation factors (1mm and 1.5mm), 0.2ms response time, Sizzling Swap, Multi-height adjustment, removable USB cable,
- Value: $129.99 (Mini) $139.99 (TKL)
- The place to purchase: Apex 9 TKL on Amazon, Apex 9 Mini on Amazon
Included within the field: Apex 9, USB-C cable, Fast Begin Information
Design
The Apex 9 TKL swaps the enduring OLED display for SteelSeries branding.
Proper out of the field, you’ll see that SteelSeries determined to go along with an all-black fashion for the Apex 9, not like the black/grey Apex Pro. The corporate determined to ditch the OLED display however stored the scroll wheel and media button that are two design selections that we’re excited to see from the corporate.
After measuring the Doubleshot PBT keycaps, we discovered that they’re roughly 1mm in thickness, which is certainly thinner than we’d wish to see in a premium keyboard just like the Apex 9. Thinner keycaps usually result in faster put on and tear as you utilize the board, and for a gaming-focused keyboard like this, it’s going for use rather a lot. Fortunately, the PBT supplies will assist to mitigate a few of that.
They do have a completely great texture, nevertheless, in order that they’re positively not the worst we’ve ever used. The keycaps shine via, which implies SteelSeries’ high-quality RGB lighting will get to indicate off its colours.
The switches on the Apex 9 are hot-swappable with different optical switches, which is a really welcome characteristic in nearly any keyboard these days. SteelSeries plans on providing Tactile and Clicky variations of their OptiPoint switches within the close to future, however for now, the one choice obtainable from SteelSeries are linear switches.
Even with its aluminum prime plate, the Apex 9 is moderately light-weight due to its plastic physique. Nevertheless, we’d have fortunately welcomed a heavier keyboard in lieu of the plastic as we’ve discovered it to be moderately creaky on the TKL, though the mini doesn’t have the identical challenge.
Each sizes of the Apex 9 include tri-level peak adjustment and a keycap puller that’s hidden behind a rubber flap on the again of the keyboard. Neither sizes come outfitted with a wrist relaxation, however provided that it’s a gaming-focused board, it is sensible.
Setup and Options
Because the SteelSeries Apex 9 is only a USB-C wired keyboard, setting it up is as pure as ever. Plug the removable cable into the keyboard and the again of your PC, and it’s good to go.
The keyboard does have the flexibility to regulate RGB brightness via a operate layer, though you’ll have to leap into SteelSeries GG to customise key bindings and all of the lighting choices previous that.
SteelSeries GG does what it must do moderately effectively with out making something extraordinarily complicated for the tip consumer and we like it for that. Nevertheless, The Apex 9 expertise nonetheless wants a little bit of fine-tuning because it, for some purpose, requires using two home windows.
After clicking on the Apex 9 itemizing within the listing of related units, it opens a window displaying key binding choices in addition to a “settings” menu to change between Typing and Gaming mode.
SteelSeries GG opens a brand new window to alter key bindings and typing mode however sends you again to a different window for RGB customization.
As an alternative of providing illumination choices inside the important thing binding window, the app sends you again to the unique GG window which is type of a bizarre setup, to say the least.
Typing expertise
One of many downfalls of optical switches having a quicker response time in comparison with mechanical, even SteelSeries’ very personal Omnipoint switches used within the Apex Professional, is that they ship a really mediocre typing expertise.
The corporate has tried to mitigate that by providing two actuation modes, 1mm for Gaming and 1.5mm for typing, which are simply changeable via a keyboard shortcut.
Nevertheless, we’ve constantly discovered ourselves fumbling our phrases whereas typing, with the Apex 9 wanting to reply quicker than our fingers can transfer. Evidently, this isn’t a keyboard we are able to suggest to anybody that plans on typing quite a lot of tweets a day.
Is it good for gaming?
In the case of gaming, the customized SteelSeries OptiPoint optical switches completely shine. The quick response time gave us among the finest gaming experiences we’ve had in over a decade.
It completely shines in FPS video games and battle royales like Warzone and Fortnite, the place how briskly you progress could make or break it.
Whereas the Apex 9 doesn’t provide an excellent full-time typing expertise, the switches enable for fast and straightforward chat communication inside your favourite sport. Though, don’t be stunned if a couple of of your messages are riddled with errors within the course of.
Do you have to purchase it?
For those who’re in search of a devoted gaming keyboard, the Apex 9 is a stable buy.
Nevertheless, for those who’re in search of a keyboard to assist begin your profession in journalism, write your subsequent e book, or for basic faculty use — we suggest you try one among SteelSeries’ different choices.
6/10
Whereas we’ve discovered the SteelSeries Apex 9 to have a mediocre construct high quality on the TKL and a poor typing expertise, SteelSeries has confirmed that they’re specialists at enhancing their merchandise with future redesigns.
There’s little doubt in our thoughts that we’ll see the vast majority of our points with the keyboard fastened with the following revision.
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