"Unleashing Precision: SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Review – The Ultimate Gaming Keyboard with Analog Magnetic Switches"

The SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 is new to the manufacturer’s range and is a major upgrade on the previous Apex Pro range. The keyboard comes with analog magnetic switches, which have several advantages. The suggested retail price is €259.99 for the full size (100%).

Contents and technical information

We were sent this full-size keyboard, but you can also choose from a TKL version and a TKL wireless version. These for €239.99 and €289.99 respectively.

Contents

• Apex Pro Gen 3 Gaming Keyboard
• Detachable braided USB-C to USB-A cable
• Extension adapter
• Key Extractor
• Wrist Rest

Technical information

• Key Switches: OmniPoint 3.0 Adjustable HyperMagnetic Switches (Analog Hall Effect Magnetic Sensor)
• Switch Rating: Up to 100 million keystrokes
• Onboard memory: 5 customizable profiles
• Processor: 32 bit ARM
• Adjustable actuation points: 0.1 mm – 4.0 mm
• Response time: 0.7 ms
• Link: Wired
• Width: 437 mm / 17.2 in
• Depth: 139 mm / 5.5 in
• Height: 41 mm / 1.6 in
• Weight: 1403 g / 3.1 lbs
• Height Adjustment: Three Level Rubber Feet
• Lighting: Per Key RGB Lighting
• OS: Windows, Xbox, PlayStation, and Mac OS X*. USB port required (*Not all software features are supported on Mac OS)
• Software: SteelSeries Engine for Windows (8.1 or later) and Mac OS X* (10.13 or later) (*Not all software features are supported on Mac OS)

A closer look

Software

The SteelSeries GG software is the hub where all manufacturer devices are supported and can be customized whenever possible. The first time you start this, you can update the keyboard to a new firmware immediately, but after that you will get all the options.

This gives you the option to change the colors to suit your personal taste, although there are also some presets you can choose from.

There is also an option to add apps and this allows you to use the keyboard’s OLED screen with the app. For example, you can show notifications from Discord. You can also change the text to something personal if you are not interested in the apps.

The keyboard itself also has some functions that you can change. This way you can record macros and assign them to keys. The most important thing about the keyboard is of course those analog mechanical switches. These have a sensitivity of 0.1 mm to 4 mm that you can adjust according to your personal taste. In this way you can set certain buttons to be very sensitive, so that you experience an immediate action, and then set others a little lower. For example, we had set the window key to 4 mm, so that we have to press it completely and you can no longer activate things accidentally. It also gives you the option to activate 2 different functions on one button. Because this way you can use the first half for something and the other half for another option. For example, consider half pressure for walking, but full pressure for walking.

You also have some functions, quick triggers and quick tap, but this depends on the game, because in some games it is already forbidden to use this. Consider Counter Strike 2, for example These settings show how a key should react when you press other keys as well. A special option is then given.

Knowledge

The build quality is indeed excellent, but you won’t find any metal elements. A plastic cover is used, but it is made strong with very little flex when you apply some force. In addition, the finish is also clean and you have a small scroll wheel to adjust the volume. It has a rubber coating on the top which feels nice and gives some grip. The precision of this button is also good and every click was an action in the OS.

We also get a small slim rest made in plastic, but with a rubber top. This felt very nice and we never had any problems or discomfort. It also clicks nicely on the keyboard thanks to magnets attached to it. It seems that our edges tend to break quickly in relation to the rubber top, because you can touch them easily, causing them to rise briefly.

The keyboard comes with a new type of analog switches, namely the OmniPoint 3.0. SteelSeries does not look to other manufacturers such as Gateron, but markets its own switches. This of course has the advantage that someone who knows the brand knows what to get. We found it pleasant to type and the sound of the keys is also good. It is a bit higher than, for example, the Gateron switches that we also have, but that is of course specific to the reds. There was no instant movement on the space bar and we had little trouble with the other buttons. What we noticed was that the backspace made a slightly quieter sound than the other keys on the keyboard.

We also tested the keyboard for ghosting, but we didn’t have any problems in our immediate testing. You also have the option of quick triggers or quick tap, but we haven’t tried this in games due to the limitations. The protection mode is also a good addition to the overall. You can assign a specific key with this method and then the nearby keys will be a little more sensitive when pressed. For example, in addition to the longer action on the window key, we also had this mode active. This reduced the chance that we would start a new desktop and find ourselves out of the game in the heat of battle.

Decision

The SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 is our first analog magnetic keyboard that we could test and we are selling. The asking price of €259.99 is not bad, but you also get a well-built keyboard back and compared to the cost of other keyboards, this is not too much for a well-known brand. That kind of experience was already affecting us, but coming from a Gateron switch it’s a different feeling right away.