10 Best PC Gaming Accessories of 2023
Even though the SteelSeries Apex Pro is a full-sized keyboard with a number pad, it doesn’t take up much space on the desktop (there is a touchless version, though). Build quality is top-notch, with a matte black aluminum board, and an incredibly comfortable, soft-touch wrist rest that attaches magnetically. On the top right is a small OLED, with a clickable roller and large keys that serve as dedicated media controls. You can make your gamer tag or even GIF animation the OLED display, but it also offers some welcome feedback on your chosen settings and profiles, so you don’t have to exit your game to tweak things.
The headline feature here comes courtesy of Omnipoint switches. The Steel Series not only claims to be more responsive and durable than traditional mechanical switches, but they also offer customizable actuation. This means you can configure your preferred sensitivity level, determining whether you want the lightest touch to register or a deeper press. It doesn’t change the feel of typing on the keyboard (which is great by the way) but it does change when key presses register.
Since you can set the sensitivity per individual key, it allows you to dampen certain keys you accidentally press, but leave WASD oversensitive, for example. Take the time to set up separate profiles for work and play, and even for individual games, and you’ll pay off. Our testing found typing on this keyboard to be accurate and relatively quiet for a mechanical keyboard.
The SteelSeries Apex Pro features bright RGB lighting that is also fully configurable on a key-level basis. The SteelSeries Engine 3 software is fairly easy to get to grips with. You can set key and meta key bindings, use the macro editor, tweak actuation, set lighting effects and colors, and even load custom images or GIFs for OLED screens. There is room for five onboard profiles.
With cable routing on the left, center or right, and pass-through USB with its own lit-up port on the left side, the SteelSeries Apex Pro embodies thoughtful design. Gaming and general typing are an absolute joy on this keyboard and nothing offers deeper customization, but the price makes it a serious investment.
See more recommendations for the best gaming keyboards.