Standing screen display size | 7 Inches |
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SteelSeries Apex 7 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard – OLED Smart Display – USB Passthrough and Media Controls – Tactile and Clicky – RGB Backlit (Blue Switch)
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Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
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Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
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Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | SteelSeries |
Compatible Devices | OS Windows, Mac OS X, Xbox, and PlayStation. USB port required Software SteelSeries Engine 3.15+ (coming soon) for Windows (7 or newer) and Mac OSX (10.11 or newer) See more |
Connectivity Technology | USB |
Keyboard Description | Gaming |
Recommended Uses For Product | Gaming |
Special Feature | Lighting |
Color | Blue – Tactile & Clicky |
Number of Keys | 104 |
Keyboard backlighting color support | RGB |
Style | Blue – Tactile & Clicky |
About this item
- OLED smart display - An integrated command center for adjusting settings and tracking on-the-fly info straight from your game, Spotify, Discord, and more
- Aircraft-grade aluminum alloy - Built for a lifetime of durability and stability
- RGB Illumination - Unmatched customization with 16.8 million colors per key
- Premium magnetic wrist rest - Provides full palm support and comfortable, ergonomic feel
Frequently bought together
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Price | -13% $139.99$139.99 List: $159.99 | -30% $97.99$97.99 List: $139.99 | -20% $25.49$25.49 List: $31.99 | -20% $119.98$119.98 List: $149.99 | -6% $159.99$159.99 List: $169.99 | $48.00$48.00 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 | Get it as soon as Sunday, Mar 24 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
For gaming | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.4 | — |
Ergonomic | 4.3 | — | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.2 | — |
Value for money | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.4 | — | — | — |
Quality of material | — | 4.5 | 4.0 | — | 4.5 | — |
Sold By | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | JHVH TECH STORE | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
connectivity tech | USB | USB-C | USB-A | USB | USB-C, USB-A | — |
number of keys | 104 | 19 | 108 | 84 | 104 | 104 |
hardware interface | usb | — | — | usb | usb | — |
compatible devices | OS Windows, Mac OS X, Xbox, and PlayStation. USB port required Software SteelSeries Engine 3.15+ (coming soon) for Windows (7 or newer) and Mac OSX (10.11 or newer) | Gaming Console | Laptop, PC, Mac | Gaming Console | Gaming Console | Gaming Console |
keyboard description | Gaming | Gaming | — | Gaming | Gaming | Gaming |
operating system | — | — | Windows, Mac OS | Windows, Mac OS X, Xbox, and PlayStation. USB port required | Mac OS | Windows, Mac OS X, Xbox, and PS4. USB port required |
From the manufacturer
APEX 7
From the inventors of the mechanical gaming keyboard
Guaranteed for 50 million keypresses using whichever ultra-fast switch type you prefer: red switches for consistently smooth motion, blue switches for clicky snap-action keypresses, or brown switches for a soft tactile feel.
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OLED Smart Display
Customize the OLED screen with your favorite gifs, view game info, Discord messages, and more.
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Aircraft-grade aluminum alloy
The Series 5000 metal frame is manufactured for a lifetime of unbreakable durability and sturdiness.
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Premium magnetic wrist rest
A simple magnetic solution for easy and secure attachment, full palm support with soft touch finish.
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Dedicated multimedia controls
A clickable metal roller and media keys allow you to adjust volume and settings on the fly: change brightness, rewind, skip, pause and more, all at the touch of a button.
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USB passthrough port
Avoid crawling behind your desk: insert a flash drive, wireless transmitter, or USB device directly into the keyboard.
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Three-way cable routing
Prevent your cable from getting in the way. The frame has built-in channels that allow you to choose from one of three possible places for your cable to exit, keeping your desk tidy.
Complete your SteelSeries setup
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SteelSeries Mice
Our gaming mice feature advanced optical sensors, RGB illumination, and are compatible with PC and Mac.
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SteelSeries Headsets
The most premium headsets in gaming. Every Arctis headset comes with our flagship audio drivers, a Discord-certified ClearCast mic, and extraordinary comfort.
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SteelSeries QcK Mousepads
Designed for performance and durability, SteelSeries' best-selling mousepads come in a wide variety of styles and sizes, so everyone can find a mousepad perfectly suited to their needs.
SteelSeries has fueled the gaming industry for over 15 years by creating innovative new products, designed specifically for esports and passionate gamers everywhere.
What's in the box
Videos
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Customer Review: Best keyboard I have ever had. EVER!
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Highly Customizable and Durable Steel Series Keyboard
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Product information
Technical Details
Brand | SteelSeries |
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Item model number | 64621 |
Hardware Platform | PC |
Item Weight | 2.1 pounds |
Product Dimensions | 5.5 x 17.2 x 1.6 inches |
Item Dimensions LxWxH | 5.5 x 17.2 x 1.6 inches |
Color | Blue – Tactile & Clicky |
Manufacturer | SteelSeries |
ASIN | B07SRCSML4 |
Country of Origin | China |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | June 20, 2019 |
Additional Information
Customer Reviews |
4.5 out of 5 stars |
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Best Sellers Rank | #8,939 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games) #661 in PC Gaming Keyboards |
Warranty & Support
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Product Description
The Apex 7 Keyboard has mechanical switches for 50 million keypresses. Blue switches are known for their click snap-action keypresses so you feel and hear exactly when a key registers. An integrated OLED Smart display with on-board storage is your command center for on-the-fly info from your game, Spotify, or Discord, and provides software-free customization for tweaking and saving your settings. An unbreakable aluminum alloy frame makes it a standout mechanical keyboard.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the comfort, ease of use, customization, and lighting of the keyboard. They mention that the keys feel great under their fingers, the software works perfectly, and the lighting is highly customizable. They also like the clickiness, and quality. However, some customers disagree on display, and noise.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the quality of the keyboard. They mention that the overall build is very nice, the keyboard feels really solid, and the actuation of the keys is great. They also appreciate the keyboard's features and the value for money.
"...The keystrokes are light but clicky, with little force required to press them. Less than the BWCV2...." Read more
"...The ability to adjust the actuation of the key, the actual action of the keys, and the lack of noise when typing cannot be beat...." Read more
"...the keyboard is metal and very firm, this will not bend or break easily at allCons:-..." Read more
"...The keys are a little bit higher, so my hand sits at a slightly different angle than I've been used to for almost a decade; so that has been an..." Read more
Customers like the lighting of the keyboard. They mention that it looks great, the RGB option is great, bright, and accurate. The lighting settings are pretty robust, but they need some more options and more granular control. The pattern and response to key presses are also impressive. Overall, customers are satisfied with the lighting performance of the product.
"...Its lighting capability is amazing, and with pudding-stlye (transluscent bottomed) keycaps, it REALLY shines...." Read more
"...The rgb lighting is bright but not too bright with a ton of customizable options- Font on the keyboard is large and easy for me to read-..." Read more
"...with all the options it gave as to lighting patterns, lighting responses to key presses, and more...." Read more
"...PROs -lighting is greatkeyboard is metal, doesn't move around AWESOMEclicky's are dead on. I got blue and love the sound...." Read more
Customers like the comfort of the keyboard. They mention that the keys feel great under their fingers, it is ergonomic, and amazing. They also love the tactile feedback and overall performance of the product. The wrist rest is very nice and it detaches and is magnetic.
"...It takes less force to push a key down, but because it feels less "mushy" I feel like my typing is more precise...." Read more
"...Pros:- I got the blue keys so they are very clicky and tactile which I love. You can feel an instant press.-..." Read more
"...The blue switches are incredibly precise, tactile and clicky (just how I like it, since I love auditory feedback when typing and gaming)...." Read more
"...Aside from that minor issue, its a satisfying feel, quieter than my previous keyboard (razer blackwidow pro v2) and the alluminum body is a welcome..." Read more
Customers like the customization of the keyboard. They say that the RGB is highly customizable and the steelseries configuration engine is easy to use. They are able to program the color arrangements and find the colors to be great. Overall, customers are happy with the customization and the RGB software is decent compared to many other brands.
"...Having per-key color customization and profiles is a neat feature especially if you're going for A E S T H E T I C S on your build...." Read more
"...The rgb lighting is bright but not too bright with a ton of customizable options- Font on the keyboard is large and easy for me to read-..." Read more
"...The software driver for SteelSeries has a ton of customization options, and I was pleasantly surprised with all the options it gave as to lighting..." Read more
"...indicating that the keys are pressed, rather they keys change color when depressed...." Read more
Customers find the keyboard easy to use. They mention that the software works perfectly, the keyboard works well out of the box, and has basic key illumination. Some customers also say that the keyboard retains settings if shut the app down. Overall, customers are satisfied with the ease of use and customization of the product.
"...I expect it it to last a long time.The software is easy to use for the basic functions. Per key lighting, profiles, OLED display...." Read more
"...This, the third keyboard, worked fine for 6 months then would start flashing different colors soon after boot, and generally refused to show the..." Read more
"...Plus the LED screen and the 'apps' included with the Steam Engine 3 software are really fun...." Read more
"...lighting, press quality, feeling is really great. The software is also great...." Read more
Customers like the clickiness of the keyboard. They mention that the keys are precise, tactile, and clicky. Some appreciate the click sounds it makes, and the tactile feedback of the blue switches.
"...The keystrokes are light but clicky, with little force required to press them. Less than the BWCV2...." Read more
"...Pros:- I got the blue keys so they are very clicky and tactile which I love. You can feel an instant press.-..." Read more
"...The blue switches are incredibly precise, tactile and clicky (just how I like it, since I love auditory feedback when typing and gaming)...." Read more
"...keyboard is metal, doesn't move around AWESOMEclicky's are dead on. I got blue and love the sound...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the noise of the keyboard. Some say that the brown switches are far quieter than their old blues, while others say that it sounds like smashing rocks together.
"...the actuation of the key, the actual action of the keys, and the lack of noise when typing cannot be beat...." Read more
"...but if you are typing fast (or even average speed), the keys are noticeably louder than the rubber dome keys...." Read more
"...I will say that the sound of the brown keystrokes is pleasant, and I can see how someone who types slower than me or softer than me would find them..." Read more
"...board because I wanted to take advantage of the RGB, but the sound seemed to echo in it, perhaps because it was thinner around the edges...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the display of the keyboard. Some mention that they like the OLED display for it being customizable and can display the random gifs they can import onto it, while others say that it's basically useless and hard to see.
"...I love the brown switches, the OLED is nice, and it even get's a little more cool once you have your system temps and info running on it...." Read more
"...I'd say that as of now, the LCD screen is useless for my purposes with the current app options available...." Read more
"...I like the OLED Display for it being customizable and can display the settings as well...." Read more
"...This is after using reds for the last few years.The OLED display is basically useless since it sits flush with the KB...." Read more
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After using it for a while, I've noticed a few things:
The keys are a little bit higher, so my hand sits at a slightly different angle than I've been used to for almost a decade; so that has been an adjustment. I never used the G510 wrist rest, and I currently don't have it on the Apex 7. I may need to start though because it does compensate a little bit for the shift in key height.
Despite the description of the keyboard, the "tactile/quiet" doesn't quite accurately describe the sound. Playing games can be quiet if you're only using a smaller subset of the keys (WASD type deal) and press them less frequently, but if you are typing fast (or even average speed), the keys are noticeably louder than the rubber dome keys. I'd say so much louder that I cant imagine the clicky keys on the blue is much louder when typing. My wife has complained about the loudness of my typing now that we share an office.
In terms of key feel, I really like it compared to the rubber dome. I wouldn't say it is similar in feel by any means though. It takes less force to push a key down, but because it feels less "mushy" I feel like my typing is more precise. If you were to go with the clicky blue version, I'd say you'd get more of that "key pressed" feel you get on the rubber dome when you push past the force required to activate a key. On the brown switches, you can push a key slowly down and only feel a minor bump when activating the key.
Having per-key color customization and profiles is a neat feature especially if you're going for A E S T H E T I C S on your build. Definitely an improvement over the G510 in terms of brightness and color definition.
The inclusion of 6 macro keys is a nice carryover option from the G510, and I definitely didn't need 18 of those. Haven't really had an opportunity to use this feature yet, but it is nice that it is there.
One feature I miss is having a clock on the LCD screen. I'd say that as of now, the LCD screen is useless for my purposes with the current app options available. I currently just have a gif on it and the screen serves no functional purpose. The only apps available for the LCD screen from steel series are games I don't really play, or visualizers I won't ever use. If you want a clock, or to display song info (from things like spotify), you're going to have to find someone that has made it and install it manually, or code it yourself.
The volume slider is exactly as it was on the G510 and I'd say its even better since you get a little tactile bump each time you spin it. This is a feature I'm glad is exactly the same.
The single play/pause/skip key under the volume wheel took a little bit of getting used to, but works as intended. The only negative I'd say is that unlike the G510, when you use the button to play/pause/skip and your monitor is asleep (but PC is still playing music in the background) it wakes your monitors up. The G510 buttons did not do this, and it is something I miss from that keyboard.
Final thoughts is that this keyboard has enough features (that I wanted from my G510) to warrant the upgrade. It is a nice keyboard that should hopefully last me the next 10 years. The difference between brown and blue switches is probably just feel and not necessarily noise level (and the reds didn't interest me at all).
I wanted to find a keyboard with good lighting, volume control, and USB passthrough, and I was surprised that this board exceeded my expectations
The keystrokes are light but clicky, with little force required to press them. Less than the BWCV2.
Do yourself a favor, and buy pudding caps for this keyboard. Its lighting capability is amazing, and with pudding-stlye (transluscent bottomed) keycaps, it REALLY shines.
The matte, magnetic wrist rest they include is really nice, though if Im honest, I'd have preferred a little padding to the hard matte surface if Im going to be doing some writing or gaming on a day off, but it's a very minor complaint.
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2024
I wanted to find a keyboard with good lighting, volume control, and USB passthrough, and I was surprised that this board exceeded my expectations
The keystrokes are light but clicky, with little force required to press them. Less than the BWCV2.
Do yourself a favor, and buy pudding caps for this keyboard. Its lighting capability is amazing, and with pudding-stlye (transluscent bottomed) keycaps, it REALLY shines.
The matte, magnetic wrist rest they include is really nice, though if Im honest, I'd have preferred a little padding to the hard matte surface if Im going to be doing some writing or gaming on a day off, but it's a very minor complaint.
After getting use to the feel of the keys I have come to realize this is the best keyboard I have ever owned. This is comparing it to my Corsair K95 Platinum XT keyboard, my Razer BlackWidow, and my Logitech 710+.
The ability to adjust the actuation of the key, the actual action of the keys, and the lack of noise when typing cannot be beat. You do not have the traditional mechanical feedback but it is obvious when a key actuates. I have never mistyped due to lack of tactile feedback.
The ability to adjust when each of the primary keys activates it fantastic. When I game I rest my finger a little harder on the A key than the WSD keys. To compensate for this I simply changes the activation setting on the A key. Problem solved.
They keyboard is very responsive. I do not feel like I have to type any differently on this keyboard vs any of my others.
The lack of noise is great for working from home and when on comms for gaming.
The ability to switch between profiles directly that not only controls lighting but the key settings is great. I can work all day and then at the end of the day switch profiles directly from the keyboard is great.
Yes, you may get a keyboard that is broken but if you can handle dealing with the return it is worth the trouble.
The bad.
The frame is aluminum so they must have a piece of ferrous metal inside the frame for the magnetic wrist rest to attach to. On my KB there is no ferrous metal on the left side so only the right side attaches. Frustrating.
I picked the brown switches. They are defiantly quieter but feel like chicklet keys. Almost zero mechanical feedback to let you know the key actuated. This is after using reds for the last few years.
The OLED display is basically useless since it sits flush with the KB. It needs to be raised at least a 1/2" to really be useful.
The good.
The form factor is compact but still has a number pad.
The KB feels well made. I expect it it to last a long time.
The software is easy to use for the basic functions. Per key lighting, profiles, OLED display.
Overall a nice KB but the too common issue of poor quality control is frustrating. I have to return my KB and there are none in stock from authorized sellers so I am not able to get a replacement. Very frustrating.
Top reviews from other countries
Estou com ele a 1 semana e 0 defeitos até o momento, valeu cada centavo!
Reviewed in Brazil on July 9, 2023
Estou com ele a 1 semana e 0 defeitos até o momento, valeu cada centavo!
PROS
. Excelente construcción. No rechina, no tiene ruiditos raros, ensamble muy bueno.
, Materiales resistentes. El chasis se siente muy bien. Tiene una textura mate que no va a dejar manchitas de grasa.
. Teclas resistentes de PBT que supuestamente es más resistente a que se despinte. (Tuve un hyperx elite RGB y en año se empezaron a despuntar algunas teclas)
. Iluminación suave y muchos efectos.
. Software de maravilla. Muy personalizable.
. Reposa muñeca es muy cómodo. Tiene una textura sensacional. No es acolchado, es duro. Pero se siente suavecito y es magnético. No es un plástico cascarón como el que traen los HYPERX
. Canales para enrutar el cable por abajo en 3 posiciones.
. Bajo perfil y lijero.
Cons.
. Esta marca jamás fabricará teclado en español.
. Precio! Aunque lo vale... Ojalá fuera más competitivo.
. Brillo del RGB. Aunque es muy bonito y tiene un "no sé qué" que se ve más suave parece un poquito menos luminoso.
. Cable apenitas del largo suficiente. Ojalá trajera unos 30cm más de cable.
. Cable sin protección. No está enmallado en tela como otros. (No se necesita pero se ve más lindo)
. No incluye herramienta para sacar las teclas ni teclas WASD en otro color como el HYPERX (no es la gran cosa)
Reviewed in Mexico on April 3, 2021
PROS
. Excelente construcción. No rechina, no tiene ruiditos raros, ensamble muy bueno.
, Materiales resistentes. El chasis se siente muy bien. Tiene una textura mate que no va a dejar manchitas de grasa.
. Teclas resistentes de PBT que supuestamente es más resistente a que se despinte. (Tuve un hyperx elite RGB y en año se empezaron a despuntar algunas teclas)
. Iluminación suave y muchos efectos.
. Software de maravilla. Muy personalizable.
. Reposa muñeca es muy cómodo. Tiene una textura sensacional. No es acolchado, es duro. Pero se siente suavecito y es magnético. No es un plástico cascarón como el que traen los HYPERX
. Canales para enrutar el cable por abajo en 3 posiciones.
. Bajo perfil y lijero.
Cons.
. Esta marca jamás fabricará teclado en español.
. Precio! Aunque lo vale... Ojalá fuera más competitivo.
. Brillo del RGB. Aunque es muy bonito y tiene un "no sé qué" que se ve más suave parece un poquito menos luminoso.
. Cable apenitas del largo suficiente. Ojalá trajera unos 30cm más de cable.
. Cable sin protección. No está enmallado en tela como otros. (No se necesita pero se ve más lindo)
. No incluye herramienta para sacar las teclas ni teclas WASD en otro color como el HYPERX (no es la gran cosa)
One of the main reasons why I chose this keyboard was actually because it uses standard key sizes. Believe it or not, that's a rarity among gaming keyboards, as companies like Razer and Corsair like to enlarge the space bar and shrink the Windows keys--which is nice, since the Windows key really isn't that relevant especially in games, but it also prevents you from replacing the included keycaps with cool alternative ones, like what you can see in the picture I've attached. Razer and Corsair have been trying to mitigate this by releasing their own keycaps made to fit their keyboards, but that doesn't change the fact that your options are more limited by choosing one of their boards.
The RGB is excellent; the lights are bright and result in the keyboard being really eye-poppingly vibrant. The software to configure it is good, although it'd be nice if SteelSeries allowed you to organize lighting effects into layers, instead of having to first set a colour for all of the other keys and then handpick the keys you want to be different. Having five on-board profiles is also great to have, since that reduces your need to keep the SteelSeries software running in the background and also makes sure your keyboard still looks on fleek if you unplug it and use it on multiple devices.
SteelSeries has been adding gimmicky features to their peripherals for a while, but I honestly do like the OLED screen at the top-right. It being there effectively gives you a menu you can navigate on your keyboard to adjust brightness, set macros, and change profiles. It also is nice for setting the mood in some of the profiles, or just indicating what game the profile is intended for. The button and roller next to it are clicky and highly responsive (the roller itself can also click down as an input; it took me a few weeks to realize this), and they work well for controlling volume and media playback when not being used to control the keyboard menu. Do note however that because of this screen, the TKL models of the Apex 7 and Pro omit the Print Screen, Scroll Lock, and Pause/Break keys. These are not very important keys by any means, but they may have a use to you--I personally use the Pause key to open the Steam overlay, since it's seldom ever used for anything at all.
The actual issue with gimmicks I have is with SteelSeries's software. When a game integrates with an RGB engine, like Overwatch with Razer or Terraria with Corsair, what I want is to have a dynamic lighting profile that changes depending on what happens in the game and automatically highlights your action keys. Razer Chroma does this brilliantly with Overwatch, having the background key colour change depending on what hero you're playing as, highlighting your movement and action keys, and even having the action keys flash orange while on cooldown. Terraria's integration with Chroma, iCUE, and Logitech G also highlights your keybinds and changes the background colour depending on the biome you're in. These features are excellent; they really make the keyboard feel like an extension of the game and also do wonders helping you remember your keybinds if you haven't played in a while.
What I don't want is to have my keyboard clumsily try to indicate to me how much health I have in CS:GO by changing the colour of my number row when there already is something called a MONITOR which tells me the exact health I have in numbers, in a much better location. And no, I don't want to have to look down at a tiny OLED screen to see my health, either. I just want instant, dynamic lighting profiles for games, that remember my keybinds and highlight those keys, and adapt the lighting based on what's happening on-screen. And all the game integration SteelSeries does is this stupid health and ammo indicator crap that does nothing but waste my RAM, and force me to still spend all my time working on making my own custom lighting profiles for the games I like. And don't get me wrong, I do enjoy the creativity involved with that, but I know this keyboard could do more than what I'm capable of given the right software, and I really want it to.
But apart from the software... Everything works very well. This is a great RGB mechanical keyboard, and I certainly do recommend it if you can afford it.
Reviewed in Canada on October 30, 2020
One of the main reasons why I chose this keyboard was actually because it uses standard key sizes. Believe it or not, that's a rarity among gaming keyboards, as companies like Razer and Corsair like to enlarge the space bar and shrink the Windows keys--which is nice, since the Windows key really isn't that relevant especially in games, but it also prevents you from replacing the included keycaps with cool alternative ones, like what you can see in the picture I've attached. Razer and Corsair have been trying to mitigate this by releasing their own keycaps made to fit their keyboards, but that doesn't change the fact that your options are more limited by choosing one of their boards.
The RGB is excellent; the lights are bright and result in the keyboard being really eye-poppingly vibrant. The software to configure it is good, although it'd be nice if SteelSeries allowed you to organize lighting effects into layers, instead of having to first set a colour for all of the other keys and then handpick the keys you want to be different. Having five on-board profiles is also great to have, since that reduces your need to keep the SteelSeries software running in the background and also makes sure your keyboard still looks on fleek if you unplug it and use it on multiple devices.
SteelSeries has been adding gimmicky features to their peripherals for a while, but I honestly do like the OLED screen at the top-right. It being there effectively gives you a menu you can navigate on your keyboard to adjust brightness, set macros, and change profiles. It also is nice for setting the mood in some of the profiles, or just indicating what game the profile is intended for. The button and roller next to it are clicky and highly responsive (the roller itself can also click down as an input; it took me a few weeks to realize this), and they work well for controlling volume and media playback when not being used to control the keyboard menu. Do note however that because of this screen, the TKL models of the Apex 7 and Pro omit the Print Screen, Scroll Lock, and Pause/Break keys. These are not very important keys by any means, but they may have a use to you--I personally use the Pause key to open the Steam overlay, since it's seldom ever used for anything at all.
The actual issue with gimmicks I have is with SteelSeries's software. When a game integrates with an RGB engine, like Overwatch with Razer or Terraria with Corsair, what I want is to have a dynamic lighting profile that changes depending on what happens in the game and automatically highlights your action keys. Razer Chroma does this brilliantly with Overwatch, having the background key colour change depending on what hero you're playing as, highlighting your movement and action keys, and even having the action keys flash orange while on cooldown. Terraria's integration with Chroma, iCUE, and Logitech G also highlights your keybinds and changes the background colour depending on the biome you're in. These features are excellent; they really make the keyboard feel like an extension of the game and also do wonders helping you remember your keybinds if you haven't played in a while.
What I don't want is to have my keyboard clumsily try to indicate to me how much health I have in CS:GO by changing the colour of my number row when there already is something called a MONITOR which tells me the exact health I have in numbers, in a much better location. And no, I don't want to have to look down at a tiny OLED screen to see my health, either. I just want instant, dynamic lighting profiles for games, that remember my keybinds and highlight those keys, and adapt the lighting based on what's happening on-screen. And all the game integration SteelSeries does is this stupid health and ammo indicator crap that does nothing but waste my RAM, and force me to still spend all my time working on making my own custom lighting profiles for the games I like. And don't get me wrong, I do enjoy the creativity involved with that, but I know this keyboard could do more than what I'm capable of given the right software, and I really want it to.
But apart from the software... Everything works very well. This is a great RGB mechanical keyboard, and I certainly do recommend it if you can afford it.