SteelSeries Apex Gaming Keyboard

I was in the market for a new gaming keyboard for my new setup. At the time I had a very cheap, general use, Dynex keyboard and it just wasn't doing the job. So, I began browsing for a new, higher quality, gaming keyboard. I'm an avid gamer and having a gaming keyboard was the perfect solution. I looked at Razer keyboards and they almost had me sold for the Deathstalker. Then I saw this! Here are the pros: First off, this keyboard looks great. It also feels great too. Not too big, but also not too small. Just perfect for my rather long fingers. It's pretty light weight (also a con, see below). The colored, backlit keys look amazing and the ability to change them to any color scheme I want is just incredible. The "SteelSeries Engine" client is super easy to use for color preferences and any other settings and works with any other SteelSeries products you have. There are a total of 22 macro keys on this keyboard and 4 layer keys for macro sets to be programmed to. It also features volume keys and all the necessary media keys for quick access to media controls. There are two added arrow keys for turn left and turn right. There are also two USB slots on the back of the keyboard next to the cable which is very convenient. It comes with two larger rubber feet for a more angled keyboard, which I like a lot since I like mine to be pretty angled. The install and initial setup is pretty simple. Plug it in, let it install the drivers, download the "SteelSeries Engine" (which is optional), and reboot. Then you're ready to go. Lastly there is, what seems to be, an extension cable already attached which I thought was kind of odd but also convenient (also a con, see below). Here are the cons: Not too many cons for this one. The keyboard is rather light weight which can make it feel a little cheap, but not too much of a concern to me. It is mostly plastic, which gives it the possibility of breaking a lot easier. The attached extension cable has a tendency to get in the way and its attached facing away from the initial cable. It is also pretty short. Not really sure why it is setup that way. If anyone knows the reasoning, feedback would be appreciated. Overall, this is a great gaming keyboard. It works very well, is super customizable, and looks incredible. If you're looking for a gaming keyboard that functions amazingly, and looks awesome in the process, then this might be the keyboard you're looking for.

Best keyboard I've ever had! I was looking for a keyboard that you could customize the colors of the keyboard, and after viewing many products, I stumbled across this one and it is great! Totally worth the $90 dollars! Many people prefer mechanical keyboards over the rubber dome ones, but I like these better as I'm not a fan of the loud clicking sound they make and the feel. The keys do require a bit more of a push compared to any other keyboards, but once you get used to it, it feels normal. Keys are nearly flat and not curved like typing keyboards. The keyboard has a huge spacebar that is about twice the size of a normal spacebar, and it is great for gaming as you don't have to have your hand in a claw shape and can be more relaxed. Two things I didn't like about this keyboard was that it made a clicking sound when I pressed the spacebar on the right hand side and the software could have been better. The spacebar clicks when you barely touch it even before you press it down to register the key press. I think it just might be my keyboard but it the space bar functions well. The software could have been better and is needed to change the colors of the keys and set up shortcuts and macros. Wish they would add it to the Steelseries Engine 3 software so that I could only have one of those programs running. Overall great purchase and love this keyboard, and if you're looking for a gaming keyboard with customizable colors, look no further!

I've been in desperate need of a new keyboard for a while. My Logitech keyboard held up for years but was on it's last leg and I suffered through the months waiting for this baby to be released. Announced at CES in January, it didn't come to market until August 2013. I was surprised to see it for sale on Amazon as the Steel Series website still had a link to "notify me" when it became available (It is now for sale on their website as well) but I jumped on the chance to buy the keyboard I've been waiting months to get my hands on. Pros: - The lights look amazing, and the colors can be very rich.\ - In addition to the numerous dedicated macro keys, you can reconfigure any key on the keyboard to any other key / macro combination of keys. This creates a lot of potential for gaming. - Sturdy high quality construction - Membrane keys are nice and quiet and actuate smoothly. Personally, I'm not a fan of mechanical keyboards so this is definitely a plus for me. Definitely one of the best membrane keyboards on the market. Cons: - It's hard to distinguish between some colors. While they advertise millions of color combinations are possible, many colors are muddled and indistinguishable. I tend to stick with the more vivid color options. - While it has 8 levels of brightness, even the brightest setting isn't particularly bright in a fully lit room. This keyboard looks stunning in the dark though - The software / drivers seem like they need some work. Day 1 I had a BSOD attributed to the USB driver. I think it's the 2 USB ports on the keyboard. I wouldn't use them for crucial data transfer / external hard drives. - The keyboard is fairly flat, even with the taller rubber feet attached. Also,the keys are very flat, and it takes some getting used to. Expect a lot of typos and accidental caps lock at first. Overall, this is a really sleek keyboard and the lights look great. 4 profiles and unlimited macro options make this keyboard ideal for hardcore gamers, but it works very well for causal PC usage as well. The keyboard is comfortable to type on for extended periods of time. It is a LARGE keyboard, so expect it to take up a fair amount of room on your desk.

I have heard a lot of stuff online about mechanical keyboards are way better than membrane ones like this one is. I was rather nervous picking this one over a mechanical one because I don't have much experience with mechanical vs membrane and I thought I would end up regretting my decision later, but that is not what happened. This keyboard works very very well for gaming and the keys are very responsive. I absolutely love the extra big Esc button and I feel that other gaming keyboards should put ones like that on theirs because as gamers, you know we use that key a lot. The extra big space bar is another great thing that really comes in handy during those intense play sessions. The macros work great and help with simple things for me. My only complaint about the keyboard is how it works with its colors. This keyboard boasts about how intense the color customization is and while yes you can get every color on its software, the lights on the board are not good enough to accurately display the color you really want, it is like a few or many shades off. This is especially problematic if you want colors like purple, or lighter shades of certain colors. I do not feel it is worth taking a star off however, because it will take some time playing around with the software, but you can eventually get the colors you want, and how vibrant you want it to be.

This keyboard is extremely well-built/ It's solid as a tank, the cable is first-rate and feels securely anchored. The lighting and buttons work as advertised. It's handy not only for gaming, but also for work, given the macro abilities. You can create multiple profiles with four layers each, and load them on demand. It's also gorgeous. Took me a while to get used to the main keyboard feel and hitting keys without going to extra keys (a lot of times I type with one hand by touch for some tasks). About the only "complaint" I have is that you cannot lock the media keys the same as you can the Windows key. That said, you could probably make a profile where they're disabled; I simply haven't taken the time to try. I'm just saying the SteelSeries key doesn't lock them. I would buy a few of these as spares, except for the price point, but it seems robust enough that I think it'll last longer than most every keyboard I've used in the last decade by a huge margin. I also plan on buying another if/when this one goes, which hopefully will not be for ages. WELL worth the money! The USB hub built into it is also quite convenient.

So I've been using this keyboard for a few months now, and so far it hasn't given me any problems at all. Keyboard is a bit large than standard so make sure to have extra space. Pros: - Fully customizable keys, macros, and lights colors with SteelSeries Engine software that you can download in their website. - Comfortable enough for long gaming hours - Simple and elegant design - Keys still look as NEW when I bought it. Cons: - Feels like it could use a little bit more of illumination.They're not noticeable though if you're playing in the dark. - Black surface that separates the keys is a bit of a smudge magnet. It doesn't hurt to have a small cleaning cloth to clean the keyboard every once in a while. I would recommend this product to anyone looking for a sleek and cool looking keyboard at an affordable price.

If you're looking for a Multi LED keyboard this is definitely one to consider, I feel like the idea of having sections of the keyboard that keep a color great, although you cannot color every individual key the aesthetic of it is still great. The space bar is easy to press and the material is sturdy enough. The area around the keys is are made of a glossy plastic and the rest is a matte finish along with the keys. When the LEDs are off the letters on the keys aren't perfectly white, they are slightly gray. This keyboard does a very good job of matching colors, and the software you use to change them is extremely easy to use. Although this is not a mechanical keyboard and it is pretty expensive, it's about your preference, if you want multiple color LEDs then it is definatly worth it. if you're just looking for a gaming keyboard then shop around a bit more before settling for this.

This keyboard looks awesome. There's no denying that. The colors look fantastic in low lighting and make gaming even better. I only really use the laptop for playing Guild Wars 2, for which is it great. Plenty of programmable keys for skills, utilities etc. The raised dots on the W key are very useful as well. Its quick and very responsive. The keys feel secure and well made. I love the big space bar for gaming, I sometimes miss when playing on a normal keyboard so it comes in handy. However, there are some very annoying faults. The layers is a nice feature, especially if you play multiple games, but every time you turn your computer off and back on it forgets them! You have to unplug and plug back in the keyboard for it to remember your macro keys and the layers you set up. It gets very frustrating starting your game, pressing the macro keys and getting nearly killed because you forgot to unplug and plug back in your keyboard. The engine itself is a bit temperamental as well. It takes a long time for it to come up after launching it and it is pretty slow when moving between the colors and settings etc. There's also the problem of some of the lights not coming on when you start your computer up. Whole sections don't light up and you have to unplug and plug back in the keyboard for it to remember to light every section up. The fact it came with a tiny instructions book that had no actual instructions might not bother some people. However, it took me and my husband a good half hour to figure out how to set the keys to work for Guild Wars 2. We aren't familiar with gaming keyboards so it may not bother people who use them frequently. Despite all the problems and hassle with this keyboard, we aren't sending it back because we are in love with the looks of it. Its just stunning to play on when it is working properly. Being able to change the colors of each section never gets old for us, we're always coming up with new combinations. So if you can deal with the faults and are just interested in a decent, awesome looking keyboard - this is it!