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SteelSeries Apex Pro

$199

The SteelSeries Apex Pro features adjustable mechanical switches for customizable actuation, ensuring a quieter and personalized typing experience.

Our take

Your typing, your way.

Okay, so let's talk about the SteelSeries Apex Pro. First off, the big selling point here is the "adjustable mechanical switches." Basically, you can customize the actuation point, which is just a fancy way of saying you can decide how hard you need to press a key before it registers. This is pretty cool if you're picky about how your keyboard feels when you type or game. If you're into tweaking things just so, this might be your jam. But, if you're the kind of person who sets up once and never touches it again, this might be more of a novelty than a necessity.

The keyboard's got this nifty OLED display, which is kind of fun. It lets you see stuff like Discord messages or your current song without tabbing out of your game. Is it a complete game-changer? Probably not. But it’s a nice touch if you like having extra bits of information right at your fingertips. If you're into aesthetics, the RGB lighting is top-notch, with vibrant colors and plenty of customization options. Again, this is more of a "nice to have" than a "must have," unless you're really into the light show.

Build quality is pretty solid. We're talking aircraft-grade aluminum, which sounds intense but just means it's durable. This thing feels like it could take a beating and keep on typing. However, some might find it a bit on the hefty side, so if portability is a concern for you, keep that in mind. The magnetic wrist rest is a nice addition, but it tends to collect dust and grime pretty quickly, so you'll be wiping it down often if you want to keep it looking fresh.

Now, a quick word on the software. SteelSeries Engine is what you'll use to customize everything, and it's pretty straightforward. Just be prepared for the occasional update that might throw a wrench in your setup. It's not a deal-breaker, but it can be a bit of a hassle if you're not in the mood to fiddle with settings every now and then. Overall, the software does the job, but it’s not immune to the usual tech quirks.

So, is the Apex Pro worth it? If you're a gamer who loves to tinker and wants a keyboard that can be personalized down to the tiniest detail, you'll probably get a kick out of it. But if you're just looking for a solid keyboard without all the bells and whistles, you might find it a bit over the top. At the end of the day, it’s a great piece of tech, but its value really depends on how much you’ll use all the extra features.

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