T
heSteelSeriesApex3 is themost
expensivemembranekeyboardin
theLabs,withits£60pricetag
sittingjustonepoundabovethatoftheAsus
TUFGamingK5and onepoundlessthanthe
tenkeyless,mechanicalHyperXAlloyFPSPro.
SteelSerieshastriedtojustifythepriceby
loadingtheApexupwithfeatures.It hasten-
zoneRGBLEDlighting,whichmeansyouget
moreversatilitythanonvirtuallyanyother
keyboardintheLabs.Thelightingis bright
andbold,andthetranslucentmembrane
beneaththefloatingkeysgivesthewholeunit
a niceevenglow.Thefontonthekeysis also
bigandbold,andtheli ghtinghereis a little
moreconsistentthanonmostoftheother
membranekeyboardsintheLabs.
TheApexhasa volumerolleralongsidea
singlemediabuttonthatcanpauseandplay
music,skiptracks,andreloadtheprevious
songdependingonhowmanytimesit’s
clicked.It’sa littleawkwardwhencompared
withhavingseparatekeysfordifferenttasks,
butit’sstilla welcomeaddition.STEELSERIES
APEX 3 /£60incVAT
SUPPLIER game.co.ukp y epand
comfortable(thoughnotpadded)wristrest
is also included, and it conveniently attaches
to the front via magnets. The keyboard has
24-key rollover, which is better than most
membrane models, and the switches are
rated for 20 million keypresses, which is again
comfortably better than most membrane
rivals, even if not up to the level of true
mechanical keys.
On the missing feature list, the Apex 3
doesn’t have a Game Mode, for disabling
Windows key functions, and there’s no USB
pass-through, either. The Asus has a similar
feature set, with 24-key rollover and media
buttons, but it’s also much larger than the
Apex, with a more divisive design.
Build quality is a touch disappointing. This
relatively expensive membrane unit looks the
part, despite the use of plastic throughout, but
the chassis flexes back and forth far too easily.
The Asus and HyperX units are far sturdier,
and more suitable for frequent transport.
The Apex’s membrane buttons have nearly
4mm of travel, and they certainly feel tall. The
buttons have a solid, weighty quality to them,
though, and provide consistent movement
and almost no wobble. This keyboard is also
extremely quiet as befits SteelSeries calling
these Whisper-Quiet switches.
The buttons have a fast, snappy response
and bounce back very quickly once they’ve
bottomed-out – they almost feel too springy.
The buttons also have a more substantial
bump than anything else in the Labs. The
Asus has a tactile bump, too, but it’s a little
more gradual. The HyperX has a similar bump
if you opt for its Cherry MX Blue or Brownswitches, but linear Cherry MX Red switches
are also available.
The springy, speedy nature of these buttons
will be a boon for fast-paced gameplay and
for people who also want to type at speed.
However, they’re definitely divisive thank
to their height and that springy return. All
of its rivals are better in this regard, with a
more definitive feeling when the buttons are
pushed down.Conclusion
The SteelSeries does have some areas where
it matches and beats rivals: it has similar
rollover settings, very good lighting, and a
more subtle and compact design, especially
when compared with the Asus.
Its typing action won’t suit everyone though,
thanks to its pronounced tactile bump and
springy kick-back. If that’s the case, the Asus
is more conventional, and the mechanical
HyperX is faster and has more weight.
If you want a fast, springy keyboard with good
lighting, the Apex is a reasonable option. Just
be aware that rivals have more conventional
typing actions and better build quality.SPEC
Connection Wired, USB
Cable 1.8m, unbraided
Material Plastic
Switch type Membrane
Backlighting 10-zone RGB
Extras Wrist rest, volume rollerVERDICT
It’s fast, attractive, and compact, but not
everyonewillliketheslightlyspringy typing.STEELY
Fast, reliable
typing action
Excellent lighting
Smart, compact design
FLIMSY- Typing is a little bouncy
- Few extra features
- No Game Mode
DESIGN
29 / 40FEATURES
27 / 35OVERALLSCORE
77 %
VALUE
21 / 25TTheApex
is also spill-resistant,
andit hascable-routingoptions
underneath.Animpressivelydeepand