STEELSERIES’ APEX 3 TKL is a smaller take
on the brand's most budget-friendly
keyboard. As it’s a TKL format, it takes
the 1 0-key numeric pad away from the
standard Apex 3 board, making it a
favorite amongst esports competitors.
With less room taken up on your desk,
there's more room to swipe that mouse
around. So, is this membrane keyboard
a great pick-up for a price tag of under
$50? This board also has a pretty nifty
feature that may separate it from its
main competitors.
Although this is a TKL model, the Apex
3 TKL still offers you a taller format than
normal. There is plenty of room on this
board and it doesn’t feel as cramped as
others. From the few first clicks after
setting this keyboard up, it feels a little
more premium than its price tag may
suggest, which is always a positive.
It’s probably a little too lightweight for
our liking, though, and it can slip around
on your desk. Unfortunately, you may
also find your fingers slipping across the
keys after a really long period of typing
or action-packed gaming sessions. The
keycaps are made of a soft, smooth
plastic that results in a lack of grip.
However, for general usage, they do feel
pretty decent.
The keys have a floating design that sits
on an RGB panel. This way, the keyboard
is pretty bright overall, which is a nice
feature from a budget board. Controlled
with SteelSeries Engine software, it has
8-zone RGB lighting that distributes
a nice even glow. With the RGB on, it
looks great, but switch it off and you can
see the plastic lurking beneath, which
isn't the prettiest of views. The overall
design is well executed and follows the
Sane or insane in the membrane?
SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL
7VERDICT SteelSeries Apex 3 TKLRIDING THE WAVES IP32
water resistant; 8-zone
RGB illumination; comfortable angle;
multimedia controls
UNDER THE WATER Slippy and heavy keys;
no wrist rest; not quite enough weight; no
USB passthrough
$44. 99 , http://www.steelseries.comSPECIFICATIONS
Switch Type SteelSeries Whisper-
Quiet Switches
Switch Durability 20 million presses
Design Style TKL
Connection USB-C
Wrist-rest N/A
Weight 1.41lbsaesthetic of the rest of the SteelSeries
lineup. It features dedicated multimedia
controls and a clickable volume roller
on the top right of the keyboard. It has
kickstands on the back that provide a
comfortable writing angle although there
is no wrist support, which is a shame,
but not entirely unreasonable for under
$50. Underneath, you will also find some
good cable management solutions with
three routes for the cable to follow; left,
middle and right. No one wants their
setups looking like a bowl of spaghetti,
so anything that can help out can only be
a good thing.
So what are these keys actually like?
First off, the keys feature SteelSeries
whisper-quiet switches, so don’t expect
to find any satisfying clack sounds with
this board. With this being a membrane
board, they feel pretty heavy and don’t
give you that instant satisfaction. On
the flip side, they are nice and soft for
writing and it’s quite relaxing to use
quiet switches like these. They are good
enough for casual or light competitive
gameplay but don’t expect to rock up to
an esports tournament with this thing.
They are pretty springy but the actuation
isn’t the shortest. That means it won't be
the quickest keyboard out there, but it
performs decently for the price.
As a whole, there’s not too much
to lose if you are looking for a budget
keyboard and end up choosing this Apex 3
TKL. The board has a decent design with
great RGB, a comfortable writing angle,
good cable management (albeit with a
fixed cable), and plenty of customization
with its macro and media controls. If you
have tight space for your setup, a TKL
board makes the most out of your deskspace. It doesn’t look like a lot, but you
get more room for your mouse which
is always pretty important for gaming.
Membrane boards aren’t always the
popular choice for gaming but there are
worse options for your money. The keys
are soft, springy, and quiet and for typing
and casual gaming.
There is one last thing, however,
this board is the first water-resistant
TKL gaming keyboard. If you have ever
knocked a drink over your precious
peripherals you'll know it's not a
pleasant experience, so peace of mind
is nice. As a package, the Apex 3 TKL is
a good budget buy if you aren’t after a
clacky mechanical keyboard. – SAM LEWIS