SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL review

Cheap gaming keyboards aren’t always great, to put it mildly. Walking a tightrope between price and quality is hard, and usually one of them has to be left behind. But the Apex 3 strikes a beautiful balance between the two. We’re reviewing the tenkeyless (TKL) model, but the full-sized model is basically the same product with a Numpad and a magnetic wrist rest.

The full-size model costs $49.99, while the TLK model we’re testing costs $44.99. There isn’t a big price difference between the two layouts, so you should get the one you like best. Almost every word in this review can be used for both, so it doesn’t matter much which one you get. We like TKL keyboards, so we like this one even though it’s a little cheaper

Aside from the layout, you get a lot for less than $50, including media controls, software features, RGB lighting, water resistance, and support for six languages. This makes you wonder how SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL could charge that much for a gaming keyboard. Well, this keyboard isn’t mechanical like most gaming keyboards.

SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL review: Design

Even though this is a TKL keyboard, you can still reach the function row on top. This makes the SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL a little taller than other smaller gaming keyboards we’ve used. The whole deck still feels big enough to do a lot of things, but it will also give you more room to move your mouse in sweeping motions.

Remember that these caps are pretty cheap, but that might not be a bad thing for everyone. The smooth texture and the fact that the keys were easy to press (more on that later) made it feel good to touch. This wasn’t a problem when typing or playing slower games, but it was hard to get used to not being able to hold onto the WASD keys when things were moving quickly. These keys are in a plastic case with a large, angled bezel around the top and bottom.

The extra height this gives me meant that not having a wrist rest wasn’t too much of a problem. We still found a comfortable place for my palms to rest on the deck itself, which is slightly curved. There is also a panel of RGB lighting under each key, and each of the 11 zones can be changed in a lot of ways. That is a great level of customization that we don’t usually see at this price. You can buy this keyboard from its official website.

SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL review: Keys

With the SteelSeries GG app, you can change the Apex 3 TKL’s RGB lighting and programmable macro keys, among other things. Unlike more expensive gaming keyboards, the Apex 3 TKL’s RGB lighting can only be changed in eight different zones. Some people might miss this feature, especially after they’ve used it, but we don’t use it very often and don’t miss it much either.

It’s a feature that can be very helpful for people who like to mark important keys, but it might turn off serious gamers. Again, this seems more like a way to save money, even though we like that these options are there in the first place. Thanks to the SteelSeries GG app or the keyboard itself, you can program macros for all of the keys.

This lets you link multiple keys to a single key, which can be useful in many games and situations. It’s also important to note that the SteelSeries GG app is very easy to use and well organized.

SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL review: RGB Lighting

The body of the keyboard is soft, just like the switches, and the bold writing on the keycaps makes it look sharp without being too “gamer.” Because the keyboard has a membrane base, the RGB lighting can glow smoothly under all the keys. This looks great no matter what settings you use.

There are even media controls here, with a volume dial and pause/play button above the navigation keys. It’s a little strange that the play/pause button doesn’t have any labels, and it’s hard to use because it’s so close to the navigation keys, but it’s useful to have. As is the fact that you can turn off the sound by pushing down on the volume dial.

SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL review: Performance

These are, without a doubt, some heavy keys. Even though the snap and response are nice and springy, That made pressing it again and again a little hard, and it wasn’t as fast as some of the lighter options on the market (available within a similar price bracket).

That meant my typing speed was a little slower than with a very fast keyboard like the HyperX Origins 60. (and slightly down over the similarly priced Roccat Magma). But the extra force needed here stopped any accidental key presses, so this is probably better for people who want precision over speed.

SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL review: Price

The most important question is whether or not you should buy the SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL Keyboard. The keyboard costs about $45 and is one of the best-built keyboards you can find for that price almost anywhere. Not only is it well-made, but it’s also well-designed. It’s also water-resistant, so you can be sure that if you spill an energy drink on it, it won’t stop working.

Even though the RGB could be better and there doesn’t seem to be a wrist rest, the good points more than make up for the bad ones. The SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL keyboard is a great choice if you want a gaming keyboard that won’t cost you an arm and a leg and will still work after you’ve used it to death.

SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL review: Conclusion

The SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL is a gaming keyboard for beginners. It has rubber dome switches. It’s a smaller version of the SteelSeries Apex 3, and it’s one of the few non-mechanical keyboards that come in a TenKeyLess size. Since it doesn’t have a numpad, you’ll have more room on your desk to move your mouse around.

It’s also rated IP32, which means it can handle some liquid. If you spill your drink, you shouldn’t have to worry about breaking it. With the new SteelSeries GG software, you can program macros for all of the keys. It also has RGB backlighting, but the keys don’t light up individually, so you can only change eight zones.