Things look a bit more standard on the right, but with the addition of two new arrow keys. This row of macro keys has also sits up higher than the function keys to make them easier to hit.

Over on the W key are two small bumps that are designed to make it easier to return to the typical WASD home position if your hand happens to stray.Ībove the function keys at the top are another 12 macro keys (M1-M12), totaling 88 custom macro keys, or 22 keys per layer x 4 layers. Below the layer keys are two rows of macro keys (MX1-MX10). The Apex has four layer buttons (L1-L4) that allow for on-the-fly switching between custom layouts. What’s a layer? Think of it as a profile within a profile (Yo Dawg). Something else that’s not immediately apparent are some of the under-the-hood features such as N-Key roll over (aka anti-ghosting), a 1000Hz polling rate, and the ability to set each of the different key zones on each of the layers to one of any 16.8 million colours. It might be hard to tell from the initial top-down view, but the Apex is quite large due to the extra keys and non-removable wrist rest. It features the tried-and-true rubber dome technology, but doesn’t skimp on features, functionality, or build quality. Sure, you can buy a set of rubber o-rings to dampen the shock when the key bottoms out, but that’s another $20 on top of what was already spent, and I’m a notorious cheapskate.įear not like-minded, quiet-loving misers! SteelSeries has you covered with the Apex gaming keyboard. Mechanical keyboards that have the features I want tend to be more expensive, but most of all they generate more noise when typing, which is no-no when there’s a sleeping family nearby. I’ve tested them before, and I can see why some people like to use them exclusively, but I just don’t see the need, personally. Of all of the editors on Techgage’s roster, I’m probably the last hold out when it comes to switching over to a mechanical keyboard.

Steel series keyboard