The SteelSeries Apex Professional TKL is a high-tech, high-budget keyboard with some superior and distinctive options which have revolutionized the gaming trade since its launch.
It arrived again in 2019 as a tenkeyless counterpart to its sister, the Apex Professional, and continues to be extremely aggressive with different prime canine within the gaming trade.
Whereas wi-fi mechanical keyboards aren’t tremendous widespread in gaming, I believe the Apex Professional TKL has undoubtedly claimed its rightful spot inside the realm, due to a few tips that this keyboard has up its sleeve, and now it’s again in 2023, freshly revamped for customers.
A Characteristic-Packed Product
My first impression of the keyboard earlier than I received my arms on it was one phrase: overkill. In fact, relying on what you’re on the lookout for in a keyboard, that phrase can have plenty of completely different connotations. Permit me to make clear.
In the event you’re on the lookout for a keyboard that would be the final keyboard you ever have to purchase, this one can undoubtedly fill that void. If you wish to stage up your recreation to absolutely the max, you’re in the proper place. If you would like a keyboard that has tons of top-of-the-line options with wonderful construct high quality, look no additional.
In my thoughts, SteelSeries didn’t lower any corners, and the Apex Professional TKL is a superb high-end keyboard that’s completely full of options, aesthetics, and sturdiness, making it a worthy buy for many individuals.
Look & Really feel
So, let’s begin with the fundamentals. The aesthetics of the keyboard are nice. I personally love the tenkeyless design and actually respect the additional area that this explicit structure leaves for my mouse.
The font of the keycaps is fairly primary, however massive and straightforward to learn. Although most consumers might not take into account it, I believe an excellent font may be vital, and SteelSeries opted to maintain it easy and neat.
The RGB backlighting that’s so commonplace on gaming keyboards right this moment is current right here in fact, and there are a number of completely different multicolor mild modes which can be programmed into the keyboards “profiles”. I didn’t have a lot choice for most of the default kinds, however fortunately SteelSeries’ web site directed me to their assist software program that permits for customizable key-by-key programming of the RGB backlighting.
As well as, the OLED show within the nook of the keyboard seems tremendous cool and provides a futuristic contact to the general design that I actually take pleasure in, except for its helpful performance.
The wrist pad magnetizes to the bottom of the keyboard for straightforward attachment and elimination, and the outer floor is silicon-like, however clean and with a decreased friction coefficient, making it extraordinarily comfy for lengthy intervals of play-time. The SteelSeries emblem within the heart is refined however undoubtedly provides to the seems.
The metallic prime plate and base plate are product of an aluminum that SteelSeries claims to be “equivalent to the aluminum utilized in jets offering enhanced rigidity and structural stability.” I discover the end of the keyboard to be very smooth, and the construct high quality feels superb due to this building.
Omnipoint 2.0 Adjustable Switches
Now for one of the vital issues that many take into account when searching for a keyboard: the switches. In fact, the Apex Professional TKL is a mechanical keyboard, so the switches have a reasonably lengthy journey distance for full actuation. Nevertheless, the SteelSeries innovation is ever-present on this product with their Omnipoint 2.0 switches.
The keyboard employs “state-of-the-art magnetic sensors” which provide the final responsiveness and pace that you really want in nearly any keyboard. On prime of that, the switches will let you determine the actuation distance required for a registered keypress, and even allow using 2-in-1 use. A half press can be utilized to stroll in recreation, whereas a full press of the identical secret is a dash.
You should utilize the inbuilt OLED good show to set the minimal change journey in your profile. This fashion you’ll be able to simply regulate your keyboard to suit your model. Some avid gamers might have a choice for preciseness, or maybe you could want to require extra deliberation in every keystroke.
Regardless, the switches on this keyboard sound and really feel nice. They’re loud and “clacky” like most mechanical keyboards, and these explicit switches have a reasonably linear response, which suggests resistance doesn’t enhance or lower as you press down additional. The wi-fi connection was quick sufficient that I skilled no noticeable enter lag whereas utilizing it, and SteelSeries appears to take plenty of satisfaction within the actuation and response time with these switches usually.
Different Ideas
General, the Apex Professional TKL does every thing proper, and I believe it has no motive to not at its present worth level. There are a couple of different issues that I believe are vital to say, however possibly aren’t central to the keyboard’s character.
The OLED show is fairly excessive tech, although I believe it’s pointless for the general expertise of the consumer. It provides to the design for certain, however it’s not terribly straightforward to make use of, and I discovered myself fidgeting with it for some time to grasp easy methods to work it, solely to search out that it solely does a pair issues similar to management the actuation depth of the switches. It means that you can retailer a few completely different settings profiles, which is very nice for severe avid gamers, however not very best for the common consumer as it could add additional confusion.
One factor that many individuals will probably discover tremendous vital for his or her expertise with the keyboard is the Bluetooth connection. First off, the keyboard can join utilizing built-in Bluetooth 5.0 capabilities, or a USB-C dongle you could plug into your pc or laptop computer so for those who don’t have built-in Bluetooth, to not fear! I’m undecided why they went with USB-C right here over common USB-A as I really feel the previous continues to be much less widespread, however hey, that’s innovation.
One factor that I personally discover vital in an all-purpose keyboard is the included Bluetooth profile switching, that means that you can rapidly swap your connection between as much as 3 paired units. In the event you’re a consumer of a number of units, this keyboard is ideal, due to this characteristic and its compatibility with Xbox, PC, Mac, and PlayStation.
Because of this, I can change between typing to my Xbox, laptop computer, and PC with the press of a button. Usually, the connection is quick with little to no lag, pairing was extraordinarily straightforward, and the keyboard exits sleep mode and reconnects to the gadget about as quick as you can count on from a wi-fi keyboard.
Battery life doesn’t appear to be something particular, as I needed to cost it after about one week, however that was with fairly common use, as I’ve used it for rather more than gaming in my time with it thus far. I don’t have any complaints about it both manner, as a result of use that I put it by way of, and I’d be curious to see the quantity of energy that the OLED show attracts by itself.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Apex Professional TKL is a extremely recommendable high-budget keyboard for anybody who loves mechanical keyboards. The appear and feel are completely prime notch, and I actually respect excessive build-quality in nearly any tech merchandise today.
It’s apparent that plenty of growth and time at SteelSeries went into designing the Apex Professional TKL with its plethora of options and stylish show of high-end know-how. In the long run, the expertise you should have with this keyboard is what you make of it, and I believe it may be an ideal possibility for anybody who needs a sturdy, handsome keyboard for all functions.
