Steelseries Apex 5 Review

Steelseries Apex 5: Gaming Keyboard Review

Pros

• Good controls;
• Acceptable cost;
• Decent performance in gaming;
• Minimalistic design;
• OLED display with multimedia functions.

Cons

• Cable is not detachable;
• Keys do not provide enough sound response.

SteelSeries keyboard Apex 5 is a surprisingly good gaming device for a democratic price of $100. It is durable; the keyboard has a minimalistic design and RGB lighting with rich customization. Besides, it has nice keys with a clicky sound (but it may be too quiet and not as tactile as in the rest of the keyboards in the series, which may disappoint).

As for the downsides, the keyboard has a non-detachable cable that may be a deal-breaker for gamers who prefer mobility. Still, SteelSeries Apex 5 is a decent gaming keyboard that brings you a comfortable user experience; particularly, with a shiny OLED display that provides plenty of cosmetic features to play with.

Design

Steel Series Apex 5 keys real estate is maximized, but, at the same time, the manufacturer keeps the keyboard as compact as possible. Its weight is only 2 pounds; it is quite light in comparison with other gaming keyboards. Besides, Steel Series Apex 5 does not shift during intense gaming sessions. The keyboard has 17.4×5.5.x1.6 inches; it is lightweight and portable.

Other keyboards usually have a lot of unused space compared to this one, which cuts the edges and makes the keyboard look compact and accurate. The keyboard’s chassis is made of two materials: the aluminum top deck and plastic bottom. There are two pop-out feet underneath Steel Series Apex 5.

There is an advanced model of the keyboard, SteelSeries Apex Pro, for the cost of $199. The most unique feature of this version is the mini-OLED display at the top right corner of the keyboard. Besides, there is a volume wheel and the play/pause button on the right side of the device. You may use these buttons to navigate the display as well.

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Apex 5 has six macro keys that duplicate Page Up, Page Down, Delete, Insert, and Home keys respectively. The buttons from F9 to F12 serve for quick profile switching, control of brightness, and macros recording on the fly. The one with the SteelSeries logo acts as a function key in this case.

There is a non-detachable, rubber-coated cable at the back of the keyboard. Besides, there is a cable rider for any side you choose to run it. Apex 5 has a solid form factor; the keyboard does not budge under pressing.

Also, it has a detachable wrist rest in place. The rest magnetically attaches to the bottom side of the keyboard and provides additional comfort. It is made of faux-leather material, which you can find on SteelSeries headphones’ earcups, and has eight rubber feet.

The non-detachable cable of Apex 5 is a real issue: it complicates moving the keyboard around, traveling, or going to events with it. The possibility to detach the cable prolongs its life; a non-detachable cable, on the contrary, is prone to wearing out sooner.

SteelSeries Apex 5 Review: Keys

SteelSeries includes Hybrid Blue Mechanical Switches in the Apex 5 keyboard. It means that the keyboard uses special clicky switches under each key, which gives it a recognizable swift feeling. The “hybrid” part means that to cut costs, SteelSeries applies durable membrane actuation instead of the traditional gold-plated circuits for the keyboard functioning.

There are 104 mechanical switches on the Apex 5 board. All these switches have MX stems. It means that you can place any keycap on them. If you lift one of the keys, you will see TTC letters underneath. On the downside, the keys have a matte covering that leaves fingertips behind. This feature is usual for a SteelSeries mechanical keyboard, but Apex 5 has it too.

Tests on typing.com show that a user can manage approximately 55 words per minute with almost perfect (97%) accuracy. Usually, mechanical switches from SteelSeries have an actuation of 2 millimeters. Apex 5 has an actuation of 4 millimeters.

Overall, the keyboard provides a comfortable typing experience. The closest comparison to Apex 5 mechanical switches is Cherry MX Blue keys, from another SteelSeries mechanical keyboard; they have a similar tactile feeling and clicky sound.

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Still, hybrid switches are not that loud. So, if you are a fine click enjoyer, keep in mind that Apex 5 may not provide them. On the contrary, the silent switches are a perfect choice for long night sessions. Regarding durability, SteelSeries guarantees 20 million button presses on Apex 5.

SteelSeries Apex 5 Review: Characteristics

The most impressive feature of Apex 5 is the 128×40 OLED display. The screen can control the music volume, show you messages from Discord, and even display gifs (in 10 frames per second). SteelSeries Software engine allows configuring up to five profiles for customized lighting, macros, and uploaded gifs.

In terms of customization, the OLED display has limited functionality. SteelSeries Software engine expands these possibilities, with key bindings customization, illumination finetuning, and the OLED settings control. The keybinding section provides wide and well-detailed customization of the keyboard: from the function keys to num pads.

You may customize keys for RGB lighting in the lighting section and pick an effect to your liking; for example, color shift or breathing. The OLED and Settings tab allows editing images and animations that appear on the screen.

SteelSeries Apex 5: Performance and Comfort

Apex 5 demonstrates the highest performance during gaming sessions. Keys are responsive and react correctly in the most intense situations. Flexible macros customization in different games is helpful too.

Apex 5 shows a decent response in MMORPGs like World of Warcraft or intense beat-em-ups like Furi. Ability-based games, like Overwatch or Paladins, work perfectly too. The personalized controls scheme works as fine as the standard one with Apex 5 due to the keyboard’s comfortable macros.

However, in comparison with keyboards from Logitech, the keys of Apex 5 are aligned slightly more to the left. Therefore, if you change your keyboard to Apex 5, it may take time to get used to the new keys positions.

It does not spoil the overall experience from the keyboard usage but still makes it a bit more difficult to fall in love with the device in an instant. Besides, despite the numerous benefits of hybrid keys, they may sound too quiet for gamers who prefer expressive gaming experience.

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Concluding Words

The SteelSeries keyboard Apex 5 is a great gaming device for the price of $100. It has solid mechanical switches with pre-key lighting that fits perfectly in any setup with its minimalistic design. Besides, the OLED screen gives additional control over cosmetic settings and media.

Still, keep in mind that the keyboard has a non-detachable cable that will wear out soon if you move your keyboard around often. Besides, hybrid keys may be an issue for gamers who prefer more sound responses from the keyboard.

If having a detachable cable is of the utmost importance for you, be ready to pay additional $50 and get the Logitech G Pro X. However, it does not include the OLED screen that we all adore.
In case you need a full-featured keyboard, SteelSeries Apex 5 is your best match.

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