SteelSeries continues to impress on the regular with its high-performance gaming peripherals, and that’s especially true of its Apex series of keyboards. Well, that trend persists with the latest addition to that lineup, the Apex Pro Gen 3, which is arguably one of the best gaming keyboards currently on the market.
I’ve had the privilege of spending some quality time with SteelSeries’ full-size, wired Apex Pro Gen 3 gaming keyboard for a little over a week now, and it was time more than well spent. After putting it to the test with games like Destiny 2 and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, not once did I encounter any issues with it, and it only improved my performance in said games. What surprised me more than anything is that I didn’t need to warm up to it or “break it in” as I have with other peripherals — it simply feels as though it was meant to rest beneath my fingertips, and I couldn’t more readily recommend it to those looking for an excellent gaming keyboard.
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SteelSeries’ Apex Pro Gen 3 Is a Game-Changing Keyboard
From the moment it comes out of the box, it’s easy to feel right at home with the Apex Pro Gen 3 thanks to its sleek design, comfortable feel, and cozy aesthetics. Each key on the keyboard is only so subtly textured, making them hardly noticeable to the touch and yet distinguished enough to be present and accounted for. The standard “Vapors” backlighting preset offers up a warm combination of colors reminiscent of something like a sunset beheld from beneath the sea. The Apex Pro Gen 3 also comes with a magnetic wrist rest that is extremely comfortable, though the material it’s coated with is very prone to wear.
There are more backlighting presets available, and it can be customized further with GG QuickSet, but I’ve had a difficult time moving away from Vapors on account of how modest it is.
Of course, the Apex Pro Gen 3 is far more than its looks, and it needs to perform well in order to be considered one of the best gaming keyboards available. The keyboard’s standout feature is its OmniPoint 3.0 switches, which use Hall Effect sensors for adjustable actuation points ranging from 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm. The Apex Pro Gen 3’s actuation — along with backlighting, macros, profiles, and more — can be easily customized via the keyboard’s smart OLED display in the top right corner. Given how many gaming peripherals require an external app for customization, it’s nice to see SteelSeries’ Apex Pro line continue its OLED display tradition.
The Apex Pro Gen 3 is also probably one of the easiest keyboards to type with, as it requires very little effort and yet somehow doesn’t lead to a multitude of mistakes due to keystroke overlap or accidental key presses. During my time typing with it, it felt like my fingers were almost floating over the keyboard with each keystroke, moving from one key to the next without tripping over other keys along the way. This is largely due to the keyboard’s Rapid Trigger, Rapid Tap, and Protection Mode features, all of which serve to make the Apex Pro Gen 3 one of the fastest and most accurate gaming keyboards currently available.
I found the Apex Pro Gen 3’s Rapid Trigger functionality very useful when I played Destiny 2, and I would imagine it’s beneficial for other FPS games that require speed and precision as well. Rapid Tap and Protection Mode, on the other hand, are all about preventing accidental keystrokes and ensuring users are as accurate as possible, whether they’re typing or playing a game. Furthermore, and again, the adjustable actuation points are a major plus, especially for more competitive gamers, as they can make each keystroke as sensitive or as firm as they need it to be.
Build-wise, the Apex Pro Gen 3 is durable and weighty, to the point that it doesn’t feel like it’s just going to fall apart at any moment, and it can withstand hundreds of hours of wear and tear. SteelSeries is known for the aerospace-grade aluminum construction of many of its gaming peripherals, and that tradition carries over to this keyboard as well. Additionally, while mechanical “clicky” keyboards certainly have their use, the Apex Pro Gen 3’s dampening foam and factory-lubed stabilizers make for a much quieter and far more satisfying typing/gaming experience without sacrificing actuation.
From the moment it comes out of the box, it’s easy to feel right at home with the Apex Pro Gen 3 thanks to its sleek design, comfortable feel, and cozy aesthetics.
At the end of the day, the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 isn’t just another high-end gaming keyboard — it’s everything PC gamers want in a gaming keyboard. It’s comfortable, durable enough to handle countless gaming sessions, and fine-tuned for precision in a way that makes every keystroke feel intentional. While the price might be a bit too steep for casual gamers, it’s still more than worth it for anyone to get their hands on. In short, the Apex Pro Gen 3 is, without question, one of the best gaming keyboards available today.
SteelSeries Apex Pro 3 Gen 3 Gaming Keyboard
The SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 is the continued evolution of the most innovative gaming keyboard. Using OmniPoint 3.0 Hall Effect switches, gamers gain an edge over the competition with rapid and accurate inputs. Benefiting from a higher degree of customization, the Apex Pro Gen 3 allows players to specify more precisely when actuation levels trigger different commands. New features like Rapid Trigger, Rapid Tap, and Protection Mode help gamers avoid costly mistakes and register inputs with even more speed. An OLED smart display carries over from previous Apex Pro models to provide notifications and alerts during intense gameplay.
- Brand
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SteelSeries
- Switch Type
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OmniPoint 3.0 Adjustable HyperMagnetic Switches
- Compatible Devices
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Windows, Xbox, PlayStation, Mac OS X (limited)
- Dimensions
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437 mm / 17.2 in x 139 mm / 5.5 in x 41 mm / 1.6 in
- Connectivity
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Wired, USB-C