Verdict
The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 is a brilliant wireless gambling keyboard that ’s easy the good SteelSeries has made . It ’s vastly sturdy , bid potent king with its unexampled switches and comes with wonderfully sportsmanlike software . Just watch out for its meagre battery life and high price tag end .
Pros
Cons
Key Features
Introduction
The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 takes every PC gamer ’s wishlist for a top - class gaming keyboard and bung it all into one merchandise .
For starters , there are marque raw OmniPoint 3.0 hall - result switching as well as double wireless connectivity , an OLED screenland , solid build timbre , across-the-board software program customisation , and a whole pile more . The £ 259.99/$269.99 postulate terms is undoubtedly premium but is up there with other top - class powerhouses such as theRazer Huntsman V3 Pro TKLandWooting 60HE Plus , so is n’t wholly undue for what ’s on pass .
I ’ve been testing the Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 for the last few week to see if it really is one of thebest gaming keyboardswe’ve examine .
Design
The Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 does n’t see all too different from previous loop in the lineup , with a average , all - fateful plastic casing and metal top scale . It ’s a seriously sturdy and chunky board that does n’t suffer from deck flex and carries a pleasing thud when placed on your desk .
That fantabulous build quality also extends into the lovely doubleshot PBT keycaps that SteelSeries has employed here . It ’s a thoughtfulness of the premium damage tag that the Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 bear with keycaps made of a more indestructible plastic .
The TKL layout my sample came with is more stock than the other 60 percent choice that SteelSeries has offered in the past , although that model lack the improvements from this 2024 iteration . you’re able to prefer for a full - size of it Gen 3 model , too . It ’s a ready to hand middle ground between the two , offering most of the functionality with a map dustup , arrow keys and nav cluster alongside your normal alphanumeric headstone . The only thing missing here is a dedicated number pad .
The top right recess of the Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 is home to its signature OLED screen , which has been a staple feature of speech of Apex Pro boards for several year , as well as a helpful push button and dial jazz group . By default , they act as multimedia controls for book and media playback , although with computer software , can be customised to control everything from lighting to the propulsion point of switches .
SteelSeries also bundles in an splendid wristrest with this ‘ board , as they have done with other Apex Pro models . The one here attaches magnetically , and come with a adorable soft - touch finishing on the top , which makes it grippy and well-off to utilise .
The underside of the Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 is dwelling to dual - stage feet for setting a more comfy typing slant , while the interface around the back is nice and simple-minded . It comes with a USB - C interface for charging or wired operation , and a selector switch switch for either Bluetooth or 2.4GHz connectivity .
Performance
The big draw of the Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 is what ’s in spite of appearance . This is mostly because SteelSeries has bundled in their Modern OmniPoint 3.0 antechamber - effect switch . These switch tally in fresh manse core sensors to reserve for more exact and consistent keystrokes , as well as adding Rapid Trigger functionality as a newspaper headline feature . It has actually been part of SteelSeries ’ Apex Pro lineup of boards since mid-2023 as part of a software update , which is excellent .
The merriment of Rapid Trigger functionality brings approximate - instant keypresses and a level of reactivity that more standard keyswitches ca n’t compete with .
As opposed to having to expect for a switch to reset before you ’re capable to register the next input , you’re able to adjust both the actuation and reset point to be as high as potential ( in the case of these switch , that ’s 0.1 mm ) , so it take scarce any input for the switch to actuate . In my runs of Counter Strike 2 when setting it to the WASD and weapon select key , it makes a difference in quick haul scenarios .
In summation , the Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 also descend with a controversial feature film known as Rapid Tap . This is , in gist , the same as Wooting ’s Snappy Tappy or Razer ’s Snap Tap . It ’s have sex as SOCD , or Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Directions , and the technical school full treatment in a similar manner across the brands .
It allows for unnaturally quick movement without much effort , such as counter - strafing in Counter Strike 2 when bound to the A and 500 key . It means you could activate one headstone at will while holding the other down for lewdly brisk side - to - side cause .
It ’s been ostracise by Valve in CS2 so will get you a slap on the wrist in multiplayer play , but it seemingly worked in my individual - player runs with bot . Even there I was able to examine the might of Rapid Tap without any tangible knowledge or experience in playing CS2 in a competitive manner . You still need to be accurate with aim and such , but for sympathize maneuver such as ‘ joggle strafe ’ , it ’s clear how brawny Rapid Tap is . For those on previous Apex Pro models , you too can take vantage of this thanks to a recent package update .
Another clever addition here is SteelSeries ’ Protection Mode , which is a pocket-sized but important software addition that protects against inadvertent keypresses from other winder around other important I by automatically increasing their propulsion period . you may also program two inputs to one cay to make unnecessary any unneeded finger gymnastics , which is handy .
All of this combines in practice to make the Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 an vastly powerful gaming keyboard with near instant and responsive keypresses , specially with these being G. Stanley Hall result switch that have such powers . They ’re smooth thanks to being pre - lube , while the acoustic are fantabulous with SteelSeries ’ selection to add band of sound - dampening features into this new model .
Besides these vastly powerful switch , the Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 also comes with commodious dual wireless connectivity , puzzle out either by Bluetooth or the bundled 2.4GHz receiver . Using either on my independent Windows gaming PC was as easy as usual , with both working via plug - and - fun . I also had no squeamishness using the Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 with my MacBook , given the recipient ’s USB - C connection .
The only svelte disappointment is the barrage fire life of the Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 . Over the USB receiver , it can prevail for up to 37.5 hours , while on Bluetooth , that increases to up to 45 . That is with the RGB kindling at its default level , and get down the brightness degree will in all likelihood succumb increased endurance .
Software and Lighting
As with a batch of other SteelSeries peripherals , the Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 works with SteelSeries ’ easy - to - navigate GG software , containing dissimilar window for program everything from primal binds to actuation level and even the OLED screen . It ’s a reasonably clean interface too , and even comes with biz - specific presets thanks to SteelSeries ’ GG Quickset , which correct everything from actuation point to Rapid Tap and the keyboard ’s RGB lighting . In heart , it takes the hassle out of programming your keyboard for a specific game , so you’re able to have the best options virtually immediately .
Its RGB light is prissy and promising , and is suitably excellent for one of SteelSeries ’ more agio choices . Coverage beneath the PBT keycaps is fantastic , and it can get befittingly vibrant . There is also a range of pleasant effects inside SteelSeries ’ software package , and you may choose which areas of the ‘ board light up with convenient drag - and - dropping , which is utilitarian .
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Should you buy it?
SteelSeries ’ novel OmniPoint 3.0 switch add in some stiff power with feature such as Rapid Trigger and 2 - in-1 propulsion , making the Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 a ‘ card with a slew of oomph .
The only metric where the Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 fall down against the challenger is with its meagerly shelling lifetime flesh . If top endurance is significant to you , you may require to look elsewhere .
Final Thoughts
SteelSeries has grow an excellent morsel of outfit with the Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 . It ’s easy one of the good options out there for pro - grade players who want an equally capable wireless keyboard with lots of customisation and some of the most powerful electric switch usable .
The fact there ’s now Rapid Trigger functionality bring SteelSeries ’ late campaigner in line with other pick from the like of theRazer Huntsman V3 Pro TKLandWooting 60HE Plus , and help to justify its higher price tag . In plus , the bearing of lubricated switch and lots of interior sound moistening also help wreak the Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 more in line with partizan - grade gambling ‘ board such as theAsus ROG Azoth .
The big barrier with this board is its meager bombardment life against the rival , and although its price tag may seem in high spirits , it ’s worth mention how expensive the contender can be . The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 is the best one SteelSeries has made though , and that ’s right enough for me . For more options , see out our list of thebest gaming keyboardswe’ve test .
Trusted Score
How we test
We utilise every keyboard we test for at least a week . During that meter , we ’ll check it for ease of manipulation and put it through its paces by playing a potpourri of dissimilar musical genre , including FPS , scheme and MOBAs .
We also check each keyboard ’s software program to see how loose it is to customise and set up .
FAQs
The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Wireless Gen 3 weighs 1.03 kg .
