SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Gaming Keyboard Review
I went into this review with extreme skepticism. The original Apex Pro was an excellent keyboard overall, but it lacked some modern features that I’ve come to expect like a removable cable and PBT key caps. SteelSeries stuck with their older design for longer than I would have thought, while other gaming models moved in on their territory in both build and performance.
The saving grace of the Apex line is the smooth-as-butter Omnipoint switch at the heart of the keyboard — and now they’ve built a whole new version of it to go with a new series of products. That got me excited when the relaunched lineup was announced, but then my hype levels plummeted when I saw the pricing.
You see, the Apex Pro Mini sells for $179.99 in a wired version (official site here) or $239.99 for the wireless model. That’s at the very top of the market price wise as far as sixty percent gaming models go. The TKL version also got a refresh along with its own small price increase. The new designs are nothing flashy at first glance, mirroring the slim case designs of many other current popular models. They’re free of the intense angles and jaunty frames of SteelSeries past keyboards.
I waited until I could get the Apex Pro Mini at a slight discount — and I’m so glad I took the plunge, because it’s awesome. Its performance, sound, and build are all excellent in spite of its modest aesthetic, and it’s my new favorite keyboard for both gaming and typing.
That’s right, I bought this somewhat overpriced keyboard at retail with my own money. I don’t take sponsorship deals, work for any company, or use gross affiliate links. I’m just a guy writing about stuff I’m enthused about.
The new Omnipoint 2.0 switches are the main driving force behind the price increase here, and they do deliver increased performance and enhanced adjustability. These switches use a hall effect magnetic sensor to detect the exact vertical position of each key, and you can customize where you’d like it to actuate across a wide range of heights between .2mm…
