SteelSeriesApex 9 TKL - Mechanical Gaming Keyboard – Optical Switches – 2-Point Actuation – Compact Esports Tenkeyless Form Factor – Hotswappable Switches - English QWERTY Layout

I bought this to replace a very ancient and dying Logitech wireless keyboard which I loved, but which deserved a decent burial after many years' service. I work for 8-10 hours a day as a transcriptionist, and play games in my spare time, so needed something that was going to stand up to an awful lot of abuse. And even having had it only a couple of days, I think this will be it. The Apex 7 is solid and sturdy, and the feel of the mechanical keys is a revelation after the membrane design of the previous ones. It is simply so much more comfortable. Although there is unavoidably quite a lot more "clatter" from the keys with a mechanical one, the Brown switches themselves are quiet and do not "click" on actuation, so it's a good compromise. I'm learning to "feel" the actuation point, which is resulting in me gradually adopting a much lighter touch on the keyboard than I had before - which can only be a good thing.Added functions: for me the RGB light effects were less important than function in choosing this one, but now that the board is here and in use I find I quite like them. I work evenings, and it gives me the option to work with a lower ambient light level if I feel like it, which is sometimes quite nice. The OLED display may be useful for some, but for me it really is just a gimmick. It doesn't work with the main game I play, so I've set it to a static image and left it that way. I haven't had cause to use the USB passthrough as I already have a USB hub on my desk so there's no need, so I can't comment on it. The volume roller is excellent for me, as a transcriptionist I am constantly adjusting volume up and down, and this is considerably easier than having to access the volume settings on the PC each time, or even using the push buttons on the old keyboard. This gives immediate, precise fingertip control, which is perfect.Overwhelmingly I'm delighted with this keyboard, and would recommend it wholeheartedly.

This keyboard is very simply and elegantly designed and paired with Steelseries' industry leading software, it's a breath of fresh air.The keyboard works out of the box for those who aren't interested in configuration. The LCD will display the Steelseries logo and can be used to adjust brightness, macros, profiles and settings without ever installing the software. The USB port on the backside of the board is convenient and designed slickly. The keyboard hand rest attaches magnetically, and the magnets are coupling seems like it will be durable in the long run. This is a clear advantage over other keyboards that attach mechanically, which fail in the long term.The software interfaces with different games, meaning that keys are automatically programmed to show different aspects of games. For MMOs, this means that the 1-9 keys can be selectively illuminated to show cooldown times. For FPSs, you can have a row of keys deplete with your ammo. The LCD display can also be configured to show essential information, such as round number, mission objective etc. Users can also draw their own graphic, or upload an image as they please.LED configuration is generous. Users can create custom formats using the intuitive tool, or make advantage of practical plugins (such as music equalizers which illuminate the keyboard accordingly). Additionally, users can also upload GIFs to the software to have them display across the keyboard.The board is a fantastic choice for the price. Cherry MX blue switches are still king!

One of the best keyboards I have had in a long time. I prefer the full sized keyboards and it feels solid to type on. The RGB is a nice touch on it with the light shining through the keys for making typing in the dark easier if necessary. The onboard usb comes in very handy for plugging in memory sticks if I'm too lazy to go under the desk.

Fantastic keyboard really responsive and the noise the keys make is satisfying highly recommended.