SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL review: incredibly fast with plenty of customization
Reviewed By: Sebastian Kozlowski
Table of Contents
SteelSeries is a big favorite for those looking for high-quality, high-performance peripherals, and its keyboards and mice are some of the best on the market. This time, I got my hands on one of its gaming keyboards, the SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL, which boasts a ten-keyless design with optical switches for the fastest actuation possible – here’s how I got on with it.
- Form factor: TKL
- Key switches: OptiPoint optical
- Keycaps: Double Shot PBT
- Connectivity: USB-C
- Dimensions: 355x128x42mm
- Weight: 635g
In general, the Apex 9 TKL is an excellent pick for a gaming keyboard that gives you everything you need to compliment and enhance your gaming sessions. It’s massively customizable, overwhelmingly so at times, allowing you to tailor practically every element of the board to suit you best. While it isn’t the best sounding device I’ve tested, that certainly won’t matter for its target audience. Another win from SteelSeries.
- Fast optical switches
- Compact design
- Hidden and embedded keycap puller
- Easy actuation point and RGB brightness toggle
- Hot-swappable caps and switches
- Small and lacking media keys with only white LEDs
- Rather hollow-sounding
- No wireless connectivity
- Cuts out extra keys like Print Screen
Design and features
Right off the bat, I found this keyboard fairly unassuming, unlike some of the more flashy options I’ve tested in the past. That being said, the design here is very much in-line with the SteelSeries aesthetic – clean lines and all-business.
AMD launches latest Ryzen 9 9950X3D & 9900X3D CPUs!
AMD's highly anticipated Ryzen 9 9950X3D and 9900X3D chips have finally arrived! Below, we will be listing all the latest listings from the web's biggest retailers.
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D
- AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D - CA
- AMD Ryzen 9 9900X3D - CA
- AMD Ryzen 9 9950X3D - Newegg
*Stock availability and pricing subject to change depending on retailer or outlet.
The TKL cuts back on the keypad and provides a full set of arrow keys and the home buttons above. However, I was surprised to find that it doesn’t come with a print screen, scroll lock, or pause, which I was trying to find while testing it. In that place, you can find the small volume roller and a media key that pauses and plays media, providing effective control without the need for a full set of media keys.
Along the top of the board, there is the full set of function keys to utilize, too. But you can find a secondary function to the last four, with the option to change the brightness, macros, and actuation points on the fly with the convenient SteelSeries button. Their logo keycap replaces the option button in the bottom right next to the Control key and still offers you plenty of control without having to download the software.
SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL front on, Image by PC Guide
SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL in front of box, Image by PC Guide
SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL left half, Image by PC Guide
SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL right half, Image by PC Guide
SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL top down, Image by PC Guide
SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL top end, Image by PC Guide
SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL top right logo, Image by PC Guide
SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL key puller, Image by PC Guide
SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL switch, Image by PC Guide
SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL box, Image by PC Guide
For the keycaps and switches, the Apex 9 has double-shot PVT and OptiPoint Optical by standard, and these are easily replaceable. SteelSeries also conveniently provides a keycap puller embedded in the back behind a rubber flap. For the switches, you need to find something a bit more robust to pull them out.
The back also has two angles for feet and elevation, providing a good range of typing angles to pick from. I found it worked well with my cushioned wrist rest and sat at the right height for me to type best on it. It was a slight surprise to see that it only has the option for a detachable USB-C and no wireless options though. Sure it is wired keyboard, but as we’ll see shortly, I’d expect at least some wireless options at this price point.
But overall, I loved the design – another win from SteelSeries in my opinion.
Pricing
When it comes to the price, the small keyboard costs a surprisingly high amount. That might just come down to the technology embedded in it, which includes optical switches and per-key RGB, but without wireless it feels a bit steep. It is worth remembering that SteelSeries does have some prestige behind it as a brand. It’s been around for a while, and it’s even led the charge when it comes to innovation with its gaming peripherals. Having a SteelSeries product definitely feels like you have one of the best of the market, for sure. Whether it’s worth the $140/£135 price tag, I’ll leave to you to decide.
The same pattern can be seen with other optical keyboards I’ve reviewed, like the Corsair K70 Pro, which is similarly pricey. Although this SteelSeries is 100% size, it still shows that the type of switch is expensive, especially since a replacement set of 35 from SteelSeries comes at $13.99/£12.99.
Performance
Overall, I found using the keyboard ticked more than a few boxes, with both typing and gaming. The quick responsiveness is very obvious when I was reacting quickly in a game when trying to move and do actions. Being able to then change the mode and resulting actuation point made typing easier without pressing the wrong keys. The light keys and minimal actuation point are great for reactions, but not so much for trying to type words, and the backspace got a good workout for it.
However, the keyboard did sound fairly hollow, and it wasn’t the best-sounding typing experience in my view. Made with an aluminum chassis, it’s great for rigidity and stability, but the sound it makes when pressing the keys isn’t satisfying. For gamers, that’s not really a big deal though.
I also struggled with the minimal media keys. The button was fine for pausing and playing videos or music, but the solid white light stood out compared to the rest of the board, especially considering the customizability of the RGB. The volume roller was also a bit small for my liking, and turning up the volume didn’t always work as intended. Now, that might be my specific board having the issue, but a lot of the time, it would turn down instead when I tried turning it up too quickly.
SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL GG Engine key bindings, Image by PC Guide
SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL GG Engine gear, Image by PC Guide
SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL GG Engine Prism, Image by PC Guide
I also checked out the SteelSeries GG software and what it was capable of. Immediately, it recognized the keyboard, even without using the original cable, and prompted me to update the firmware and make sure it had all the latest features.
It was immediately easy to use and get around, although maybe quite overwhelming with what you can do in it. You can set up multiple con figs with a variety of key and meta bindings for each one with an astounding amount of control available.
The same happens when you get to the Prism portion of the software, allowing you to customize the control of the color. With you being able to set each button individually with different effects and colors. Again, very impressive.
- Form factor: TKL
- Key switches: OptiPoint optical
- Keycaps: Double Shot PBT
- Connectivity: USB-C
- Dimensions: 355x128x42mm
- Weight: 635g
Conclusion
SteelSeries’ Apex 9 TKL is a great keyboard that boasts lightweight, responsive caps and switches that make it ideal for gamers. It does fall down in terms of sound and connectivity, which is why I’d suggest something else if you’re using it for everyday usage or work though. But as a gaming keyboard it delivers, and with an enormous amount of customization, you can really tailor this to your both your visual tastes and gaming style.
About the Author