The Apex Pro Gen 3 line is the first SteelSeries keyboard family designed with particular attention to acoustics. The chassis comes outfitted with sound-dampening layers between the chassis and PCB, and the result is a more muted response than previous models.
That assumes you’re after that kind of audible aesthetic, though. The sound is far removed from what I’ve heard from other off-the-shelf gaming-keyboard options such as the Lemokey P1 HE or Wooting 80HE, which offer a rich, thocky typing experience. Here, this was more of a hollow response to my ears, particularly when striking the Apex Pro’s rattly space bar.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Just like previous iterations of the Apex Pro, the Gen 3 features analog Hall-effect switches. Once a novelty, the switches have become more common in cutting-edge gaming keyboards. Hall-effect switches use position sensors and magnets to detect key presses, rather than closing a physical contact.
Because of their nature, these switches can have multiple actions mapped to a single key, each triggered based on actuation distance. Hall-effect switches can also offer features like Rapid Tap, which enhances movement in games by prioritizing the second key pressed when two are tapped at once. Features like these offer a tangible advantage over older mechanical switches.
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These premium switches are the ones you are stuck with, though. SteelSeries’ proprietary Omnipoint 3.0 switches aren’t hot-swappable, which drastically limits your ability to tinker with or repair your keyboard after the fact. The non-swappability isn’t a huge deal, especially given you paid a bundle, presumably, to get a keyboard with Hall-effect switches in the first place. But given the keyboard’s cost—and the fact that other manufacturers include swappable key designs in this price range—know what you are getting into.
