Performance

There is full N-key rollover USB here out of the box, as Aqua's test confirms. Similarly, no key chatter was detected on all the keys using Switch Hitter.


When first connected to the keyboard, regardless of whether the software driver is installed or even running, the Apex M750 lights up in a ColorPrism (SteelSeries for multicolor RGB) Wave set to medium speed and moving from left to right. In order to determine the color fidelity of the LEDs and backlighting here, I used the driver to set a static white to all the keys.


As with just about any RGB-backlit device, the white is not a true white here, and we have a light pink hue which is especially apparent on the primary legends below the secondary ones on the number keys, even at full brightness. That said, light bleed is not bad considering the floating keycaps, as can be seen in the final picture above wherein I used the per-key static lighting options available. The backlighting barely reflects off the aluminum alloy frame here, thus allowing for controlled and subdued lighting, and the typeface used for the legends also matters here.










I have here some more examples of the various lighting effects possible through the driver. There are very many still, especially as combinations of the active and reactive modes, but these should hopefully give you a better idea of how the effects in the driver translate to the keyboard on your desk.




Above are two more videos courtesy of SteelSeries themselves, who did a better job of showing off two of the more interesting options available over the global driver page. Audio visualizer works very well, and I did test this out as well, although I did not personally test out how ImageSync works if only because that seems best illustrated with multiple devices and I have only one compatible device here (the Apex M750).

If the software driver is not something you like, then fret not as there are pre-programmed onboard controls too. The function row has backlighting brightness adjustment, volume, and media playback controls available as secondary functions, as indicated by the printing of the secondary legends and via the included information guide. Here is the complete list:

• Fn +F5/F6: Decrease/increase backlighting brightness in 5% increments
• Fn + F7-F9: Media playback
• Fn + F10-F12: Volume control
• Fn + PRT SCN: Increases backlight speed by 1 level
• Fn + Ins: Changes backlight mode
• Fn + Del: Changes backlight color
• Fn + SCR LK: Increases key light (reactive effect) by 1 level
• Fn + Home: Changes key light mode
• Fn + End: Changes key light color

You can also assign a key to be a dedicated macro recording on/off button as well, although you do need the driver for that. Overall, the Apex M750 is an extremely customizable keyboard in both function and form.



As always, the sound of a keyboard is based on more than just the switch type. So when comparing sound clips, consider the keyboard as a whole. In this case, I have provided above an example sound clip of me typing on the SteelSeries Apex M750 sample at ~110 WPM. For context, you can find sound clips from other keyboards here, including those with linear switches. I did bottom out here, which is often the case with such light linear switches. SteelSeries claims the QX2 switch design to be on the quieter end of things, but bottoming out on a metal frame will not help here. In terms of actuation and typing, the average actuation force was 44.91 cN across twenty randomly tested switches, and bottoming out felt really good even compared to the Cherry MX Red switches that these are based off, with a smoother travel overall. Only good things here so far from the SteelSeries-Gateron partnership.