Introduction

My first and only experience with SteelSeries products until now has been with the Apex M750 keyboard back in September 2017, which is a full-size keyboard using their branded QX2 linear switches that helped herald the age of company-branded mechanical switches we see more often now. Perhaps it was because this feature is not remotely exclusive anymore or just because the mechanical keyboard market has become very competitive that the company wanted to go with something to grab eyes again. We saw them add OLED displays to mice before, and it was only a matter of time before it happened to their keyboards as well. Today, we take a look at one such keyboard, and thanks again to SteelSeries for sending a review sample to TechPowerUp!


The Apex Pro is the flagship of a series of new keyboards SteelSeries brought to market last year, and somehow a shipping carrier, who shall remain unnamed, decided to keep this package to themselves for months before finally delivering it to me as a legitimate surprise. Aside from the aforementioned OLED display, the Apex Pro also includes magnetic Hall-effect switches, which have not been used in mainstream consumer keyboards in ages, if arguably ever before. These switches alone are worth a detailed look at the keyboard, and we will cover everything, but begin with a look at the specifications in the table below.

Specifications

Packaging and Accessories

SteelSeries operates a web shop in the USA. However, this sample came from a marketing hub, so we begin with a look at the product packaging. A plastic wrap covers the packaging, which is not very practical, and removing it shows off the product box in more detail. The box is quite colorful with the company and product name and a large render of the keyboard all lit up on front, along with some of the salient marketing features listed prominently. We see more of the same on the back and sides, with another render and specifications in multiple languages. Four seals on the sides help keep the contents inside in place.


Tearing the seals apart, we see a two-piece packaging with an inner box that slides out to reveal the contents, as well as a cheesy marketing tagline on the orange cardboard up top. The keyboard itself is inside another plastic wrap, and the included accessories are found underneath as part of a layered unboxing experience. These include a useful, multi-language product information guide (online copy here) that goes over the setup and functions, and it is quite handy in helping a new user figure out how best to use the OLED display, control the backlighting on the keyboard, and customize the switch experience.


The other accessory we see is a large, premium wrist rest which comes inside a plastic wrap. It has a soft-touch surface with the SteelSeries logo in the middle and eight rubber pads on the bottom for scratch resistance as well as added friction against the resting surface. Two magnets touching the keyboard on the sides no doubt help with getting it in place properly.