As a Keyboard snob and a very hard keyboard user, I really like this keyboard and this company overall. It has a nice break for each key and while the typing is not whisper quiet, it is much less than a cherry red mechanical. I can touch type easily and quickly as everything is where it should be. I also have a older Apex 5 keyboard with the Cherry Brown keys I believe - great keyboard as well, but noisy. I think this Apex 3 is superior in feel and typeability. I have never used the wrist rest before on any keyboards due to my very large hands, but this time I gave it a go, and it really improved the overall feel through my wrists. I am now a believer in the hard smooth angled wrist rests One thing I really like about this keyboard is that you can get the white LEDs pretty bright so that I can program without overhead lighting and never not see the keys - it is bright enough and it looks legit while being bright. I am too old for the RGB effects, just give me bright white keys! On my Apex 5, I wore the keys to a high shine and it still hasn't missed a beat. Steel series knows how to put out a extremely useable, high quality product every time. I have had virtually all the big names keyboards and they all have their charms, but for reliability and quality, none has surpassed this manufacturer in my experience, although some have equaled it. From a dollars and cents standpoint - this is a excellent value! Read more
I bought this for my 14-year-old, and it’s been a great keyboard for both gaming and schoolwork. The hybrid switches feel clicky and responsive without being overly loud, and the RGB is bright and customizable enough for their setup. The included wrist rest adds real comfort and doesn’t slide around. No issues with software or macros so far. It’s a well-rounded keyboard that feels more premium than its price suggests. Read more
This is a very nice keyboard for the price. It is not a mechanical keyboard, but it still feels very nice to type on, and it sounds great! Great budget keyboard, the lighting looks very good and is easy to customize. You cant customize the individual keys, its sections across the keyboard the horizontal ways. Everything feels really good quality, it's all plastic but nice plastic. I definitely would recomend this keyboard. Read more
I can enthusiastically recommend this keyboard. It feels good to type on, it's well made, the palm rest is soft and comfortable and the keys have backlighting such that one can see the keycaps in dark conditions and type accurately. This is a well made product. I've had an Apex 3 TKL for about a year and it's been fantastic, and recently ordered the full version and am very happy with it. I attempted to look for a Mac compatible key caps set and was unable to find one. If Steelseries was ever to make any improvements I would love to see a set of key caps I could swap in for Mac keys. Read more
The SteelSeries TKL keyboard is a nicely build accessory for laptop gaming. That is what I primarily use it for when traveling. It is lightweight, sleeps into my laptop backpack, and doesn't take up much room. Once you download their software, you can customize the lighting patterns, which is a very nice touch. They do have several pre-programmed lighting options, but you ultimately can customize it all. Well done! My only complaint is what they are calling "whisper quiet". I was skeptical about how quiet it could be. I type this review on my Microsoft Ergonomic Keyboard (wired) and the sound from typing the keys sounds exactly the same as the SS TKL. They keys are not as pronounced as the SS TKL, but I was expecting to hardly hear them. Now when gaming, I don't notice it at all. I am too focused on the gaming. However, when browsing the web or doing in-game chat instead of voice, then I notice the sound. Anyway, I would say their push and advertising "whisper quiet" is not accurate at all, so if the selling point for you is a quiet keyboard when you tap the keys you may be disappointed with this TKL. I think my built in laptop keyboard is quieter actually. Otherwise I think it is a good price for what you get. A lightweight wired keyboard that you can customize a few buttons, change up the RGB lighting behind the keys, and being wired you know there won't be moments when the battery dies mid-game. The only ding, IMO, is the false advertising for "whisper quiet" keys. No different than a cheaper every-day keyboard from what I can tell. Read more
If this is the price range you're in, get this one. Ive gone through several keyboards around and above this price, and damn do I love this thing. Sleek, comfortable, just the right amount of noise you'd want from a mechanical (enough to barely hear but not notice, not picked up on mic), hasn't degraded in quality even a little bit. If you're prone to smacking your keyboard like I am, rest assured this thing can take a serious beating. You would literally have to snap it in half for it to lose functionality. Read more
