Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
I ’m not mad , just disappointed . SteelSeries has a limited version run of its Apex Pro Mini keyboard , and it ’s absolutely gorgeous . The aptly key out White Gold Edition features an whole white body , a brass plate , and a hefty brass exercising weight , along with a lovely whitened hand-build cable television with gilded accents . It feels immediately premium , and it looks stunning . It ’s just a shame the keyboard itself is n’t very secure .
That might shock you to get wind , consider theSteelSeries Apex Pro Miniwas a keyboard I said “ might be the better play keyboard you may bribe ” virtually two years ago . A lot has change in that time , though , and the typing experience of this limited edition run does n’t live up to its beautiful artistic .
Jacob Roach / Digital Trends
Before we can get to that , though , we involve to talk about Leontyne Price . SteelSeries is asking $ 380 for this keyboard . This is a circumscribed variant model with a ton of brass , so a cost salary increase is n’t out of the doubt . It ’s just shockingly more expensive . The al-Qaeda Apex Pro Mini ( wired , like this one is ) runs $ 180 and $ 140 on sale . SteelSeries is expect from $ 200 to $ 240 more for this version .
For further context , SteelSeries released the Ghost Edition of the Apex Pro Mini late last year , which was specify to 250 units , just like the White Gold Edition . For that keyboard , SteelSeries asked $ 230 . The price of the White Gold version is way beyond the extra cost of fabric or even the limited edition tax . It ’s unreasonably expensive , which make the problems with it all the more urgent .
It ’s trying to be a premium mechanically skillful keyboard , and that ’s clear . The White Gold Apex Pro Mini is heavy , with both the brass weight and plateful retain it anchored to your desk . It ’s almost as heavy as mycustom GMMK Pro , and that ’s saying something . There are n’t any shaping foot , with SteelSeries rather trust on the natural curvature of the build .
The problem are on the inside . I took apart the keyboard to see what SteelSeries was doing under the hood , and the answer is : shockingly little . The switches are wax flat to the brass plate and soldered to the PCB underneath . That fixture is then secure to the frame with a handful of screws .
And that ’s it . There ’s no sound dampening , no gasket mount , nothing . SteelSeries involve the aesthetics and cost of an partisan keyboard but draw a blank about all the trimmings that make the strait , feel , and typing experience of a premium keyboard , well , premium . It ’s even more frustrating deal the $ 380 SteelSeries is require for this limited variant run .
In 2022 , when I first reviewed the Apex Pro Mini , it was a different meter . The keyboard principally suffer out due to SteelSeries Omnipoint switch , which remain the fastest key switches money can buy . They ’re present on this White Gold edition , fit with the adjustable propulsion point that you’re able to adjust through the SteelSeries Engine software program .
These switches are the nitty-gritty of the Apex Pro Mini , circumscribed version or not , so I wo n’t criticize SteelSeries for sticking with its own replacement . Hot - swappable transposition have quickly become a basic of gaming keyboards , but it make sense why they are locked down on the Apex Pro Mini . Even with the permutation , there was much more SteelSeries could do here .
Asus spearhead the push to enthusiast design in gaming keyboards with theAzothandStrix Scope II , but we ’re seeing multiple brands jump on board . HyperX announced itsGMMK Pro competitorjust a few months ago , which is fit with its own gasket mount and board foam . For a $ 380 keyboard , SteelSeries definitely could ’ve done more here .
The Apex Pro Mini still has all of the features that make it a alone keyboard , with the adjustable actuation being the main marketing feature film . In addition , you’re able to bind multiple natural action to the same key and multiple layers of inputs through SteelSeries Engine . It ’s just hard to justify pass this much money to unlock those features when the typing experience does n’t live up to the monetary value .
One thing is clear : SteelSeries know how to design a keyboard that looks beautiful . Hopefully , next “ fall ” will be able-bodied to gibe what ’s inside with what you see on the outside .
