Since releasing the world’s first mechanical gaming keyboard in 2004, the SteelKeys 6G, Steelseries’ range of keyboards has grown, both embracing emerging technology and catering for the differing tastes and budgets of gamers. Today we take a look at the Steelseries Apex 7 TKL gaming keyboard.

The Apex 7 is a wired mechanical gaming keyboard, it connects via USB with its cable providing 2 USB-A connectors. The first connector is required to power the keyboard with an an optional 2nd one used to power any devices connected to the USB port on the back of the keyboard. This is the TKL model so there is no number pad, a trade off for leaving more room on the desk for mouse movement. The keyboard ships with a palmrest that can be attached magnetically to the unit.

The keyboard we are testing today is the red switch model, the switches often recommended to those new to mechanical keyboards. Blue and brown switch Apex 7 models are also available.

First Impressions

When first examining the keyboard I was impressed by its apparent build quality. The price point of the Apex 7 puts it towards the higher end of the gaming keyboard market and its construction and feel is consistent with this and with what you would expect from a Steelseries product. Although I have only used this keyboard for a few days, looking at the customer reviews online talking about its durability suggests this initial impression is correct.

The keyboard features an OLED screen in the top right corner along with a menu button and volume roller. The image on the screen is customisable including support for animation at 10FPS. Pressing the menu button gives access to the onscreen menu, this allows a number of settings to be changed without tabbing out of a game. These include changing the RGB lighting pattern and profile switching. Personally I prefer using the shortcut key combinations which in the default setup can accomplish many of the same tasks but it is good that multiple ways to do so are offered.

One nice feature of this keyboard is the app/game integration. Steelseries offers the Gamesense APK to developers, making it possible for them to utilise the screen and illumination in their games, for example the screen can display health and ammo. This functionality is not limited to games, it can be used with Discord, or to display currently playing music tracks.

Whilst the overall feel of the keyboard is great if i had to offer one minor criticism it is that the material used to make the palmrest seems to accumulate dust and dirt at a rapid rate.

Accompanying Software

Whilst the keyboard offers a good degree of configurability and functionality in its own right, Steelseries’ GG software takes this to another level. Free to download (with some features requiring the creation of a Steelseries account) it offers, amongst other things, an interface to further configure the Apex 7. Key bindings and layout can be changed from here, including meta bindings. Meta bindings are utilised by holding down the Steelseries key on the keyboard, drastically expanding the number of mappings and macros that can be quickly accessed.

Other features of the software include changing the picture on the OLED screen, including being able to upload a local file (size 128 x 40 black and white is recommended) as well customising the RGB illumination. Pictured above right is one of my favourite features, the macro editor. This powerful tool allows the recording and editing of keyboard macros, with the editing of time delays between key presses and mouse clicks available to the millisecond.

In Conclusion

Overall its a great keyboard, well built, comfortable to use and packed with functionality. The game and application integration is a nice feature and the accompanying SteelSeries software feels far from an afterthought, offering a plethora of further customisation options.

The keyboard is not cheap and some people may be put off by the price or the idea of even spending that much on a keyboard. However if you are a gamer and its within your price range its a solid choice built to last.

You can buy the Steelseries Apex 7 TKL UK version in our store here.