SteelSeries Apex Professional Mini assessment: Small dimension, peak efficiency


Adjustable key switches? Hmm

Up to date: Nov 14, 2022 8:53 am


SteelSeries has gained a repute for well-built, high-performance gaming peripherals, nevertheless, they aren’t usually identified for pushing the boat out when it comes to innovation.

Nonetheless, this seems to have modified now, as SteelSeries has outfitted the Apex 9 Mini with their very personal OmniPoint Optical key switches, which could simply be one of the vital progressive options we’ve heard of.

These switches are distinctive as you may modify the actuation level per key in 0.1mm increments, permitting for nearly limitless granularity when it comes to sensitivity. Maybe that is what all of the best gaming keyboards will likely be doing in 5 years’ time?

As spectacular as this expertise is, it’s received us questioning if it’s a gimmick or a genuinely game-changing innovation.

Let’s discover out in our full SteelSeries Apex Professional Mini Wi-fi assessment.

SteelSeries Apex Professional Mini specs

steelseries apex pro mini

SteelSeries Apex Professional Mini Wi-fi gaming keyboard

Swap kind

SteelSeries OmniPoint ddjustable mechanical swap

Connectivity

USB Kind-C, 2.4GHz

What’s within the field & setup

  • Apex Professional Mini Gaming Keyboard
  • USB-C to USB-A Cable
  • USB Kind-C dongle & Kind-C to Kind-A adapter
  • Keycap Puller
  • Product Info Information

SteelSeries has opted for a less-extensive method to the field when in comparison with their earlier keyboards. There are not any magnetic flaps or plinths on which to show the keyboard, as a substitute, the inside merely slides freed from the slipcover.

Inside the cardboard insert, you discover the keyboard in a delicate anti-scratch bag. The related equipment just like the dongle and keycap puller are saved in little cardboard drawer-like compartments.

The unboxing expertise is fairly tidy, with every part securely stowed in its personal compartment, the one draw back is the shortage of froth padding, which means that the Apex Professional Mini is slightly susceptible to wreck. That is notably worrying given the ~$240 worth of the Apex Professional Mini, nevertheless, our pattern arrived undamaged.

As normal, setup is a straightforward course of requiring not however an empty USB port and the included dongle. For those who’re a technologically superior man about city with a USB type-C port in your PC, then you should utilize that, whereas plebs must use the included adapter and cable.

There’s one factor to notice right here although, which is the Apex Professional Mini’s incessantly flashing escape key that simply doesn’t cease going for those who’re utilizing it in wired mode.

So, when you’ve got no real interest in using the wi-fi capabilities of this board, you might need to get used to it, however there may be an answer within the type of a firmware replace sooner or later.

As normal, the SteelSeries GG software program is advisable however not obligatory, because it means that you can play with the RGB and use the impressively customizable switches (extra on that later).

Design

SteelSeries has performed it secure right here, with a slim chassis, leaving you simply the keys which is the usual 60% keyboard design, just like what we noticed in our Corsair K70 Pro Mini review and the ASUS ROG Falchion.

Whereas we benefit from the utilitarian and minimalist design, we’ve seen quite a lot of them by this level, which means that it’s additionally beginning to really feel a tad uninspired.