SteelSeries’ exclusive OmniPoint customizable switches are found on the “60 percent”-style keyboard known as the Apex Pro Mini Wireless. For quicker reaction times, greater precision, and increased longevity, the switches feature magnetic sensors that allow owners to customize the precise distance at which a key registers. The Apex Pro Mini Wireless stands out from its rivals due to the appeal of having various key-switch response times (like the Razer Huntsman Mini Analog). The Apex brand of keyboards has been utilizing these switches since they were debuted in 2019, and several other keyboards, such as the Huntsman Mini Analog, have competing gimmicks, including optical analogue switches, despite the fact that the technology is undoubtedly amazing.
Design
The Razer Huntsman Mini Analog, which we had the pleasure of reviewing a few months ago, is undoubtedly the closest rival to the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless, and there are some similarities. Both are 60% keyboards, which means that the layout is extremely space-efficient and just includes the conventional alphanumeric keys. The Apex Pro Mini Wireless lacks a navigation cluster, arrow keys, number pad, and function row. There will be a learning curve if you’re switching from a full-size keyboard to a nifty sixty. For the purposes of writing this review, we did switch from a 65% down to a 60% keyboard, but even then, it was a touch awkward. We had to remind ourselves not to utilize the arrow keys that our 65% keyboard had in the bottom-right corner. An aircraft-grade aluminum top plate and a reasonably thick chassis with no deck flex give the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless a particularly fine build and feel that appears to justify its hefty asking price. Additionally, the textured doubleshot PBT keycaps on this tiny wireless board feel wonderful in the hands. It’s encouraging to see higher-quality flourishes gaining traction in the general keyboard market, and it shows that SteelSeries is constantly finding for ways to defend the Apex Pro Mini Wireless’ steep price tag. The Apex Pro Mini Wireless’ back is kept uncomplicated with a USB-C socket for charging and a switch that switches it on and lets you choose between Bluetooth or the included USB-C receiver for connectivity. Along with two-stage feet that allow you to slightly increase the typing angle if desired, the underside of the board also has some rubber pads to keep it firmly planted on your desk. You can be confident they won’t fall off quickly because the feet are constructed of tough plastic and feature a strong hinge. The availability of two stages makes things more convenient.
SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless review: Keys
The incorporation of SteelSeries’ unique OmniPoint 2.0 adjustable switches is the show-stopping feature of the Apex Pro Mini Wireless. You can modify the actuation of the keys right out of the box to meet your demands at any time. In essence, you may change the amount of pressure and the depth at which a key must be pressed to trigger an action. A lower actuation would be appropriate for activities like competitive gaming, while a higher range would be better for typing to prevent inadvertent key presses. This runs from 0.2mm to 3.8mm. You hit the specific SteelSeries key along with either the I or O keys to make this modification instantly. The actuation point can be moved up or down in 0.4mm steps, and Steelseries included RGB indicators to indicate the level. Similar to Corsair’s Axon Hyper-Processing technology, which can be found in rival goods like the K70 RGB Pro mechanical gaming keyboard, this innovative hardware-based approach to enhancing response times and precision improves both speed and accuracy. In order to reduce the processing time for each keystroke, Corsair’s keyboards boost the polling rate up to 8,000Hz. The Apex Pro Mini Wireless’s capability, in contrast to that keyboard, goes beyond just lighting and macro customization. A whole new level of customization is possible when used with SteelSeries’ proprietary Engine software package. You may improve your keyboard usage by using the tabs for Key Bindings, Actuation, Dual Bindings, Dual Actuation, and Meta Bindings.
Software
SteelSeries GG, an undoubtedly imperfect piece of software considering how much capability it unlocks for the Apex Pro Mini, connects everything on the Apex Pro Mini. The good news is that GG provides you complete control over key bindings on both the base layer and the Meta layer. You may rebind the keys to various functions such as OS shortcuts, macros, application controls, and more. In addition to what you might anticipate from a $200 keyboard, GG lets you configure dual bindings and dual actuations. Some of SteelSeries GG’s most intriguing characteristics include these two ones. Dual actuations and dual bindings both let you establish distinct inputs for various actuation points, allowing you to bind a different command to each when the key is released. you can read our article on SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless review. The range of options with this set up is difficult to understate. Most users will likely just use the keyboard as usual, but those who have really specific use cases will value the power that GG offers greatly. You can do essentially any PC input, and typically numerous ones, with a single key press. This includes easily executable macros in your favorite MMOs, a full board of productivity shortcuts, or even a row of keys dedicated to complex Excel tricks. The fact that the key bindings are so fantastic is fortunate because SteelSeries GG’s remainder of the features are tedious. Although the RGB lighting engine may be used to create a variety of effects, it is not nearly as flexible as Corsair iCue, and the colors in GG don’t correspond to those on your keyboard. Although it functions, the in-built macro recorder is not as user-friendly as the Logitech G Hub. The list continues.
SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless review: RGB lighting
The Apex Pro Mini Wireless has gorgeous RGB illumination. It adds a significant burst of colour to the board’s intimidating-looking black frame and adds a vivid and fashionable touch, like a high-end gaming board should. The software that comes with this board, SteelSeries Engine, has a broad feature set. You can modify the actuations of the switches and assign auxiliary functions in SteelSeries Engine in addition to performing more conventional tasks like remapping keys and configuring with lighting.
Connectivity
Although the wireless Apex Pro Mini costs $60 more than the cable version, it is worth the extra money. The 2.4GHz wireless or Bluetooth options each feature a low latency option that simulates utilising a cable. The keyboard’s automated sleep mode will probably allow you to get far more than the 40 hours of battery life that SteelSeries claims. The sleep mode isn’t ideal, much like previous SteelSeries accessories. When you wake up the keyboard, there is a delay while it reacts to the dongle. The Apex Pro Mini is significantly less responsive than a wireless keyboard like the Logitech G915 TKL since it takes a second or two.
SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless review: Performance
Similar to its larger, wired brother, the SteelSeries Apex Mini Pro Wireless’ key selling point is the presence of the company’s nifty OmniPoint switches. With an advertised actuation force of 45cN, they operate rather conventionally as linear switches with a smooth actuation and a mild keypress. But the smart deception behind these switches is what makes them truly alive, not their force or the way they are pressed. In essence, they function as Hall effect switches and detect when a magnet is applied to a sensor by sending it down the switch’s stem. These switches have an adjustable actuation point, which lets you choose how far you have to push a key before it registers an input, because there isn’t a physical mechanism for contact. You can have switches that actuate as high as 0.2 mm or as low as 3.8 mm by configuring the scale at any point between 5% and 95% of the total key travel. In our testing, the higher actuation points were especially helpful for first-person shooter (FPS) games because we were able to move more quickly by mapping the highest points to our WASD keys. This led to extremely quick motions. The same holds true for keys that are mapped to almost instantaneous use of grenades or C4 during Counter-Strike: Global Offensive rounds. Additionally, just like the Razer Huntsman V2 Analog, these switches can be programmed in software to accept double inputs, allowing you to press the switch down to a particular level to activate the first function and then move to the end of its trip to activate the second. Instead of enabling crouching with a modifier key as you would normally, you can walk and crouch with just one key thanks to this.
Battery life
For the Apex Pro Mini Wireless, Steelseries advertises a battery life of about 30 hours, and that is pretty much what we observed with RGB set at 50% brightness. Of course, you can get greater battery life by completely turning off the RGB, but what would be the point? The battery isn’t great by any means, and if you use the device frequently, you’ll need to charge it frequently. As a WFH guy who utilized the keyboard for business and play for virtually the full day, we discovered that we had to hook up the keyboard around every three days. also you can check our article on SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless review.
Price and availabilty
Even if we weren’t in the midst of a financial crisis, asking for $239, £239, or AU$499 for a small keyboard seems a little ridiculous. A number of the top 60% and 75% wireless keyboards available are far more reasonably priced. Gamers’ hard-earned money will only cost them $179, £179, or AU$299 for the well-liked and well-received Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed, for instance. Similar applies to the more recent Corsair K70 Pro Mini Wireless, which costs $179 (£169, AU$299). But when you look at the features, neither of those keyboards can match the degree of customization the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless offers, so the premium price makes a lot of sense. It’s still undeniable that most gamers must pay a hefty price for these customizations, and the price feels even higher if you won’t be fully utilizing this keyboard’s abilities.
Conclusion
The SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless is an exceptional gaming keyboard. Its customizable pre-travel distance, which you can customize for each key individually and within a large range, is its most notable feature. Other than that, this is a solidly constructed device with incredibly low latency that can handle any gameplay. Additionally, it offers simple-to-use companion software that allows you to map any key to macros or dual gaming inputs. The lack of a wrist rest, which would increase general comfort, is a drawback.
