SteelSeries Apex 5 Review | 64 Data compared

The PCMag UK SteelSeries Apex 5 review highlights this midrange gaming keyboard as a killer, well-made option that earns a 4.0 Excellent rating. Originally launched for $99.99, it successfully bridges the gap between membrane and mechanical technology using spring-loaded "Hybrid Blue" switches. Pros mentioned in the review include a hybrid switch design that feels authentically mechanical and snappy without any hallmark membrane squishiness. It features a sleek dark grey aluminum top plate, extensive per-key RGB backlighting options via the SteelSeries Engine 3 software, and a unique customizable black-and-white OLED smart display for on-the-fly settings. A detachable magnetic wrist rest and a highly polished clickable metal volume roller are also included to round out its premium aesthetic. However, the reviewer points out several notable compromises to hit its lower price point. Cons include the fact that the included wrist rest is hard and doesn't provide a ton of physical support. Additionally, all media controls are condensed into a single button—requiring single, double, or triple presses—which can prove annoying to navigate in practice. Hardcore gamers might also be disappointed by the lack...

The SteelSeries Apex 5 is a hybrid keyboard that pairs mechanical key switches with an underlying electrical membrane design, attempting to deliver a mechanical feel with membrane smoothness. Priced around $100, the full-sized keyboard delivers solid in-game performance across various genres and includes helpful design elements, such as a highly comfortable magnetic wrist rest and an innovative, single multimedia button that manages tracks through successive clicks. It is fully compatible with the SteelSeries Engine 3 software, allowing users to completely reprogram any key, set up macros, and configure distinct gaming profiles. However, the reviewer notes several downsides, starting with the core hybrid switch mechanism, which fails to feel like a true mechanical keyboard and features keycaps that are slow to spring back. The built-in black-and-white OLED screen in the upper right corner adds unnecessary cost without providing much functionality, while the per-key RGB lighting appears dim and washed out in well-lit office spaces. Ultimately, while it is a decent middle-ground option for those wanting a cheaper taste of the RGB mechanical aesthetic, it remains a tough sell when durable, fully...

SteelSeries Apex 5 Review Summary The SteelSeries Apex 5 is a lightweight, full-sized gaming keyboard that bridges the gap between budget and premium peripherals with a retail price of £109.99. Its defining design feature is the use of hybrid mechanical blue switches, which combine a cheaper membrane circuit layout with physical springs and coils. This architecture delivers the tactile, clicky feel of a traditional mechanical board while remaining significantly quieter and requiring slightly more actuation force than standard switches. Constructed with an aircraft-grade aluminium frame, the keyboard features a customisable OLED smart display for on-the-fly notifications and GIFs, three-way cable routing, dedicated macro keys, and a highly functional SteelSeries Engine 3 companion software package. Pros and Cons The product balances strong utility against a few design limitations: Pros Vibrant per-key RGB illumination featuring deep software customization presets. Convenient magnetic wrist rest included out of the box. Robust internal memory capable of storing up to five user profiles. Highly practical multimedia scroll wheel for easy audio management. Cons Inflexible physical adjustment options due to feet that only offer a single height...

The SteelSeries Apex 5 is a mid-range gaming keyboard priced at £109.99/$99.99 that utilizes "hybrid mechanical" switches. These keys combine the physical spring, click, and tactile bump of a mechanical switch with a cost-effective membrane design. In real-world testing across gaming and extensive typing, the hybrid switches performed identically to pure mechanical keys, showing zero activation delays. The keyboard boasts a durable aluminum frame, per-key RGB lighting, a 20-million keypress rating, and deep customization options through the versatile SteelSeries Engine software. Pros and Cons Pros: The keyboard delivers responsive performance for both gaming and writing while remaining reasonably priced. Its sturdy aluminum build feels premium, and the hybrid keys are virtually indistinguishable from full mechanical alternatives. It is highly customizable via software and includes a per-key RGB backlight, a multi-directional cable routing groove, and a customizable black-and-white OLED display. Cons: The bundled magnetically attachable wrist rest lacks padding and fails to offer comfortable or adequate support. Additionally, the OLED screen feels underutilized and largely superfluous. Finally, the physical multimedia setup is restricted to a single wheel and a solitary, overburdened...

The SteelSeries Apex 5 is a feature-rich, full-sized gaming keyboard that offers an impressive balance between high-end aesthetics and strategic pricing at around $100. Weighing just two pounds with tight, trimmed-down bezels, its lightweight design combines a durable aluminum top deck with a sturdy plastic base that includes integrated pop-out feet and customizable cable routing channels. Performance-wise, the keyboard utilizes Hybrid Blue Mechanical Switches that deliver a quick 2mm actuation and a snappy typing experience by pairing tactile mechanical click springs with cost-saving membrane actuation. Testing showed great responsiveness during fast-paced games like Paladins and River City Ransom Underground, alongside highly customizable per-key RGB illumination configured through the SteelSeries Engine software. The keyboard's primary standout features are its built-in 128 x 40 mini-OLED display—which tracks media playback, reads Discord messages, or plays custom GIFs at 10 frames per second—and a highly functional magnetic faux-leather wrist rest. Proving to be a solid budget option, its main strengths (pros) include solid gaming performance, a premium minimalist design, and an OLED panel with convenient multimedia dial controls. However, the reviewer noted distinct drawbacks...

The PCMag review highlights the SteelSeries Apex 5 as a strong hybrid-mechanical keyboard, bridging the gap between performance and price with its clicky, tactile "Hybrid Blue" switches and robust, aircraft-grade aluminum frame. Notable features include a magnetic wrist rest, a customizable OLED display, and a premium metal volume roller that enhance the overall user experience. However, the review identifies the single-button media control system as unintuitive, requiring complex multi-press actions for simple playback tasks. While the switches are precise, they require slightly higher actuation force than some competitors, but the device remains a solid, responsive, and well-built entry-level gaming option.

The SteelSeries Apex 5 gaming keyboard balances premium design and high-end features with a mid-range price of $99, earning an 8/10 "Great" score from IGN. A major highlight is its hybrid mechanical switches, which utilize a physical mechanism to deliver the tactile bump, loud click, and 4mm travel of a mechanical layout, while actuating over a more affordable and smooth membrane base. The keyboard features an aircraft-grade aluminum frame, a customizable black-and-white OLED smart display for Discord notifications or GIFs, a clickable volume wheel, a magnetic soft-touch wrist rest, and deep software customization through SteelSeries Engine 3. In real-world gaming tests like Rainbow Six Siege, it performs dependably without any noticeable mushiness, closely mirroring a true mechanical keyboard experience. Despite these strengths, the review notes several design flaws and compromises. The primary drawback centers on the hybrid switch design itself, as the consistency and long-term durability of a soft membrane sheet under heavy use remain questionable compared to gold-plated mechanical contacts. Additionally, the per-key RGB lighting lacks polish, leaving secondary characters dim and taller symbols faded near the bottom. The...

The SteelSeries Apex 5 is a premium full-sized gaming keyboard priced between £80 and £100 that successfully bridges the gap between budget membrane decks and expensive mechanical boards. Built with a rigid, aircraft-grade aluminium alloy frame that shows almost no flex, it includes a highly comfortable, soft-touch magnetic wrist rest and a three-way cable routing system to keep desk setups clean. Its standout features are best-in-class per-key RGB illumination and an OLED Smart Display—a luxury usually reserved for pricier models—which allows users to view Discord messages, track in-game stats, control Spotify, and display custom GIFs. Performance in games like The Elder Scrolls Online is flawless, aided by 24-key rollover and easy macro binding via the SteelSeries Engine software. The keyboard's core defining trait is its "Hybrid Blue" mechanical switches, which use a physical spring to deliver a satisfying, snappy tactile click but actuate on a membrane circuit rated for 20 million keypresses. The main pros of the Apex 5 include its premium aluminium build quality, the game-changing utility of the OLED screen, the excellent included magnetic wrist rest, and the...

Alex Rowe’s review on Medium positions the SteelSeries Apex 5 as a competent $100 mid-range hybrid mechanical keyboard, offering premium features like an aircraft-grade aluminum top plate, per-key RGB, and a magnetic wrist rest. The core highlight is the hybrid blue switches, which provide a tactile, clicky experience, complemented by a customizable OLED display and effective cable routing. Medium · However, the review notes drawbacks including thin, smudge-prone ABS keycaps and a non-detachable USB cable. Furthermore, the hybrid switch design lacks the raw, high-performance speed found in fully mechanical alternatives, making it a compromise for competitive gaming. Medium ·

The SteelSeries Apex 5 is a durable and well-constructed gaming keyboard evaluated at approximately 1400 SEK, featuring impressive out-of-the-box, plug-and-play functionality across Xbox, Windows PC, and Mac platforms. The reviewer noted that installing the optional SteelSeries software significantly enhances user agency, allowing for customized per-key macros, personalized text on the integrated OLED screen, and tailored 16.8 million color RGB profiles. Hardware pros highlighted in the evaluation include its robust design with mechanical switches rated for 20 million keystrokes, a comfortable ergonomic wrist rest for long sessions, and useful physical layout features like a tactile volume scroll wheel and an adjacent multi-press inline media control button.

The SteelSeries Apex 5 is reviewed as a rock-solid, entry-level gaming keyboard that successfully brings the premium aesthetics of high-end models like the Apex Pro down to a more affordable price point. Built with a highly durable aircraft-grade aluminum alloy chassis, it features per-key RGB backlighting, a premium detachable magnetic wrist rest, and handy dedicated multimedia controls including a clickable volume roller. Its defining technical component is the Hybrid Blue mechanical gaming switch, which fuses a real mechanical base with membrane components to mirror the 2mm actuation and 4mm bottom-out specifications of traditional CherryMX Blue switches. This design delivers clear tactile bumps and loud audible clicks that help enhance actions-per-minute (APM) for RTS gaming, though it presents a distinct typing feel compared to pure mechanical options. While the keyboard offers impressive value and premium build characteristics, it also makes noticeable compromises to maintain its entry-level positioning. On the positive side, its major pros include a solid and durable frame, a sleek and compact desktop footprint, highly customizable RGB lighting, and an integrated OLED screen for on-board feedback. However, the reviewer...

The WellPlayed review finds the SteelSeries Apex 5Go to product viewer dialogue for this item. to be a tactile and versatile hybrid keyboard that justifies its price with satisfying, typewriter-like mechanical keys. Key strengths include a comfortable magnetic wrist rest, vibrant RGB, and a functional OLED smart display for customization. However, the hybrid switches are louder than membrane alternatives, which may not suit quiet environments. Additionally, the OLED screen is considered more of a functional novelty rather than a necessary performance feature.

The Gadgets Middle East review of the SteelSeries Apex 5 Hybrid Mechanical Keyboard highlights it as a feature-rich, budget-friendly option that delivers flagship-tier specifications without breaking the bank. Built with an premium aircraft-grade aluminium alloy frame and a minimalistic design, the keyboard introduces "hybrid" blue switches. These switches combine a membrane signal-processing base with mechanical spring components to successfully replicate the satisfying tactile bump and loud, clicky audio profile of standard Cherry MX Blue switches. Standout pros detailed in the review include its beautiful per-key RGB illumination, highly durable keys supporting up to 20 million keystrokes, an intuitive 40x128 pixel programmable OLED smart display, dedicated media controls with a clickable volume wheel, a sturdy chassis, and an incredibly comfortable, detachable magnetic wrist rest. Despite its high praise, the reviewer identifies a few notable cons that hold the peripheral back from being absolutely flawless. A major drawback is the matte rubberised finish on the keycaps and the soft-touch plastic surface of the palm rest, both of which act as massive fingerprint and palm print magnets that require frequent cleaning. Additionally, the...

The SteelSeries Apex 5 is a wired gaming keyboard featuring an aircraft-grade aluminum top plate, exceptional build quality, and a comfortable, magnetic wrist rest. Its hybrid mechanical switches offer a light, clicky typing experience, complemented by a unique OLED smart display and extensive software customization for RGB lighting. However, the keyboard is hampered by unexpectedly high wired latency and a lack of dedicated macro keys, limiting its appeal for competitive or specialized gaming. Additionally, the switches are very loud, and the device lacks a USB pass-through, while offering only limited functionality on macOS. For full details, visit RTINGS.

The SteelSeries Apex 5 review by Peter Donnell on eTeknix highlights it as a highly capable, feature-packed mid-range peripheral priced at £109.99. A major highlight is its exceptional build quality, featuring a rigid, aircraft-grade aluminium alloy chassis that exhibits virtually no deck flex. It sets itself apart by bridging the gap between enthusiast hardware and budget restrictions through custom-designed hybrid blue mechanical gaming switches rated for 20 million presses, providing a fast, tactile, and clicky feel. Comfort is heavily emphasized as a primary strength, largely credited to a generously sized, detachable magnetic wrist rest that ensures hands feel less fatigued during extended work and gaming sessions. Additional premium features include an elegant OLED Smart Display for real-time tracking of volume levels, game stats, and Discord notifications, alongside a tactile volume wheel and 16.8 million colour per-key RGB illumination customizable through easy-to-use software. Medium · Key Pros & Cons Based on the eTeknix Review, here is a quick breakdown of its major advantages and disadvantages: Pros Cons Robust Construction: Ultra-durable aircraft-grade aluminum alloy plate with zero flex. No USB Pass-Through: Lacks...