SteelSeries continues to offer high-quality gaming PC keyboards, mice, headphones, and more. One of the recently announced is the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini wireless mechanical gaming keyboards that offer great customizations, fast keystrokes, adjustable switches, and more. We got a chance to try out the new keyboard and here are our thoughts about it.
Design and Features
The Apex Pro Mini Wireless from SteelSeries is designed with more portability and mobility while retaining most of the desk space for mouse swipes. The compact keyboard by itself is 60% of a full-sized variant and features a dimension of 293mm x 103mm x 40.3mm (W x D x H) and the device weighs 543g. SteelSeries also uses the Series 5000 metal top plate for enhanced rigidity and structural stability.
The height-adjustable tilt rubber legs provide three ergonomic positions and that includes flat, half, and full extension. SteelSeries also uses high-quality Double-Shot PBT keycaps that feature fadeproof print and a unique texture for an enhanced feel in keystrokes and more accurate typing. Some of the keys also come with side-printed secondary actions to ensure you get all the functionality of a full-size keyboard.
The detachable USB-C braided cable is designed to withstand the wear and tear of everyday usage. The USB-C port is located on the rear side to the right, along with a switch to toggle Bluetooth or Wireless connectivity. The Quantum 2.0 wireless offers a 2.4GHz wireless connection or Bluetooth 5.0 for lag-free gaming. The keyboard also features RGB illumination customizations for each key and this can be adjusted via the SteelSeries Engine application.
One of the main features of the Apex Pro Mini Wireless is the inclusion of the OmniPoint 2.0 adjustable switches that feature advanced magnetic sensors for instantaneous, zero-contact keystroke activations for speed. Users will be able to adjust the registration distance near 0.1mm. Gamers who prefer feather-light touch strokes can adjust a distance of 0.2mm and those who prefer a firm press can tune it to 3.8mm.
You will be able to program two actions to a single key and they can be triggered depending on how deep you press the key. For example, during a gameplay session, a light key press lets the user walk forward, and then pressing the same key deeper let them sprint. This is a killer feature that lets gamers customize their favorite combos for each key. SteelSeries also mentions that the keyboard offers 11x faster response time, and 10x faster actuation, and is twice more durable than standard mechanical keyboards.
The typing experience of the Apex Pro Mini wireless is good and the audibility of the key typing is not as loud and clicky as Cherry MX Blue switches. In terms of durability, the OmniPoint mechanical switches are rated to last over 100 million presses. You can save up to five custom profiles on the onboard memory and the processor used here is a 32-bit ARM chip.
SteelSeries also mentions that the Apex Pro Mini wireless is compatible with not only Windows OS, but also Xbox and PlayStation consoles, and Mac OS X. In terms of battery life, the keyboard can last for up to 30 hours in wireless mode and up to 40 hours in Bluetooth mode and RGB lighting set at default settings.
The box contents of the keyboard include a keyboard, USB-C to USB-A cable, a USB-C wireless dongle, a wireless extension adapter, a keycap puller, and the product information guide.
Verdict
If you’re looking for a good compact gaming mechanical keyboard with customizations on how you control the game, then consider the new SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Wireless. The keyboard features a rigid construction and weighs 543g. The per-key RGB lighting is adjusted via the SteelSeries application. The included USB-C braided cable is durable to withstand daily life events. The keyboard uses double-shot PBT keys that are fadeproof and has a unique texture.
The OminiPoint 2.0 switches come with magnetic sensors for instant keystrokes for speed. You will also be able to adjust the keystroke distances and program two actions for each key and trigger them based on how deep you press the key. Gamers can choose either Bluetooth 5.0 or 2.4GHz wireless for lag-free connections and can play with up to 40 hours of battery life, depending on which wireless connectivity they choose.