SteelSeries Apex 3

A competent, affordable keyboard for membrane fans

- CHRISTIAN GUYTON

THIS IS THE BLACK SHEEP of SteelSeries’s Apex line, a lone membrane keyboard in a collection of mechanical offerings. It is by far the cheapest Apex keyboard, costing just 50 bucks (every other Apex keyboard costs upwards of $100), and it’s easy to see why: This is the toned-down version of the Apex chassis, a simplified model that forgoes per-key illumination and the little OLED smart display that defines its fellow keyboards.

That’s not to say that the Apex 3 isn’t a great product. This sensibly priced keyboard definitely still has the build quality of the pricier Apex keyboards, with a sturdy polymer casing and durable keycaps. It comes with a snapon magnetic wrist rest with a matte, rubberized surface, and includes the same metal scroll wheel and button for quick media controls. This doesn’t feel remotely flimsy; it’s a weighty, wellconstructed product.