SteelSeries is launching the latest version of the Apex Pro gaming keyboard line, the Apex Pro Gen 3, and it boasts new OmniPoint 3.0 switches that use Hall Effect sensors. These new switches, the company says, provide players with “an unrivaled competitive advantage.”
Whether that’s true or not we can’t say for ourselves since we haven’t tested them. However, the keyboard’s tech specs suggest that the Apex Pro Gen 3 could certainly give players a leg up. The new switches are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to improvements, too. SteelSeries loaded up the Apex Pro Gen 3 with Rapid Trigger and Rapid Tap features, as part of an entirely new suite of GG Quickset software features to enhance gameplay even further.
The Apex Pro Gen 3 launches today starting at $219.99, so it’s certainly not the most expensive keyboard on the market tailored to high-level competitive gameplay. It’s also not cheap. This means the price is going to be a barrier to entry for at least some consumers.
The SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 gets beefed up with powerful software tricks
The OmniPoint 3.0 switches powered by Hall Effect sensors are going to be a big part of what draws in consumers. That being said, the GG Quickset software features will potentially take things to the next level. The switches will allow players to adjust the actuation levels with up to 40 different settings. Actuation can be as low as 0.1mm and go all the way up to 4.0mm. So there’s a lot of adjustability there for players to fine-tune things to their liking.
To enhance things further, players can tap into the GG Quickset. Features inside of this software suite, like the Rapid Tap, prioritize the last-pressed key so you don’t have to let go of the previous key before the action happens. This will allow for faster input. SteelSeries also says you can set up to 5 key pairings.
There’s also the new Protection Mode. Have you ever accidentally pressed the wrong key when playing a game? Protection Mode was designed to prevent this. What it does is lower the sensitivity of surrounding keys. You do have to select these keys, however. So there’s a little bit of setup involved.
The keyboard comes in three variations
SteelSeries is offering a trio of options for this new keyboard so you can pick what fits your personal taste and setup best. The Regular Apex Pro Gen 3 is a wired option that uses a USB-C cable to connect to your PC and retails for $239.99. You can also get the wired version in a TKL model. The TKL model will retail for $219.99 as mentioned above. Additionally, there’s a wireless version of the TKL that retails for $269.99.
