SteelSeries Announces World’s Most Versatile Mechanical Gaming Keyboards

Magnets, They Work!

Steelseries have announced two new mechanical keyboards at Computex, the Apex Pro and Apex Pro TKL which feature their brand new OmniPoint Adjustable Actuation Switches.  These are not the traditional mechanical switches you are used to, instead they contain magnetic sensors that allow you to tweak the actuation distance on a per application basis using the Steelseries Engine.

According to the press release you will be able to adjust the distance from 3.6mm to as low 0.4mm; letting you effectively use the keyboard for typing as well as fragging in your favourite games.  It will bring the same ability to modify the sensitivity of your keys that you enjoy on your gaming mouse; it will be very interesting to see how effective this implementation is.

In addition to new switches, the two Apex Pro models feature an OLED screen which offers a variety of features.  You can use it to switch between locally stored profiles with differing activation distances when you are on the road, or display notifications from various apps such as Discord.  The roller you see beside it controls volume or other settings depending on what you choose in the SteelSeries Engine.

In addition to the Apex Pro and Apex Pro TKL, they also announce the Apex 7 and Apex 7 TKL models which are aesthetically identical to the Pro series but have traditional mechanical switches instead of OmniPoint.  They will be available in Red, Brown and Blue models.

Pricing for those models will be less than the Pro series, expect $159.99 for the full sized and $129.99 for the TKL model.  The Pro series will on June 11th and will cost you $199.99 for the numpad, $179.99 if you prefer the compact edition.

COMPUTEX; TAIPEI – May 28, 2019 – SteelSeries, the global leader in gaming peripherals and the makers of the first mechanical gaming keyboard, today announce the world’s most customizable mechanical gaming keyboards with fully adjustable actuation switches – the Apex Pro and Apex Pro TKL. The Apex Pro allows gamers to adjust the distance it takes for each key to register a key press, helping them to play more accurately and quickly. This first-of-its-kind keyboard will automatically change between sensitivities when starting up a game like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and another for everyday productivity tasks.

OmniPoint Adjustable Actuation Switches
Generally, typing enthusiasts and some gamers prefer a lower, longer actuation point (3.6mm) for accuracy, while other prefer a higher actuation point as sensitive as 0.4mm for speed. The Apex Pro’s Patented OmniPoint adjustable actuation switches uses magnetic sensors to allow gamers to choose the exact sensitivity of their keys. Powered by SteelSeries Engine, the Apex Pro can automatically change sensitivity when starting up a game like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and another for everyday productivity tasks. The magnetic sensors also provide a significantly faster response time than traditional mechanical switches, making the Apex Pro the world’s fastest and most responsive keyboard.

“Innovation in the keyboard switch market has grown dramatically stagnant over the past decade,” said Ehtisham Rabbani, SteelSeries CEO. “With our new, patented technology inside the OmniPoint switches, gamers finally have the option to use a single keyboard for everything from gaming to content creation and more. The Apex Pro is the only keyboard on the market that can adapt to the specific needs and preferences of every gamer.”

OLED Smart Display
Alongside the new OmniPoint switches, the new Apex Pro line sports an integrated OLED Smart Display. The Smart Display not only allows for instant notifications from apps like Discord, Spotify, and games like CS:GO and Dota2, but also allows users to customize their actuation point directly from the keyboard. While users can experience greater customization through SteelSeries Engine software, it is not required to customize the sensitivity of the keyboard.

In addition to the OLED Smart Display, the Apex Pro line also features a clickable metal roller and media key that allows users to adjust volume and settings on the fly. These inputs can be further customized in SteelSeries Engine.

The Apex Pro line is crafted from aircraft-grade aluminum for a lifetime of unbreakable durability and sturdiness and features dynamic per-key RGB lighting that can be synced up with other SteelSeries peripherals. Apex Pro also has five on-board profiles so users can save their settings directly on the keyboard, a USB passthrough port for an easy-to-reach USB connection, three-way cable routing under the frame and both models come with a premium magnetic wrist rest for extra comfort.

The Apex Pro is available in both a full-size and compact ten keyless (TKL) variant. The full-size Apex Pro will be available in the US on June 11 at Best Buy and steelseries.com for $199.99. Available to purchase in Europe and Asia later this fall. The Apex Pro TKL will be available to purchase later this fall for $179.99.