SteelSeries Apex 3 RGB Gaming Keyboard

Curated from 66 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: January 14, 2025

SteelSeries Apex 3 RGB Gaming Keyboard

Brand: SteelSeries

Price: $42

Snoop Score:

1.4

Sentiment

0.9

Popularity

3.2

Technical

1.1

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Snoop's Take

The SteelSeries Apex 3 RGB Gaming Keyboard is a high-quality, spill-resistant keyboard designed for both gaming and everyday use. It delivers 10-zone RGB illumination, whisper-quiet switches, and a magnetic wrist rest for added comfort. Consumer sentiment is anything but muted, with users sparing no sarcasm when venting their frustrations. One reviewer noted, “i bought a full size apex pro keyboard last year and ive had absolutely no issues, and i love the features and to me it feels very premium,” while others lambast issues ranging from connectivity woes to non-hot swappable switches and even dying LEDs. Multiple users lament that “Steel Series should be ashamed man how abysmal,” underscoring a strong negative backlash despite isolated high praise. In conclusion, while the keyboard boasts premium design elements and innovative features, the overwhelming consensus from user feedback indicates significant drawbacks. Experts would recommend this product only if you’re willing to overlook potential reliability and customization issues in favor of style and basic functionality.

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the apex pro is a really high quality keyboard(for brand standards, ofc custom will outdo it) and the features like the new rapid trigger and actuation distance make it seem really good.
Positive Feedback

My Apex Pro TKL Wireless went wrong within 2 hours and was spamming random keys.
Negative Feedback

1.4

SteelSeries Apex 3 RGB Gaming Keyboard

Buy on Amazon for $42

Office Productivity

1 / 10

Gaming

1 / 10

Home Entertainment

1 / 10

Everyday Use

1 / 10

See how this compares to all Keyboards

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.

Premium hardware design and innovative features

“the apex pro is a really high quality keyboard(for brand standards, ofc custom will outdo it) and the features like the new rapid trigger and actuation distance make it seem really good.”➕

“i bought a full size apex pro keyboard last year and ive had absolutely no issues, and i love the features and to me it feels very premium.”➕

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.

Hardware reliability and connectivity issues

“My Apex Pro TKL Wireless went wrong within 2 hours and was spamming random keys.”➕

“they were the products with the most defects that I owned :/.”➕

“Keyboard still gets stuck in constant reboot loop very frequently.”➕

“Steel Series should be ashamed man how abysmal.”➕

Non-hot swappable switches

“The switches are not hot-swappable so if anything breaks I'd be mad.”➕

“I'd rather go for the wooting for the hot swap even though it takes forever to ship.”➕

Poor software performance

“I have an apex pro (pre 2023) so like the older version, and haven’t really had any issues with it o”➕

“The software is doing too much now IMO and I really don't want to interact with the software.”➕

Non‑standard key placement and unprogrammable function key

“I'm also not a fan of the fact that the left super key is just a FN key, and it's completely unprogrammable.”➕

“It's a good board, if you don't mind the little annoyances, but I do.”➕

“I guess it was a nice entry mechanical keyboard.”➕

“Since it works as an FN key, the OS doesn't actually register the keypress at all.”➕

Linux RGB configuration issues causing lighting failures

“all lights on the keyboard went out, dark. Nothing I did would bring them back.”➕

“dodging the VM issues by just configuring it on a friend's windows laptop.”➕

Dying or malfunctioning RGB LEDs

“Dying LEDs in the RGB array are a known issue for steelseries keyboards.”➕

OLED screen displays abnormal yellow tint

“I immediately noticed that the OLED screen had this strong yellow tint despite all product images showing it being a bright white color.”➕

“the OLED screen is supposed to be black & white.”➕

Compare On All Talked About Dimensions

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Dell Wired Keyboard - Black KB216	$11	7.9	Details	Buy
Redragon K668 RGB Gaming Keyboard	$49	6.9	Details	Buy
Amazon Basics Wired Keyboard, Full-Sized, QWERTY Layout, Black	$11	6.8	Details	Buy
Redragon Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Wired	$29	6.6	Details	Buy
Logitech Wave Keys Wireless Ergonomic Keyboard	$59	5.4	Details	Buy
Logitech G413 SE Full-Size Mechanical Gaming Keyboard	$67	5.2	Details	Buy
TECKNET Gaming Keyboard	$29	4.8	Details	Buy
SABLUTE Large Print Backlit Computer Keyboards	$29	4.8	Details	Buy
Logitech G213 Prodigy Gaming Keyboard by Logitech G	$46	3.9	Details	Buy
Rii RK907 Ultra-Slim Compact USB Wired Keyboard for Mac and PC	$9	3.7	Details	Buy
RK ROYAL KLUDGE S98 Mechanical Keyboard	$99	2.9	Details	Buy
MOWUX Computer Keyboard Wired Retro Round Typewriter Keyboard	$29	2.6	Details	Buy
MageGee Portable 60% Mechanical Gaming Keyboard MK-Box	$29	2.0	Details	Buy
SteelSeries Apex 3 RGB Gaming Keyboard	$42	1.4	Details	Buy
Rii RK100+ Multiple Color Rainbow LED Backlit Keyboard	$16	1.2	Details	Buy

Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.

Nostalgia for classic keyboard design over modern disco lights

“The zboard will forever be the GOAT gaming keyboard.”➕

“This keyboard is the Platinum standart for Gaming Keyboards.”➕

Positive build quality, comfort, and design

“TLDR: good build, good wrist rest, good software.”➕

“VERY durable, when cleaned it still looks damn near brand new.”➕

“i fucking love it, and its easy to clean.”➕

Clarification on mechanical switch mechanism

“Is it actually mechanical or is it rubber dome?”➕

“It's mechanical - the click sound, tactility and housing design and such is all mechanical.”➕

Hidden Hero Hacks

Unexpected tricks and side‑door uses you’ll love.

Advice on custom keyboard building

“if you are ready to commit you should try making a custom keyboard”➕

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’

Inquiry on wireless suitability for FPS games

“That's amazing! Do you think the wireless one is suitable for FPS games or one should go with the wired one?”➕

Inquiry about key remapping customization

“I want to switch the RIGHT ALT with RIGHT FN to use RIGHT ALT, CTRL, WIN and SHIFT as arrow keys.”➕

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.

Gaming keyboard design criticism (general gaming keyboard concerns)

“I don't really recommend many 'gaming brand' keyboards, because often time, you can find better keyboards for around the same price.”➕

“Other things to keep an eye out for ate cheap plastic and a lesser build quality.”➕

“Not really as already stated avoid gaming marketed keyboards.”➕

Broader SteelSeries ecosystem issues

“After 13 months, the LED faded so it was only lighting up about 2" of the piping.”➕

“It really annoys me that the engine keeps hijacking the RGB on my Apex 5.”➕

Criticism of OLED screen feature

“OLED screen is pretty useless imo, would rather have the keys than the screen because i just don't use the screen at all.”➕

Standard switch design considered unremarkable

“the apex 7 just has standard red/blue/brown switches, nothing special compared to the apex pro tkl's omnipoint switches with hall effect tech.”➕

Renewed unit reliability feedback

“I'm thinking of getting it as it's on sale for $109 right now (renewed).”➕

“None at all with my unit.”➕

SteelSeries Apex 3 RGB Gaming Keyboard

Curated from 66 real Reddit conversations

SteelSeries Apex 3 RGB Gaming Keyboard

Snoop's Take

SteelSeries Apex 3 RGB Gaming Keyboard

Office Productivity

Gaming

Home Entertainment

Everyday Use

What it does well!

Where it needs some work!

Compare On All Talked About Dimensions

Core Power Plays

Hidden Hero Hacks

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

Cautionary Callouts

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