SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Compact Mechanical Gaming Keyboard – OLED Smart Display – USB Passthrough and Media Controls – Linear and Quiet – RGB Backlit (Red Switch)

Best keyboard I ever had so far, great customization.

I bought the apex 7 tkl in October 2020 and it started to malfunction in February 2022. I really like the keyboard itself and the software that goes with it. Unfortunately it started producing keyboard chatter a couple of months ago (double typing on a single press) and also not detecting a key press. I even tried removing the key caps and blowing compressed air, but that didn’t seem to work. I think I might’ve gotten unlucky and received a keyboard that wasn’t as durable as the average apex 7 tkl, since most reviews are so positive, but that just goes to show their poor quality control. Lastly, it’s a bummer that the warranty only lasts a year, because I just crossed that window a few months ago. I have upgraded to the apex pro because I really like the OLED screen and steel series engine, but let’s see how long that one lasts.

When I first got this keyboard, I absolutely loved it. Its very nice-looking and bright, and theres a million ways you can customize the coloring and lighting. The key presses also felt very smooth and typing on it was a real joy. Unfortunately, after about 5-6 months of use, I started having problems with multiple keys. It started with my Ctrl and Shift keys not registering all the time, which is very frustrating when you try to Ctrl-s to save something and end up with s characters in your document or code. Now I have several letter keys that do not always register, and my r and u key are now chattering/double-tapping. This has become a massive productivity-killer, as I have to correct almost every third or fourth word that I type. I have tried a full factory reset and re-installation of the keyboards software, and have tried pulling up the keycaps of individual keys and pulling junk out and air-dusting around the switches, and nothing has worked. I really wanted to like this keyboard, but this has become extremely frustrating. I would expect better quality and/or durability from a $100 + keyboard.

Okay i wasn’t that into keyboards when i bought this and i still use it and am happy with it. but now that I know more i’m kinda unhappy with the stabilizers. they are pretty clacky and even though every other key sounds good with red switches the space bar enter bar and caps lock is just icky to press.

Bought this for my son and he loves the bright colors on the keyboard & the sound it makes when he types. I believe you can also change the colors. According to him (15 yrs old) its awesome.

Feels amazing, doesnt take up too much space and is incredibly pleasing to look at. I havent felt this good about a purchase in a while but this particular product does it for me. Ive used other gaming keyboards from Razer, Logitech and all the other brands out there but this is my overall favorite and Ive only been using it for at most an hour. The OLED is a nice touch but I dont care too much about that. I plan on just using random gifs on there. Love the wrist rest and everything else though. Will update if I have any complaints but so far its a solid keyboard with a nice build to it.

This keyboard is great if you use it properly, you cannot use the Keyboard part of the cable through a USB hub. the keyboard will not function... at all... if you plug in the keyboard through a USB hub it will not work. you may plug in the USB PASSTHROUGH through a USB hub but thats it. if you absolutely need to use it though a hub you need to have another keyboard to get into your computer with. the keys will not work until you log in to the pc and let every driver load in and then update the keyboard firmware in the software. (steelseriesengine3) the keyboard will flash until that is done. if you plug in the keyboard directly to your pc everything will work fine 100% of the time. other than that, the lights look absolutely insane (good) the switches are fine (SteelSeries browns) but the only problem I have with them is that when you press one down you will feel the slight tactile bump but then you will need to press the key like 1/100000000000 of an inch more to get it to actuate. if you pretty much only ever type you wont REALLY feel a difference and if this is your first Mechanical keyboard you definitely wont feel a difference but when your gaming and you dont press the keys down all the way 80% of the time youll sometimes feel it. its not tooo big of a deal though. but if you absolutely couldnt deal with that you could I guess swap the switches out (I think their hot swappable but I could be wrong) and maybe even treat your self to some holy pandas or something along those lines. but for a big summary, switches are decent, the wrist rest is nice but if you slam the top down the whole thing will go backwards, I have generally large hands from my experience (G502 mouse if a bit short in length for me in a claw grip) because I often find myself moving the wrist rest beck a little, OLED display is totally overkill but totally sick (on AMD processors the app system monitor doesnt work for now but possible update coming) and stabilizers are nice, form factor is also nice.

This keyboard is falsely advertised as having quiet mechanical keys. Although they dont click which makes it not feel mechanical at all, the keys are louder than my previous keyboard with clicking keys. So this keyboard feels crappy, and isnt even quiet. Double negative. I dont even think this keyboard qualifies as mechanical. I would not waste your money on this.

Seems like a nice quality it’s a little loud when typing but good quality overall had some software issues

Been using it for an year now. Bought the brown switches variant Pros: 1) Build quality is good, feels good, keycaps and keys are sturdy 2) Lighting is bright! The ease to configure them is amazing 3) The media controls is a good feature. I especially love the metal roller for adjusting volume. 4) USB passthrough is very useful. Cons: 1) Brown keys are not as tactile as I want them to be. They are less tactile compared to cherry MX browns. Actuation force is small enough for me to inadvertently use wrong keystrokes. 2) One of keys sometimes presses twice. I did not expect it to start failing so soon. Its not often but seems like it will last just a few more months. 3) Keyboard is loud if you are a heavy handed ttyper. Consider getting a switch dampener, otherwise the noise made is loud. 4) The wrist rest is not really comfortable. There are better ones out there.