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

I really wanted to love this keyboard. It checked all the boxes I wanted: A TKL keyboard, a pass-through USB (which, annoyingly in this age of USB 3.0s massive throughput, still requires two USB ports, though this could be to avoid driver issues), RGB lighting, and a little screen. I was really let down though, because within a couple weeks the keys were malfunctioning. The right arrow key doesnt register all the time. If I give it a really heavy press, maybe itll register, or it double clicks, or it just ignores me for a couple seconds. The W key is now starting to do the same. As a programmer, I use my right arrow key often, and would like it to work every time I push it. As a regular computer user, Id really like to have a W key that works too. The above is enough to put me off it and pack it away as a lost cause, since sending things back in the time of COVID is not easy. Lesson learned to not buy from SteelSeries. But hey! Maybe you werent put off by malfunctioning keys, or want to roll the dice and bet your product will be better than mine. Dear reader, let me put you off ever more. The screen is very half-baked. Aside from being able to display some pre-made .gifs, the screen otherwise has little to no utility. It is coplanar with the deck of the keyboard, so is largely outside your sight line depending on where you sit and your desk/chair height. If it were inclined slightly, you would be able to register it better. Equally oddly, there are next to no pre-built functions for it. There are some weird indie games, a Tidal (the music service nobody uses?), Discord, and a couple other apps, but here are some thing it cant do out of the box: 1) Show you CPU usage like the old Logitech G13 2) Show you what song is currently playing on Spotify or any other music service 3) Indicate the volume when you use the volume wheel 4) Display the system time It literally, without downloading a third-party app by a random guy, cant serve as a clock. Also, when Logitech, Saitek, and Razer were putting touchscreens in everything 7 years ago, including an OLED screen that isnt full-color is inexcusable. The screen on my Swiftpoint Z is better than this. For all the power of the SteelSeries Engine (you can do literally almost anything with these RGB key customization options, including make a little Pac Man chasing ghosts across your keyboard as your day to day backlighting), it is wildly lacking when it comes to reprogramming this keyboard. Lets say youre like me, and your audio is controlled on an auxiliary interface. Id like to rebind that audio wheel to skip song, as there are no dedicated media keys. Well, too bad chief, you cant do that. The volume wheel and the play-pause button are just those, may they never be anything else. In a $130 keyboard (and I assume the same for $180) with 5 separate per-key parameters for RGB, including a PER KEY option that changes colors based on period of inactivity, I cant rebind the play-pause button? I could write a whole paragraph on the macro system, but Id lose your attention. TL;DR It feels like this keyboard has so much it could be, and just doesnt deliver. The screen could be cool, but it is instead just one more piece of flair like your RGB scheme. The keys are comfortable, but dont always work. There are baffling choices in what can and cant be rebound. Everything that would make this keyboard fantastic is instead a hurdle you must overcome to enjoy it.

I bought this keyboard for work. Im a programmer and try to invest in the tools I use every day for hours on end. I really liked the look and feel of this keyboard, but it died in just under 2 years. The X and P keys have started to die for some reason. They either dont type anything or double type the letter. I looked into replacing these switches, but the board doesnt seem very accessible for that. Overall for a mechanical keyboard, even one used heavily, I wouldve expected more life. I bought this keyboard in March 2021 to replace a corsair k70 that Id been using for 6 years at work. I only replaced it because I wanted a TKL keyboard and the RGB was nice. Now Im back to that K70, I guess.

amazing product i really enjoy the feeling of the typing altho its little bit easy to click on other keys sens its linear keyboard so if u have chuby fingers mabye its not the best keyboard for you. really cool led screen with alot of options on the system keyborad 910 !

Love it! The size is perfect and the materials are definitely super nice. Its very comfortable with the smooth wrist rest too

My requirements for a keeb are as follows: TKL, RGB, blue switches, with decent software that can control macros and RGB. This one hits ALL of the needs. The only reason this is getting 4 stars out of 5 is the fact that the switches are soldered in and if any need to be replaced, its going to be major surgery or a replacement. It also makes it impossible to lube the switches when theyre still installed. I hate the fact that this is an older model because the major brands all have their own switches now that are either like mechanical or some adjustable style. I just want blues - Cherry, Gateron, Kailh, whatever, but not some Steelseries or Razer brand. The software is not the best Ive used either, but its far superior to GMMKs or Duckys (completely non-existent). Overall, Im enjoying this keeb and hope to for many more years to come.

UPDATE: After trying to get support from Steelseries, they (SteelSeries, NOT Amazon) wanted videos of the broken key, documentation, photos and stated that I would get an RMA. They then decided that I should just send it back. They would repair or give a credit for something from their store. No thanks. Going back to a different manufacturer that supports their own products and doesnt treat the customer as the problem. I have no idea how this has such a high score. The first one I got had trouble with the Question Mark key. It would constantly do a repeating backslack. I returned and got a replacement, the second had a dead Nine key. I have zero clue how it can be only me. I tried with different keyboards and no trouble. Tried the Apex 7 on different computer and same issue. Granted that this is really comfortable and had a great wrist rest. But if a key doesnt work, no matter how comfy it is, it would be worthless.

I dont know how hard other people smash their keyboards after losing a match of fortnite but this thing is a dream. I replaced the caps with PBT for comfort since my fingies get a lil sweaty when im trying to wiggle away from a dragon in skyrim. otherwise, -not too loud -long term sustainability -the oled screen is fun to add user generated animations (mine is a cat running atm) -more mousepad space w out the number pad -audio controls are intuitive and work well Overall, I love the build quality and look of luxury you get. It isnt the cheapest keyboard nor is it the most expensive. It has a great weight to it and the RGB is crisp with endless color options. It has served well as someone with a lighter keystroke than king kong.

I l0ve how customizable it is! If you have extra money and you really want a keyboard, I would definitely recommend this one!

I love the smooth but tactile feel of the switches. The wrist rest is not like a pillow, but I have grown to like it a lot. The only negative I have is the cable is very stiff and thick. It was hard for me to route it through my desk because of how chunky it is. Otherwise, a very solid and worth it buy!

Ive had this about a year and a half and most days I have multiple keys that dont register on the first press. Some keys register 2-3 times on each press. Ive factory reset and uninstalled and reinstalled the steelseries software. Im in the market again for a new keyboard that lasts longer. The lights look good though.