The Apex 9 is a gaming keyboard that is hot-swappable. This means that you can change the switches on it easily and quickly, which sets it apart from the other keyboards in this lineup. The SteelSeries Apex 9 also has exclusive OptiPoint switches, which are optical switches that employ lasers to register a keypress as opposed to the magnetic OmniPoint switches found in the Apex Pro versions or the conventional mechanical switches found in the SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL.
The SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL is a great choice for individuals who want optical switches with adjustable actuation, but don’t want the exorbitant 0.1mm per-key adjustment supplied by the Apex Pro Mini. The wider layout of the Apex 9 TKL is advantageous for anyone who thinks a 60 percent layout to be too small; for those who don’t, there is also the Apex 9 Mini. The keyboard’s hot-swappable PCB is only compatible with SteelSeries’ future optical switches, so it’s not as versatile as it might sound. ..
SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL review: Design
The Apex 9 TKL gaming laptop has a great RGB setup that can be changed with preset programmes. The brightness adjustment feature and the toggle option for changing the game’s audio are also great.
The OptiPoint switches are amazing because they have a 100 million keystroke rating. This means that you can be confident that the keyboard will last for a long time.
The Apex 9 TKL is a gaming keyboard that has three different resting positions. It can be placed flat, elevated slightly with the small feet, or raised higher using the last two options. It is comfortable for long gaming sessions on your wrists and can be customized to your liking.
Keys
The SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL is a tenkeyless keyboard with a navigation key and arrow key layout, in contrast to the Apex 9 Mini’s 60 percent layout without a number pad, navigation keys, or arrow keys. The keyboard is firmly built with a “Series 5000” aircraft-grade aluminium alloy frame and top plate, as well as double-shot PBT keycaps. Despite the fact that the chassis is plastic, the SteelSeries Apex 9’s individually backlit keys can be completely modified using the software that comes with it.
The new gaming keyboards in tiny form are designed with the fastest response time in mind. Optomechanical keyboard switches are used for this by SteelSeries. A quick response time of 0.2 milliseconds can be provided by the SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini and Apex 9 TKL. So without a doubt, this price range is the highest. also you can check our article on SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL review.
The SteelSeries Apex 9 is a great keyboard for low light conditions because it is shine-through and the colour mixing is excellent. However, the SteelSeries Apex 9 provides poor typing efficiency because of the white backlighting’s strong aqua hue. The PBT keycaps’ good texture and hold make it easy to type in low light. While some of the larger modifier keys tilt somewhat, the majority of the alphanumeric keys are solid.
The Apex 9 TKL switches appear to be a little shaky, but thanks to their incredibly light actuation force, they are efficient at lowering finger fatigue. The design is generally uncluttered, so using the board straight out of the box won’t be a problem. Since the wrist posture is a little stretched, a wrist support might improve comfort overall, but you’ll need to purchase one separately.
SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL review: RGB Lighting
The SteelSeries Apex 9 is a gaming mouse that can be customised using SteelSeries GG software. You can easily set up macros, control the RGB lights, remap keys, and create profiles with this software. It is also not too difficult to use. It is not difficult to save any of these settings to the onboard memory. The performance of the test box depends solely on the capabilities of the auxiliary software, not on its overall performance.
Software
The SteelSeries Engine is compatible with the Apex 9 TKL. The software isn’t essential because the keyboard has built-in shortcuts for switching between on-board profiles, recording macros, and altering the brightness of the RGB for each key (SS key + F11/F12), as well as switching between gaming and typing modes (SS key + I/O).
The SteelSeries Apex M500 is a gaming keyboard that allows for five on-board profiles and the ability to remap almost all of the keys. Additionally, the function key and two other keys can be remapped. ..
The Apex 9 has three separate lighting profiles that can be customized independently. These profiles can be linked to onboard profiles, but they cannot be changed.
Typing and Gaming Experience
SteelSeries’ innovative OptiPoint optical switches, which are hot-swappable and have two points of actuation, are included with the Apex 9. (not to be confused with dual-actuation, which is a feature that currently only exists on the Apex Pro Mini). Although the Apex 9 has hot-swappable switches, they are only compatible with optical switches and not mechanical ones. Additionally, according to the manufacturer, while third-party optical switches will fit in the board, those with black bottom housings absorb too much light to function effectively. In this article we will discuss about SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL review. The keyboard only officially supports its own OptiPoint switches. ..
The SteelSeries key + I/O keyboard shortcut or the GG software provided by SteelSeries allows you to switch between two modes: typing and gaming. Typing on the Apex 9 feels very nice, considering that it uses linear optical switches rather than my usual clicky mechanical keys.
If you’re coming from a heavier, non-linear mechanical switch background, the switches on the Apex 9 may feel different than what you’re used to. They have a smaller travel distance (3.4mm) and a lighter actuation force (35g), which makes them better for gaming. The response time is claimed to be 0.2 ms, which is quite snappy in game mode. ..
SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL review: Performance
Both SteelSeries’ OptiPoint switches include two alternative actuation depths in addition to the typical advantages of light-based actuation. What really sets these boards apart is their “2 Point Actuation” function. The integrated OptiPoint linear’ full travel depth already seems less than other full-height switches.
The actuation point on the keyboard can be elevated by up to 0.5mm, which makes skill actuations feel more immediate in games like League of Legends and FPSs. Is the difference significant? No, but it just takes a small amount to tip the scales in games where milliseconds determine whether you live or die. ..
SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL keyboards are some of the most responsive gaming keyboards on the market, and they offer some of the most precise typing performance as well. The switches used in these keyboards are OptiPoint switches, which are as accurate as any switches that SteelSeries uses in its own daily driver boards. This means that both gaming and typing performance are superb with these keyboards. ..
Conclusion
SteelSeries has released the Apex 9 TKL, a tenkeyless variant of its popular Apex Pro keyboard that combines some of the best features from the original Apex Pro and the recently released Apex Pro Mini Wireless. The keyboard is designed with strength and customization in mind, despite lacking features like wireless compatibility and multi-device connectivity that are standard in other keyboards at this price. ..
