If you were lucky enough to receive a new desktop computer this holiday season, chances are that you’re using a ‘stock’ keyboard- the sort of inexpensive, basic model that comes with your HP or Dell PC. And if you’re a gamer, then you probably are already feeling the strain of fingers, or being annoyed at the finnicky, unreliable taps, the loose buttons and accidental, error-prone presses. One of the fastest ways to boost your performance is to upgrade your gear- no matter whether you’re hoping to better aid your clan in World of Warcraft or to improve your Call of Duty killstreak record.
The SteelSeries APEX M800 Keyboard is what they claim to be “the world’s fastest and most programmable mechanical keyboard”. You’ll immediately notice a few things about it that stand out- like the giant spacebar, a handy innovation. What you can’t see are the sophisticated internals- dual processors and a new type of switch in each key, the QS1- built to offer 25% faster actuation than your basic, traditional mechanical switches. It’s a full-size, gamer-focused keyboard, so it takes up some space on your desk but is well worth it if you’re a serious gamer. We’ve seen other SteelSeries products in the past, and they’ve always held up well.
The keys are also some of the brightest on the market, helpful in dark rooms, and they are individually color-programmable. That was maybe the coolest extra, so you can make some keys light up green, others blue, and others red for easy identification. And there are modes that make for a lovely sort of lightshow too. The default angle takes just a bit of getting used to but is pretty comfortable after a few days and the rubber feet are swappable so you can adjust it. The keys are slightly indented for a smooth centering of your fingers- they thought of everything. And while some keyboards have issues when you press more than a couple of keys at once, the APEX M800 can handle up to 256 keys simultaneously (and there aren’t even that many keys). The left side features six macro buttons as well, which you can use for a wide range of functions.
The large size of the keyboard is a bit of a downside for some everyday tasks though, as is the extreme sensitivity. You can brush a key and set it off pretty easily. The built-in USB 2.0 hub allows you to easily plug-in other accessories or thumb drives, and the fabric cables is durable enough for travel if you want to take the M800 to LAN parties. Bottom line: the SteelSeries APEX M800 is beautiful, big, and a fairly expensive gamer’s companion- available now, online and in stores, expect to spend around $180.