SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) review

The Apex Pro TKL (2023) is a tenkeyless, wired keyboard built around adjustable Hall-effect switches. It belongs to a series that SteelSeries announced on 4 October 2022, and the original Apex Pro TKL dates from 2019. The layout drops the number pad, so the board is narrower than a full-size one. The main reason to consider it is control over how the keys behave, backed by a metal top plate and PBT keycaps.

The keyboard uses OmniPoint 2.0 HyperMagnetic switches. SteelSeries lists an actuation range of 0.1 to 4.0 mm, and the registration distance can be tuned to the nearest 0.1 mm. That is a wide range with fine steps.

The practical upside follows from the range. A shallow setting suits fast, light taps in games. A deeper setting suits typing, where you want to avoid accidental presses. You can pick a point between the two rather than accept one fixed travel distance.

This is the feature that defines the board. If you are happy with a fixed actuation point, the adjustability matters less. If you like to tune your keyboard to the task, it is the main draw.

SteelSeries describes the top plate as premium aluminium. The keycaps are double-shot PBT, which is the keycap material and type given in the specifications. Together, the aluminium top plate and the double-shot PBT keycaps are the build details that SteelSeries lists for this model.

The TKL layout keeps the arrow keys and the navigation cluster but leaves out the number pad. With the number pad gone, the keyboard takes up less desk width. That leaves more room for a mouse, which matters if you play games or work with limited space.

The adjustable tilt legs give three positions: flat, half extension and full extension. Three steps let you choose a typing angle to suit your desk and wrist position. SteelSeries does not describe a wrist rest in the material provided, so the tilt legs are the main ergonomic adjustment.

This model connects by wired USB-C. The cable is detachable, so you can unplug it from the keyboard rather than being tied to one fixed lead. The connection list covers wired use only, with no Bluetooth or 2.4GHz listed.

Being wired has a simple consequence: there is no battery to charge or monitor. For a desk-bound board that stays plugged into one machine, that is no great loss. If you want to move between several devices without cables, this model does not offer that.

The Apex Pro TKL (2023) suits someone who wants a compact keyboard and values adjustable actuation. The tunable 0.1 to 4.0 mm range, the aluminium top plate and the double-shot PBT keycaps are the strongest points in the specifications. The three tilt positions add some flexibility in how it sits on a desk.

It is a narrower proposition for anyone who wants wireless connections, because this model is wired only. It is also less relevant if you do not care about changing actuation distance. In that case, the adjustable switches are the part you would be paying for without using.