The keyboard uses OmniPoint 3.0 precision switches on the magnetic principle using the Hall effect, which allows you to adjust the engagement level in a fairly large range of 0.1-4 mm of travel, so it can adapt to your preferences and habits.
The designation TKL or “tenkeyless” means that it is a keyboard without a numeric pad. It is a common label, even if it cannot be taken literally. TKL keyboards have 10 fewer keys than a full size keyboard. They are sometimes referred to as 80% keyboards because they have about 80% of the keys of a full-size keyboard.
OmniPoint 3.0 switches enable 11 times faster response, 20 times faster key activation and will offer twice the lifespan compared to classic mechanical switches. The latency of this keyboard is 0.54 ms, for comparison, the typical response of standard mechanical keyboards is 6 ms. The three-layer cushioning foam and lubrication mechanism also contribute to the accuracy and comfort of use.
You can set not only the engagement level, but also two-stage engagement, where the key has two functions depending on how deep you press it. A typical example is FPS games, where a character walks when a key is lightly pressed and starts running after a deeper press. Or the first level chooses a weapon, such as a grenade, and after reaching the second level of push, the character in the game throws the grenade.
If we ignore the effective backlight, the design of the keyboard is elegant and minimalistic. The weight of 974 grams reveals the robust construction. The base of the keyboard is plastic, relatively high, but in the package you will find a wrist rest with magnetic attachment. The top plate under the keys, which you can’t see, but contributes to the rigidity of the structure, is made of aluminum. There are a pair of tilting feet on the bottom, so you can set two tilt angles for the keyboard. The wrist rest fits the keyboard in every position. On the bottom, under the rubber cover, you will find a tool for removing keys.
You can adjust the closure position from 0.1-4mm directly on the keyboard by pressing the SteelSeries logo key next to right CTRL and the I or O keys at the same time, with the current level of adjustment indicated by the backlighting of the number keys. However, there is also a more comfortable way, also directly on the keyboard. In the upper right corner is a small OLED display and next to it a rotary control element that can be pushed, and below it a button to activate and switch the functions that are set by this element. You also have a Protected mode, which allows you to reduce the sensitivity of the keys surrounding the keys with which you control the game. This will prevent unwanted clicks on keys activating functions that you definitely do not need at that moment. The Rapid Tap function prioritizes the registered pressing of the last key in a pair without having to release the first one, which makes control more efficient. It is useful, for example, in a quick counterattack. Rapid Trigger enables rapid repeated pressing of the same key several times in a row with only a small release of the finger and without the need to return the key to its original position.
In the SteelSeries GG app, which is available for both Windows and Mac OS, you can even set the switch position for each key separately with 40 levels of sensitivity. You can also set colored light effects in the application. Each key has its own RGB LED. For normal work, the SteelSeries Orange backlight worked best for me. You can set a macro for each key, i.e. a combination of pressing several keys, while the macro also includes the timing between pressing individual keys. You can program macros from the application or directly from the keyboard. In the application, you can choose proven presets for your favorite games.
The switches have a pleasant operation, with the level of engagement not tactfully discernible, but when fully pressed you have a pleasant clicking sensation and when released, the key returns to the upper position. The spring response to push is linear. Wider keys, such as the space bar, Enter or Backspace, have a switch in the middle and two guides on the sides, so that they are also pressed smoothly, regardless of whether you press them in the middle or at the very edge. When writing articles, I found the smallest trigger level of 0.1mm to be too sensitive, writing best at the default trigger level of 1.6mm.
One-key two-function control is used in games where two keys are used to activate functions. It doesn’t work for Shift actions. Many games work in such a way that the character walks after pressing W and runs when pressing Shift W. These actions cannot be combined for dual control as they are sequential. If you assign Shift to a deeper W press, it won’t be the equivalent of Shift + W. The second action can be the equivalent of pressing another key, or you can set it to auto-repeat. You simply have to play with the settings a bit. You can also choose whether the second action is activated by pressing or releasing the key. When the key is released, the primary function is reactivated. I’ll explain it best with an example. If I set a second H action on the A key, with it only being activated once, after the A key is partially pressed, I type a. After pressing harder, I type ah, and when I release the key, another a is added, so in a full cycle of pressing and releasing the key, I type aha. The first action is activated twice. The Apex Pro Mini keyboard can memorize five profiles in which you can customize the setting of all keys, including the activation setting.
PROS, CONS:
+ Stroke adjustment to activate, dual function keys, quick response
– Nothing important
PARAMETERS:
Connection: USB-C; adjustable activation distance: 0.1-4 mm in 40 steps; OmniPoint 3.0 switches, lifetime of 100 million switches; dimensions: 355 × 129 × 42 mm, weight 974 g
Cena: 239,99 EUR
Source: www.nextech.sk
