The SteelSeries Apex M750 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Review: Set Apart by Software

Per-Key Quality Testing

In order to test the quality and consistency of a keyboard, we are using a texture analyser that is programmed to measure and display the actuation force of the standard keyboard keys. By measuring the actuation force of every key, the quality and consistency of the keyboard can be quantified. It can also reveal design issues, such as the larger keys being far softer to press than the main keys of the keyboard. The actuation force is measured in Centinewton (cN). Some companies use another figure, gram-force (gf). The conversion formula is 1 cN = 1.02 gf (i.e. they are about the same). A high-quality keyboard should be as consistent as possible, with an average actuation force as near to the manufacturer's specs as possible and a disparity of less than ±10%. Greater differences are likely to be perceptible by users. It is worth noting that there is typically variance among keyboards, although most keyboard companies will try and maintain consistency - as with other reviews, we're testing our sample only.

The machine we use for our testing is accurate enough to provide readings with a resolution of 0.1 cN. For wider keys (e.g. Enter, Space Bar, etc.), the measurement is taking place at the center of the key, right above the switch. Note that large keys generally have a lower actuation force even if the actuation point is at the dead center of the key. This is natural, as the size and weight of the keycap reduce the required actuation force. For this reason, we do display the force required to actuate every key but we only use the results of the typically sized keys for our consistency calculations. Still, very low figures on medium sized keys, such as the Shift and Enter keys reveal design issues and can easily be perceptible by the user.

As expected, the SteelSeries QX2 mechanical switch is an almost perfect copy of the Cherry MX Red switch. We say "almost" because the switch does have the exact same travel, actuation point, and force-to-travel graph, but the QX2 switches are not nearly as consistent as Cherry MX switches are. The switches have an average actuation force of 44.8 cN but the disparity is high, at ±8.64% across the main keys of the keyboard. It is not too high a figure and we suspect that the vast majority of users will be unable to tell the difference by touch alone. On the other hand, Cherry MX switches usually display a disparity of about ±3%, so the difference is more than just measurable.

Hands-on Testing

I always try to use every keyboard that we review as my personal keyboard for at least a week. My typical weekly usage includes a lot of typing (about 100-150 pages), a few hours of gaming and some casual usage, such as internet browsing and messaging. I personally prefer Cherry MX Brown or similar (tactile) switches for such tasks. The SteelSeries QX2, which essentially copy the Cherry MX Red switch, would not be at the top of my preferences list but I do find such switches comfortable and easy to be accustomed to. True enough, I found the SteelSeries Apex M750 quite comfortable for long typing sessions, especially when I was forced not to take a break for over an hour. The only complaint I would voice here is that the keycaps wobble a bit and the feeling is, at times, awkward.

For gaming, Apex M750 is hardly any different than another mechanical keyboard on its own. It is the SteelSeries Engine 3 software that makes all the difference. After programming a couple of profiles for my test sessions, in which profiles I reprogrammed a few keys and disabled others, the gaming experience was fantastic. The only issue is that a main key of the device has to be sacrificed for each macro/text command. This is a major problem for MMORPGs, as reprogramming any of the main keys will cause issues with the in-game user experience (i.e. it is impossible to type a message to a friend if your keyboard's keys have been reprogrammed to macro commands).