Customer Ratings & Reviews

Works well, needed a standard keyboard for gaming as I already have a smaller version. Does the job.

Not happy with this item is not as good as we thought

Decent enough keyboard, but lights are very underwhelming.

key feel is trash, can't control rgb unless you have microsoft adware on your machine, do not buy.

Can’t connect to my computer, I have to use on screen keyboard, which is a pain in the butt

This broke after a year keys don't work. Keyboard is useless after a year.

My son love it and he can also change the colors on the keyboard

The keyboard is fine but im disappointed at the placement of the capslock indicator. Its hard to tell when its been activated.

Great keyboard but mine didn’t last a year. Turned on the computer and keyboard is dead today. Tried it on another computer too. I am a light user, not acceptable.

This keyboard is very nice with some features that I really like. The keys feel responsive though for some people it may not be the right feel. Aside to that, I think they do perform better than just having a normal everyday keyboard which is why I'd still give it a good rating considering all of the other features it has. Having tried several games I can say it works well for gaming, and the RGB lighting does work with Discord and works with some games (which is pretty cool). It doesn't have dedicated macro keys but you can still set up macros in the software. Aside to that, you can configure the RGB to work the way you want with the included software. I like the dedicated media wheel/button and the magnetic wrist rest which is actually really nice. There are guides under the keyboard for the cord so you can arrange the cord to come out either side or the middle, and the cord has a rubberized finish. The keyboard overall feels pretty solid and well built and when I splashed water on it, it did not seem to affect anything so I would think that it could survive a small spill but I definitely don't think it can be submerged (i.e. you spilt a 64 oz cup on it!). Overall, Steelseries made the Apex 3 a solid keyboard that would be sufficient to bridge needs for gaming and an everyday use keyboard. I really like that it's quiet and the features it does have made it feel nice overall.

First of all, I hate gaming keyboards. They're loud and the keys are too big and it's hard to type on them and I understand that's the point of a mechanical keyboard, but anyway. This keyboard is amazing! I'm a photographer/business owner/casual PC gamer, and I needed a backlit keyboard, so I thought why not put some money into it? (and this one isn't even expensive!) I found this one after considering the Corsair K55, and the display model for SS had me pretty sold, this was the last one left, so I grabbed it. The feel of the keys are very smooth, they don't click loudly when pressed, and are very responsive. The color spectrum is soooo nice (remember, photographer) and the software instantly loads when you hook up the device, and makes it really easy to customize and setup macros. The magnetic wrist rest is super helpful! It didn't look like it was going to do much but I really like it. There isn't anything I don't like about this keyboard, it's comfortable to yse and I like that it has a volume wheel and multimedia button at the top, too. Would recommend this keyboard and steelseries to anyone.

This item was returned and up graded to a non-gaming

I actually ended up returning because it’s a membrane keyboard and I was looking for mechanical keyboard. Either way works okay.

The Apex 3 offers many great features at a price point that doesn't overwhelm. The keyboard has a quality feel and features a durable aluminum frame. The magnetic wrist rest offers a comfortable, smooth feel and is easily removed or added. Use the steelseries engine software to control the 10-zone RGB illumination which can be personalized with many effects from different color options to reactive effects that tie into game play. Default max brightness can be adjusted and zones modified to suit your taste. Nice response from the keys and fairly limited noise from the gaming switches; no noticeable lag. The keys did feel a tad bit higher, but took minimal time to adjust to. Dedicated media controls are typical and volume control wheel is always a great feature to have. The three-way cable routing is a nice feature that not all keyboards have. Hopefully one doesn’t have to test out the IP32 water resistant capabilities, but it’s nice to have given the unforeseen spill. At this price point the Apex 3 offers great quality and performance for the price.

The SteelSeries - Apex 3 is an awesome offering in world of entry level, gaming keyboards. I personally own the Apex 7 and was eager to try out this model. Certainly, this isn't a high-priced mechanical keyboard that utilizes Linear or 'Clicky' tactile switches - but the amount of features you do get - along with Steel Series reputation - is something worth taking note of. Key to Steel Series success is their consistent build-quality, no matter which tier of product you spring for. Form, fit & finish are always superb. I personally like the Steel Series take on the shape and rise of their Apex line and the Apex 3 is no exception. The inclusion of the wrist support is another amazing feature considering the low price. For me, a physical scroll wheel to control volume is a must and the Apex 3 has that - with a precision feel. No sloppiness at all and a great tactile surface. I've experienced volume wheels on keyboards costing more than 200 dollars that feel like ... well ... junk. Not here. The same attention to quality is offered on the full Apex line - no matter the price. RGB lighting on this particular model is by no means extravagant but it is still very effective and beautifully executed. For the budget conscious shopper, this RGB offering is quite good. Consistency across the board is nice even with the limited lighting zones. Honestly, I wasn't expecting that. Speaking of consistency, the switching action of the keys on the Apex 3 is great, along with their quiet operation. Key travel isn't excessive and wobble not present. I enjoy typing on the Apex 3 and it rivals many competitive offerings costing two to three times as much. These feel like 'Browns' to me but much quieter. One of the biggest reasons I'm a huge fan of Steel Series products has to do with their well-executed, smooth running Steel Series Engine software. This software doesn't throw goofy Windows Events like most, if not all competitor suites do - much less crash your Windows environment or conflict with other peripheral control software like the 'Hub' so painfully does. I've owned and tried all the major brands and software bugs; constant software revisions and software crashes are a pretty common experience. Not with the SS Engine software. And it's easy to pick up and learn. By no means complicated, it is visually balanced in both its layout & function and it simply works. Beautifully. Sure, this keyboard doesn't have a USB pass through port, no discrete key by key RGB control... no fancy displays or high-end mechanical switches... but if you blind tested it again many keyboards costing 100 bucks + you'd be hard press to tell the difference in many cases. I've dedicated mine to be used when I have my gaming laptop 'docked', so to speak, to a larger monitor at a desk station. It's a great solution for that type of arrangement. The Apex 3 offers tremendous value for the money spent. It's a great solution for those on a tight budget or for anyone wanting a keyboard to add to any computer type - gaming or otherwise. It's quiet, responsive, well-built and the software is solid. Oh ... and RGB. Highly Recommended!

Junk keys intermittently work different ones at different times but now one day after store return policy !!!

Failed to work out out of the box. Tried it on two different systems and both said it was an unrecognized device.

"My gaming keyboard from Best Buy is absolutely incredible! The RGB lighting is vibrant and customizable, and the keys have a satisfying feel that's perfect for gaming and typing. The build quality is solid, and it feels like it's built to last. Best Buy had a great selection, and the staff helped me pick the perfect one for my setup. Setup was super easy, and it’s made a huge difference in my gaming experience. Highly recommend both the keyboard and Best Buy’s service!"

The Steel Series Apex 3 keyboard is a gaming keyboard that offers just about everything you want in a gaming keyboard at a fraction of the cost. Steel Series are no strangers to the gaming world however the real question comes down to how well it stacks up to its competitors and if this is the right fit for you. This review is going to be done strictly from a gaming stand point so hopefully this review will serve to answer any questions you have. I don't want to get too much in to the specs as they can be read and pulled off of Best Buys site but i do want to talk about is a few basic key features. Out of the box along with the key board you will get a attachable hand rest which for me is always a nice feature to have to help prevent fatigue. And yes this has RGB lighting for all you RGB fan boys however customization is limited. So for me personally there are a few things i look for in a gaming keyboard. One of the key features that draws me to a good gaming keyboard is the keystrokes and positions. Based on what game im playing and the style of game, this will determine the keyboard i want. First things first lets talk about the keys and the style it uses. On the box they claim to be called silent keys which makes me feel that this a revised version for a mechanical key set up. However upon inspection and game play the keys don't feel or sound like your typical mechanical keys, which is a good thing based on the type of game your playing. What i mean by this is the keys are very silent and make absolutely no noise which is a very nice feature to have as the mic can usually pick up on your typing during game play. Also they are not as sensitive as a mechanical keyboard but they also don't require a very long key stroke. This keyboard has a nice happy medium in regards to the keystroke and input. Mechanical keys are a nice feature to have for FPS (first person shooter) however as a fan of MMO's mechanical keys can become very annoying as their sensitivity level is so high that if you simply breathe on it wrong(obviously an exaggeration) it will activate that key stroke causing you to pop unwanted abilities. This keyboard is a great fit that offers a solution to both styles of game play for FPS and MMO gamers as myself. Now another key feature i like to look at on my gaming keyboard is the functionality available through optional key features. What i mean by this simply put is that i want my keyboard to be able to handle as many task as possible preventing me from having to use my mouse to open up other key items. For example during long raids and tournaments i like to stream music and switch between my different mods. The keyboard i currently use right has the windows key so i can turn on my game bar or task window to bring up different mods or discord as well a separate area with a scroll wheel, mini mouse pad and play/pause buttons. These small features allow me switch between songs, adjust volume and make minor adjustments all without me having to leave current game play. The Apex 3 lacks some of these features as the only real useful feature it has a scroll wheel. As dumb as it may sound this is a really big disappointment for me as i like to stay immersed in game play and hate when i have to break that immersion. It is actually that much of a big deal to me that i spent double the amount of the Apex 3 series just to get a nicer keyboard that offered more features. Maybe this wont bother you but for me it was the deal breaker. Here's the bottom line. As a entry level keyboard this a phenomenal set up and quite honestly in my opinion probably one of the best ones out there at this price point. The key strokes are beautiful and the raised keys make it easy to find the position your looking for. RGB lighting makes it really shine at night but on top of that offers added visibility. Even though the lack of features made me want to stray away from it the keystrokes were so great that it made me really fall in love with how well it felt during actual game play. So should you buy this set up? Well that depends. If your a new gamer or your looking to upgrade without breaking the bank then yes absolutely buy this keyboard as it is a very beautiful set up. Im almost positive you will not find a better keyboard for this price. Now if your a more avid or experienced gamer then you may want to save some money and get something with more features as you may find the set up a little lack luster for your taste. Over all at this price point you can not beat its features and talent.

Does not work! After spending the extra money for a keyboard several keys don’t work or respond…keyboard is useless and now I just use the stock keyboard