Customers enjoy the Apex Pro Mini Gen 3 keyboard for its excellent build quality, compact size, and portability. Users appreciate the level of customization and fast response time it offers, which enhances gaming performance. However, some find the lack of dedicated arrow keys to be a drawback. The keyboard's weight is also a positive aspect for many users.
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Page 3 Showing 41-47 of 47 reviews
Pros mentioned:
Customization, Noise level, Switch performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
A Strong Performer in the Tiny Keyboard Market
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
A great keyboard is worth its weight in gold. Whether you are locked in on a gaming session, or typing away for a college paper, it’s more enjoyable and easier on a nice keyboard. The other really nice thing about getting into the keyboard rabbit hole is the sheer number of options there are. Everything from full sized, mini, 75%, clicky, silent, somewhere in between, literally every option you can imagine. On top of that, nice keyboards are usually customizable so if you are 90% in love with a keyboard, you can likely make a simple change to make it fully yours.
Speaking of very unique, customizable keyboard options, the Steel Series Apex Pro Mini Gen 3 is a really cool example of that. Sitting at 60%, it’s a true mini. It’s incredibly compact while still being comfortable to use in both gaming and typing activities. This keyboard features white switches which Steel Series claims have a much faster response time and actuation compared to more standard mechanical switches. This is nice to have for gaming purposes. Additionally, they sound somewhere in the middle as far as noise. They have a nice purposeful sound without sounding like a typewriter. Part of that is due to the use of a sound dampening foam layer inside the keyboard which is a really nice touch. Sometimes I like to game late at night, and my wife does not appreciate some of my louder keyboards when she’s trying to fall asleep and it sounds like Benjamin Franklin is drafting the constitution next door. Something else I really appreciate is the weight of this keyboard. It gives you confidence that it will stay where it is when gaming. However, its not so heavy that taking it with you would be a concern. This is without a doubt a very mobile friendly keyboard. Besides that, Steel Series did a really good job with the actuation customization options. You can easily adjust when you want the “click” to electronically register. Some people want that instantaneous registration, while others prefer a more forgiving press. For me, I think its in a pretty good spot out of the box, but I did mess around with it some and they made it a simple process so you can really enjoy experimenting.
All in all I really don’t have anything bad to say about this keyboard. If you want something that’s really gaming focused, fits in most bags, and provides solid customization options then this keyboard should be at the top of your list. It has excellent build quality and seems like it will last a long time. I highly recommend this keyboard.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Customization, Overall performance, Size
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Excellent Gaming Experience in a miniscule size.
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I recently tried this steelseries Apex Pro Mini Gen3 my gaming rig. This keyboard delivers top notch performance for the gaming world in a very compact size. Do realize though, this is definitely not what I would choose as an everyday keyboard for typing and other tasks.
This really is an awesome keyboard for gaming. For starters, a major standout feature of this keyboard is the omnipoint 3.0 adjustable hypermagnetic switches with rapid trigger and rapid tap technology. These technologies offer fully adjustable actuation points which improves actuation and response time. The switches have a smooth tactile feel, not a hard click or audible feedback if that’s what you like. Of course, the wired connection delivers quick and responsive keystrokes with zero lag and no ghosting. These switches can actually reduce reaction times and improve my gaming.
The construction materials and quality are top notch. It’s small but sturdy with a little weight to it and nice rubber feet to prevent any movement on the desk. This keyboard is based on a compact frame which is not only sleek but also feels exceptionally sturdy. The keys are slightly textured to provide grip and prevent slippage during prolonged gaming sessions.
Also impressive is all the customization potential of this keyboard through the steelseries GG software and engine app. I can easily customize macros, RGB lighting, key actuation, and rapid trigger – the key actuation and rapid trigger are amazingly on a per-key basis, so the possibilities are truly endless to make this keyboard function EXACTLY how I want it to. With the ability to adjust an extensive range of lighting effects and color options, I can easily match my gaming setup and personal style. The lighting can also be synchronized with other steelseries peripherals, creating an all-in-one lighting experience.
Cons: There are alt media keys and programmable macro keys conveniently placed on the keyboard for easy access, enhancing both productivity and gaming efficiency, but they made this keyboard so compact that it lacks a lot of additional functionality keys for everyday life. It has alt but not dedicated function keys. Alt but not dedicated arrow keys. There is no number pad on the right. None of the home, end, delete, ins, etc, traditional keys for typing and whatnot. The lack of these keys that you typically find on a full keyboard really inhibits the typing and day-to-day experience making it difficult to call this you everyday keyboard.
In conclusion, this steelseries Apex Pro Mini gen3 wired gaming keyboard is quite nice and an absolute gem for any serious gamer. Its phenomenal performance, sturdy build, endless customization ability, and additional features make it a worthwhile investment – as a gaming keyboard. I would, however, caution anyone looking for a fully functional keyboard for everyday use and productivity though.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Customization, Size
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Smaller is better, maybe
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
for gaming there is a lot to be said for having a keyboard with a small footprint. There seems to be a trend for smaller and smaller, but when is it too small?
The Apex Pro Mini is 60% of a full sized keyboard with only the necessary dedicated keys for gaming making it small on your desktop with more space for mouse travel. Gone are the typical dedicated office keyboard keys such as the function keys, media keys, num-pad, arrow keys. To get the arrow keys and function keys you need to hold the GG key in conjunction with the appropriate dual binding key. A bit clunky if you ask me but again if you are using this strictly for gaming it isn't an issue. I have to keep a more subdued keyboard handy to switch to when I need to work or even just type this review. Even delete, home, end, pgup and pgdn are accessible via the GG key with the associated dual key.
The actuation is adjustable but even when I dialed it down I found it difficult to type.
The GG software brings the best out of the Apex Pro Mini. So much customization!!! You can create macros, automatically detect games installed and load presets for those games. If you need to adjust key binding for your gaming style it's very simple within the software. Same goes for the non-dedicated keys like functions, media, etc... those are adjustable un the Meta Binding tab. You can set sensitivity of the rapid trigger and tap. So much you can do.
The Mini doesn't lack in the RGB department. It's fully customizable using the GG software and going to the Prism tab. Lots of presets but completely customizable if you are trying to match your rig's lighting.
A couple of issues I had:
I'd get ghost actuations which may be great for shootem up games but not so much when trying to type. There are settings within the Steel Series GG software to set sensitivity and I know I'll end up using protection mode a lot if I chose to use this for something other than gaming. Protection mode prevents the surrounding key sensitivity from triggering a key press. I found this happening to me a lot during Days Gone where I'd strafe left while pressing the S key.
I found another issue that was more of an annoyance but easily corrected. When opening a browser the tab would scroll by itself to the bottom of the page and even when using the mouse scroll it would not stick and go back to the bottom. This was easily fixed by unplugging the cable from the keyboard and plugging it back in. Odd behavior but maybe rectified by a setting in the software.
The pluses outweigh the few minor issues I encountered and if you are looking for strictly for gaming and don't have much desktop space then the Apex Pro Mini might be your best bet. I can definitely see this paired with a gaming laptop and external monitor setup.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Customization, Switch performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Minimalistic Minimality
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I have used a lot of mechanical keyboards over the years, and the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Gen 3 is by far the best gaming keyboard I have ever had the privilege to engage with. From the moment I plugged it in, I could feel the difference. The responsive time is lightning fast, and the minimalistic aesthetics will vibe on any setup.
Out of the box, the design of this keyboard is compact, and when I say compact, I mean compact – Did I mention how compact this keyboard is, no? Well, this keyboard is ridiculously compact. Despite being about the size of a burrito bowl, this keyboard feels very well-made and has some neat additions, like the hidden key clip underneath the unit. The 60% feels more like 45’ish, because yeah, it is so compact. SteelSeries throws us a little bit of a curve with the narrowing of this board by what they trimmed to achieve the overall size. For me, the most notable, which has resulted in the most, oh yeah, they aren’t on this keyboard, are the missing arrow keys. I guess I did not realize when working in Excel how much I use the arrow keys. This is my only concern and point to note for potential buyers. Please make sure that you are fully comfortable with the missing keys. SteelSeries did include an F function key to allow for keys to have multiple uses. This becomes an excellent segue into the SteelSeries GG Quickset software. This package enables customization among SteelSeries devices, but it is really where the standout feature comes, and you pay for what you get with this device. The endless options and customization allow you to fully interact with what each key does, how fast it responds, and, of course, the lighting of the RGB. The rapid trigger & tap key are basically cheating in some situations. But my personal favorite is the Protection Mode. I am, at best, a novice on the mouse keyboard. I use it, but I am not great since I usually play on the computer with a controller. So the Protection Mode helps me prevent miss clicks by reducing the sensitivity of the surrounding keys. It's subtle but helps the smoothness of my gameplay tremendously, especially in full panic mode gameplay situations. SteelSeries claims these Omnipoint 3.0 Hypermagnetic switches are the fastest in the world currently. Although that may feel like talismanic talk to hype up the product, the measurable proof is in the usage, and I would have to say that I am currently faster than Mr. Bolt.
For me, if this product is in your wheelhouse as a top tier higher level peripheral, then this is hands down a must have recommended buy. From its styling, features, and whimsical app, this unit is going to give your gaming setup a memorable experience.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Customization
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
Awesome Keyboard!
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
The SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Gen 3 is a great little keyboard with many points of customization.
I have used SteelSeries products for several years now and I have never been disappointed. The Apex Pro Mini is no exception. Like all of their keyboards, the Apex Pro mini is a very well built and solid piece of hardware. With the 60% form factor, you can save some space on your desk or toss it in a bag for easy transportation. I do wish they would figure out some way to add physical volume control buttons on the side or something, but I guess they have other configurations with those options.
The rapid tap function is pretty cool and works pretty well. I personally don't see myself using this function but it is a nice option to have.
The Linear OmniPoint 3.0 switches are great and feel very smooth. With the SteelSeries GG client you can adjust the actuation which is awesome. The software works really well and will be your go-to for updates, RGB and other keyboard customization options.
Overall, I love this keyboard. It feels good and sounds good too! With this level of customization and quality you really can't go wrong!
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Switch performance
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
A true game changer of a keyboard.
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 60% wire mechanical Omnipoint gaming keyboard is a definite game changer for gaming. Let me start with the rapid tap in first-person shooters—it's a game-changer and a lifesaver. Its fast response time will immediately affect your gameplay.
It also uses the amazing Omnipoint 3.0 hypomagnetic adjustable switch technology. This technology gives you fast responses and even better accusation. The construction is very good because the keys are quiet but responsive.
They incorporated sound-dampening foam, which is excellent for reducing clicks during gameplay. The keyboard has backlit illumination for personalized keys. The key tool is stored under the keyboard in its own little space, making key customizing a breeze. You can also use the customizing software to preset and set key functions and macros.
With the GG quickset, you can optimize the way you play your games. It is a wired keyboard, so that's one thing to keep in consideration. I definitely like that it doesn't take up much desktop space on your desk, and the size does not mess with the gameplay. If you're looking for an awesome keyboard that's super fast, this is the one for you.
I would recommend this to a friend
Pros mentioned:
Size
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
Almost perfect
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This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.
I have used several SteelSeries products in the past. I do think their products tend to have a premium due to the brand but there is good reason for that. The SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Gen 3 is a 60% keyboard version of the Apex Pro Gen 3 which is a keyboard I absolutely love. Essentially, the strengths are the same, but so are the cons.
I really do like 60% keyboards. I was skeptical with them at first, but you really realize that the vast majority of your needs can be fulfilled with just 60% of the keys. You would also be surprised by how helpful that extra space can be for your mouse as well. That being said, when not gaming, I did find myself switching back to a full keyboard. Sometimes you don't want to rely on or remember those Steelseries shortcuts and just want to use the function keys. Out of the box, it feels fairly premium. Despite the small size, it's got some heft to it. Brands know we associate weight with quality which is why they will shove metal into their products but SteelSeries products do feel well engineered. The small footprint just looks great on a minimalist setup. Without the RGB on, it looks fairly unassuming.
The Apex Pro Mini Gen 3 uses OmniPoint 3.0 feel really good to me. They sound amazing. They are not obnoxiously loud. You can adjust the actuation point. There are SO MANY customizable things. The software to control the settings can be a bit daunting and even feel unnecessary at times. This keyboard is heavily dependent on the use of their software which can be a con for some people. I do think it will take alot of work but you can customize to find the settings that work for you. If you just completely go off the rails, there's always the default. One thing that did give me slight hesitation, I would get ghost typing at times which you really do not want to see from a premium product. I may have bad luck because this has happened with some of my previous SteelSeries keyboards as well.
All in all, I think the Apex Pro Mini Gen 3 is a great 60% keyboard. The only hesitation comes from the fact that competition is steep with more attractive pricing. However, if that does not matter, then definitely you cannot go wrong with the Apex Pro Mini Gen 3.