SteelSeries: The APEX Pro Gen 3 Series keyboard has me Rapid Tap’ing out of my Apple Magic Keyboard for good

It’s a mighty celebration whenever SteelSeries is serving up awesomeness and with an embargo like this one finally lifted - I hope you can hear and feel me Rapid Tap’ing with excitement over the official launch of the Apex Pro Gen 3 loaded with jam-packed new features in a compact, on-the-go Mini style and an all-white everything TKL model. Giddy up, Attackers.

Attackers - it’s my pleasure to put out the orange and black carpet for the newly launched APEX Pro Gen 3 models

Just to be clear - I am salivating over all my reviewer guides and official embargo-lifted press release centered on this massive launch - of course an official review will come later once I get my hands on this technology brilliance but for now - let’s geek out over what’s new in the world of Steel Series gaming goals a la an epic Apex Pro Gen 3 launch focusing first on the Mini.

If there’s one thing I can proudly say? I love the ability to travel practically anywhere around the nation and having the ability to set up in any hotel room the same exact set-up I have at home/the office - minus a 27-inch iMac but the MacBook Pro gets the job done - and so with SteelSeries putting an emphasis on the Mini models of its Apex line - I’m in technology heaven no matter the time zone.

This Apex Pro Mini Gen 3 is ready to officially bury my Apple Magic Keyboard for good-good. New energy. New look. New features. New takeover.

SteelSeries, the original esports brand that fuses gaming and culture, today unveiled the newest additions to the multi-award-winning Apex Pro Gen 3 Series keyboards: the black Apex Pro Mini Gen 3 and white Apex Pro TKL Gen 3. The new additions offer a sleek aesthetic – perfect for the spring season and all new games coming this year.  

Embracing and embodying the mantra that “Mini is Mighty,” the Apex Pro Mini Gen 3 takes Gen 3 performance to new heights (and lengths) with its smaller, smarter, faster, and stronger silhouette. The compact 60% form factor is one of the fastest-growing genres of keyboards for both casual gamers and professional esports players.

Since its groundbreaking debut in 2019, SteelSeries revolutionized the gaming world by introducing fully adjustable actuation with the OmniPoint switch. The Apex franchise continues to gain widespread acclaim among casual gamers and esports pros and has solidified its reputation among the keyboard community. The Apex Pro Gen 3 Series has been designed and engineered to provide gamers with more control for all their use cases, whether gaming or other. The Apex Gen3 Series provides players and typists with the world’s fastest switches and the most customizable keyboard on the planet.

The Apex Pro Mini Gen 3 joins the Apex Pro Gen 3 family that includes the full-size, TKL (tenkeyless), and TKL Wireless models. 

·       Apex Pro Mini Gen 3 – Combining the latest OmniPoint 3.0 with the world’s fastest key switches with 40 adjustable actuation levels from an ultra-responsive 0.1mm to 4.0mm in a small 60% compact form factor, the Apex Pro Mini Gen 3 allows gamers to reduce their desktop footprint and take a high-performance keyboard with them on the go. An enhanced build quality features include premium switch stabilizers to reduce key wobble, factory-lubed switches for a smoother feel and a “thockier” sound, and dampening foam for more satisfying keypresses, confirming the fact that “Mini is Mighty.” Armed with a new suite of advanced GG software features, including Rapid Tap, Rapid Trigger, and Protection Mode, gamers can utilize GG QuickSet to effortlessly access individual pro-grade profiles for the most played games, continuing the revolution that started it all. 

o   Protection Mode – Say goodbye to accidental "fat-fingering" with Protection Mode, a SteelSeries-exclusive feature. This mode protects against accidental key presses by reducing the sensitivity of selected surrounding keys—never worry about blowing the most important cooldown again.

o   Rapid Tap – Rapid Tap prioritizes the last pressed key in a pair without needing to release the previous key, enabling faster input and improved aim. With up to five key pairings, your counter-strafing, peeking, crouch-jumping or slide-canceling becomes more responsive than ever.

o   Rapid Trigger – Discard the limitations of regular actuation. With Rapid Trigger, gamers can repeatedly press the same key without waiting for it to return, at the slightest lift of a finger. No more missing multiple key presses if players ever need to spam a button.

o   GG Quickset – Optimal settings for a player’s favorite games are just a few clicks away, making the gaming keyboard setup easier than ever. Gain a competitive edge with pro-grade presets that adjust actuation levels, Rapid Trigger, Protection Mode, Rapid Tap, RGB Lighting, and more on a per-game basis. Skip the complicated setup and get playing.

I would honestly have loved to have summed all this up in my own words but then what’s better than a full-fledged witty review, right? So geeking out over the smallest but coolest things like the Protection Mode because we all get caught up with our fingers mashing buttons during intense sessions or how about the Rapid Trigger - giving you the ability to blast away at the opps (sorry, but those Call of Duty-style goals are always activated) without having to worry about doing extra finger efforts - pure genius.

I am really the most impressed by the Protection Mode, though. It’s all about the stroke game, right - so the stresses of making sure you’re not applying too much pressure during a gaming session to those keys while trying to stay focused on missions and tasks can easily take you out of a fun game setting.

Protection Mode saves the day. As referenced, the mashing of buttons can get intense but this SteelSeries exclusive looks to turn those potential frowns upside down with placing emphasis on the sensitivity and functionality of those keys. Again - mind-blowing.

But while my hotel room gaming set-up is very important - a majority of the time throughout the year I have the comfort of my Garden State home - so being spoiled over the past year with SteelSeries’ white-style takeovers - yup, I’m geeking out over the new Apex Pro TKL White Gen 3. I mean - the fashion statement my computer area is making with this keyboard blessing the home office? Oh yes.

In addition to all the personalization and customization features of the Apex Gen 3 Series keyboards, SteelSeries introduces a new Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 White colorway for players to express their style across their gaming setups. The Apex Pro TKL White Gen 3 offers all the key features of the Apex Pro Mini Gen 3, in a slightly larger 75% format, best for those seamlessly transitioning between work and play. To complete the thematic white battle station featuring the Apex Pro TKL White Gen 3, SteelSeries offers gamers white versions of the Aerox 3 Wireless mouse, the award-winning Arctis GameBuds, and the entire Arctis Nova franchise (Nova Pro Wireless, Nova 7 Wireless, Nova 5 Wireless, and Nova 1).

**In additional Apex news... it’s Rapid Tap for one and all. In addition to adding new models to the Apex Pro Gen 3 series of keyboards, SteelSeries is bringing the wildly popular Rapid Tap feature to its Apex 7 and Apex 9 series keyboards beginning today.**

Available at SteelSeries.com and retailers around the world, the Apex Pro Mini Gen 3 and Apex Pro TKL White Gen 3 are available for the following MSRPs:

·       Apex Pro Mini Gen 3 - US $199.99| EMEA €219.99 | UK £189.99 | APAC $229.99

·       Apex Pro TKL White Gen 3 - US $219.99 | EMEA €239.99 | UK £209.99 | APAC $249.99

You’re honestly getting the best of both worlds - if you’re the compact type - you know, the type who loves to keep it smaller screens, more mobile - more on the go - the Apex Pro Mini 3 is definitely a no-brainer. But it’s tough to overlook just dropping 20 more bucks to get an epic keyboard with all those same features and perks and the luxury of comfort. I mean, it’s a great problem to have.

Could you spoil yourself and secure both? Of course. Gut instinct? I’m loving the Apple Pro TKL Gen 3 White - as I said, spending the majority of the year from home sweet home - it’s a daily grind and to do it with the most functionality, white hot glowing and comfort? A no-brainer.

But with spring vacation, summer vacation, bae’cation and more always on deck - the Mini is an absolute must-own, too. Because there’s no better way to blast away at the opps than a vacay setting and on a secure hotel Wi-Fi set-up, of course.

No matter the choice - it’s clear SteelSeries continues to level up and keep the standard sky-high.

For more on the Apex Pro Gen 3 keyboards, head over to SteelSeries.