Capsule Review: SteelSeries Apex M500 Gaming Mechanical Keyboard
by E. Fylladitakis on June 10, 2016 10:00 AM ESTSoftware
The SteelSeries Engine software that can be used to access the advanced features of the Apex M500 is very simple, quick and well compiled. There is only one main screen, from which the user can adjust basic illumination settings and the polling rate of the keyboard, launch the macro programmer, the configurations manager or select any of the keys for reprogramming. The illumination options are limited to brightness level controls and a single (breathe) effect.
If any of the keys is selected, a configuration menu pops up and allows the reprogramming of the key. There is a wealth of options here, allowing the user to perform simple layout changes, use advanced media/mouse/OS shortcuts, launch macros or launch external applications. After the action has been selected, the user can also add repeat options with programmed intervals and reiterations. The option of selecting whether the action will be performed on the key press or release is also offered.
The Macro Editor allows the programming of either keypress or text macros. Text macros, as the name suggests, merely insert a piece of text once used. This function is useful in gaming for the quick sending of short or long repetitive team/guild messages. Keypress macros are a little more complex, allowing the user to program a sequence of keystrokes with programmed or no delays between them. Once the macro has been programmed, the delays or the keystrokes can be manually edited. Unfortunately, the macro recorder is still very basic, as the user cannot insert any mouse movement functions, or even mouse button presses. It registers only key presses coming from the keyboard itself, which is very limiting for a gaming product.
The configuration editor allows the programming of a practically infinite number of profiles. Each profile can be linked to automatically start alongside one or more applications/games. Since the Apex M500 has no extra keys for the manual switching of profiles, this feature is a necessity.
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 reduces 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 typical 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 performance of Cherry’s MX Red switches is outstanding. The average actuation force is at 45 cN, equal to the exact specification of the particular switch, while the disparity over the main keys is just ± 3.19%, a figure that is definitely imperceptible by human touch. Even the Space Bar, a key that is usually giving reading far out of spec due to its size, has an actuation force close to that of the rest of the keys. In short, the keys of the Apex M500 are exceptionally consistent and of the highest quality currently available.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
60 Comments
View All Comments
azrael- - Friday, June 10, 2016 - link
Steelseries Apex M500 ...or perhaps rather the Steelseries 6Gv3. Honestly, there's not much separating this keyboard from the 6Gv2 apart from the backlight.Also, the Apex M800 was the first (and hitherto only) mechanical keyboard from Steelseries which does *not* use Cherry MX keys. They've made several mechanical keyboards, the 6G, 7G and the aforementioned 6Gv2 (in at least two iterations). All these keyboards have met with high acclaim.
There's also nothing "unknown" about the origin of the keys on the Apex M800. They're a custom design from Kailh, better known for copying Cherry MX keys.
And lastly I'm sure you meant that the high price et al of the M800 *didn't* do Steelseries any favor. From what I've learned it's rather the large size of the keyboard and (especially) the custom sized spacebar, in addition to the high price, that turns off potential buyers. The keyboard itself should be very comfortable to use and also be very fast (cue hardcore/professional gamers) due to short travel time of the keys. Something which Corsair in conjunction with Cherry have just tried to emulate with the "Rapidfire" Cherry MX Speed keys. And apparently the M800 is also the quietest mechanical keyboard on the market.
Sorry for all the nitpicking, but the background information in this review doesn't seem very well researched.
JoeyJoJo123 - Friday, June 10, 2016 - link
>Steelseries Apex M500 ...or perhaps rather the Steelseries 6Gv3. Honestly, there's not much separating this keyboard from the 6Gv2 apart from the backlight.More to it than that, bro.
1) They removed the bottom left "Win" key for a "Steelseries" modifier key, used for volume and media controls. Most people who use the "Win" key for commands use the "Win" key on the left. ("Win" + Up = Maximize Window, "Win" + D to minimize everything to show Desktop, "Win" + X to show Mobility Center for common laptop functions, etc)
2) Windows key disabling as an option, rather than a "feature".
3) First actual ANSI mechanical keyboard offered.
4) Blue steel frame for blue-themed aesthetics and for evening out the glow from the blue LED backlighting reflecting from beneath the keycaps.
5) Red vs older Black switches.
6) Full N-Key Rollover/No Ghosting over USB. The older 6G v2 only supported 6 keys + modifier keys over USB and No Ghosting only via PS/2.
It's a pretty different keyboard, bro.
azrael- - Friday, June 10, 2016 - link
Most people would call this a new iteration, bro. Although not necessarily a good one ...or even a necessary one, for that matter. You do realize that the 6Gv2 also came with Cherry MX Reds, right? And what's with that obsession with the ANSI layout?JoeyJoJo123 - Saturday, June 11, 2016 - link
Because aftermarket keycaps are most commonly made in the ANSI layout.Only third-world countries use any other standard.
Findecanor - Tuesday, June 14, 2016 - link
Will you please stop acting like a child, JoeyJoJo123!JoeyJoJo123 - Tuesday, June 14, 2016 - link
Only when ignorance from non-US countries stop spouting nonsense about why people would actually want ANSI layout keyboards vs their preferred ISO layout keyboards, on a US based website, no less.Nobody was dismissing nationalities until non-US posters decided to throw the "You use imperial units, rather than metric units!" and "ISO is the world layout, not ANSI!" memes around. I can play that game, too, by throwing the "You're all third-world countries" meme back at them.
It was and still is my personal opinion that an ANSI layout keyboard is a welcome change, particularly when it comes to sourcing custom keycap sets.
Schliessmeister - Friday, June 10, 2016 - link
The polyhedral design of the underside is not due to aesthetics. This kind of design provides significantly more torsional stiffnes than a flat sheet metal of same thickness.Regards, Flo
TomSal74 - Wednesday, June 15, 2016 - link
How do other people use their keyboards....I never thought I needed "torsional stiffness" in a keyboard before...:)pencea - Monday, June 13, 2016 - link
It's been over two weeks and yet still no review for the GTX 1080, while other major sites have already posted their reviews of both 1070 & 1080.BigBdBen - Tuesday, June 14, 2016 - link
Quote: "Until recently, the company has been offering just one mechanical keyboard, the Apex M800 with their own custom QS1 switches."needs to be corrected in the article, to reflect that both the 6Gv2 (6G) and the 7G mechanical keyboards came before the Apex Series... JM2€ents...