SteelSeries makes some outstanding gaming keyboards, but its gear tends to be expensive. Now the company has launched some more affordable products that aim to bring its attractive and comfortable designs to a wider audience. The most interesting among these is the $99.99 Apex 5, a per-key RGB backlit keyboard with a "hybrid mechanical" switch that feels and sounds like a mechanical keyboard, but uses the membrane actuation found in budget and laptop boards. In successfully threading this needle, SteelSeries has made one of the better midrange gaming keyboards around. So, What's a "Hybrid" Mechanical Keyboard? For most typists, keyboards broadly fall into two categories, membrane and mechanical. In the former, pressing a key pushes down on a rubber dome, which both activates the signal and provides resistance to return the key to starting position. With mechanical keyboards, pressing each key actually flips a switch that completes a circuit, and the feel of the key comes from a c...
The SteelSeries Apex 5 gaming keyboard finds a better way to blend money-saving membrane and snappy but pricey mechanical switches.
Hybrid switch feels more mechanical than membrane; Sleek design with OLED screen; Strong RGB options; Wrist rest included
Fully mechanical keyboards available in same price range; Single button for all media controls; Wrist rest isn't very supportive