SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL: Specs, Features, Pros & Cons
The keys on the Apex 3 TKL need a firmer press than most, a 60 g actuation. That weight comes with SteelSeries' Whisper Quiet membrane switches, which trade a defined click for a soft, low landing that others in the room barely hear.
The Apex name also covers SteelSeries' magnetic boards, and this is the membrane model at the other end of that family. It is wired, inexpensive and built for everyday games more than competition. The tenkeyless layout drops the number pad and keeps the function row, arrows and navigation keys, which frees space on the right for wide mouse movements.
Its extras are the ones that get used. A volume wheel and media keys sit in the top corner, the lighting runs in several zones, and SteelSeries GG handles lighting and programmable commands. Anti-ghosting covers the key combinations common in games, and the switches carry a basic resistance to drips and dust. Several limits follow from the switch type. The membrane cannot be swapped or tuned, the actuation point is fixed, and there is no rapid trigger or analog input. The keycaps are standard ABS, there is no USB passthrough, and a cable is the only connection, so there is no battery to charge and no way to move between computers without replugging.
It suits a student or casual player sharing a room, someone who plays late while others sleep, or a mixed work and play desk where a loud board would draw complaints. Anyone chasing the sharp feedback of mechanical switches should compare it with an entry-level mechanical tenkeyless first. Check the listing name too, since the full-size Apex 3 is a separate product.
Category strengths
Where the SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL trails the median
- No hot-swappable switches ?
- Fewer connection options ?
- A heavier actuation force ?60 g vs 45 g (median)
How this VS Score was computed
Score 28: each known spec is measured against the median of all keyboards (101 products), then weighted; 50 means level with that median. In classes of six or more, a value beyond the class’s 10th–90th percentile range counts as that limit, so one extreme product cannot set the scale. 25% of the scoreable weight could be used; unknown values, features not applicable to this class and proxies (battery capacity where a rated life exists) add or remove nothing.
| Specification | This product | Cohort median | Score weight | Points moved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hot-swappable | No | 61% of the class have it | 0.6 | −28.8 |
| Connection | 1 | 3 | 0.8 | −26.4 |
| Keycap material | ABS | PBT | 0.4 | −10.0 |
| Rotary knob | Yes | 53% of the class have it | 0.2 | +10.0 |
| Actuation force | 60 | 45 | 0.4 | −4.8 |
| Backlight | RGB | RGB | 0.3 | +0.0 |
Not scored: Switch technology (unknown: not scored); N-key rollover (standard for the class (85% have it)); Adjustable actuation (unknown: not scored); Analog input (not applicable: only 14% of this class have it); Polling rate (unknown: not scored); Wired latency (unknown: not scored); Wireless latency (unknown: not scored); Rapid trigger (unknown: not scored); Front height (unknown: not scored); Bluetooth devices (unknown: not scored); Battery life (unknown: not scored); Battery capacity (unknown: not scored); USB passthrough (not applicable: only 4% of this class have it); Sound dampening (unknown: not scored); Programmable keys (standard for the class (99% have it)); Media controls (standard for the class (97% have it)); Onboard profiles (unknown: not scored); Configuration software (standard for the class (95% have it)).
Editor’s note
The Apex 3 TKL is a practical choice for people who want a compact gaming layout without the price or noise of a mechanical keyboard. Removing the number pad creates more room for broad mouse movement, while the function row, arrows, and navigation keys remain available. SteelSeries' Whisper Quiet membrane switches have a soft, subdued response that can be preferable in shared rooms, late-night setups, or offices.
It should not be mistaken for a mechanical or hot-swappable board. The switches cannot be replaced individually, actuation is not adjustable, and there is no rapid-trigger or analog input. Typing feels softer and less defined than on a good mechanical keyboard, which some people find comfortable and others find vague. The membrane design is rated for 20 million presses, and IP32 resistance gives limited protection from drips and dust, not full spill immunity.
Eight-zone RGB, a dedicated volume wheel, and media controls are useful at this price. SteelSeries GG supports lighting and programmable commands, while anti-ghosting covers common gaming combinations. The connection is wired, so there is no battery to maintain and no Bluetooth device switching, and the keycaps are standard ABS rather than premium PBT.
The Apex 3 TKL suits budget gaming, school desks, and mixed work/play spaces where quiet operation matters. It is not for anyone seeking crisp mechanical feedback, switch experimentation, a number pad, or wireless freedom. Competitive players should compare it with entry-level mechanical TKL boards before deciding. Verify regional key layout and the TKL name in listings, because the full-size Apex 3 is a different product with a number pad and larger footprint.
Specifications
Quality bars show where each figure sits between the lowest and highest of the 101 keyboards this VS Score is measured against.
Switches & typing
Performance
Layout & size
Connectivity
Build & sound
Features
Sources and verification
Where the specifications come from
- Official product pagesteelseries.com
- Independent testingrtings.com
Verification
- First published
- Specifications last checked
- Sheet completeness
- 16 of 34 specifications verified; the rest show as Unknown and are never estimated or scored
- Page type
- Product specification page — Compiled from the manufacturer’s published specifications and the cited sources; this is not a hands-on test.
- Basis
- Research-based: specifications and editorial text were compiled from the documents listed here and the manufacturer’s published data. We have not tested this unit ourselves; where independent measurements are mentioned they belong to the linked publication.
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The bottom line
The SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL earns a VS Score of 28 on the 25% of specifications we could compare like for like — an indication, not a ranking.
- Who it’s for
- A student or casual gamer who wants a quiet, inexpensive tenkeyless with a volume wheel for a shared room or a late-night desk.
- Who should look elsewhere
- Look elsewhere if you want crisp mechanical feedback, switches you can change, a numpad or wireless.
- The trade-off that matters
- Quiet comes from membrane switches, and membranes feel soft and a little vague. That suits a shared room and blunts the precision a shooter player may want.
- The main alternative
- Keychron C1 Pro: a wired mechanical TKL with hot-swap sockets and PBT keycaps, for crisper feedback in the same footprint.
The VS Score is calculated from the weighted specifications above, each measured against the median of comparable keyboards — a shortlisting guide, not a substitute for your own priorities. See how we score.
