SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Keyboard Review (wired & wireless)

[@DontNoahLot]

The TKL was already insane. I have a feeling most of the pros in every game are definitely going to be using this one.
Looks really nice as well, so good job to Steelseries on that, and have a good day Techne.

[@emmittvalencia7645]

@@lltalionll tbh i’m only buying the new apex pro mini cuz of the insane RGB and insane sexy noises it makes when i smash it’s little keys 🥵

[@KeepAnOpenMind]

The springs here are much harder to press than Apex Pro TKL, so I am returning my mini wireless.

[@jon-qm3yd]

@@emmittvalencia7645 pause

[@Yuzuki1337]

@@emmittvalencia7645 *bonk*

[@m4nu507]

I own the apex pro tkl and now decides to go the 60% route. I had to go with the wooting 60HE, i think on paper it offers better gaming experience and quality overall than the apex pro mini but we’ll see, hope it doesn’t disappoint.

[@dude9237]

Feel free to keep us updated. Curious to see your wooting experience. I really want to try out that crazy rapid trigger they have

[@dude9237]

@RustyGamer After using the apex pro mini it was super disappointing, super cheap build quality. The switches were nice though. but everything else including software was pretty terrible. I have much higher hopes for the wooting 60he

[@dude9237]

@RustyGamer I don't remember which is which but one of the chips is better and will have more rgb modes and can potentially get better future updates. It's not something super huge but i am actually waiting for the newer chip. What's cool about wooting 60he is that it's hot swap, you can swap out the switches to be lighter or whatever your heart desires. Giving the wooting a crazy edge over the apex pro mini

[@lucutes2936]

Noob

[@m4nu507]

I been using the wooting for a month and its hands down best gaming keyboard out there, my only complaint being very picky would be the springs, after hours of gaming your fingers start getting tired, i would’ve waited for the lighter springs option before purchasing if i had know. Other than that the rapid trigger is insanely good, wootility chromium based is perfect, zero bloatware. Switched my board to the tofu and got me some glacier keycaps. Using the coiled cable works fine with tachyon mode only if reducing the rgb brightness to 50% which is more than fine for my glacier keycaps.

[@Eliminator6363]

If you're considering this (the wired version anyway), look at the Wooting 60HE instead. I got the full sized version (Wooting 2HE) recently because I've gotten used to full sized again recently, and comparing it to my Apex Pro TKL, it's just a better keyboard. The ONLY thing it's missing is macros (at least right now), so if you need that go with SteelSeries, otherwise definitely look into Wooting because it might be the better option for you.

[@TomLuck]

Agreed. I picked up this apex mini yesterday at bestbuy and I'm planning to return it. Just pre ordered the wooting 60he. I've heard the wooting keys aren't as fast but that would be better with the rapid trigger feature.

@@TomLuck i keep the apex pro for macros but i keep tkl cus like extra buttons and macros also media button and display for mmorpg etc like lost ark

[@Eliminator6363]

@@TomLuck ooo the rapid trigger feature is fantastic for high actuation. Makes jitter peeking and generally typing MUCH more accurate.

[@shotofn887]

I just purchased the mini I am getting it in 3 days. I have watched some reviews about both I have heard that the wooting 60 he does have a 0.1 actuation point instead of the apex being 0.2 but I also heard that the wootings springs are harder to press then minis I am going to purchase a wooting 60 he if I don't like the mini. I play fortnite so any advantage helps .

[@sinafrm]

​@ i also play lost ark but cannot think about any use for the oled screen

[@Woot30]

This board is 140 right now for the wired version on Amazon’s early prime day deals. I think im gonna snag one.

[@IMF1821]

Steelseries still hasn't unlocked the full potential of the hall effect switches. So many missing features in comparison to the Wooting.

[@wintersoldier4269]

Lol.. placebo effect features .. I love watching kids say “omg look how fast” “wow rapid trigger” then some guy comes along makes a video with a base keyboard and “jiggle peaks” the same speed as the wooting. Wooting did good with the build of the board. The software is all gimmicky millisecond time bs

[@hopinthegrave]

what’s up with the spacebar dawg

[@mindofmxz]

i got the hyper x origin 60% last year, put blacked out keycaps on and i’m totally happy with it. best 60% keyboard imo

[@TheSMSpider]

Easily is. I bought it myself and I’ll never leave this board until it breaks. Then I’ll buy it again. This is overpriced for no good reason.

[@flade6790]

No hotswappable switches is a big disadvantage

[@TheSMSpider]

@@flade6790 look at this board though. Over twice the price and still no hot swap.

[@mindofmxz]

@@TheSMSpider lmao fax 💀 and imo the switches on the hyper x already are crazy for the pricepoint. the whole keyboard in itself is higher quality than so many other plastic keyboards.

[@hayden1255]

Bakeneko 60 is the best 60%

[@gregzy789_gaming4]

Nice keyboard but they 100% need to drop that price of over 200 pound it’s should be around the 120 mark for the wireless version? Madness good review as always mate! 👍🏻

[@Juice_VI]

How exactly did you add the extra lube to the stabs? A syringe?

[@BennieDuck]

was waiting for this video

[@JGokuu]

I remember watching back in 2019 when I was looking for my first pc. Glad I found you again 😁

[@TheTechne]

glad your back again :)

[@lovo.c8256]

I've been using a msi TKL keyboard for over a year now,
I used a full keyboard and it was too large for my taste and also 60 are missing the f buttons which i need
So TKL is the sweet spot for me and as you mentioned, people need to find the sweet spot for their own use.
Btw the ending was funny,made me laugh :)))

[@enigmalex3649]

You also have F buttons on 60% and you can activate them with Fn key. I don't use F keys that much so it doesn't bother me and I'm using Redragon K630 :)

[@pouriafdaryan56]

Thanks man this video is really amazing 🤩

I stay with my wooting 60he

[@ap1c]

Hey techne, you mind doing a review of some cheaper bloody headsets?
Im not saying bloody in a british way im talking about the brand Bloody lol
Theres an abundance of bloody headphones/headsets in my area so..

[@arctic1920]

i bought the tkl version and i am more than satisfied!

[@abdullahmohamed84]

is it super fast im debating mini or tkl tkl is cheaper but mini is faster

[@Pmoneyandfriends]

Sick with the video at 9 50 he talks about comparisons with the price

[@EdvinAllansson]

im dissapointed that it doesent include a wrist rest

[@theperfectionist1607]

Wish they would make the current apex boards(full size and tkl) more minimalist without the floating keycap design and bezels.

[@zerone9521]

More importantly is it stinkin cozy?

[@josehernandez4869]

For 240 bucks. You are better off buying a barebone gmmk pro 2 and buying your own switches from loobed switches and some keycaps. It'll have more personality for the same price if not a tad bit less. Also better sound.

[@AspexFPS]

Idk if I would get it or not I have been waiting for this for years tho but the wooting 60he is around the corner from coming out

[@TheSMSpider]

Overpriced, you want a solid big box brand 60% board. Get the ally origins 60

[@ImSpektral]

My day always gets better when Techne uploads :)

[@TheTechne]

:)

[@taylorkernea1121]

Picked this up the other day and I love it. It’s so responsive.

[@NoName-cu3rf]

Is it’s really worth it tho I have the Corsair 60% and am looking to upgrade to something else

[@taylorkernea1121]

@@NoName-cu3rf I mean you can always return it if you don’t like it, but you can tell a major difference in the response at 0.02

[@codytimmons276]

i know im late to the reply but yes its a great pickup

[@K0r0Sh]

How can we do the mods I want to buy it but it's my first time and I have no clue how to do it

[@KindOldRaven]

Analogue switches have use cases, but not for your standard CoD for instance. Games that include driving portions, certain platformers etc. Also, you can make certain movement techniues in shooters trivial as well. But, for most, it'll simply be ''the fastest'' keyboard for competitive gaming. Wooting (big fan personally) and Steelseries have got that on lockdown. I'm sure the new Razer one is good as well.

[@oxa6450]

does the apex pro tkl (2023) wireless sound the same as the apex pro mini?

[@hayden1255]

$240 is way too much for any gaming keyboard, you could build an entry level custom for that price. Not to mention, the typing experience on the apex pro has always been subpar with it's lack of flex

[@cyberbrandon1141]

Yeah I'd definitely use that pocket for the keycap puller for some

[@cyberbrandon1141]

although personally I'm a tkl lover, 60 percent keyboards don't have the keys I need for the games I play

[@Yuzuki1337]

Password notes, right? 😉

[@adoptmonkeyyt2891]

Why are the spacebars upside down

[@TheTechne]

@@adoptmonkeyyt2891 always, cozy. Try it

[@dialdfordesi]

I'm gonna be gaming through my TV with an SFF. Unfortunately I gotta go all wireless and super stowage, so steelseries has me over a barrel for the 60% wireless because it meets my needs

[@Ibratm_1905]

Great review! 👍

[@TheTechne]

Thank u

[@ryerye3147]

Mech keyboards changed everything for me the pricing is high but I can see why given the switches , i'd honestly get the tkl unless you really need wireless and this is coming from a black widow v3 wireless user.

[@imedkrisna]

Wish you discussed the switch a bit more

[@TheTechne]

really? Man I talked a bunch about them, even with gameplay. wHat more would you like to know?

[@imedkrisna]

@@TheTechne Hey thanks for replying me. I guess you explained that it's fast and that's it (sorry maybe its just me having a low attention span). Maybe I was expecting something a bit more. for example, how would you compare it with the huntsman analog? (instead of with blackwidow v3 mini).

[@MadisonAnderson-iv9nc]

The space buttons 😭😂

[@volk1898]

Yeah the screen and the pass through was great like they could of been different and made a the bottom to top a bit longer at the top and put them there

[@niedzwiaduspolarus2900]

Techne , love your videos. I have one question. Which headset would you recommend for ps5. Cloud II wireless vs turtle beach 700 Gen 2 or Logitech G Pro X light speed. Only singleplayer games. Thank you :D

[@pawel-yt]

Ordered both Cloud II Wireless and Logi G Pro X Wireless Lightspeed. Returned Logitech. HyperX a lot better. If you want all black get the Cores.

[@hastings2456]

awesome vids man

[@pietroarnoldi]

In EU now 149 wired 60% and 219 the tkl. I got the wired one, anyway u steel have the cable near and different from mouse wired or wireless is pretty much the same

[@Mr._Lagom]

Are the wire and wireless the exact same (not including battery and the actual wire)

[@bryanmt5190]

Can you do a video doing that modding on the keyboard pls:(
Nice video

[@jonnytest7142]

I haven't had the keyboard for not even a week and have a software issue, I used the keyboard for 15 minutes, then went to bed because it was late. Came home from school and went to play fort and my keyboard wasn't working, so I went to type in chat and my keyboard was spasing out. I downloaded the software and updated the keyboard. Then I raised the actuations on the left shift and ctrl keys and now my left shift doesn't work. Someone please help. I'm replacing it to see if I have the same problem.

[@ares-on-ios9790]

Hey I was wondering if it’s loud or not? I’m just thinking of buying it

[@Juice_VI]

The price!! 😂😂😂 Steel Series has lost their minds.

[@lucutes2936]

When you have a job it doesn't look soo scary

[@ucrjedi]

@@lucutes2936 Remember that these keyboards are being compared to other keyboards on the market. Do you like wasting money?

[@lucutes2936]

@@ucrjedi wat, seems like you need to re-take English classes.

[@ucrjedi]

@@xomaxxy The person that is broke is the one who is fine with wasting money. You don't know that because you're the one that's actually broke. Too funny.

[@AlphaEvan]

It’s 150 for wireless and 110 for wired on Amazon right now

[@opxlegend7]

love the videos

[@TheTechne]

thank you

[@perpetual7940]

Please make a video about woofing 60 he and do a comparison of that with apex pro mini

[@nayil100]

7:48 Space bar is put in the wrong way

[@IDOOOOOIT]

Could you do a review of the dygma raise keyboard? High price tag.

[@plball5737]

is hard to choose apex pro tkl or apex pro mini but I think I gonna take tkl and my nephew is gonna take mini for sure

[@EthanRL__]

Can you change the colour manually on the keyboard without the software. with the steelseries sign key and one of the other random ones?

[@juan5h]

Hello Techne, I wanted to ask you if you are going to review the middle model of the barracuda, I read that unlike the pro it has the same sound as the blackshark v2, is it true?

[@Shadowz2X]

Great review

[@thatscrazyseb306]

how do i factory reset the wireless i cant find anything anywhere

[@eirsyy5106]

Is a apex pro tkl or mini better than a glorious gmmk pro, with all the normal built with lynx switches ?

[@belii3426]

Can I use GMK DAIFUKU keycaps on this keyboard? I've heard that they did an apple thing where they sell their own keycaps because nothing can really fit but idk

[@CodeVenomSnakes]

I not like how people dislike about this keyboard. I know it is overprice for keyboard.

[@genrai]

The price is outrageous, the wireless should be $130-150 and the wired one should be $80-100 to be competitive

[@hayden1255]

100%. My aluminum gasket mount case costs less than the wireless. That's insane

[@TacticzShadow]

I have the Apex 5, but I'm looking for what smaller, is this better then the pro tlk ?

[@underscore44yt]

I want the wooting 60he but it takes too long for it to be delivered

[@DAMOCtv9]

im in love with the Mountain Everest 60... and i dont know if buy 60 or the Everest Max... im in trouble ahahha

[@NotGunstar]

do u think it would be possibel to swap out the case?

[@ODXBurst]

are the new 2.0 omnipoint switches foreshadowing new versions of the apex pro

[@ziis8285]

Hey Techne, can you review the wooting 60he pls

[@Bogescianu]

Please for the love of God, for those who are triggered by this and for the sake of the review, do not flip that space bar! It looks so bad and it gets me. In the rest great review as always but every keyboard you review has that space bar, that for me looks dumb and triggers me. Am I the only one?

[@TheTechne]

well it's met for looks. It's for comfort, try it

[@Bogescianu]

@@TheTechne the thing is I tried it, it feels weird and the actuation was a bit funny. I can't say that I thought for a second that my space bar feels uncomfortable. The estetic is not that nice in my opinion.

[@TheTechne]

@@Bogescianu I love it and do it on all boards right out of the box now

[@zuezsz]

Picked up the wired keyboard was on sale, honestly I don’t mind wired

[@BennyA1]

Great video

[@TheTechne]

thank you

[@RyanChu45]

So, if your main game is something like LOL, when you have to use123 to 6 as item using key, also needing f1 f2 f3.. to check teamates while your right hand is on the mouse. How would this keyboard to best solve the problem? If anyone knew. Thanks.

[@OK-tb8tm]

Can you please review asus rog fusion ii 500 and compare it to something close as the price like turtle beach stealth 700 gen 2 max

[@BennieDuck]

bro the ending 💀

[@TheTechne]

LOL

[@BennieDuck]

@@TheTechne time for everyone to unsubscribe i guess 😂

[@JimMaback]

why can i not uptate the firmaware on the keyboard

[@Djaym0]

man these big brand companies are getting super bold with pricing. that board is probably 100$ overpriced. you could literally build a board thats probably in better condition the way you want for less than the price of this OEM board. And theres tons of 60% board for a fraction of this cost that have better switches. dont fall for this poop. all you're paying for is the name. thats it.

[@TheTechne]

I think 150$ for the wired one would be fair

[@omarplays5065]

should i get the v2x the kaira x or the kraken x i want something good for footsteps

[@akaRAIJIN]

there are $60 boards with the 2.4ghz wireless/bluetooth options so the insane markup for this board is just that.. insane.
switches are cool though but idk, this board is a rip off for the money imo.

[@Flock13]

Right got mine for 60 and it’s butta

[@zackd2852]

Dang it...I just bought a one-handed keyboard...but I think the mini keyboard is almost the same size.

[@11202]

They had so much potential with this release especially with the Wooting 60HE offering superior features for cheaper. They had a whole blueprint to work with and copy and then add their own flare to it.
But this? They phoned this in.
Lazy release with no inspiration. Especially at this price point. Why would I ever get this.

[@whofromwanto]

So that you dont need to deal with pointless analogue wooting features that lend to the heavy springs thus making the wooting inferior. Its about light fast presses, not heavy sluggish fatiguing presses

[@11202]

@@whofromwanto Actuation point is at the top, there is quite literally no weight required to actuate either. In contrast rapid trigger actually means the wooting can replicate this actuation point throughout it's entire travel distance as long as you move the set distance you've set in the software. Whereas the Steelseries uses little to no actual benefit of the Hall effect switches aside from the actuation point and now DKS. Case swaps, hot swapping, switch rotation and replacement, easy modding (swapping springs to your desired weight).
Don't be disingenuous by thinking this dogwater keyboard who's software is not even out of beta yet which doesn't have proper lighting compared to Apex Pro TKL, doesn't have on board profiles, needs workarounds to stop it from being permanently stuck on layer 2 at the top 1/4 of the actuation range. I can'tt do any of the things excpected of an Apex Pro if you just chopped it to 60% let alone any of the extra things they stripped to sell it at the exact same price.
What you're gonna be happy paying top trim prices for a car and then thank the manufacturer for the roll up windows and the engine not being tuned because "oh it'll be done eventually it's a new product" as if they didn't make it themselves.
Be a smarter consumer, it'll save you money over this trash.

[@whofromwanto]

@@11202 swing and miss. The heavy springs require more force to push the required xMM.
You are utterly missing the point. If both have a point of 1mm but the spring is heavier on woot then it feels sluggish to press that 1mm.
They exist because of analogue just like the huntsman mini analogue, they are horrible to press. Analogue ruined any chance this board had of being snappy.

[@11202]

@@whofromwanto Tell me you don't understand how switches work without telling me you don't understand how switches work. You do realise that with 1mm actuation set that the key will be pressed far less than the rated spring weight. As they are rated for peak weight/bottom out weight?
Therefore if were being pedantic like you are and actually taking the full breadth of information into effect, ignoring that unlike the SS, the Wooting can actually be spring swapped that a higher spring weight will return faster at a minor expense of possibly a couple of grams heavier weight at actuation, At most. That's also ignoring that the wooting and actually capable of sub 0.4 despite advertising 0.2 and not actually being able to do it.
Analogue is already a part of hall effect it's inherent to their nature, whether or not the MCU isn't cheapened out to be able to decode it into a manner than allows analogue output from the keyboard? That depends on the board, which again steelseries continues to cheap out on.
I'm not missing any point, you're just shilling and unable to make a single point that isn't just you moving the goalposts around while ignoring key points like being able to swap springs, spring weights determining return speed, rapid trigger, etc etc etc.
Swing and a miss only you're not swinging at all.

[@whofromwanto]

@@11202 I have both keyboards. I even have the lighter springs that are now not in stock due to manufacturing failures (the new springs ended up being magnetic). I know what i’m talking about. Im not shilling. I wanted the wooting to be great and supported it since the 2nd week it went live. For fps games, the design, due to the analogue build- makes the actuation force much harder than other- non analogue keyboards. Im sorry to shatter your emotional connection to something you do not yet own, but facts are facts and I have 14 custom keyboards all worth $300+ upto $1200. I am not impressed by the apex mini either, has many short comings. But the fact remains that it is infinitely better for fps titles due to wooting opting to pander to analogue which in real gaming, is nothing more than a fad and has no real world use in competitive titles.
Rapid trigger has zero benefit in game, it defeats its entire existence by having a heavy actuation force in the first place and gets destroyed by the also lack lustre apex mini. But the apex mini does have lighter actuation force so it wins.
Your aspergic rhetoric circling items you do not own and features you have not yet tried is pure conjecture, im afraid to say.
There are no goal posts, i have said from the start, in answer to your initial question: why would anybody buy the apex mini when wooting exists.
It is simple: the wooting has heavy actuation force which makes it feel like utter shit in fps titles, even with lighter springs (which are no longer available and wont be for a long time) due to the analogue architecture, the same as the huntsman mini analogue. And they are not hot swappable.
So cope. Cope that all you hoped for is not a reality when it comes to wooting unless you want to play forza.
It sucks. At least i came to terms with it

[@iSwearBear]

That ending😂😂😂😂😂

[@christos_x8653]

Ill wait for the tkl wireless with omni 2.0

[@dude9237]

Hey Techne! Will you be reviewing the wooting 60HE?

[@rolandsl97]

what is that halo game called? I want to try out?

[@GanDtech]

I saw this and I’m like whaaaat!

[@GutaniowiHailag]

Can we PLEASE get a mod video? Lubeeeee

[@No-tg5oi]

I’ll stick with my apex pro tkl, great review tho! Keep up the great work

[@ranymattar185]

bruh you didn't even have time to watch the video👀

[@AspexFPS]

@@ranymattar185 ong likewhat

[@oppi263]

Yes on 2x spedd

[@ranymattar185]

@@oppi263 bro the video was only out for 3 minutes 💀

[@oppi263]

Y same I miss knob etc. but Wooting two for gaming

[@MOISTxPANDAx]

My keyboard cases HAVE to be metal it’s the only way love how heavy they are so they don’t move around on the giant mouse pad we usually have

[@4Mikz]

Are the switches removable?

[@michaelbeasleysburner2208]

Are you gonna review the new hyperx earbuds?

[@TheTechne]

Turtle beach buds first

[@venjustice6666]

All they need to do is make the TKL with the new omnipoint 2.0 switches then it’ll be faster but still I would go with TKL also 80th like and yes I just woke up lol

[@peirs3071]

The switches sound pretty good as far as stock gaming switches go, but that actuation feature is such a gimmick. So overpriced for what it is.

[@TheSMSpider]

Spot on

[@JL-ix5io]

no reason why the mini couldn't have a volume wheel on the side

[@Frxddstrlol]

just bought the wirless 1

[@kOBR4one]

Need white one.

[@UnknownUser_0000]

Still thinking the HyperX Origins 60 is the king. 🎉

[@oxa6450]

does the apex pro tkl (2023) wireless sound the same as the apex pro mini?

[@igorino1239]

Yes literally has the same switches

[@oxa6450]

yea i thought so but i was wathcing a streamer they had the same keyboard and theirs sounded diffirent and they said no mods applied @@igorino1239

[@lazykun_]

For everyone wondering if the price is worth the money: It's not. You don't need the omnipoint switches

[@asianVico]

And who are you 🗿

[@lazykun_]

@@asianVico a guy who is not delusional and knows that omnipoint switches ain't gonna make me win duels

[@Ps-we3pp]

noone asked for those yet they added it and so its priced 50 bucks more than it should be smh

[@INTERLAGOS54]

fnatic streak65 lp is the best keyboard on the market.

[@thesneakerchamp23]

Would’ve been interested if it was 65%

[@alexmolina6114]

Was the phone call him taking a shot at your favorite youtuber?

[@TheTechne]

;)

[@alexmolina6114]

@@TheTechne love it you tha man

[@rainforinas1112]

I'm buying this today (wired) for $120 on amazon

[@alexpovvv]

Are you able to put hyperx pudding keycaps on this?

[@igorino1239]

Yes

[@strawberryforte]

Just need Logitech to join the 60 / 65 gang now 😌

[@TheTechne]

TKL for me

[@strawberryforte]

Yeah I own their G915 TKL but if they did a 65% of it, I'm sure they'd get a lot of love. They'd be one of the only two (as far as I know) companies to have a low profile 65%, the other being Fnatic with their Streak65.

[@NotVietnam001]

i think ill go with the blackwidow v3 65% because
1. the apex pro mini wireless is overpriced
2. the apex pro mini wireless has a usb-c dongle and my pc doesnt have a usb-c connecter
3. the apex pro mini wireless doesnt have a storage place to place the usb-c dongle (i lose things all the time)
4. i use the delete button on the keyboard a lot and the apex pro mini wireless doesnt have it but the razer blackwidow v3 65% does have it
5. its just one row more than the apex pro mini wireless like cmon
6. the apex pro mini wireless in vietnam costs $323 and the blackwidow v3 65% only costs $202

[@tfaak]

Well you’re comparing a 65% to a 60%, most of this is just your own issue