Membrane Gaming Keyboards – Yay or Nay?
The budget-friendly gaming keyboard Apex 150 is a genuine head-turner. It may not look like a full-fledged gaming keyboard at first glance, mainly due to the lack of macro and media keys. But don’t be fooled. It has a special advantage contributing to its inner beauty – it is spill-proof! We liked it so much that it made into our list of best spill-proof keyboards for gaming!
All good, but there is a catch – this is a membrane keyboard.
This would provoke rejoicing or grimacing, depending on various gamers’ preferences. Let’s scrutinize the Apex 150 and find out if it can stand in the peak of gaming goodness.
Design and Ergonomics
The Apex 150 is black with a glossy finish. No crazy design whims is sometimes a good thing. The simplicity of the Apex 150 makes the unit look premium class.
This keyboard is not heavy. It is not feather-light either, so moving around your desk will be avoided. I’m satisfied that at 2.35 pounds the plastic design packs some punch.
The overall build is angular and sharp around the edges. I noticed that the keys are small, so users with larger fingers might have some concerns with it. The concave surface of the keycaps has a very nice feel to it.
Performance and Features
Switches
Mechanical gaming keyboarding is the trend. Hence, offering a membrane keyboard will raise some eyebrows.
SteelSeries knows that standard membrane switches have a different feel than mechanical ones. To combat this, while staying within the budget range, they have come up with the “QuickSwitch”. These little babies aim to bring membrane switches and mechanical ones closer.
SteelSeries said that they used an iron base, a rubber dome sheet, and thermoplastic keycaps to emulate the feel of full-fledged mechanical keys.
Keys
SteelSeries Apex 150’s keys are sharp and responsive. I like the feel of the keys bouncing when pressed. To be honest, they are tactile and robust, contrary to the popular perception of membrane keyboards.
Speaking of membrane switches, they’re quiet. If loud keyboard taps are not your thing, then you might find some peace with this one.
Note that if you like extra features, the Apex 150 lacks special keys.
Extra Feature
This keyboard is spill-proof. Yes, for a budget pick this device has some neat add-ons. The Apex 150 has two built-in drainage pits that will re-direct spills away from the electronics.
Software and Lighting
The SteelSeries Engine 3 software is used in the Apex 150. This software will help you customize lighting effects and macros, which is very important for us gamers. There’s also a menu for apps you can sync with the keyboard. This includes Discord and DOTA 2 among others.
The Apex 150 has five zones of RGB. Not much apparently but with this price tag, we can’t complain.
The Apex 150’s colors are defined, but I wish they were brighter. You can customize the zones to your preference, and you can also opt to presets provided in the software.
Final Verdict
The Apex 150 can’t contend with the massive models in the upper price range. However, it’s competitive in its cost spectrum. If you want immersive RGB lighting, tons of macro keys, and mechanical switches, then prepare to buff up your cash stash, and target something like the SteelSeries Apex M750 RGB.