SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini – 60% gaming keyboard with customizable switches

I’m cutting out the words of the review you’re about to read on the screen using a new gaming keyboard. SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini and that’s what we’re going to talk about today. The miniature mechanical keyboard in 60% design is extremely compact but combines the best that SteelSeries currently offers in the field of keyboards. The main attraction is switches with variable actuation distance.

Adjustable mechanical sensors with minimal response

OmniPoint 2.0 is what it is. The second generation of unique mechanical switches with a customizable actuation point along the entire key-hold path can certainly be a big attraction, especially for hardcore gamers. SteelSeries now with OmniPoint 2.0 can offer a range of activation points from 0.2mm to 3.8mm. The scale is, of course, graduated in 0.1 mm increments.

How to actually provide a variable activation point for a mechanical switch? To do this, the switches must continuously measure the distance provided by the magnetic field inside each of them. I prefer not to get into the physics and Hall effect debate, but in any case, OmniPoint 2.0 is an improved version of its predecessor that started with a 0.4mm activation point and installed on a full Apex Pro keyboard. So SteelSeries has moved a little further.

Linear and relatively quiet OmniPoint 2.0

The rest of the Switch is of course strictly linear, which makes sense when combined with the variability described. The different activation time settings are certainly well recognizable, because at 0.2 mm it is almost enough to lightly put your finger on the key, and at the maximum you will already be typing on the keyboard like a typewriter. It should be noted that this is, of course, only the acceleration at the moment of pressing the button, but thanks to adjustable profiles or the ability to use only certain keys, this acceleration can be used in dynamic first-person shooters.

The noise level of OmniPoint 2.0 switches is low. On the contrary, I would rather classify them as quieter (I still often use the older SteelSeries QS2 switches, which are quite noisy). The grip is good, the keys themselves are held at the base and do not wobble much (there are built-in stabilizers for wider ones). Individual buttons with a relatively rough structure are made in two layers, while the lower transparent layer is only fused into the upper part of the switch with inscriptions.

Case design and many keyboard shortcuts

For 60% of keyboard designs, of course, you need to consider the limited number of keys and the heavy use of function key combinations to replace missing ones. I’d appreciate the ability to port SteelSeries’ dedicated key function to Caps Lock, which I didn’t find here, but even so, it’s relatively easy to get used to all the keyboard shortcuts you might need for normal typing, gaming, or just using a PC.

Due to its size, the keyboard does not feature a particularly iconic design. You can find the manufacturer’s logo hidden on the bottom and top edges, as well as on the back panel. There is a USB-C connector on the front for connecting a separate cable. The dimensions are quite standard – 29.3 x 10.3 x 40.3 cm. I was surprised to find that the Apex Pro Mini is quite light. Weighs only 610 grams.

You can certainly look forward to a wide range of lighting effects and connection options for specific games or programs. You can choose from various preset presets, create your own theme as desired, or use, for example, a music equalizer connected to RGB lighting.

Software

These mentioned features and modifications are mostly configured in the SteelSeries engine application. He has been working with SteelSeries for a long time, it is quite intuitive and it is not a problem to find most of the settings in it, from the macro editor to RGB effects.

It is definitely worth mentioning the possibility of double setting the function of the keys at two different levels of keystroke. Typically, this feature can be useful in games where you often switch between crouching and lying down. In short, you can indeed set both in the same key, and it will depend on pressing the appropriate switch. How does it work in practice? In many cases, yes, but it’s not just that, and the feeling of different sensitivities just needs to be cultivated a little.

Summary

The SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini is, of course, due to its 60% design, a relatively specific product equipped with SteelSeries flagship switches. The use is normal – the keys are stable, the noise is not particularly significant, and the variability of the switches is technologically and practically interesting. As proof that these aren’t just marketing slogans, SteelSeries has published a robot response time test that puts the Apex Pro Mini against other types of conventional keyboards. She usually won with a faster response of about 10-20ms. Of course, the question is how noticeable this difference is for weekend players.

The price is quite high, at the time of writing you can buy the Apex Pro Mini for 4390 CZK. In short, this is a premium choice, mainly because of the complex switches. A wireless version is also available for CZK 5,390.