SteelSeries Apex 3
Is the Apex 3 right for you?
The Apex 3 is a full-size membrane keyboard that connects by cable.
Best for
- Anyone who eats or drinks at the desk. SteelSeries says it's IP32 water resistant for protection against spills.
- People who want a wrist rest without buying one separately. SteelSeries lists a Magnetic Wrist Rest in the box.
Skip if
- You want mechanical switches. SteelSeries lists the switch technology as membrane.
- You want each key lit on its own. SteelSeries describes the lighting as 10-Zone RGB Illumination, and zoned lighting colours a keyboard in areas rather than key by key.
What separates a membrane keyboard from a mechanical one is covered in our guide Mechanical vs. membrane keyboards: which should you actually buy?
Want to see it next to a mouse and a headset? Try it on the QuickDesker board and build a whole desk setup around it.
What does it cost, and what should you check first?
- Seen at Best Buy for $49.99 (Black) on 4 Oct 2026
- Seen at SteelSeries.com for $54.99 (Black) on 29 Oct 2026
- Seen at Walmart for $55.96 (Black) on 29 Oct 2026
Prices change, so check the current one before you buy. Measure your desk before you order. SteelSeries gives the width as 444.7 mm and the depth as 151.62 mm, and lists the weight as 1.8 lbs.
About that IP32 rating: in an IP code the second digit is for water, and a 2 means protection against dripping water with the device tilted up to 15 degrees.
In the box, SteelSeries lists the Apex 3 Gaming Keyboard, the Magnetic Wrist Rest and a Product Information Guide.
SteelSeries also says a clickable metal roller and media keys let you adjust volume and settings on the fly.
What are SteelSeries' Whisper-Quiet switches?
SteelSeries lists the switch technology as membrane and calls the switches SteelSeries Whisper-Quiet Switches. On a membrane keyboard, pressing a key pushes a rubber dome down onto a layered circuit sheet, and the press registers when the layers touch. SteelSeries says the switches last for over 20 million keypresses.
It also lists N-key rollover as 24 Keys and calls its anti-ghosting Gaming Grade. Rollover is how many keys held down together a keyboard can register.
What can you plug the Apex 3 into?
SteelSeries lists the connection as Wired, and its compatibility list reads Windows, Mac OS X, Chromebook (ChromeOS), Xbox and PlayStation, with a USB port required. Wired keyboards take their power through the cable, so there's no battery to keep charged.
SteelSeries says the frame has built-in channels that let the cable leave from one of three places, which it says keeps your desk tidy.
Full specifications
| Layout | Full Size |
|---|---|
| Connections | Wired |
| Dimensions | 39.69 mm; 444.7 mm; 151.62 mm |
| OS compatibility | Windows, Mac OS X, Chromebook (ChromeOS), Xbox, and PlayStation. USB port required |
| Switch technology | membrane |
| Switch options offered | SteelSeries Whisper-Quiet Switches |
| Backlight | 10-Zone RGB Illumination |
| Case material | Polymer Frame (top material) |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs |
| Remapping software | SteelSeries Engine 3.15+ (coming soon) for Windows (7 or newer) and Mac OS X (10.11 or newer) |
| Wrist rest included | Magnetic Wrist Rest |
| Spill resistance claimed | IP32 water resistant for protection against spills |
| N-key rollover | 24 Keys |
| Rotary knob | A clickable metal roller |
| In the box | Apex 3 Gaming Keyboard; Magnetic Wrist Rest; Product Information Guide |
SteelSeries' Apex 3 product page doesn't list a key count, key travel or a polling rate.
Specifications from SteelSeries' Apex 3 product page, read 16 Sep 2026.