How good that I still had a switch puller at home. But it is still very nice to have this option.Īlthough a tool for removing the key switches is unfortunately missing in the scope of delivery – which is only mentioned at all in the manual. Other optical switches, already rather rare compared to their mechanical counterparts, are not supported due to the white surface of the SteelSeries switches. However, this unfortunately only works with SteelSeries optical switches. Kompatibel sind allerdings nur optische Switches von SteelSeries.īut not only the caps can be exchanged, the optical switches can be replaced as well. They use light to detect the depth of your keystrokes. Instead of opto-mechanical switches, you can expect purely optical switches. In contrast to the OmniPoint 2.0 switches of the Apex Pro, the new models use OptiPoint switches.

However, the most important innovation of the SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL/Mini marks the key switches. This makes for an excellent typing and typing feel in practice. I have already mentioned how pleasant the feel of the PBT keycaps turns out. Replaceable switches, unfortunately only for SteelSeries switches.Extremely fast triggering, innovative OptioPoint switches.SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL/Mini in a practical test Somewhat unusual, even for a keyboard with a ten-keyless design, is, for example, the omission of the three keys that are normally at home in the upper right. The SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL offers an additional volume wheel (clickable) and a media button. It is used for media control, for example to start or pause music. Below that is another, illuminated button. In addition to the arrow keys and the block above them, the TKL offers a pleasantly grooved volume wheel in the upper right corner, which you can also use to mute with a click. However, the cable is still detachable in both variants for easier transport and replacement if something should break. Here you will also find the USB-C port on the far left – since neither gaming keyboard works wirelessly. To save space, the silver contrasting manufacturer logo is also only found on the top of the SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL, but probably on the back of both models. Natürlich bietet das TKL-Modell mehr Tasten.

Steelseries ducky one 2 mini