SteelSeries launches Apex M500 mechanical gaming keyboard

Peripherals maker SteelSeries has announced the Apex 500 Gaming Mechanical Keyboard, designed with pro-gamers in mind and featuring Cherry MX Red switches.

The latest entry in SteelSeries gaming keyboard range, the Apex M500 is targeted at professional eSports players and those who wish to emulate them. Based on a full-size layout, the keyboard features Cherry MX Red switches with a 4mm throw depth and 2mm actuation point at a force of 45cN - a switch type typically chosen for gaming use due to its low-force and fast actuation. Each switch includes a blue LED, controllable per-key using SteelSeries' bundled management software, which also takes care of macro programming and key remapping.

The company is positioning the keyboard as perfect for tournament play, and has trotted out a talking head to confirm that. 'The Apex M500 is my new keyboard of choice. It's a tank and lives up to the quality of the 6Gv2, the mechanical keyboard that I've been using for a year now,' crowed Kurtis "Aui_2000" Ling, Carry for Evil Geniuses Dota 2 team, at the launch. 'This keyboard is everything I think a majority of players look for when it comes to quality and feel, it's going to be a product that will be used at the pro level for a long, long time.'

The keyboard further benefits from a three-guide cable management system, 104-key rollover, and anti-ghosting technology. The SteelSeries Apex M500 launches soon, priced at €119.99 (around £96 excluding taxes), with more information available on the official product page.