SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL / HotSwap Optical Mini Keyboard / TKL Esports Design / Optical Switches / RGB Customization / Aluminum Alloy Frame / Double Shot PBT Keycaps / 64847 + FREE DELIVERY !

The SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL is a tenkeyless RGB mechanical gaming keyboard built on high-performance optical switches for fast response in esports play. Removing the numpad frees desk width for wide mouse swings and makes the board easier to carry. Double-shot PBT keycaps sit on an aluminium alloy frame, and the per-key RGB lighting is fully customisable.

The Apex 9 TKL registers keystrokes optically rather than through a metal contact, which is what SteelSeries means by Speed of Light technology. A light beam has nothing to bounce or wear, so actuation stays consistent from the first press to the millionth and response times hold up under the rapid input that competitive play demands.

Actuation depth on the Apex 9 TKL can be set to either a 1mm light press or a 1.5mm keystroke. The shallow setting suits movement keys where speed decides the outcome, while the deeper one gives you more travel before a key commits, so a single board covers both fast play and accurate typing.

Switches on the Apex 9 TKL are swappable, so you can fit the OptiPoint switch that matches how you play rather than living with the factory choice. Changing feel becomes a matter of pulling and seating switches instead of replacing the keyboard, which also means a worn switch can be dealt with individually.

The tenkeyless ergonomic layout drops the number pad and gives that width back to the mouse, which matters most at low sensitivity where a single flick crosses the whole pad. Less board on the desk also means your keyboard hand and mouse hand sit closer together, a more neutral posture over a long session.

SteelSeries Engine is where the Apex 9 TKL is configured, covering customisable per-key RGB illumination and the adjustable actuation points. It is part of the SteelSeries GG platform, which bundles free apps for tuning your gear and capturing gameplay moments, so one piece of software handles both the keyboard and the rest of the kit.

Double-shot PBT keycaps carry an enhanced texture that improves keystroke feel and typing precision, and because the legends are moulded rather than printed they are fadeproof. Secondary actions are printed on the side of the caps, which recreates the functions of a full-sized keyboard inside the compact TKL layout.

The Apex 9 TKL connects with a tough braided USB-C cable that detaches from the board. Detaching matters for a keyboard this portable, since the cable is the part that gets bent in a bag, and a braided jacket is built to take repeated daily handling without the sheath splitting at the connector.

Adjustable tilt legs give the Apex 9 TKL three height settings: flat, half extension and full extension. Wrist angle is personal and changes with desk height and chair position, so being able to pick one of three angles is what keeps the board comfortable through a long session rather than forcing one fixed posture.