SteelSeries Apex M800 RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Linear Switch

what our customer say this product:

Powered by

1. Anonymous Verified Buyer – 29 March 2024

   The keycaps keep breaking. They use a proprietary switch with their own shape and due to the way their keycaps attach to the switch it makes them very prone to breakage. I’m on my third warranty replacement in less than a year. Steelseries also refuses to send out replacement keycaps and instead will suggest you RMA the whole keyboard, paying for shipping both ways. Here’s pictures of both standard caps (+ shaped) and the QS1 keycap (square), which is made of 4 individual plastic clips. They break easily if you even brush against a key the wrong way. I’ve had to epoxy 2 keys and I’ve had 4 other keys either break or have the finish wear off and I’ve had this keyboard less than a year. I’m on my third warranty replacement.

   

2. tekHedd Verified Buyer – 15 August 2024

   Received it as a gift last fall, and thought I’d give it a little time before reviewing it. It’s a very pretty thing, but I wasn’t sure at first whether it was just flash. I like it in general, but it has developed a problem with the display and I am jumping through some very silly hoops to get an RMA. After 7 months, I have decided that I love custom keyboard lighting layouts. There are some games where you never look at the keyboard, but others where you occasionally have to dive for a few buttons and then return to home row. I use a custom layout for Witcher 3 where the colors on the number keys match the colors of the glyphs, and it’s really helpful. Etc. Not only is it very pretty to look at, but the keyboard is nice. It’s a shortish keystroke suitable for gaming, but gives a bit of resistance at the start, which makes it suitable for typing actual words. The supporting app is quite decent and does not seem to interfere with gaming or introduce lag. Occasionally it will lose contact with the keyboard “no keyboard connected” and require a reboot or disconnecting the USB though. After 6 months, I seem to have had a hardware failure. A row of keys have decided to go full-bright on me, usually after the keyboard has warmed up for a few minutes. And they stay on, all the time, significantly brighter than the other keys on the keyboard. Save your invoice, there may be reliability issues on a device this complicated. I waited for the next firmware update, just in case it was a software issue, but the latest update did not fix it. You know I really like the keyboard, but the support response has been borderline hostile. Are people faking their invoices to get out-of-date warranty service? Is this because the keyboard is failing a lot? It raises a lot of questions really. In comparison, when my first-generation Logitech G15’s keycaps lost their ink, Logitech sent me a new one, no RMA, no need to return the old kb. I still use that keyboard, and it works great (although, logitech’s software, ugh!) Anyway, er, enough complaining. it’s OK but save your receipt because you may have a failure in 6 months or a year. [update] My enthusiasm has damped considerably, as I jump through yet more hoops in the RMA process, and do not yet know if an RMA will even be approved. Do not like being treated like a criminal. [update] I have now done all of the things required by the RMA process, including taking a picture of my device with my name handwritten next to it. I have not heard from the RMA department since. It has been a week. No rejection, just silence. I am very sad. [update] Hooray RMA approved! My emotional roller coaster is headed back up. Maybe my contact took a week off–if I had to deal with emotionally unstable customers like me, I’d take frequent vacations. [update update] So…check this language from my RMA confirmation email: *Due to a sharp increase in fraudulent activity, we are increasing screening after order checkout. As a result, your order may be temporarily held while we do a final screening. If the RMA is confirmed to be fraudulent, we will cancel the order. Here is the webstore promo code to fulfill your RMA: Code: <the code> Yes, they’re telling me that this code they’re sending me, may actually be confirmed to be fraudulent. I just can’t believe the insensitive language used throughout my interactions with SS, the tacit assumption that I am probably a thief. The final straw. They sent me an email asking me to rate the support I’d had, but I waited to rate it until the replacement hardware arrived (it took six more days)–and I got this message: “This request is now closed. Unfortunately that means the ticket can no longer be rated.” I can’t leave feedback there. Guess I’ll leave it here. And the roller coaster ride is over, leaving me somehow feeling used and dirty. Not even a “thank you” or “we’re sorry”, just “We consider this RMA resolved.” Dirty and used.

   

3. USER6244 Verified Buyer – 30 October 2024

   This is my second M800, I am glad to see that Steelseries quit selling this item. I would suggest not buying any used or refurbished units as the keys will break and replacements are hard to find. Also this board quit working after not much more than a year or just after the warranty period,, I think 1 year is not long enough for a keyboard at this price point..

   

4. Anonymous Verified Buyer – 7 November 2024

   The keycaps keep breaking. They use a proprietary switch with their own shape and due to the way their keycaps attach to the switch it makes them very prone to breakage. I’m on my third warranty replacement in less than a year. Steelseries also refuses to send out replacement keycaps and instead will suggest you RMA the whole keyboard, paying for shipping both ways. Here’s pictures of both standard caps (+ shaped) and the QS1 keycap (square), which is made of 4 individual plastic clips. They break easily if you even brush against a key the wrong way. I’ve had to epoxy 2 keys and I’ve had 4 other keys either break or have the finish wear off and I’ve had this keyboard less than a year. I’m on my third warranty replacement.

   

5. Anonymous Verified Buyer – 11 January 2025

   It’s a very pretty looking keyboard, however, the way it’s made is cheap. All the keys I use for gaming have broken off. It comes with keys for Mac keyboards so I snapped those on there as a replacement. Those broke as well. I’ve had this keyboard for a little over a year, and I’m missing keys. Their customer service is also not the best.

   

6. Kindle Customer Verified Buyer – 16 January 2025

   Looks good. Feels good, but the T key is sticking and I’ve had the keyboard less than a week. Just getting stuck randomly. Really annoying. Edit: After only a few months all of the lighting is no longer functional. The software is a dumpster fire of confusion and a lack of responsiveness make this the single worst purchase I have made for a gaming rig. Even my caps and num locks no longer light up. After figuring out the software, the changes made have no effect on any of the keys. Idle and active settings are linked, So you can never have the keyboard turn off while not in use. Even if you could, there is no guarantee it will illuminate again. Steelseries really failed me with this product. I am currently working through their trouble shooting process for the third attempt at solving this issue. So far, there has been no resolution and just a waste of my money and time.

   

7. Andrew Lawler Verified Buyer – 16 January 2025

   I use this for gaming as well as developing for my work.
   You can customise the key colors and has programmable macro keys
   It’s also got pretty lights.
   

8. Paisley Miller Verified Buyer – 18 January 2025

   Love the keyboard. The keys are nice and smoothe and I love using it. So why the one star? Well the keycaps on it are fairly fragile and after a while of use the plastic tends to break which pops the letter off. The key however still funcitons perfectly the cap just needs to be replaced. I thought “ok no big deal I will contact them and purchase more.” I contact steelseries support and they send me the same automated response 8 times that they don’t have the part and to send in the keyboard for warranty and keycaps aren’t covered under waranty and they also make you pay for shipping there and back for no assistance at all. Right on their website under the FAQ for the product it says “Can I get replacement keys for my Apex M800? Absolutely, we can ship replacement keys out if needed.” Yea….. they dont do that. Also there is absolutely 0 third party providers in which to purchase keycaps from. You cant even download files to 3d print them yourself. They don’t exist. So after spending 200 on this keyboard a simple keycap breaks and it renders the entire keyboard useless. I have contacted them 8 times and posted over 10 times on their facebook page and now I have review on go-keyboard.com and their company doesnt seem to care. I don’t even want them for free. I would purchase them. But instead I think they expect me to buy a whole new keyboard.

   

9. seishun Verified Buyer – 6 March 2025

   Its really good keyboard 10/10.

   

10. Anonymous Verified Buyer – 6 March 2025

    + Great keyboard all the keys are nicely done and the gaming/typing is great – The app with this keyboard isn’t that customisable,I wish they had that custom illusian that you can download online like in razer – My ctrl key broke after a cs comp after I rage,and after a deep search there is no replacement for that keycap so it is very frustrating that you cant replace your broken keycap In conclusion , great keyboard but need to be improve by the technical support and improving the program itself more custom thing is better for the buyer

    

11. Carlos M. Verified Buyer – 8 March 2025

    Simplemente genial el lighting la sencibildiad de las teclas es de muy buena calidad y respuesta aparte de manejar sus propios switches recomendando Gamers!!!
    

12. Simon Verified Buyer – 10 March 2025

    Came with some weird black stains but were quickly cleaned with some paper. The keyboard is fast and greatly customizable. The only thing missing to me is for reactive keys to be enabled regardless of what other mode the key has for even greater effects and maybe replace the steel series logo with a volume roll for quicker volume adjustment while gaming.

    Regardless of what could improve it, it is by far the best keyboard I ever used.
    

13. Anonymous Verified Buyer – 15 March 2025

    + Great keyboard all the keys are nicely done and the gaming/typing is great – The app with this keyboard isn’t that customisable,I wish they had that custom illusian that you can download online like in razer – My ctrl key broke after a cs comp after I rage,and after a deep search there is no replacement for that keycap so it is very frustrating that you cant replace your broken keycap In conclusion , great keyboard but need to be improve by the technical support and improving the program itself more custom thing is better for the buyer

    

14. Anonymous Verified Buyer – 15 March 2025

    Although the keyboard is good, I ordered a US style keyboard but got Nordic for some reason, which in my opinion is stupidly bad service
    

15. Mike F Verified Buyer – 4 April 2025

    So, I bought this for $100 used and I think I’m getting a great deal for the money’s worth. I’m still new to the mechanical keyboard scene, but this keyboard isn’t as clicky as I was hoping it’d be (and some keys kept sticking down, but I guess that’s what I get for snagging a used product). Still, I love the individual lighting and the additional USB ports, so I think this is a great buy if you can snag a good deal!