SteelSeries Apex Pro 3 doubles down on 'Rapid Tap' feature, despite competitive bans
SteelSeries has revealed the new Apex Pro Gen 3 keyboard, and it doubles down on controversial SOCD features.
24th Sep 2024 15:00
Images via SteelSeries
SteelSeries Apex Pro 3 doubles down on 'Rapid Tap' feature, despite competitive bans
SteelSeries has revealed the new Apex Pro Gen 3 keyboard, and it doubles down on controversial SOCD features.
24th Sep 2024 15:00
Images via SteelSeries
The introduction and popularisation of Hall Effect switches and the subsequent forms of 'Rapid Trigger '-adjacent technology have revolutionised the gaming keyboard space in recent years.
You'd be hard-pressed to recommend a keyboard for gaming that doesn't have these features as they offer such a fundamental advantage over a standard keyboard, yet there's also the friction that has arisen after Valve's recent banning of Simultaneous Opposing Cardinal Directions (SOCD) software.
That hasn't stopped SteelSeries from pushing the envelope though, as their new Apex Pro 3 keyboard comes packed with improved Rapid Tap software, which they claim prioritises the enhanced experience of gamers outside of the competitive scene.
SOCD is here to stay
While you won't be able to use the Apex Pro 3's 'Rapid Tap' feature in Counter-Strike 2, as Valve has definitively banned any SOCD technology on official servers, Steelseries hasn't shied away from making it available in any other scenario.
Rapid Tap as software prioritises the last-pressed key without needing to release the key you're currently pressing. This makes high-level actions like counter-strafing a cakewalk in games like Counter-Strike, which explains why it's been banned so quickly.
It's still available to use in countless other competitive titles though, so you'll be able to gain the edge and obtain skills that would otherwise take countless hours of practice to master.
Alongside the SOCD features you'll also be able to take advantage of the standard Rapid Trigger technology that is just as game-changing as its SOCD counterpart. With this, your key presses will deactivate as soon as you lift off the switch, giving you far greater control over your movement and dramatically increased reaction times.
I'm sure to some all this software can seem confusing too, and that's where GG Quickset comes in handy. This is built directly into SteelSeries' own software and has optimal settings for a number of the most popular games out there, so you can set and forget knowing that you'll be getting the maximum out of the keyboard.
A keyboard for everyone
Many of the Apex Pro 3's features are geared towards giving players a competitive edge, but one of the other main selling points of this keyboard is that it's a device for everyone and every situation.
Of course, it'll primarily be used for gaming, but SteelSeries has made a number of enhancements on the hardware side to make the Apex Pro 3 a keyboard suited for life beyond the server.
It boasts enhanced stabilisers to avoid any key wobble or unsavoury sounds, factory-lubed switches for a more satisfying typing experience, and sound-dampening foam underneath to enhance the acoustics and improve the feel.
SteelSeries claims the end of the days where you'd have one keyboard for gaming and another for work, and now you'll be able to seamlessly switch between both worlds with, in their eyes, no compromise.
About The Author
Harry Boulton
Harry is a Guides Writer at GGRecon, having completed a Masters of Research degree in Film Studies. Previously a freelance writer for PCGamesN, The Loadout, and Red Bull Gaming, he loves playing a wide variety of games from the Souls series to JRPGs, Counter-Strike, and EA FC. When not playing or writing about games and hardware, you're likely to find him watching football or listening to Madonna and Kate Bush.
