---
product_id: 468894679
title: "New Apex 9 TKL – HotSwap Optical Mini Keyboard – TKL Esports Design – Optical Switches – RGB Customization – Aluminum Alloy Frame – Double Shot PBT Keycaps"
brand: "steelseries"
price: "A$276"
currency: AUD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
category: "Steel Series"
url: https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/468894679-new-apex-9-tkl-hotswap-optical-mini-keyboard-tkl-esports
store_origin: AU
region: Australia
---

# 0.2ms ultra-fast response Fully customizable RGB lighting HotSwap optical switches New Apex 9 TKL – HotSwap Optical Mini Keyboard – TKL Esports Design – Optical Switches – RGB Customization – Aluminum Alloy Frame – Double Shot PBT Keycaps

**Brand:** steelseries
**Price:** A$276
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> ⚡ Dominate every keystroke with Apex 9 TKL — where speed meets precision.

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** New Apex 9 TKL – HotSwap Optical Mini Keyboard – TKL Esports Design – Optical Switches – RGB Customization – Aluminum Alloy Frame – Double Shot PBT Keycaps by steelseries
- **How much does it cost?** A$276 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.com.au](https://www.desertcart.com.au/products/468894679-new-apex-9-tkl-hotswap-optical-mini-keyboard-tkl-esports)

## Best For

- steelseries enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted steelseries brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Modular Mastery:** Easily swap out optical switches to customize or upgrade your keyboard on the fly.
- • **Tailor Your Touch:** Adjust actuation depth from 1mm for rapid gaming to 1.5mm for precise typing.
- • **Compact Pro Design:** Streamlined tenkeyless layout frees up desk space for expansive mouse movement.
- • **Built to Last & Impress:** Durable aluminum frame with double shot PBT keycaps ensures premium feel and fade resistance.
- • **Play at the Speed of Light:** Experience 33% faster actuation with zero debounce for lightning-quick inputs.

## Overview

The SteelSeries Apex 9 TKL is a high-performance tenkeyless gaming keyboard featuring ultra-fast 0.2ms optical switches with adjustable actuation points, hot-swappable switch modules, and customizable RGB lighting. Built with a sturdy aluminum alloy frame and durable double shot PBT keycaps, it offers a compact esports design optimized for both competitive gaming and precise typing. Its advanced features and premium build make it a top choice for serious gamers and professionals seeking speed, customization, and reliability.

## Description

Make the first move with the incredibly fast Apex 9 TKL gaming keyboard. Boasting swappable OptiPoint optical switches that actuate 33% faster than the leading optical keyboard, adjust the actuation point between a fast 1mm for gaming and 1.5mm for deliberate typing on this compact esports tenkeyless keyboard.

Review: Best all around gaming keyboard for the price with no weaknesses - This keyboard has everything you want for gaming. Only 0.7ms input lag on rtings which is really good. The new optical switches are really consistent and I love how I can switch the actuation point depending on if I'm gaming or typing. The choice between 3 levels of elevation is also nice. For gaming, this is one of the best keyboards you can possibly get. I'm a high-mmr CSGO player and I can tell you this delivers. Your counter-strafing and ability to stop on a dime is amazing. This keyboard can take as many inputs at once as you can press and doesn't have cord splitting or other artifacts. It's true 1000hz polling too. You also have a good USB-C cord that's braided and detachable. You can also keep the tool under the keyboard if you travel to LANs or in general. It's perfect. You also have onboard memory and it's very easy to use the SteelSeries software to configure. It's easy to update firmware as well. The build quality is very good too. They used aluminum in the body and the higher quality PBT keycaps. Also, if anything breaks, you can easily replace the keycaps OR the switches themselves and SteelSeries actively sells replacement parts unlike Logitech for example who only sells switches and not keycaps. There's really nothing I can complain about. The only thing maybe is that some keyboards like the wooting have release triggered as soon as your key starts going back up. However the wooting has slightly more input lag on direct press and CSGO, Valorant, and most games honestly favor new inputs over releasing inputs anyway. Also some keyboards like the Corsair K65 have 8000hz polling rate which is insane. However with that being said, the 8000hz polling and early release triggering from those competitors really aren't a big deal and have their own downsides - especially the 8000hz polling because it can actually take up some more cpu usage so I don't think it's necessarily efficient at the sub 1ms level. Overall, I looked at all of the popular keyboards for gaming in this price range and this one was the best for the price for my setup. I didn't talk much about typing btw but I am a megaracer on typeracer.com and it feels very good to type on in the 1.5mm mode + 7deg incline. If you're looking for a gaming keyboard, look no further, this has literally everything with no downsides.
Review: very good keyboard - this keyboard may be a bit expensive but, it’s worth it the editable actuation point is very nice, if you want to just type or make an essay there’s a typing mode on it. Where if you want to game with it there’s a gaming mode where your actuation is put down, in my opinion this is the best keyboard in the market besides the apex mini pro which is more expensive but obviously better.

## Features

- Play at the Speed of Light - Outpace leading optical keyboards with 33% faster actuation using custom OptiPoint switches with zero debounce and a lightning-fast 0.2ms response time.
- 2-point Actuation - Adapt to any game by changing the registration depth from a speedy, light 1mm press to a deliberate 1.5mm keystroke.
- Swappable Switches - Customize, upgrade, and repair your keyboard by changing the switches to your favorite stye of OptiPoint switch.
- Streamlined TKL Form Factor - Play like the pros with a compact, ergonomic tenkeyless keyboard that leaves more space for broad mouse swipes.
- Durable PBT Keycaps - Long-lasting and fadeproof double shot PBT keycaps provide a high-quality texture for enhanced keystroke feel as well as improved typing accuracy.
- Rapid Tap: Prioritizes the last key press in a selected pair for faster input and improved aim. Enhance responsiveness for counter-strafing, peeking, crouch jumping or slide canceling. (Latest GG update Required)

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| ASIN | B0B169JSRT |
| Best Sellers Rank | #3,712 in Video Games ( See Top 100 in Video Games ) #316 in PC Gaming Keyboards |
| Brand | SteelSeries |
| Color | Rgb |
| Customer Reviews | 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (827) |
| Date First Available | September 6, 2022 |
| Hardware Platform | PC |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 5.05 x 13.99 x 1.65 inches |
| Item Weight | 2.3 pounds |
| Item model number | 64847 |
| Manufacturer | SteelSeries |
| Power Source | Corded Electric |
| Product Dimensions | 5.05 x 13.99 x 1.65 inches |
| Series | Apex 9 TKL |

## Product Details

- **Brand:** SteelSeries
- **Color:** Rgb
- **Compatible Devices:** Gaming Console
- **Connectivity Technology:** USB-C
- **Keyboard Description:** Gaming
- **Keyboard backlighting color support:** RGB
- **Product Dimensions:** 5.05"L x 13.99"W x 1.65"H
- **Recommended Uses For Product:** Gaming
- **Special Feature:** Backlit
- **Style:** Esports TKL

## Images

![New Apex 9 TKL – HotSwap Optical Mini Keyboard – TKL Esports Design – Optical Switches – RGB Customization – Aluminum Alloy Frame – Double Shot PBT Keycaps - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71Mi6qhb2aL.jpg)

## Available Options

This product comes in different **Size** options.

## Questions & Answers

**Q: does this have a pause/play button for music?**
A: Yes

**Q: Is the keyboard mechanical?**
A: Yes. It uses Steelseries Optipoint Linear optical mechanical switches.

**Q: What is the default key switch? Is it linear?**
A: Yes, the keyboard uses Steelseries’s Optipoint linear optical switches. They have 35g actuation force, and 2.8-3.6mm travel distance.

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Best all around gaming keyboard for the price with no weaknesses
*by X***X on April 2, 2023*

This keyboard has everything you want for gaming. Only 0.7ms input lag on rtings which is really good. The new optical switches are really consistent and I love how I can switch the actuation point depending on if I'm gaming or typing. The choice between 3 levels of elevation is also nice. For gaming, this is one of the best keyboards you can possibly get. I'm a high-mmr CSGO player and I can tell you this delivers. Your counter-strafing and ability to stop on a dime is amazing. This keyboard can take as many inputs at once as you can press and doesn't have cord splitting or other artifacts. It's true 1000hz polling too. You also have a good USB-C cord that's braided and detachable. You can also keep the tool under the keyboard if you travel to LANs or in general. It's perfect. You also have onboard memory and it's very easy to use the SteelSeries software to configure. It's easy to update firmware as well. The build quality is very good too. They used aluminum in the body and the higher quality PBT keycaps. Also, if anything breaks, you can easily replace the keycaps OR the switches themselves and SteelSeries actively sells replacement parts unlike Logitech for example who only sells switches and not keycaps. There's really nothing I can complain about. The only thing maybe is that some keyboards like the wooting have release triggered as soon as your key starts going back up. However the wooting has slightly more input lag on direct press and CSGO, Valorant, and most games honestly favor new inputs over releasing inputs anyway. Also some keyboards like the Corsair K65 have 8000hz polling rate which is insane. However with that being said, the 8000hz polling and early release triggering from those competitors really aren't a big deal and have their own downsides - especially the 8000hz polling because it can actually take up some more cpu usage so I don't think it's necessarily efficient at the sub 1ms level. Overall, I looked at all of the popular keyboards for gaming in this price range and this one was the best for the price for my setup. I didn't talk much about typing btw but I am a megaracer on typeracer.com and it feels very good to type on in the 1.5mm mode + 7deg incline. If you're looking for a gaming keyboard, look no further, this has literally everything with no downsides.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ very good keyboard
*by M***N on January 31, 2026*

this keyboard may be a bit expensive but, it’s worth it the editable actuation point is very nice, if you want to just type or make an essay there’s a typing mode on it. Where if you want to game with it there’s a gaming mode where your actuation is put down, in my opinion this is the best keyboard in the market besides the apex mini pro which is more expensive but obviously better.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Would recomend
*by D***G on December 5, 2025*

One of the best keyboard I've bought, high quality and verry clean. A little overpriced, but I like the brand.

## Frequently Bought Together

- SteelSeries New Apex 9 TKL – HotSwap Optical Mini Keyboard – TKL Esports Design – Optical Switches – RGB Customization – Aluminum Alloy Frame – Double Shot PBT Keycaps
- Logitech G PRO X SUPERLIGHT 2 Wireless Gaming Mouse, 60g Pro-Grade with 5 Programmable Buttons, 44k DPI Sensor, 8kHz Report Rate, USB-C Charging for PC/Mac - Black

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*Product available on Desertcart Australia*
*Store origin: AU*
*Last updated: 2026-02-06*