I was genuinely surprised by the quality of SteelSeries' Hall effect gaming keyboard.

When I walked into SteelSeries' Copenhagen office and saw what was on the desk, my heart sank. It was another Apex keyboard that looked, for all purposes, the same as the previous one. Talk of the new SOCD presets or the company's approach to SOCD didn't raise my hopes either. Then I heard the new Apex Pro 3 click. It clacks like a maniac.

I was very impressed by the thockiness, especially since it's a Hall Effect gaming keyboard. Normally that heavy thunk is a mechanical affair. SteelSeries' representative gave a short but tantalising demo of the Pro 3 keyboard's clickety-clack. However, the new bells and whistles were not well received.

I didn't give a damn about software features. I just wanted another hit of the sensory goodness that I knew only fellow button pushers would understand.

I could have spent the time I had with the keyboard testing the latest software features, and I did that at least in part. But I wanted to type more than anything. So I typed, and I was impressed.

The phone mic I hurriedly tucked into my chest pocket to test the keyboard is not up to par, but you can definitely hear the difference. Here's a video of me typing on the old Apex Pro (up until 0:08), and then on its new version (0:08 onwards).

SteelSeries attributes this improved typing experience to "a triple layer sound dampening solution", improved stabilisers and per-key oil. Other than that, it's got all the gadgets you could want in a enthusiast keeb.

Listen, I am not saying that the Apex Pro 3 meets the high standards of typing enthusiast who spend hundreds on custom keyboards to get the perfect timbre or downstroke resonance. The Pro 3 isn’t that good. It doesn't provide the same typing experience as my Varmillo keeb, which I bought for around $180 with aftermarket Tecsee Greens. And it's certainly not as good as the Keychron Q3 Max.

But that's not what the point is. The Apex Pro is not an enthusiast keyboard. It's a Hall-effect gaming keyboard and it sounds thocky, or "creamy", as the SteelSeries representative put it. It's pleasant and thocky enough to use at work, which is a great way to add a second use to the keyboard.

SteelSeries told me that many gamers are now working from home, or bringing their smaller keyboards to work. The Apex Pro is designed to make such situations more enjoyable. If this is their strategy, I can see how Apex Pro 3 will push things in this direction.

The Apex Pro 3 is a gaming keyboard first and foremost. This could be what makes it stand out among the many enthusiast keyboards which are better at "typing experience".

Apex Pro 3 comes with some cool software for gamers, such as "Rapid Tap", a SOCD that allows for quick counter-strafing, and "GG QuickSet", specialized keyboard presets for specific games. But all of this is a by-the-by in terms of gaming. It's more important that it offers a great typing environment while featuring (updated and better) Hall effect switches.

Hall effect analog keyboards are not new. What's new to me, and my fingers, is the Hall effect keyboard which feels like no other. This combination gives you the benefits of the sensors - analogue input, adjustable activation points, "Rapid Trigger", dynamically adjusting reset actuation, etc. - while sacrificing little in the feel department.

It's true that I only spent 20 minutes using it, and this isn’t a full-length review. But if anything, my 20 minutes with it has made me excited about the future of gaming keys that are also great for typing. Watch out Keychron!