Black Friday: Don't buy the SteelSeries Apex 3, buy the Roccat Vulcan instead

Roccat Vulcan TKL — (Image credit: Roccat)

While searching for the best Black Friday deals, it's all too easy to get sucked in and end up buying something you didn't really need, or want. I know this all too well. While searching for deals for T3.com's Black Friday deals live blog, I've been tempted to pull the trigger on a PS5, a Nintendo Switch, and a Hisense TV.

My wallet is very glad I didn't, but this does show signs of the problem: deals look so incredible, and the time-pressure makes it easy to impulse buy. One item I can see that happening with is the SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL keyboard.

On the face of it, it represents a great deal. You can pick one up for £39.99 right now at Currys. That's great value for a compact gaming keyboard from one of the top manufacturers.

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Get the SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL for just £39.99 at Currys

Dig a little deeper though, and the Apex 3 TKL might not be as impressive as you'd hope. The SteelSeries website has sections for five different variations of switches used in their keyboards, and even they don't list information for this product. The sound of silence is deafening, and, honestly, the keybed is my main issue here.

For anyone thinking of snagging a tenkeyless gaming keyboard this Black Friday, I'd recommend the Roccat Vulcan TKL. I've spent the last month or so with it's bigger brother, the Roccat Vulcan II Max, and the experience has been wholly enjoyable.

That wont mean a thing to some people, so let me just say: it is an outstanding experience. Whether you're looking for the fastest possible response time to better your online foes, or just enjoy a top-tier typing experience, you will love this keyboard.

It's £30 more expensive than the Apex 3 – no small change, for sure. But in my eyes, it's worth every penny for the better experience.

Sam Cross is an award-winning journalist, with nine years of experience in the media industry. His work can be found in publications as diverse as Oracle Time, Metro and Last Word on Sports.

Here at T3, Sam is best known as the brand’s go-to guy for all things luxurious – from exquisite watches to fine fragrances; the latest performance vehicles to intricate audio equipment, and more.

He’s often found travelling around the world to test new launches, complete with high-end backpacks and suitcases in tow. And when he’s not adding to his air miles, Sam can be found in front of a video camera, bringing his distinctive brand of storytelling to T3’s social media channels.

Sam also loves all things analogue including listening to music on vinyl or cassette, and photography on vintage film cameras.