If you're looking for a straightforward, no fuss, gaming keyboard, the SteelSeries APEX M500 is a great choice. From working in the office, to top-level eSports competitions, it won't let you down.

Rock solid build quality; Simple yet effective design; Powerful LED lighting; Easy to use software; Excellent macro engine

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Much of what makes this keyboard stand out has largely been said already, but for those that jump to the end to get the short version, it goes something like this. The SteelSeries APEX M500 is a very solid and well-built keyboard, with a very clean, standard design.

Best feeling CHERRY MX Red keyboard so far; Very clean and uncomplicated software; Good value keyboard; Solid and well-built design

No palm rest

The M500 combines approachable design with solid gaming performance and excellent software.

Understated design; Genuine Cherry MX red keys; Bright backlighting; Excellent software

Limited cable routing options; Plastic cover makes it hard to clean; Only available with Cherry MX keys

Have you ever preferred the original thing, no matter how hard people tried to push something else, or how many claimed improvements a newer model has? I am not a big consumer of soft drinks, but if you ask me, my favorite will have to be Coca-Cola.

SteelSeries' Apex M500 keyboard ditches RGB LED backlighting and complicated software for a simple look and feel pinned on the quality typing experience of Cherry...

So I set out at the start of this article to find out how much had changed between the Siberia v2 and the 6Gv2 to the Siberia 200 and the Apex M500. Well the move to the Siberia 200 required just a few tweaks to the cord where going to the Apex M500 added in backlighting and a new key switch.

In their attempt to stand out, it can often feel as if gaming keyboards are trying to offer every possible feature going. The SteelSeries Apex M500 goes in the opposite direction, however.

Excellent typing experience; Smart; solid design; Intuitive software

No USB passthrough or wristrest; Only CherryMX Red available

I have no way to describe just how many mouse and keyboard options there are in the world today. I'm not talking about all of them either. I'm just talking about "gaming" mice and keyboards.

Solid quality feel; Best software experience; Tons of customization; Excellent packaging for the mouse; Great Aesthetics

None for the mouse; Slightly high keyboard price and no wrist rest

The SteelSeries Apex M500 is a damn good Gaming keyboard, but it is no more than that! But to decry what it's not got would be to miss the point of this keyboard entirely. This keyboard is for Pro Gamers and not so much for enthusiasts like perhaps you and me…

Last year Steelseries released the Apex M800, a feature-packed mechanical keyboard that utilises Steelseries' own proprietary mechanical switches, and has all the possible features you could want from bright RGB lighting and more macros than you could use.