SteelSeries 7G Gaming Keyboard Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging and Bundle3. Design and Ergonomics4. Performance5. Closing Thoughts6. View All Pages

The design of the 7G is quite different to anything else on the market; it has quite a traditional design which wouldn't have looked far out of place by a computer ten years ago.  But when combined with the palm-rest, it's aesthetics are transformed somewhat, into something much more modern looking.  The palm rest is extremely simple to attach, simple fitting around the keyboard body.

This does, however, mean that the keyboard and palm-rest can't be moved as a single unit as they are not physically joined.  Overall,  I actually prefer the 7G's design to most other gaming keyboards that I have experienced in the past as there is something quite reassuring about its simplicity.

In some ways, however, the design is a little over-simplistic.  It would have been nice if SteelSeries had included some kind of dedicated media-buttons which are now pretty much standard even on the most basic keyboards.  Instead, F1-F6 have a sparse selection of media controls as a second function, activated by the SteelSeries key which takes the place of the left-hand windows button.  These aren't easy to use and will likely be more cumbersome than controlling the media on-screen.

Even though the 7G's appearance may lead you to believe that it has an entirely plastic construction, the substantial weight of the keyboard is indicative of the integral metal plate which forms the backbone of its chassis.  This gives it a quality feel and makes it one of the most robust keyboards on the market.

Along with the robust construction, the mechanical switches will contribute greatly to the longevity of the keyboard as they have a life-cycle of around 50 million keystrokes.  When compared to a membrane design (used for the vast majority of keyboards) which usually have a life-cycle of around 5 million keystrokes, the significance of this is more obvious.  The design of the switches also makes it possible to remove all the keys without damaging the mechanism at all.  This makes it very simple to clean the keyboard and also allows gamers to remove keys that they might hit accidently.  It also lets the user switch around the keys, as shown in the picture above (this doesn't switch the function of the keys).

Like the SteelSeries Xai that we reviewed recently, the 7G features a durable braided cable which is 2m in length.  This splits into four connectors at the end; a PS2 connector for the keyboard, and a USB connector and two 3.5mm audio cables for the in built hub.  All four connectors are gold plated to ensure the best possible signal quality.

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