SteelSeries 7G

For discerning gamers who frequent tournaments, the keyboard is one of the most important (and often overlooked) elements of pro-gaming. Plus, many hardcore gamers find themselves going through keyboards too quickly, as wear and tear take their course through marathon play sessions. Enter Steelseries, with their pro-gaming keyboard, the 7G. The 7G a keyboard focused primarily on pro-gaming, with a fantastic build quality and sturdiness unsurpassed by many keyboards. However, quality comes at a price, and the 7G doesn’t come cheap. Still, if you’re a pro-gamer looking for one of the toughest keyboards money can buy, then the 7G is a fine investment.

Right out of the box, you’ll get an indication of the 7G’s toughness. The keyboard is quite hefty, and sports a black, barebones look to it, devoid of many of the extra tchotchkies that you’ll find on many keyboards. Granted, there is an extra key that allows you access to some media functions like volume, play and pause, as well as two added USB ports, the keyboard is aesthetically as basic as you can get.

Fortunately, the board’s build quality more than makes up for the lack of extras, as the keyboard is probably one of the most durable I’ve ever used. The springy keys are comfortable for gaming and quite responsive, and can definitely take a beating, thanks to its tough metal chassis (which also accounts for the keyboard's weight). Additionally, the connectors (USB and PS/2) are gold-plated, making for low latency keystrokes for fans of twitch games.

However, the one element that is most likely to turn away gamers is the keyboard’s hefty price tag. At around 150 bucks, the keyboard might be a hard sell to all but the most hardcore PC gamers, especially considering the lack of extra features. Still, if you’re looking for the best gaming keyboard around and are willing to pay a king’s ransom for it, the 7G might be right up your alley.

Pros:
Very responsive, comfortable springy keys, will likely withstand the apocalypse.

Cons:
Very barebones in terms of features, very pricey.

Overall: 8.5
The Steelseries 7G is a very sturdy gaming keyboard built with superior quality in mind, but the lack of any bells and whistles and high price range might put it out of many PC gamers’ reach. Still, if you’re simply looking for a great gaming keyboard and money is no object, then the 7G is one of the best around.