SteelSeries has introduced two new gaming keyboards at this year's Consumer Electronics Show. The Apex and Apex [RAW] include a bevy of gamer-specific features as well as low-profile keys and customizable backlit illumination.

Both boards feature raised macro keys along the top and left side that is said to provide faster and more precise macro combinations. The peripheral company has also included two small tactile bumps on the W-key to provide a faster return to WASD, anti-ghosting support that facilitates up to 20 simultaneous key presses, an enlarged space bar and a SteelSeries key used to disable the Windows key without any extra software. SteelSeries also includes swappable feet to adjust the board's angle for maximum comfort during extended gaming sessions.

The backlighting on the SteelSeries Apex supports 16.8 million colors that are fully customizable using a visual tool called ActiveZone. This allows the user to choose up to eight levels of illumination in each of the five zones with up to four different customizable layers per zone. Furthermore, there are independent media and volume keys on the Apex for complete media control.

Despite what you might think, the Apex [RAW] is actually the lesser of the two and is defined as the "essentials" keyboard. Missing here are the 16.8 million colors, instead replaced with a simple white backlight with eight levels of intensity. There are also fewer macro keys (17 versus 22 on the Apex) with up to two layers per key.

The SteelSeries Apex will retail for $99.99 while the Apex [RAW] will set you back $69.99. Both should be available for purchase in early Q2 2013.