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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Dimensions
    2. Build Quality
    3. Ergonomics
    4. Hardware Customizability
    5. Backlight Features
    6. Backlight Clarity
    7. Cable & Connector
    8. Wireless Versatility
    9. Macro Keys And Programming
    10. Extra Features
    11. In The Box
  5. Typing Experience
    1. Typing Quality
    2. Typing Noise
    3. Switches
    4. Keystrokes
    5. Latency
  6. Performance
    1. Single-Key Latency
    2. Multi-Key Latency
    3. Data Transmission
    4. Chord Split
  7. Software and Operating System
    1. Configuration Software
    2. Computer Compatibility
    3. Wireless Mobile Compatibility
  8. Comments

Razer BlackWidow Elite vs SteelSeries Apex 5

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Razer BlackWidow Elite
SteelSeries Apex 5

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:25 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Jun 21, 2023 04:41 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Razer BlackWidow Elite Picture
SteelSeries Apex 5 Picture
ConnectivityWired
Size
Full-size (100%)
Switch Type
Mechanical
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
No
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
ConnectivityWired
Size
Full-size (100%)
Switch Type
Mechanical
Hot-Swappable Switches
Yes

Variants

  • BlackWidow Elite (Black)
  • Apex 5 (Black)

Review

See Razer BlackWidow Elite Review
See SteelSeries Apex 5 Review
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0 

Our Verdict

Razer BlackWidow Elite

SteelSeries Apex 5

The Razer BlackWidow Elite is much better for gaming than the SteelSeries Apex 5, mainly due to the SteelSeries' high latency. The Razer provides a better typing experience overall, and it's available in a variety of mechanical switches, including linear, clicky, and tactile options. The SteelSeries has hybrid switches that also provide a good typing experience, but they're louder, which isn't ideal for quiet office environments. Feature-wise, the SteelSeries has an OLED screen, while the Razer has a USB passthrough.

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Check Price

Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 5
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
Apex 5
SEARCH
B&H
Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEARCH
B&H
Black
Apex 5
SEARCH
Walmart.com
Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Apex 5
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Read more

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.6
8.7

Single-Key Latency 
 

8.9
6.5

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Top Picture
SteelSeries Apex 5 Top Picture

Size 
 

Full-size (100%)
Full-size (100%)

Height 
 

1.7" (4.3 cm)
1.5" (3.7 cm)

Width  

17.5" (44.5 cm)
17.5" (44.4 cm)

Depth 
 

6.5" (16.5 cm)
5.6" (14.1 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

9.1" (23.1 cm)
8.3" (21.2 cm)

Weight 
 

2.67 lbs (1.210 kg)
1.98 lbs (0.900 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Build Quality Close Up
SteelSeries Apex 5 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Side Picture
SteelSeries Apex 5 Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

4°
4°

Medium Incline 
 

6°
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

9°
9.5°

Home Row Height 
 

33.9 mm (1.3")
32.6 mm (1.3")
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

2.4
7.4

Customizability Overview  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Customizability Overview
SteelSeries Apex 5 Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

No
Yes

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Plate-Mounted

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

Non-Customizable Design
6.25u

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

Non-Standard
1.25u

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

No
Yes

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style
Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Soldered
Non-Customizable Design

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes
Yes

Backlight Features 
 

10
10

Backlighting Picture  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Backlighting Picture
SteelSeries Apex 5 Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Brightness Max
SteelSeries Apex 5 Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Brightness Min
SteelSeries Apex 5 Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0
8.0

White Shot  

Razer BlackWidow Elite White Shot
SteelSeries Apex 5 White Shot

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

No
No

Length  

6.6 ft (2.0 m)
5.9 ft (1.8 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

Not Detachable
Not Detachable
Show Text 

Wireless Versatility 
 

0.0
0.0

Bluetooth 
 

No
No

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

No
No

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
No

Battery Type 
 

No Batteries
No Batteries
Show Text 

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

5.5
5.5

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Yes
Yes

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes
Yes

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Extra Features
SteelSeries Apex 5 Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Dedicated
Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
No

Control Knob 
 

Yes
No

USB Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

Numpad  

Yes
Yes

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps, Scroll & Num lock
Caps, Scroll & Num lock
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Bundle Picture
SteelSeries Apex 5 Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.5
7.5

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

7.5
4.4

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

52.0 dBA
55.5 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
Yes
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

Razer Orange
Hybrid Blue Mechanical

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical
Mechanical

Feel 
 

Tactile
Clicky

Analog 
 

No

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Operating Force 
 

52 gf
54 gf

Actuation Force 
 

41 gf
50 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

1.7 mm
1.8 mm

Total Travel 
 

3.9 mm
4.0 mm
Show Text 

Latency 
 

8.9
6.5

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

5.0 ms
24.4 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

8.9
6.5

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

5.0 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±0.4 ms

Wired 
 

5.0 ms
24.4 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

3.4 ms
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

8.0

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

Key Press 
 

5.1 ms

Key Release 
 

30.6 ms

Data Transmission 
 

7.7

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Razer BlackWidow Elite Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

1,000 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

No

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Yes

Chord Split 
 

8.4

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

4.6 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

8.1 ms
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

Razer Synapse 3
Steelseries Engine

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
Yes

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
Yes

Profiles 
 

6+
6+
Show Text 

Computer Compatibility 
 

10
10

Windows 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

macOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Windows, MacOS & Linux
Windows, MacOS & Linux
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

0.0
0.0

Android 
 

Not Compatible
Not Compatible

iOS 
 

Not Compatible
Not Compatible

iPadOS 
 

Not Compatible
Not Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Not Compatible
Not Compatible

Check Price

Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 5
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
Apex 5
SEARCH
B&H
Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEARCH
B&H
Black
Apex 5
SEARCH
Walmart.com
Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Apex 5
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Back to Top

Razer BlackWidow Elite

SteelSeries Apex 5

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Razer BlackWidow Elite vs SteelSeries Apex 5: Main Discussion

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