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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
  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

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB vs SteelSeries Apex 3

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB
SteelSeries Apex 3

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:28 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:29 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Picture
SteelSeries Apex 3 Picture

Variants

  • K552 KUMARA RGB (Black)
  • Apex 3 (Black)

Our Verdict

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB

SteelSeries Apex 3

The SteelSeries Apex 3 and the Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB are very different keyboards. The SteelSeries is a full-size membrane keyboard, while the Redragon is a TKL mechanical keyboard. The SteelSeries is more comfortable to type on because it has a lower profile and comes with a wrist rest. The typing experience is also very different. The SteelSeries' rubber dome switches feel a bit mushy, and the tactile feedback doesn't feel as distinct as on the Redragon's Outemu Blue switches. The Outemu switches have a shorter pre-travel distance but require more force to actuate. While the SteelSeries has lower latency, it's still relatively high for a wired keyboard and might not be ideal for serious gamers. You can't program any macros on the Redragon, and customizing the RGB backlight can be somewhat complicated because there's no software.

0 

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

7.3
7.7

Multi-Key Latency 
 

5.8
7.8

Single-Key Latency 
 

6.6
7.8

Backlight Features 
 

10
8.0

Chord Split 
 

6.8
8.2

Data Transmission 
 

7.5
6.1

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Top Picture
SteelSeries Apex 3 Top Picture

Size 
 

TenKeyLess (80%)
Full-size (100%)

Height 
 

1.4" (3.6 cm)
1.5" (3.7 cm)

Width  

14.0" (35.5 cm)
17.5" (44.4 cm)

Depth 
 

4.8" (12.3 cm)
5.9" (15.0 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
8.8" (22.3 cm)

Weight 
 

1.76 lbs (0.800 kg)
1.76 lbs (0.800 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
7.5

Build Quality Close Up  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Build Quality Close Up
SteelSeries Apex 3 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Side Picture
SteelSeries Apex 3 Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

9.5°

Home Row Height 
 

30.9 mm (1.2")
32.7 mm (1.3")
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

8.2
0.0

Customizability Overview  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Customizability Overview
SteelSeries Apex 3 Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Yes
No

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Plate-Mounted
Non-Customizable Design

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

6.25u
Non-Customizable Design

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

1.25u
Non-Standard

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

Yes
No

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style
Non-Customizable Design

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Non-Cherry Pinout
Non-Customizable Design

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes
Non-Customizable Design
Show Text 

Backlight Features 
 

10
8.0

Backlighting Picture  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Backlighting Picture
SteelSeries Apex 3 Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Brightness Max
SteelSeries Apex 3 Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Brightness Min
SteelSeries Apex 3 Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
No

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

8.0
8.0

White Shot  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB White Shot
SteelSeries Apex 3 White Shot
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

No
No

Length  

6.2 ft (1.9 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 
 

0.0
5.5

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

No
Yes

Macro Programming With Software 
 

No
Yes

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Extra Features
SteelSeries Apex 3 Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Non-Dedicated
Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
Yes

Control Knob 
 

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

No
Yes

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
Yes

Lock Indicator  

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

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Bundle Picture
SteelSeries Apex 3 Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

7.0
7.0

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
19.0 mm (0.748")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

3.5
8.7

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

59.9 dBA
46.7 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

Outemu Blue
No Marketed Name

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical
Rubber Dome

Feel 
 

Clicky
Tactile

Analog 
 

No
No

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Operating Force 
 

61 gf
56 gf

Actuation Force 
 

45 gf
31 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.0 mm
2.4 mm

Total Travel 
 

3.8 mm
3.9 mm
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

6.6
7.8

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

28.7 ms
12.4 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±1.3 ms
±1.8 ms

Wired 
 

28.7 ms
12.4 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

26.7 ms
10.2 ms
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

5.8
7.8

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Wired

Key Press 
 

28.7 ms
12.2 ms

Key Release 
 

31.9 ms
14.9 ms

Data Transmission 
 

7.5
6.1

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Multi-Key Raw USB
SteelSeries Apex 3 Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Wired

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

250 Hz
167 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Yes
No

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Yes
Yes

Chord Split 
 

6.8
8.2

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

9.1 ms
4.7 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

10.7 ms
14.1 ms
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

No Software
Steelseries Engine

Software Windows Compatible 
 

No
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
Yes

Onboard Memory 
 

No
No

Profiles 
 

No Profile
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

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB

SteelSeries Apex 3

Comments

  1. Comparison

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB vs SteelSeries Apex 3: Main Discussion

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