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  1. Home
  2. Keyboard
  3. Compare
  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

SteelSeries Apex 3 vs Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

SteelSeries Apex 3
Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:29 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:18 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
SteelSeries Apex 3 Picture
Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Picture
ConnectivityWired
Size
Full-size (100%)
Switch Type
Rubber Dome
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
No
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
ConnectivityWired
Size
Full-size (100%)
Switch Type
Rubber Dome
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
No
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
  1. Recommended in 3 articles:
  2. Budget Gaming
  3. Quiet
  4. Corsair

Variants

  • Apex 3 (Black)
  • K55 RGB PRO XT (Black)

Review

See SteelSeries Apex 3 review

See Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT review

0
0

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex 3

Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT

The Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT and the SteelSeries Apex 3 are non-mechanical gaming keyboards with comparable performance. The Corsair has significantly lower latency, individually-lit keys that are independently customizable, and its companion software has onboard memory, but you can't sync settings to the cloud. On the other hand, the SteelSeries has ten zone RGB backlighting, but the keys aren't individually backlit. That said, it feels sturdier, it has a wheel on the top right, and it has more stable keys that offer a better typing experience than the Corsair.

0

Check Price

Black
Apex 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
K55 RGB PRO XT
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 3
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
K55 RGB PRO XT
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 3
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Black
Apex 3
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Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

7.7
8.3

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.8
9.0

Backlight Features 
 

8.0
10

Multi-Key Latency 
 

7.8
8.8

Build Quality 
 

7.5
6.5

Data Transmission 
 

6.1
7.7

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Top Picture
Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Top Picture

Size 
 

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

Height 
 

1.5" (3.7 cm)
1.3" (3.4 cm)

Width  

17.5" (44.4 cm)
18.9" (48.1 cm)

Depth 
 

5.9" (15.0 cm)
6.6" (16.7 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

8.8" (22.3 cm)
9.1" (23.0 cm)

Weight 
 

1.76 lbs (0.800 kg)
1.96 lbs (0.890 kg)

Show text

Build Quality 
 

7.5
6.5

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Build Quality Close Up
Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS

Show text

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Side Picture
Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

4°
3°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

9.5°
8°

Home Row Height 
 

32.7 mm (1.3")
29.3 mm (1.2")

Show text

Hardware Customizability 
 

0.0
0.7

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Customizability Overview
Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

No
No

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Non-Customizable Design

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Non-Customizable Design

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

Non-Standard
1.25u

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

No
No

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Non-Customizable Design

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Non-Customizable Design

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Non-Customizable Design

Backlight Features 
 

8.0
10

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Backlighting Picture
Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Brightness Max
Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Brightness Min
Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

No
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Backlight Clarity 
 

8.0
8.0

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex 3 White Shot
Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT White Shot

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

No
No

Length  

5.9 ft (1.8 m)
6.1 ft (1.9 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
8.9

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
6

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Yes
Yes

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes
Yes

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Extra Features
Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Dedicated
Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

Yes
No

Control Knob 
 

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
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  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Bundle Picture
Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Bundle Picture

Show text

Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

7.0
6.0

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
19.0 mm (0.748")

Show text

Typing Noise 
 

8.7
8.0

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

46.7 dBA
50.1 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
No

Show text

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

No Marketed Name
No Marketed Name

Switch Type 
 

Rubber Dome
Rubber Dome

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Analog 
 

No
No

Show text

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Operating Force 
 

56 gf
58 gf

Actuation Force 
 

31 gf
29 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.4 mm
2.6 mm

Total Travel 
 

3.9 mm
4.0 mm

Show text

Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.8
9.0

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

12.4 ms
3.9 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±1.8 ms
±0.3 ms

Wired 
 

12.4 ms
3.9 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

10.2 ms
1.5 ms

Show text

Multi-Key Latency 
 

7.8
8.8

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Wired

Key Press 
 

12.2 ms
4.2 ms

Key Release 
 

14.9 ms
6.6 ms

Data Transmission 
 

6.1
7.7

Multi-Key Raw USB  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Multi-Key Raw USB
Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Wired

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

167 Hz
1,000 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

No
No

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Yes
Yes

Chord Split 
 

8.2
8.7

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

4.7 ms
3.6 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

14.1 ms
N/A
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

Steelseries Engine
iCUE

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Onboard Memory 
 

No
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
Apex 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
K55 RGB PRO XT
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 3
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
K55 RGB PRO XT
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 3
SEARCH
B&H
 
Black
Apex 3
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
 
Back to Top

SteelSeries Apex 3

Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

SteelSeries Apex 3 vs Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT: Main Discussion

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