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- Table of Contents
- Top
- Main Differences
- Design
- Typing Experience
- Performance
- Software and Operating System
- Comments
SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL vs SteelSeries Apex 9
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL
SteelSeries Apex 9
Tested using Methodology v1.0
Updated Dec 16, 2022 06:15 PM
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.comTested using Methodology v1.3.1
Updated Feb 06, 2025 09:55 PM
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ConnectivityWired
SizeTenKeyLess (80%)
MechanicalNo
ConnectivityWired
SizeTenKeyLess (80%)
Switch TypeOptical
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)Yes
Hot-Swappable SwitchesYes
Variants
- Apex 3 TKL (Black)
- Apex 9 TKL (Black)
- Apex 9 Mini (Black)
- Apex 9 Mini (FaZe Clan Limited Edition)
Our Verdict
SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL
SteelSeries Apex 9
The SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL and the SteelSeries Apex 9 are both wired-only TenKeyLess gaming keyboards. The Apex 9 performs much better overall as it has very low latency and very sensitive mechanical switches. The Apex 3 TKL uses rubber dome switches, which feel mushier and not as satisfying, and its latency is significantly worse.
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Black
Apex 9 TKL
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Apex 9 Mini
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Apex 9 Mini
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Finding storeMain Differences forGaming
Gaming
Threshold
Gaming
7.2
8.7
Pre-Travel
2.8 mm
1.1 mm
Backlighting
5.6
10
Latency
7.4
9.2
Build Quality
7.5
8.5
Keyboard Compatibility
7.2
10
Software & Programming
7.8
10
Operating Force
61 gf
34 gf
Full Comparison
Design
Dimensions
Top Picture
Size
TenKeyLess (80%)
TenKeyLess (80%)
Height
1.6" (4.0 cm)
1.6" (4.1 cm)
Width
14.4" (36.5 cm)
14.0" (35.5 cm)
Depth
6.0" (15.3 cm)
5.0" (12.8 cm)
Depth With Wrist Rest
N/A
N/A
Weight
1.41 lbs (0.640 kg)
1.41 lbs (0.640 kg)
Build Quality
7.5
8.5
Build Quality Close Up
Keycap Material
ABS
PBT
Ergonomics
6.5
6.0
Side Picture
Curved/Angled
Straight
No
Split Keyboard
No
Key Alignment
Staggered
Minimum Incline
4°
4°
Medium Incline
N/A
7°
Maximum Incline
9.5°
11°
Home Row Height
33.3 mm (1.3")
Wrist Rest
No
Hardware Customizability
7.4
Customizability Overview
Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers
Yes
Stabilizer Fixation
Plate-Mounted
Spacebar Stabilizer Size
6.25u
Size Of Right Mod Keys
1.25u
Hot-Swappable Switches
Yes
Switch Stem Shape
Cherry MX Style
Switch PCB Socket
Non-Customizable Design
North-Facing Cherry MX Interference
Yes
Backlight Features
5.6
10
Backlighting Picture
Brightness Max
Backlighting
Yes
Yes
Brightness Min
White Shot
RGB
Yes
Per-Key Backlighting
No
Yes
Effects
Yes
Yes
Software Controllable
Yes
Yes
Color
RGB
Color Mixing
Good
Backlight Clarity
8.0
White Shot
Cable & Connector
Connectivity
Wired
Wired
Detachable
No
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)
Length
5.9 ft (1.8 m)
7.5 ft (2.3 m)
Connector (Keyboard side)
Not Detachable
USB type-C
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
Macro Keys And Programming
5.5
Dedicated Macro Keys Count
0
Onboard Macro Programming
Yes
Macro Programming With Software
Yes
Extra Features
Extra Features
Media Keys
Dedicated
Dedicated
Trackpad / Trackball
No
No
Scroll Wheel
Yes
Yes
Control Knob
No
USB Passthrough
No
No
Numpad
No
No
Windows Key Lock
Yes
Yes
Lock Indicator
Caps Lock
Caps Lock
Macro Programmable Keys
All
In The Box
Bundle Picture
Typing Experience
Typing Quality
7.0
8.0
Key Spacing
19.0 mm (0.748")
Typing Noise
10
7.5
Typing Sample
Average Loudness
52.2 dBA
High Pitch Clicks
No
Noise
Very Quiet
Switches
Wobble Video
Switch Name
Rubber Dome
SteelSeries Linear OptiPoint Optical
Switch Type
Optical
Feel
Tactile
Linear
Analog
No
Keystrokes
Key Switch Actuation Graph
Key Switches
Rubber Dome
SteelSeries Linear OptiPoint Optical
Mechanical
No
Feel
Tactile
Linear
Operating Force
61 gf
34 gf
Actuation Force
33 gf
35 gf
Pre-Travel
2.8 mm
1.1 mm
Total Travel
3.7 mm
3.2 mm
Latency
7.4
9.2
Latency Video
Latency Wired
10.6 ms
3.0 ms
Latency Receiver
N/A
N/A
Latency Bluetooth
N/A
N/A
Performance
Single-Key Latency
7.4
9.2
Single-Key Latency Graph
Best Connection
3.0 ms
Best Connection Std Dev
±0.4 ms
Wired
10.6 ms
3.0 ms
Receiver
N/A
N/A
Bluetooth
N/A
N/A
PCB (Estimated)
2.0 ms
Multi-Key Latency
8.9
Latency Video
Multi-Key Latency Graph
Connection Evaluated
Wired
Key Press
3.0 ms
Key Release
9.0 ms
Data Transmission
8.7
Multi-Key Raw USB
Connection Evaluated
Wired
USB Polling Rate
1,000 Hz
Effective Update Rate
1,000 Hz
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Multiple Keys Per USB Report
Yes
Chord Split
7.6
Chord Split Graph
4 Chord Split Delay
6.8 ms
8 Chord Split Delay
9.7 ms
Software and Operating System
Configuration Software
Software Picture
Software Tour
Software Name
SteelSeries GG
SteelSeries GG
Software Windows Compatible
Yes
Yes
Software macOS Compatible
Yes
Yes
Onboard Memory
No
Yes
Profiles
6+
6+
Account Required
No
Cloud Sync
Yes
Macro Programming
Software and Onboard
Ease Of Use
Easy
Computer Compatibility
7.2
10
Windows
Full
Fully Compatible
macOS
Partial
Fully Compatible
Linux (Ubuntu 22)
Partial
Fully Compatible
Media Key Compatibility
Windows, MacOS & Linux
Android
No
Not Compatible
iOS
No
Not Compatible
iPadOS
No
Not Compatible
Wireless Mobile Compatibility
0.0
Android
No
Not Compatible
iOS
No
Not Compatible
iPadOS
No
Not Compatible
Media Key Compatibility
Not Compatible
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Black
Apex 9 TKL
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Apex 9 Mini
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Apex 9 Mini
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SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL
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Comments
SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL vs SteelSeries Apex 9: Main Discussion
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