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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

SteelSeries Apex 3 vs Razer Cynosa V2

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

SteelSeries Apex 3
Razer Cynosa V2

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:29 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Jun 21, 2023 03:18 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
SteelSeries Apex 3 Picture
Razer Cynosa V2 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
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. RGB

Variants

  • Apex 3 (Black)
  • Razer Cynosa V2 (Black)

Review

See SteelSeries Apex 3 Review
See Razer Cynosa V2 Review
4 
0 

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex 3

Razer Cynosa V2

The SteelSeries Apex 3 and the Razer Cynosa V2 are both full-size membrane gaming keyboards. While the Razer scores higher for gaming, it's only so because it has individually-lit keys, while the SteelSeries has 10-zone backlighting. The SteelSeries has a lower input lag, and its keys are a bit easier to actuate because they require less force. It allows for higher incline settings and includes a wrist rest to provide a more comfortable typing experience. Also, its build quality is much better than the Razer.

0 

Check Price

Black
Apex 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Razer Cynosa V2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 3
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
Razer Cynosa V2
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
Apex 3
SEARCH
B&H
Black
Razer Cynosa V2
SEARCH
B&H
Black
Apex 3
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Razer Cynosa V2
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Read more

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

7.7
7.9

Build Quality 
 

7.5
6.0

Backlight Features 
 

8.0
10

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.8
7.1

Pre-Travel 
 

2.4 mm
2.3 mm

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Top Picture
Razer Cynosa V2 Top Picture

Size 
 

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

Height 
 

1.5" (3.7 cm)
1.2" (3.0 cm)

Width  

17.5" (44.4 cm)
18.5" (47.0 cm)

Depth 
 

5.9" (15.0 cm)
6.6" (16.8 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

8.8" (22.3 cm)
N/A

Weight 
 

1.76 lbs (0.800 kg)
1.92 lbs (0.872 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

7.5
6.0

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Build Quality Close Up
Razer Cynosa V2 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Side Picture
Razer Cynosa V2 Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

4°
2°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
4°

Maximum Incline 
 

9.5°
7°

Home Row Height 
 

32.7 mm (1.3")
28.3 mm (1.1")
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

0.0
0.0

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Customizability Overview
Razer Cynosa V2 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
Non-Standard

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
Razer Cynosa V2 Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Brightness Max
Razer Cynosa V2 Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Brightness Min
Razer Cynosa V2 Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

No
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

8.0
9.0

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex 3 White Shot
Razer Cynosa V2 White Shot

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

No
No

Length  

5.9 ft (1.8 m)
6.4 ft (2.0 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  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Extra Features
Razer Cynosa V2 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
Razer Cynosa V2 Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

7.0
6.0

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

8.7
8.7

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

46.7 dBA
46.6 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

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
40 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.4 mm
2.3 mm

Total Travel 
 

3.9 mm
3.6 mm
Show Text 

Latency 
 

7.8
7.1

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

12.4 ms
13.2 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.8
7.1

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

12.4 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±1.8 ms

Wired 
 

12.4 ms
13.2 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

10.2 ms
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

7.8

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

Key Press 
 

12.2 ms

Key Release 
 

14.9 ms

Data Transmission 
 

6.1

Multi-Key Raw USB  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

167 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

No

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Yes

Chord Split 
 

8.2

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

4.7 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

14.1 ms
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

Steelseries Engine
Razer Synapse 3

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
No

Onboard Memory 
 

No
No

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
Razer Cynosa V2
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 3
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
Razer Cynosa V2
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
Apex 3
SEARCH
B&H
Black
Razer Cynosa V2
SEARCH
B&H
Black
Apex 3
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Razer Cynosa V2
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Back to Top

SteelSeries Apex 3

Razer Cynosa V2

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

SteelSeries Apex 3 vs Razer Cynosa V2: Main Discussion

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