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- Table of Contents
- Top
- Main Differences
- Design
- Typing Experience
- Performance
- Software and Operating System
- Comments
SteelSeries Apex 5 vs Ducky Shine 7
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
SteelSeries Apex 5
Ducky Shine 7
Tested using Methodology v1.2
Updated Jun 21, 2023 04:41 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.3
Updated Aug 23, 2023 07:14 PM
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Amazon.com
ConnectivityWired
SizeFull-size (100%)
Switch TypeMechanical
Hot-Swappable SwitchesYes
ConnectivityWired
SizeFull-size (100%)
Switch TypeMechanical
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)Yes
Hot-Swappable SwitchesNo
Variants
- Apex 5 (Black)
- Shine 7 (Blackout)
- Shine 7 (Gunmetal Gray)
Our Verdict
SteelSeries Apex 5
Ducky Shine 7
For gaming, the Ducky Shine 7 is better than the SteelSeries Apex 5, mainly because it has much lower latency. The Ducky also provides a better typing experience, and it's available in various Cherry MX switches, whereas the SteelSeries only has one option. The SteelSeries has more features, though, like a customizable OLED screen and dedicated media controls, and it comes with a wrist rest. Also, it has software support for macOS, which the Ducky lacks.
Main Differences forGaming
Gaming
Threshold
Gaming
8.7
8.5
Latency
6.5
8.3
Macro Keys And Programming
5.5
1.5
Pre-Travel
1.8 mm
2.0 mm
Full Comparison
Design
Dimensions
Top Picture
Size
Full-size (100%)
Full-size (100%)
Height
1.5" (3.7 cm)
1.5" (3.7 cm)
Width
17.5" (44.4 cm)
18.0" (45.7 cm)
Depth
5.6" (14.1 cm)
5.3" (13.5 cm)
Depth With Wrist Rest
8.3" (21.2 cm)
N/A
Weight
1.98 lbs (0.900 kg)
3.09 lbs (1.400 kg)
Build Quality
8.5
9.0
Build Quality Close Up
Keycap Material
ABS
PBT
Ergonomics
6.0
6.0
Side Picture
Curved/Angled
No
No
Split Keyboard
No
No
Key Alignment
Staggered
Staggered
Minimum Incline
4°
4°
Medium Incline
N/A
5°
Maximum Incline
9.5°
11°
Home Row Height
32.6 mm (1.3")
30.1 mm (1.2")
Hardware Customizability
7.4
6.0
Customizability Overview
Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers
Yes
Yes
Stabilizer Fixation
Plate-Mounted
Plate-Mounted
Spacebar Stabilizer Size
6.25u
6.25u
Size Of Right Mod Keys
1.25u
1.25u
Hot-Swappable Switches
Yes
No
Switch Stem Shape
Cherry MX Style
Cherry MX Style
Switch PCB Socket
Non-Customizable Design
Soldered
North-Facing Cherry MX Interference
Yes
Yes
Backlight Features
10
10
Backlighting Picture
Brightness Max
Backlighting
Yes
Yes
Brightness Min
RGB
Yes
Yes
Per-Key Backlighting
Yes
Yes
Effects
Yes
Yes
Software Controllable
Yes
Yes
Backlight Clarity
8.0
8.0
White Shot
Cable & Connector
Connectivity
Wired
Wired
Detachable
No
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)
Length
5.9 ft (1.8 m)
5.2 ft (1.6 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
1.5
Dedicated Macro Keys Count
0
0
Onboard Macro Programming
Yes
Yes
Macro Programming With Software
Yes
No
Extra Features
Extra Features
Media Keys
Dedicated
Non-Dedicated
Trackpad / Trackball
No
No
Scroll Wheel
No
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
In The Box
Bundle Picture
Typing Experience
Typing Quality
7.5
9.0
Key Spacing
19.0 mm (0.748")
Typing Noise
4.4
8.0
Typing Sample
Average Loudness
55.5 dBA
50.1 dBA
High Pitch Clicks
Yes
No
Switches
Wobble Video
Switch Name
Hybrid Blue Mechanical
Cherry MX Brown
Switch Type
Mechanical
Mechanical
Feel
Clicky
Tactile
Keystrokes
Key Switch Actuation Graph
Operating Force
54 gf
55 gf
Actuation Force
50 gf
43 gf
Pre-Travel
1.8 mm
2.0 mm
Total Travel
4.0 mm
4.0 mm
Latency
6.5
8.3
Latency Video
Latency Wired
24.4 ms
10.4 ms
Latency Receiver
N/A
N/A
Latency Bluetooth
N/A
N/A
Performance
Single-Key Latency
6.5
8.3
Single-Key Latency Graph
Best Connection
10.4 ms
Best Connection Std Dev
±0.7 ms
Wired
24.4 ms
10.4 ms
Receiver
N/A
N/A
Bluetooth
N/A
N/A
Multi-Key Latency
7.9
Latency Video
Multi-Key Latency Graph
Connection Evaluated
Wired
Key Press
10.9 ms
Key Release
13.9 ms
Data Transmission
8.3
Multi-Key Raw USB
Connection Evaluated
Wired
USB Polling Rate
1,000 Hz
Effective Update Rate
500 Hz
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Multiple Keys Per USB Report
Yes
Chord Split
8.2
Chord Split Graph
4 Chord Split Delay
5.1 ms
8 Chord Split Delay
9.9 ms
Software and Operating System
Configuration Software
Software Tour
Software Name
Steelseries Engine
Ducky RGB
Software Windows Compatible
Yes
Yes
Software macOS Compatible
Yes
No
Onboard Memory
Yes
Yes
Profiles
6+
6+
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
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
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SteelSeries Apex 5
Ducky Shine 7
Comments
SteelSeries Apex 5 vs Ducky Shine 7: Main Discussion
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