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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 7 TKL vs 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 30, 2023 07:02 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Dec 07, 2023 07:53 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Picture
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard Picture
ConnectivityWired
Size
TenKeyLess (80%)
Switch Type
Mechanical
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
ConnectivityWireless
Size
TenKeyLess (80%)
Switch Type
Mechanical
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Hot-Swappable Switches
Yes

Variants

  • Apex 7 TKL (Black)
  • Apex 7 (Black)
  • Apex 7 TKL (Ghost Edition)
  • Retro Mechanical Keyboard (Fami Edition)
  • Retro Mechanical Keyboard (N Edition)

Review

See SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Review
See 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard Review
0 
2 

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard

The SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL and the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard are gaming keyboards with tenkeyless layouts. The SteelSeries is a wired-only model with a more conventional look and full RGB backlighting. It comes with your choice of linear, tactile, or clicky mechanical switches. The 8BitDo is a wireless model that connects with a USB receiver or via Bluetooth. It has a retro-inspired look with higher-quality PBT keycaps and a hot-swappable PCB that allows you to change out the stock clicky switches if you want. It also has a separate two-button gamepad module but doesn't have backlighting.

0 

Check Price

Black
Apex 7 TKL
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Fami Edition
Retro Mechanical Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 7
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
N Edition
Retro Mechanical Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Ghost Edition
Apex 7 TKL
SEARCH
Amazon.com
 

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.3
7.0

Backlight Features 
 

10
0.0

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0
0.0

Chord Split 
 

8.0
9.5

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Top Picture
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard Top Picture

Size 
 

TenKeyLess (80%)
TenKeyLess (80%)

Height 
 

1.6" (4.0 cm)
1.8" (4.6 cm)

Width  

14.0" (35.5 cm)
14.8" (37.6 cm)

Depth 
 

5.5" (13.9 cm)
6.7" (17.0 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

8.3" (21.0 cm)
N/A

Weight 
 

1.54 lbs (0.700 kg)
2.29 lbs (1.039 kg)
Show text

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.0

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Build Quality Close Up
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
PBT
Show text

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Side Picture
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

4°
7°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

10.5°
N/A

Home Row Height 
 

32.2 mm (1.3")
31.8 mm (1.3")
Show text

Hardware Customizability 
 

6.0
8.9

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Customizability Overview
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard 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 
 

No
Yes

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style
Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Soldered
5-pin Cherry

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes
Yes
Show text

Backlight Features 
 

10
0.0

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Backlighting Picture
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Brightness Max
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
No

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Brightness Min
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
No

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
No

Effects 
 

Yes
No

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
No
Show text

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0
0.0

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL White Shot
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard White Shot
Show text

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wireless

Detachable 
 

No
Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)

Length  

6.2 ft (1.9 m)
6.0 ft (1.8 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

Not Detachable
USB type-C
Show text

Wireless Versatility 
 

0.0
7.5

Bluetooth 
 

No
Yes

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

No
No

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
Yes

Battery Type 
 

No Batteries
Rechargeable
Show text

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

5.5
6.7

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
4

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Yes
No

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes
Yes
Show text

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Extra Features
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Dedicated
Non-Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

Yes
No

Control Knob 
 

No
Yes

USB Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

Numpad  

No
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Caps & Scroll Lock
Show text

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Bundle Picture
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard Bundle Picture
Show text
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
7.0

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
19.0 mm (0.748")
Show text

Typing Noise 
 

6.0
4.5

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

60.0 dBA
54.6 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
Yes
Show text

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

SteelSeries Brown
Kailh Box White V2

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical
Mechanical

Feel 
 

Tactile
Clicky

Analog 
 

No
No
Show text

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Operating Force 
 

44 gf
57 gf

Actuation Force 
 

37 gf
47 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.4 mm
1.9 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.1 mm
3.6 mm
Show text
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

8.0
8.5

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

11.9 ms
8.1 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±1.3 ms
±0.7 ms

Wired 
 

11.9 ms
8.1 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
10.0 ms

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
13.8 ms

PCB (Estimated) 
 

9.7 ms
6.5 ms
Show text

Multi-Key Latency 
 

7.8
7.8

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Receiver

Key Press 
 

12.6 ms
11.0 ms

Key Release 
 

11.7 ms
16.7 ms
Show text

Data Transmission 
 

8.7
8.7

Multi-Key Raw USB  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Multi-Key Raw USB
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Receiver

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Yes
Yes

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Yes
Yes
Show text

Chord Split 
 

8.0
9.5

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

5.4 ms
1.2 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

11.3 ms
4.9 ms
Show text
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

Steelseries Engine
8BitDo Ultimate Software V2

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
No

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
Yes

Profiles 
 

5
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
10

Android 
 

Not Compatible
Fully Compatible

iOS 
 

Not Compatible
Fully Compatible

iPadOS 
 

Not Compatible
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Not Compatible
Android, iPhone & iPad
Show text

Check Price

Black
Apex 7 TKL
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Fami Edition
Retro Mechanical Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 7
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
N Edition
Retro Mechanical Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Ghost Edition
Apex 7 TKL
SEARCH
Amazon.com
 
Back to Top

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL

8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL vs 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard: Main Discussion

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