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- Table of Contents
- Top
- Main Differences
- Design
- Typing Experience
- Performance
- Software and Operating System
- Comments
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL vs Razer BlackWidow Elite
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL
Razer BlackWidow Elite
Tested using Methodology v1.3.1
Updated Nov 30, 2023 07:02 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.3.1
Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:25 PM
Unavailable
Missing store
ConnectivityWired
SizeTenKeyLess (80%)
Switch TypeMechanical
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)Yes
Hot-Swappable SwitchesNo
ConnectivityWired
SizeFull-size (100%)
Switch TypeMechanical
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)No
Hot-Swappable SwitchesNo
Variants
- Apex 7 TKL (Black)
- Apex 7 (Black)
- Apex 7 TKL (Ghost Edition)
- BlackWidow Elite (Black)
Our Verdict
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL
Razer BlackWidow Elite
The SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL and the Razer BlackWidow Elite are both amazing gaming keyboards with several key differences. The SteelSeries unit we tested was the TenKeyLess variant, but there’s a full-sized version as well. Our unit also has SteelSeries Brown switches that provide good tactile feedback, and It’s also available in clicky SteelSeries Blue and linear SteelSeries Red switches. On the other hand, the Razer is a full-sized keyboard with lower latency. The unit we tested has tactile Razer Orange switches that provide a heavier-feeling typing quality, but it’s also available with linear Razer Yellow or clicky Razer Green switches. Both keyboards feature full RGB lighting with individually backlit keys, but the SteelSeries suffers from significant color bleeding.
Main Differences forGaming
Gaming
Threshold
Gaming
8.3
8.6
Single-Key Latency
8.0
8.9
Full Comparison
Design
Dimensions
Top Picture
Size
TenKeyLess (80%)
Full-size (100%)
Height
1.6" (4.0 cm)
1.7" (4.3 cm)
Width
14.0" (35.5 cm)
17.5" (44.5 cm)
Depth
5.5" (13.9 cm)
6.5" (16.5 cm)
Depth With Wrist Rest
8.3" (21.0 cm)
9.1" (23.1 cm)
Weight
1.54 lbs (0.700 kg)
2.67 lbs (1.210 kg)
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
Build Quality Close Up
Keycap Material
ABS
ABS
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
6°
Maximum Incline
10.5°
9°
Home Row Height
32.2 mm (1.3")
33.9 mm (1.3")
Hardware Customizability
6.0
2.4
Customizability Overview
Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers
Yes
No
Stabilizer Fixation
Plate-Mounted
Non-Customizable Design
Spacebar Stabilizer Size
6.25u
Non-Customizable Design
Size Of Right Mod Keys
1.25u
Non-Standard
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
No
Switch Stem Shape
Cherry MX Style
Cherry MX Style
Switch PCB Socket
Soldered
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
9.0
9.0
White Shot
Cable & Connector
Connectivity
Wired
Wired
Detachable
No
No
Length
6.2 ft (1.9 m)
6.6 ft (2.0 m)
Connector (Keyboard side)
Not Detachable
Not Detachable
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
5.5
Dedicated Macro Keys Count
0
0
Onboard Macro Programming
Yes
Yes
Macro Programming With Software
Yes
Yes
Extra Features
Extra Features
Media Keys
Dedicated
Dedicated
Trackpad / Trackball
No
No
Scroll Wheel
Yes
No
Control Knob
No
Yes
USB Passthrough
Yes
Yes
Numpad
No
Yes
Windows Key Lock
Yes
Yes
Lock Indicator
Caps Lock
Caps, Scroll & Num lock
In The Box
Bundle Picture
Typing Experience
Typing Quality
8.0
8.5
Key Spacing
19.0 mm (0.748")
19.0 mm (0.748")
Typing Noise
6.0
7.5
Typing Sample
Average Loudness
60.0 dBA
52.0 dBA
High Pitch Clicks
No
No
Switches
Wobble Video
Switch Name
SteelSeries Brown
Razer Orange
Switch Type
Mechanical
Mechanical
Feel
Tactile
Tactile
Analog
No
No
Keystrokes
Key Switch Actuation Graph
Operating Force
44 gf
52 gf
Actuation Force
37 gf
41 gf
Pre-Travel
2.4 mm
1.7 mm
Total Travel
4.1 mm
3.9 mm
Performance
Single-Key Latency
8.0
8.9
Single-Key Latency Graph
Best Connection
11.9 ms
5.0 ms
Best Connection Std Dev
±1.3 ms
±0.4 ms
Wired
11.9 ms
5.0 ms
Receiver
N/A
N/A
Bluetooth
N/A
N/A
PCB (Estimated)
9.7 ms
3.4 ms
Multi-Key Latency
7.8
8.0
Latency Video
Multi-Key Latency Graph
Connection Evaluated
Wired
Wired
Key Press
12.6 ms
5.1 ms
Key Release
11.7 ms
30.6 ms
Data Transmission
8.7
7.7
Multi-Key Raw USB
Connection Evaluated
Wired
Wired
USB Polling Rate
1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz
Effective Update Rate
1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
No
Multiple Keys Per USB Report
Yes
Yes
Chord Split
8.0
8.4
Chord Split Graph
4 Chord Split Delay
5.4 ms
4.6 ms
8 Chord Split Delay
11.3 ms
8.1 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
Yes
Yes
Profiles
5
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 7 TKL
Razer BlackWidow Elite
Comments
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL vs Razer BlackWidow Elite: Main Discussion
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