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- Table of Contents
- Top
- Main Differences
- Design
- Typing Experience
- Performance
- Software and Operating System
- Comments
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL vs ROCCAT Vulcan TKL
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL
ROCCAT Vulcan TKL
Tested using Methodology v1.3.1
Updated Nov 30, 2023 07:02 PM
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Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.0
Updated May 14, 2024 04:59 PM
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Amazon.com
ConnectivityWired
SizeTenKeyLess (80%)
Switch TypeMechanical
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)Yes
Hot-Swappable SwitchesNo
ConnectivityWired
SizeTenKeyLess (80%)
MechanicalYes
Variants
- Apex 7 TKL (Black)
- Apex 7 (Black)
- Apex 7 TKL (Ghost Edition)
- Vulcan TKL (Black)
Our Verdict
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL
ROCCAT Vulcan TKL
The SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL and the ROCCAT Vulcan TKL are similar TenKeyLess gaming keyboards, but the SteelSeries is slightly better overall. The SteelSeries has better ergonomics with an included wrist rest, all its keys are macro-programmable, and it has a mini OLED screen. It's available in either SteelSeries linear Red, tactile Brown, or clicky Blue switches. On the other hand, the ROCCAT has low-profile keycaps with exposed switch housings that showcase the RGB lighting, and it has a removable USB-C type cable. It's available with either ROCCAT Titan Tactile or Linear switches. Unfortunately, it has significantly higher latency, and only the alphanumeric keys on the left side of the board are macro-programmable.
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Black
Apex 7 TKL
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Finding storeBlack
Vulcan TKL
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Amazon.comBlack
Apex 7
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Vulcan TKL
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Amazon.comGhost Edition
Apex 7 TKL
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Vulcan TKL
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Amazon.comBlack
Vulcan TKL
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Amazon.comBlack
Vulcan TKL
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Amazon.comBlack
Vulcan TKL
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Amazon.comNotice:
Two or more of the products selected have been tested with different test methodologies, so some of the results below aren't directly comparable.
Learn how our test benches and scoring system work, and read more about the latest changes to our
keyboards test methodology.
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Main Differences forGaming
Gaming
Threshold
Gaming
8.3
8.9
Pre-Travel
2.4 mm
1.7 mm
Computer Compatibility
10
7.2
Single-Key Latency
8.0
7.3
Operating Force
44 gf
56 gf
Full Comparison
Design
Dimensions
Top Picture
Size
TenKeyLess (80%)
TenKeyLess (80%)
Height
1.6" (4.0 cm)
1.3" (3.2 cm)
Width
14.0" (35.5 cm)
14.2" (36.0 cm)
Depth
5.5" (13.9 cm)
5.3" (13.4 cm)
Depth With Wrist Rest
8.3" (21.0 cm)
N/A
Weight
1.54 lbs (0.700 kg)
1.54 lbs (0.700 kg)
Build Quality
8.5
8.0
Build Quality Close Up
Keycap Material
ABS
ABS
Ergonomics
6.0
6.5
Side Picture
Curved/Angled
No
Straight
Split Keyboard
No
Key Alignment
Staggered
Minimum Incline
4°
2°
Medium Incline
N/A
N/A
Maximum Incline
10.5°
8°
Home Row Height
32.2 mm (1.3")
Wrist Rest
No
Hardware Customizability
6.0
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
No
Switch Stem Shape
Cherry MX Style
Switch PCB Socket
Soldered
North-Facing Cherry MX Interference
Yes
Backlight Features
10
10
Backlighting Picture
Brightness Max
Backlighting
Yes
Yes
Brightness Min
White Shot
RGB
Yes
Per-Key Backlighting
Yes
Yes
Effects
Yes
Yes
Software Controllable
Yes
Yes
Color
RGB
Color Mixing
Great
Backlight Clarity
9.0
White Shot
Cable & Connector
Connectivity
Wired
Wired
Detachable
No
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)
Length
6.2 ft (1.9 m)
5.9 ft (1.8 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
Hot Keys
Trackpad / Trackball
No
No
Scroll Wheel
Yes
Yes
Control Knob
No
USB Passthrough
Yes
No
Numpad
No
No
Windows Key Lock
Yes
Yes
Lock Indicator
Caps Lock
Caps & Scroll Lock
Macro Programmable Keys
Dedicated only
In The Box
Bundle Picture
Typing Experience
Typing Quality
8.0
7.5
Key Spacing
19.0 mm (0.748")
Typing Noise
6.0
9.0
Typing Sample
Average Loudness
60.0 dBA
High Pitch Clicks
No
Noise
Quiet
Switches
Wobble Video
Switch Name
SteelSeries Brown
ROCCAT Titan Tactile
Switch Type
Mechanical
Feel
Tactile
Tactile
Analog
No
Keystrokes
Key Switch Actuation Graph
Key Switches
SteelSeries Brown
ROCCAT Titan Tactile
Mechanical
Yes
Feel
Tactile
Tactile
Operating Force
44 gf
56 gf
Actuation Force
37 gf
43 gf
Pre-Travel
2.4 mm
1.7 mm
Total Travel
4.1 mm
4.0 mm
Latency
8.0
7.3
Latency Video
Latency Wired
11.9 ms
11.9 ms
Latency Receiver
N/A
N/A
Latency Bluetooth
N/A
N/A
Performance
Single-Key Latency
8.0
7.3
Single-Key Latency Graph
Best Connection
11.9 ms
Best Connection Std Dev
±1.3 ms
Wired
11.9 ms
11.9 ms
Receiver
N/A
N/A
Bluetooth
N/A
N/A
PCB (Estimated)
9.7 ms
Multi-Key Latency
7.8
Latency Video
Multi-Key Latency Graph
Connection Evaluated
Wired
Key Press
12.6 ms
Key Release
11.7 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
8.0
Chord Split Graph
4 Chord Split Delay
5.4 ms
8 Chord Split Delay
11.3 ms
Software and Operating System
Configuration Software
Software Picture
Software Tour
Software Name
Steelseries Engine
ROCCAT Swarm
Software Windows Compatible
Yes
Yes
Software macOS Compatible
Yes
No
Onboard Memory
Yes
Yes
Profiles
5
5
Account Required
No
Cloud Sync
No
Macro Programming
Software
Ease Of Use
Okay
Computer Compatibility
10
7.2
Windows
Fully Compatible
Full
macOS
Fully Compatible
Partial
Linux (Ubuntu 22)
Fully Compatible
Partial
Media Key Compatibility
Windows, MacOS & Linux
Android
Not Compatible
No
iOS
Not Compatible
No
iPadOS
Not Compatible
No
Wireless Mobile Compatibility
0.0
Android
Not Compatible
No
iOS
Not Compatible
No
iPadOS
Not Compatible
No
Media Key Compatibility
Not Compatible
Check Price
Black
Apex 7 TKL
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Vulcan TKL
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comBlack
Apex 7
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Vulcan TKL
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Amazon.comGhost Edition
Apex 7 TKL
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Vulcan TKL
SEARCH
Amazon.comBlack
Vulcan TKL
SEARCH
Amazon.comBlack
Vulcan TKL
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Amazon.comBlack
Vulcan TKL
SEARCH
Amazon.com
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SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL
ROCCAT Vulcan TKL
Comments
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL vs ROCCAT Vulcan TKL: Main Discussion
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