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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 7 TKL vs Corsair K95 PLATINUM

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL
Corsair K95 PLATINUM

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 30, 2023 07:02 PM

SEE PRICE
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Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Apr 21, 2022 04:10 PM

SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Picture
Corsair K95 PLATINUM Picture

Variants

  • Apex 7 TKL (Black)
  • Apex 7 (Black)
  • Apex 7 TKL (Ghost Edition)
  • K95 RGB PLATINUM (Black)
  • K95 RGB PLATINUM (Gunmetal)

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL

Corsair K95 PLATINUM

The Corsair K95 PLATINUM and the SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL are both amazing keyboards, but for different reasons. The Corsair is a full-size board with extremely low pre-travel distance. It features linear Cherry MX Speed switches, while the SteelSeries is a smaller but better-built TKL board that has SteelSeries Brown switches. 

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Black
Apex 7 TKL
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Black
K95 RGB PLATINUM
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Gunmetal
K95 RGB PLATINUM
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Ghost Edition
Apex 7 TKL
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Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.3
9.4

Pre-Travel 
 

2.4 mm
1.1 mm

Single-Key Latency 
 

8.0
10

Build Quality 
 

8.5
7.5

Computer Compatibility 
 

10
7.2

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Top Picture
Corsair K95 PLATINUM Top Picture

Size 
 

TenKeyLess (80%)
Full-size (100%)

Height 
 

1.6" (4.0 cm)
1.3" (3.4 cm)

Width  

14.0" (35.5 cm)
18.3" (46.5 cm)

Depth 
 

5.5" (13.9 cm)
6.6" (16.8 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

8.3" (21.0 cm)
9.1" (23.0 cm)

Weight 
 

1.54 lbs (0.700 kg)
2.65 lbs (1.200 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.5
7.5

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Build Quality Close Up
Corsair K95 PLATINUM Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
7.5

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Side Picture
Corsair K95 PLATINUM Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
Straight

Split Keyboard 
 

No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

10.5°

Home Row Height 
 

32.2 mm (1.3")

Wrist Rest  

Detachable
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

6.0

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL 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
9.9

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Backlighting Picture
Corsair K95 PLATINUM Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Brightness Max
Corsair K95 PLATINUM Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Brightness Min
Corsair K95 PLATINUM Brightness Min

White Shot 
 

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL White Shot
Corsair K95 PLATINUM White Shot

RGB 
 

Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes

Color 
 

RGB

Color Mixing 
 

Good
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL White Shot
Corsair K95 PLATINUM White Shot

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

No
No

Length  

6.2 ft (1.9 m)
7.2 ft (2.2 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

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Yes

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Extra Features
Corsair K95 PLATINUM Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Dedicated
Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

Yes
Yes

Control Knob 
 

No

USB Passthrough 
 

Yes
Yes

Numpad  

No
Yes

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Caps, Scroll & Num lock

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

All
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Bundle Picture
Corsair K95 PLATINUM Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
8.0

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

6.0
7.0

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

60.0 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No

Noise 
 

Loud
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

SteelSeries Brown
Cherry MX Speed

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical

Feel 
 

Tactile
Linear

Analog 
 

No

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

SteelSeries Brown
Cherry MX Speed

Mechanical 
 

Yes

Feel 
 

Tactile
Linear

Operating Force 
 

44 gf
45 gf

Actuation Force 
 

37 gf
42 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.4 mm
1.1 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.1 mm
3.4 mm
Show Text 

Latency 
 

8.0
10

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

11.9 ms
1.8 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

8.0
10

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

11.9 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±1.3 ms

Wired 
 

11.9 ms
1.8 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

9.7 ms
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

7.8

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

Key Press 
 

12.6 ms

Key Release 
 

11.7 ms
Show Text 

Data Transmission 
 

8.7

Multi-Key Raw USB  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL 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
Show Text 

Chord Split 
 

8.0

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

5.4 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

11.3 ms
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Picture  

Corsair K95 PLATINUM Software Picture

Software Tour  

Software Name  

Steelseries Engine
iCUE

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
Yes

Profiles 
 

5
6+

Account Required 
 

No

Cloud Sync 
 

No

Macro Programming 
 

Software and Onboard

Ease Of Use 
 

Easy
Show Text 

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
Show Text 

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
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Black
K95 RGB PLATINUM
Searching
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Gunmetal
K95 RGB PLATINUM
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Ghost Edition
Apex 7 TKL
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SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL

Corsair K95 PLATINUM

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  1. Comparison

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL vs Corsair K95 PLATINUM: Main Discussion

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