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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
  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 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.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:25 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Picture
Razer BlackWidow Elite Picture

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.

0

Check Price

Black
Apex 7 TKL
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Ghost Edition
Apex 7 TKL
Amazon.com
Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 
Black
BlackWidow Elite
B&H

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.3
8.6

Single-Key Latency 
 

8.0
8.9

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Top Picture
Razer BlackWidow Elite 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)

Show text

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Build Quality Close Up
Razer BlackWidow Elite Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS

Show text

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Side Picture
Razer BlackWidow Elite Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

Medium Incline 
 

N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

10.5°

Home Row Height 
 

32.2 mm (1.3")
33.9 mm (1.3")

Show text

Hardware Customizability 
 

6.0
2.4

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Customizability Overview
Razer BlackWidow Elite 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  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Backlighting Picture
Razer BlackWidow Elite Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Brightness Max
Razer BlackWidow Elite Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Brightness Min
Razer BlackWidow Elite Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0
9.0

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL White Shot
Razer BlackWidow Elite 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

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
5.5

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Yes
Yes

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes
Yes

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Extra Features
Razer BlackWidow Elite 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

Show text

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Bundle Picture
Razer BlackWidow Elite Bundle Picture

Show text

Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
8.5

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
19.0 mm (0.748")

Show text

Typing Noise 
 

6.0
7.5

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

60.0 dBA
52.0 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
No

Show text

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

SteelSeries Brown
Razer Orange

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical
Mechanical

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Analog 
 

No
No

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

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

Show text

Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

8.0
8.9

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

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

Show text

Multi-Key Latency 
 

7.8
8.0

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Wired

Key Press 
 

12.6 ms
5.1 ms

Key Release 
 

11.7 ms
30.6 ms

Show text

Data Transmission 
 

8.7
7.7

Multi-Key Raw USB  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Multi-Key Raw USB
Razer BlackWidow Elite 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

Show text

Chord Split 
 

8.0
8.4

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

5.4 ms
4.6 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

11.3 ms
8.1 ms

Show text

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+

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
0.0

Android 
 

Not Compatible
Not Compatible

iOS 
 

Not Compatible
Not Compatible

iPadOS 
 

Not Compatible
Not Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Not Compatible
Not Compatible

Check Price

Black
Apex 7 TKL
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Ghost Edition
Apex 7 TKL
Amazon.com
Black
BlackWidow Elite
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 
Black
BlackWidow Elite
B&H

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL

Razer BlackWidow Elite

Comments

  1. Comparison

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL vs Razer BlackWidow Elite: Main Discussion

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