Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
  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 9 vs SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

SteelSeries Apex 9
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023)

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Feb 06, 2025 09:55 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Dec 02, 2024 03:46 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
SteelSeries Apex 9 Picture
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Picture

Variants

  • Apex 9 TKL (Black)
  • Apex 9 Mini (Black)
  • Apex 9 Mini (FaZe Clan Limited Edition)
  • Apex Pro TKL (2023) (Black)

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex 9

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023)

The SteelSeries Apex 9 and the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) are TenKeyLess mechanical gaming keyboards with switches that allow you to adjust the auction point of individual keys. The Apex 9 uses OptiPoint switches that offer only two actuation point settings. On the other hand, the Apex Pro TKL (2023) uses OmniPoint switches which let you adjust the actuation point more precisely by increments of 0.1mm within a wider range. It also has an OLED screen and an included wrist rest, both of which the Apex 9 lacks.

0

Check Price

Black
Apex 9 TKL
Searching
Finding store
Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
Searching
Finding store
Black
Apex 9 Mini
Searching
Finding store
Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
Searching
Finding store
FaZe Clan Limited Edition
Apex 9 Mini
Searching
Finding store
Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
Searching
Finding store

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.7
8.6
No major differences between these keyboards for gaming. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 9 Top Picture
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Top Picture

Size 
 

TenKeyLess (80%)
TenKeyLess (80%)

Height 
 

1.6" (4.1 cm)
1.7" (4.2 cm)

Width  

14.0" (35.5 cm)
13.9" (35.4 cm)

Depth 
 

5.0" (12.8 cm)
5.1" (12.8 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
8.3" (21.1 cm)

Weight 
 

1.41 lbs (0.640 kg)
1.62 lbs (0.737 kg)

Show text

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.0

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex 9 Build Quality Close Up
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

PBT
PBT

Show text

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 9 Side Picture
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

Medium Incline 
 

Maximum Incline 
 

11°
11°

Home Row Height 
 

33.3 mm (1.3")
34.1 mm (1.3")

Show text

Hardware Customizability 
 

7.4
6.0

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex 9 Customizability Overview
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) 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 
 

Yes
No

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style
Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Non-Customizable Design
Soldered

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Backlight Features 
 

10
10

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 9 Backlighting Picture
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex 9 Brightness Max
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex 9 Brightness Min
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Backlight Clarity 
 

8.0
9.0

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex 9 White Shot
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) White Shot

Show text

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)

Length  

7.5 ft (2.3 m)
7.4 ft (2.3 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

USB type-C
USB type-C

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 9 Extra Features
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Dedicated
Non-Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

Yes
Yes

Control Knob 
 

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

No
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Caps Lock

Show text

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 9 Bundle Picture
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Bundle Picture

Show text

Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
8.0

Key Spacing 
 

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

Show text

Typing Noise 
 

7.5
6.9

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

52.2 dBA
55.2 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
No

Show text

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

SteelSeries Linear OptiPoint Optical
OmniPoint 2.0

Switch Type 
 

Optical
Hall-effect

Feel 
 

Linear
Linear

Analog 
 

No
Yes

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Operating Force 
 

34 gf
40 gf

Actuation Force 
 

35 gf
40 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

1.1 mm
2.1 mm

Total Travel 
 

3.2 mm
4.2 mm

Show text

Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.2
9.0

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

3.0 ms
3.8 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±0.4 ms
±0.6 ms

Wired 
 

3.0 ms
3.8 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

2.0 ms
N/A

Show text

Multi-Key Latency 
 

8.9
8.7

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Wired

Key Press 
 

3.0 ms
3.7 ms

Key Release 
 

9.0 ms
11.1 ms

Show text

Data Transmission 
 

8.7
8.7

Multi-Key Raw USB  

SteelSeries Apex 9 Multi-Key Raw USB
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) 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
Yes

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Chord Split 
 

7.6
7.7

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

6.8 ms
5.6 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

9.7 ms
16.1 ms
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

SteelSeries GG
SteelSeries GG

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
Yes

Profiles 
 

6+
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 9 TKL
Searching
Finding store
Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
Searching
Finding store
Black
Apex 9 Mini
Searching
Finding store
Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
Searching
Finding store
FaZe Clan Limited Edition
Apex 9 Mini
Searching
Finding store
Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
Searching
Finding store

SteelSeries Apex 9

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023)

Comments

  1. Comparison

SteelSeries Apex 9 vs SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023): Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.

PreviewBack to editorFormat guide
No comments yet, refresh to see new ones