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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 Pro vs Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

SteelSeries Apex Pro
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 21, 2024 07:55 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Mar 14, 2025 05:34 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
SteelSeries Apex Pro Picture
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Picture
ConnectivityWired
Size
Full-size (100%)
Switch Type
Hall-effect
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
ConnectivityWired
Size
Compact (65%)
Switch Type
Scissor
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
No
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. iPad

Variants

  • Apex Pro (Black)
  • Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11" (Black)
  • Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11" (White)

Review

See SteelSeries Apex Pro Review
See Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Review
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Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex Pro

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021

The Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 and the SteelSeries Apex Pro are keyboards made for very different uses. The Apple is a folio board made for the 11" and 12" iPad Pro and 11" iPad Air only. It uses a Smart Connector to pair to the iPad, and you can't use it with any other device. On the other hand, the SteelSeries is a mechanical gaming keyboard with proprietary OmniPoint switches that let you set the operating force to your needs. It's fully compatible with Windows and macOS, and although the customization software isn't available on Linux, all of the keys should still work.

0 

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Black
Apex Pro
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Black
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
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Black
Apex Pro
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White
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
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Black
Apex Pro
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Black
Apex Pro
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Black
Apex Pro
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Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.6
3.1

Data Transmission 
 

8.7
0.0

Computer Compatibility 
 

10
0.0

Backlight Features 
 

10
6.0

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Top Picture
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Top Picture

Size 
 

Full-size (100%)
Compact (65%)

Height 
 

1.6" (4.0 cm)
0.2" (0.5 cm)

Width  

17.2" (43.7 cm)
9.8" (24.9 cm)

Depth 
 

5.5" (13.9 cm)
7.7" (19.5 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

8.3" (21.1 cm)
N/A

Weight 
 

2.14 lbs (0.970 kg)
1.32 lbs (0.600 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Build Quality Close Up
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
7.0

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Side Picture
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

4.5°
0°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

11°
N/A

Home Row Height 
 

33.0 mm (1.3")
6.3 mm (0.2")
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

6.0
0.0

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Customizability Overview
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 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
Non-Customizable Design

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Soldered
Non-Customizable Design

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes
Non-Customizable Design
Show Text 

Backlight Features 
 

10
6.0

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Backlighting Picture
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Max
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Min
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
No

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
No

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0
9.0

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex Pro White Shot
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 White Shot
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

No
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)

Length  

5.9 ft (1.8 m)
N/A

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

Not Detachable
Apple Smart Connector
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
0.0

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Yes
No

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes
No

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Extra Features
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Non-Dedicated
No Media Keys

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
Yes

Scroll Wheel 
 

Yes
No

Control Knob 
 

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

Numpad  

Yes
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
No

Lock Indicator  

Caps & Num Lock
Caps Lock
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Bundle Picture
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
7.5

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
18.0 mm (0.709")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

7.2
10

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

53.7 dBA
33.3 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

OmniPoint
No Marketed Name

Switch Type 
 

Hall-effect
Scissor

Feel 
 

Linear
Tactile

Analog 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Operating Force 
 

41 gf
60 gf

Actuation Force 
 

41 gf
36 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
0.8 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.2 mm
0.7 mm
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
0.0

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Single-Key Latency Graph

Best Connection 
 

4.1 ms
N/A

Best Connection Std Dev  

±0.5 ms
N/A

Wired 
 

4.1 ms
N/A

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

8.7
0.0

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Multi-Key Latency Graph

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
N/A

Key Press 
 

4.1 ms
N/A

Key Release 
 

8.2 ms
N/A

Data Transmission 
 

8.7
0.0

Multi-Key Raw USB  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Multi-Key Raw USB
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
N/A

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz
N/A

Effective Update Rate 
 

1,000 Hz
N/A

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Yes
No

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Yes
N/A

Chord Split 
 

7.9
0.0

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Chord Split Graph

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

5.9 ms
N/A

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

8.7 ms
N/A
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

Steelseries Engine
No Software

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
No

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
No

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
No

Profiles 
 

6+
No Profile
Show Text 

Computer Compatibility 
 

10
0.0

Windows 
 

Fully Compatible
Not Compatible

macOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Not Compatible

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Fully Compatible
Not Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Windows, MacOS & Linux
Not Compatible
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

0.0
3.3

Android 
 

Not Compatible
Not Compatible

iOS 
 

Not Compatible
Not Compatible

iPadOS 
 

Not Compatible
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Not Compatible
iPad
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
Apex Pro
Searching
Finding store
Black
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
Searching
Finding store
Black
Apex Pro
Searching
Finding store
White
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
Searching
Finding store
Black
Apex Pro
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
Apex Pro
Searching
Finding store
 
Black
Apex Pro
Searching
Finding store
 
Back to Top

SteelSeries Apex Pro

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

SteelSeries Apex Pro vs Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021: Main Discussion

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