Get insider access
Preferred store
Notice: 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
    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 Pro vs ASUS ROG Falchion

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

SteelSeries Apex Pro
ASUS ROG Falchion

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 21, 2024 07:55 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Nov 21, 2023 06:07 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
SteelSeries Apex Pro Picture
ASUS ROG Falchion Picture

Variants

  • Apex Pro (Black)
  • ROG Falchion (Black)
  • ROG Falchion NX (Black)
  • ROG Falchion Ace (White)

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex Pro

ASUS ROG Falchion

The SteelSeries Apex Pro and the ASUS ROG Falchion are both outstanding gaming keyboards. If you prefer a wired and full-size model, the SteelSeries is better. It has a USB passthrough, a volume control wheel, and a programmable OLED screen. It uses proprietary linear OmniPoint switches, which let you adjust the operating force to your preference. The ASUS is better if you prefer a wireless and 65% compact board. It has a much lower wired latency, and it's available with different Cherry MX switches. While the ASUS doesn't have a volume control wheel, it does have a touch panel that can control volume, and you can even reprogram it to perform other tasks.

0 

Check Price

Black
ROG Falchion
Searching
Finding store
Black
ROG Falchion NX
Searching
Finding store
White
ROG Falchion Ace
Searching
Finding store
 
 
Read more

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.6
9.0

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
9.9

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
2.1 mm

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Top Picture
ASUS ROG Falchion Top Picture

Size 
 

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

Height 
 

1.6" (4.0 cm)
1.5" (3.8 cm)

Width  

17.2" (43.7 cm)
12.0" (30.5 cm)

Depth 
 

5.5" (13.9 cm)
4.0" (10.2 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

8.3" (21.1 cm)
N/A

Weight 
 

2.14 lbs (0.970 kg)
1.16 lbs (0.525 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Build Quality Close Up
ASUS ROG Falchion Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
PBT
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Side Picture
ASUS ROG Falchion Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

4.5°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

11°
8.5°

Home Row Height 
 

33.0 mm (1.3")
30.1 mm (1.2")
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

6.0
3.1

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Customizability Overview
ASUS ROG Falchion 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
1.25u

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
Show Text 

Backlight Features 
 

10
10

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Backlighting Picture
ASUS ROG Falchion Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Max
ASUS ROG Falchion Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Min
ASUS ROG Falchion Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0
8.0

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex Pro White Shot
ASUS ROG Falchion White Shot
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wireless

Detachable 
 

No
Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)

Length  

5.9 ft (1.8 m)
6.2 ft (1.9 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

Not Detachable
USB type-C
Show Text 

Wireless Versatility 
 

0.0
1.3

Bluetooth 
 

No
No

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

No
No

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
Yes

Battery Type 
 

No Batteries
Rechargeable
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 Pro Extra Features
ASUS ROG Falchion Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Non-Dedicated
Non-Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

Yes
No

Control Knob 
 

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

Numpad  

Yes
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps & Num Lock
Caps Lock
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Bundle Picture
ASUS ROG Falchion Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
8.5

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

7.2
7.9

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

53.7 dBA
50.6 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

OmniPoint
Cherry MX Red

Switch Type 
 

Hall-effect
Mechanical

Feel 
 

Linear
Linear

Analog 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Operating Force 
 

41 gf
47 gf

Actuation Force 
 

41 gf
48 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
2.1 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.2 mm
4.0 mm
Show Text 

Latency 
 

9.0
9.9

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

4.1 ms
1.3 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
3.7 ms

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
9.9

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

4.1 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±0.5 ms

Wired 
 

4.1 ms
1.3 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
3.7 ms

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

N/A
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

8.7

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

Key Press 
 

4.1 ms

Key Release 
 

8.2 ms

Data Transmission 
 

8.7

Multi-Key Raw USB  

SteelSeries Apex Pro 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 
 

7.9

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

5.9 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

8.7 ms
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

Steelseries Engine
Armoury Crate

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
No

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
ROG Falchion
Searching
Finding store
Black
ROG Falchion NX
Searching
Finding store
White
ROG Falchion Ace
Searching
Finding store
 
 

SteelSeries Apex Pro

ASUS ROG Falchion

Comments

  1. Comparison

SteelSeries Apex Pro vs ASUS ROG Falchion: 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