Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
Like what we do? We're currently hiring a Staff Writer for Computers. Join our team!
  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 Ducky One 2 Mini V1

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

SteelSeries Apex Pro
Ducky One 2 Mini V1

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 21, 2024 07:55 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:19 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
SteelSeries Apex Pro Picture
Ducky One 2 Mini V1 Picture

Variants

  • Apex Pro (Black)
  • One 2 Mini V1 (Black)
  • One 2 Mini V1 (Horizon)
  • One 2 Mini V1 (White)

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex Pro

Ducky One 2 Mini V1

The SteelSeries Apex Pro and the Ducky One 2 Mini V1 are very different. The SteelSeries is a full-size keyboard, while the Ducky has a compact 60% design. The SteelSeries has a better build quality and is more comfortable to type on. It also has more features, like an OLED screen and a USB passthrough. The SteelSeries is better for gaming because it has lower latency, and it lets you customize the pre-travel distance to your liking. That said, the Ducky provides a better typing experience, and you can choose the type of switch that you want.

0

Check Price

Black
Apex Pro
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
One 2 Mini V1
Searching
Finding store
Black
Apex Pro
Amazon.com
Horizon
One 2 Mini V1
Searching
Finding store
 
White
One 2 Mini V1
Searching
Finding store

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.6
8.1

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
7.9

Multi-Key Latency 
 

8.7
7.7

Backlight Features 
 

10
8.5

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Top Picture
Ducky One 2 Mini V1 Top Picture

Size 
 

Full-size (100%)
Compact (60%)

Height 
 

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

Width  

17.2" (43.7 cm)
12.4" (31.5 cm)

Depth 
 

5.5" (13.9 cm)
4.2" (10.7 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
8.0

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Build Quality Close Up
Ducky One 2 Mini V1 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
PBT

Show text

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Side Picture
Ducky One 2 Mini V1 Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

4.5°
5.8°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

11°
13.6°

Home Row Height 
 

33.0 mm (1.3")
31.2 mm (1.2")

Show text

Hardware Customizability 
 

6.0
6.0

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Customizability Overview
Ducky One 2 Mini V1 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 
 

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
8.5

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Backlighting Picture
Ducky One 2 Mini V1 Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Max
Ducky One 2 Mini V1 Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Min
Ducky One 2 Mini V1 Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
No

Show text

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0
9.0

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex Pro White Shot
Ducky One 2 Mini V1 White Shot

Show text

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

No
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)

Length  

5.9 ft (1.8 m)
5.2 ft (1.6 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

Not Detachable
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
1.5

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Yes
Yes

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes
No

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Extra Features
Ducky One 2 Mini V1 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
Ducky One 2 Mini V1 Bundle Picture

Show text

Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
9.0

Key Spacing 
 

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

Show text

Typing Noise 
 

7.2
8.7

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

53.7 dBA
46.9 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
No

Show text

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

OmniPoint
Cherry MX Brown

Switch Type 
 

Hall-effect
Mechanical

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
55 gf

Actuation Force 
 

41 gf
44 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
2.1 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.2 mm
4.0 mm

Show text

Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
7.9

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

4.1 ms
15.8 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±0.5 ms
±0.7 ms

Wired 
 

4.1 ms
15.8 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

N/A
13.8 ms

Show text

Multi-Key Latency 
 

8.7
7.7

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Wired

Key Press 
 

4.1 ms
16.0 ms

Key Release 
 

8.2 ms
6.4 ms

Data Transmission 
 

8.7
8.7

Multi-Key Raw USB  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Multi-Key Raw USB
Ducky One 2 Mini V1 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

Chord Split 
 

7.9
7.6

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

5.9 ms
6.2 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

8.7 ms
13.9 ms
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
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 Pro
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
One 2 Mini V1
Searching
Finding store
Black
Apex Pro
Amazon.com
Horizon
One 2 Mini V1
Searching
Finding store
 
White
One 2 Mini V1
Searching
Finding store

SteelSeries Apex Pro

Ducky One 2 Mini V1

Comments

  1. Comparison

SteelSeries Apex Pro vs Ducky One 2 Mini V1: 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