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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
    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 Mini vs Corsair K65 PRO MINI

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini
Corsair K65 PRO MINI

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jun 04, 2024 05:29 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Feb 06, 2025 09:46 PM

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Amazon.com
SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Picture
Corsair K65 PRO MINI Picture

Variants

  • Apex Pro Mini (Black)
  • Apex Pro Mini (Ghost Edition)
  • K65 PRO MINI (Black)

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini

Corsair K65 PRO MINI

The Corsair K65 PRO MINI and the SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini are wired mechanical gaming keyboards. The Corsair uses liner OPX optical switches and has a higher maximum polling rate of 8000Hz. It's also slightly larger, with a compact (65%) form factor that includes dedicated arrow keys and several navigation keys, which the SteelSeries lacks. On the other hand, the SteelSeries uses optical OmniPoint 2.0 switches, allowing you to customize individual keys' pre-travel distance.

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Black
Apex Pro Mini
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K65 PRO MINI
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Ghost Edition
Apex Pro Mini
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K65 PRO MINI
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K65 PRO MINI
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K65 PRO MINI
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Notice: Two or more of the products selected have been tested with different test methodologies, so some of the results below aren't directly comparable. Learn how our test benches and scoring system work, and read more about the latest changes to our keyboards test methodology.

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

9.2
8.9

Operating Force 
 

40 gf
35 gf

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Top Picture
Corsair K65 PRO MINI Top Picture

Size 
 

Compact (60%)
Compact (65%)

Height 
 

1.6" (4.0 cm)
1.5" (3.7 cm)

Width  

11.5" (29.3 cm)
12.4" (31.5 cm)

Depth 
 

4.0" (10.2 cm)
4.2" (10.6 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
N/A

Weight 
 

1.33 lbs (0.604 kg)
1.46 lbs (0.661 kg)

Show text

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.0

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Build Quality Close Up
Corsair K65 PRO MINI Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

PBT
PBT

Show text

Ergonomics 
 

6.5
6.0

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Side Picture
Corsair K65 PRO MINI Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

Straight
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

4.5°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

11°

Home Row Height 
 

31.2 mm (1.2")

Wrist Rest  

No

Show text

Hardware Customizability 
 

8.2

Customizability Overview  

Corsair K65 PRO MINI Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Yes

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Plate-Mounted

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

6.25u

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

1.25u

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

Yes

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Non-Cherry Pinout

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes

Show text

Backlight Features 
 

9.6
10

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Backlighting Picture
Corsair K65 PRO MINI Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Brightness Max
Corsair K65 PRO MINI Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Brightness Min
Corsair K65 PRO MINI Brightness Min

White Shot 
 

SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini White Shot
Corsair K65 PRO MINI White Shot

RGB 
 

Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes

Color 
 

RGB

Color Mixing 
 

Poor

Show text

Backlight Clarity 
 

8.0

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini White Shot
Corsair K65 PRO MINI White Shot

Show text

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

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

Length  

7.3 ft (2.2 m)
6.1 ft (1.9 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

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Yes

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes

Show text

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Extra Features
Corsair K65 PRO MINI Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Hot Keys
Non-Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
No

Control Knob 
 

No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

No
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Caps & Scroll Lock

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

All

Show text

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Bundle Picture
Corsair K65 PRO MINI Bundle Picture

Show text

Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
7.5

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")

Show text

Typing Noise 
 

9.0
8.1

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

49.4 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No

Noise 
 

Quiet

Show text

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

OmniPoint 2.0
CORSAIR OPX

Switch Type 
 

Optical

Feel 
 

Linear
Linear

Analog 
 

No

Show text

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

OmniPoint 2.0
CORSAIR OPX

Mechanical 
 

Yes

Feel 
 

Linear
Linear

Operating Force 
 

40 gf
35 gf

Actuation Force 
 

41 gf
35 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
0.9 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.2 mm
3.1 mm

Show text

Latency 
 

10
9.8

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

1.9 ms
0.8 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

Show text

Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

10
9.8

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

0.8 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±0.1 ms

Wired 
 

1.9 ms
0.8 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

0.0 ms

Show text

Multi-Key Latency 
 

9.5

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

Key Press 
 

0.9 ms

Key Release 
 

8.5 ms

Data Transmission 
 

9.6

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Corsair K65 PRO MINI Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

USB Polling Rate 
 

8,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

8,000 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Yes

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Yes

Chord Split 
 

8.3

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

5.1 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

8.7 ms
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini Software Picture

Software Tour  

Software Name  

SteelSeries GG
iCUE

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
Yes

Profiles 
 

6+
6+

Account Required 
 

No

Cloud Sync 
 

Yes

Macro Programming 
 

Software and Onboard

Ease Of Use 
 

Easy

Show text

Computer Compatibility 
 

8.2
10

Windows 
 

Full
Fully Compatible

macOS 
 

Full
Fully Compatible

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Full
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Windows, MacOS & Linux

Android  

No
Not Compatible

iOS  

No
Not Compatible

iPadOS  

No
Not Compatible

Show text

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

0.0

Android 
 

No
Not Compatible

iOS 
 

No
Not Compatible

iPadOS 
 

No
Not Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Not Compatible

Show text

Check Price

Black
Apex Pro Mini
Searching
Finding store
Black
K65 PRO MINI
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Ghost Edition
Apex Pro Mini
Searching
Finding store
Black
K65 PRO MINI
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
 
Black
K65 PRO MINI
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 
Black
K65 PRO MINI
B&H

SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini

Corsair K65 PRO MINI

Comments

  1. Comparison

SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini vs Corsair K65 PRO MINI: Main Discussion

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