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- Table of Contents
- Top
- Main Differences
- Design
- Typing Experience
- Performance
- Software and Operating System
- Comments
SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini vs SteelSeries Apex 9
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini
SteelSeries Apex 9
Tested using Methodology v1.0
Updated Jun 04, 2024 05:29 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.3.1
Updated Feb 06, 2025 09:55 PM
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Missing store
ConnectivityWired
SizeCompact (60%)
MechanicalYes
ConnectivityWired
SizeTenKeyLess (80%)
Switch TypeOptical
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)Yes
Hot-Swappable SwitchesYes
Variants
- Apex Pro Mini (Black)
- Apex Pro Mini (Ghost Edition)
- Apex 9 TKL (Black)
- Apex 9 Mini (Black)
- Apex 9 Mini (FaZe Clan Limited Edition)
Our Verdict
SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini
SteelSeries Apex 9
The SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini and the SteelSeries Apex 9 are both premium gaming keyboards. The major difference between the two is that the Apex Pro Mini uses OmniPoint 2.0 switches, which allow you to adjust the pre-travel distance within a wide range, while the Apex 9 uses OptiPoint switches which have two fixed presets for your pre-travel distance. Otherwise, the two keyboards offer similar incredible performance with very low latency.
Check Price
Black
Apex Pro Mini
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Finding storeBlack
Apex 9 TKL
Searching
Finding storeGhost Edition
Apex Pro Mini
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Finding storeBlack
Apex 9 Mini
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Finding storeFaZe Clan Limited Edition
Apex 9 Mini
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Finding storeNotice: 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.
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Main Differences forGaming
Gaming
Threshold
Gaming
9.2
8.7
Pre-Travel
2.2 mm
1.1 mm
Operating Force
40 gf
34 gf
Latency
10
9.2
Full Comparison
Design
Dimensions
Top Picture
Size
Compact (60%)
TenKeyLess (80%)
Height
1.6" (4.0 cm)
1.6" (4.1 cm)
Width
11.5" (29.3 cm)
14.0" (35.5 cm)
Depth
4.0" (10.2 cm)
5.0" (12.8 cm)
Depth With Wrist Rest
N/A
N/A
Weight
1.33 lbs (0.604 kg)
1.41 lbs (0.640 kg)
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
Build Quality Close Up
Keycap Material
PBT
PBT
Ergonomics
6.5
6.0
Side Picture
Curved/Angled
Straight
No
Split Keyboard
No
Key Alignment
Staggered
Minimum Incline
4.5°
4°
Medium Incline
7°
7°
Maximum Incline
11°
11°
Home Row Height
33.3 mm (1.3")
Wrist Rest
No
Hardware Customizability
7.4
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-Customizable Design
North-Facing Cherry MX Interference
Yes
Backlight Features
9.6
10
Backlighting Picture
Brightness Max
Backlighting
Yes
Yes
Brightness Min
White Shot
RGB
Yes
Per-Key Backlighting
Yes
Yes
Effects
Yes
Yes
Software Controllable
Yes
Yes
Color
RGB
Color Mixing
Poor
Backlight Clarity
8.0
White Shot
Cable & Connector
Connectivity
Wired
Wired
Detachable
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)
Length
7.3 ft (2.2 m)
7.5 ft (2.3 m)
Connector (Keyboard side)
USB type-C
USB type-C
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
Macro Keys And Programming
5.5
Dedicated Macro Keys Count
0
Onboard Macro Programming
Yes
Macro Programming With Software
Yes
Extra Features
Extra Features
Media Keys
Hot Keys
Dedicated
Trackpad / Trackball
No
No
Scroll Wheel
No
Yes
Control Knob
No
USB Passthrough
No
No
Numpad
No
No
Windows Key Lock
Yes
Yes
Lock Indicator
Caps Lock
Caps Lock
Macro Programmable Keys
All
In The Box
Bundle Picture
Typing Experience
Typing Quality
8.0
8.0
Key Spacing
19.0 mm (0.748")
Typing Noise
9.0
7.5
Typing Sample
Average Loudness
52.2 dBA
High Pitch Clicks
No
Noise
Quiet
Switches
Wobble Video
Switch Name
OmniPoint 2.0
SteelSeries Linear OptiPoint Optical
Switch Type
Optical
Feel
Linear
Linear
Analog
No
Keystrokes
Key Switch Actuation Graph
Key Switches
OmniPoint 2.0
SteelSeries Linear OptiPoint Optical
Mechanical
Yes
Feel
Linear
Linear
Operating Force
40 gf
34 gf
Actuation Force
41 gf
35 gf
Pre-Travel
2.2 mm
1.1 mm
Total Travel
4.2 mm
3.2 mm
Latency
10
9.2
Latency Video
Latency Wired
1.9 ms
3.0 ms
Latency Receiver
N/A
N/A
Latency Bluetooth
N/A
N/A
Performance
Single-Key Latency
10
9.2
Single-Key Latency Graph
Best Connection
3.0 ms
Best Connection Std Dev
±0.4 ms
Wired
1.9 ms
3.0 ms
Receiver
N/A
N/A
Bluetooth
N/A
N/A
PCB (Estimated)
2.0 ms
Multi-Key Latency
8.9
Latency Video
Multi-Key Latency Graph
Connection Evaluated
Wired
Key Press
3.0 ms
Key Release
9.0 ms
Data Transmission
8.7
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
7.6
Chord Split Graph
4 Chord Split Delay
6.8 ms
8 Chord Split Delay
9.7 ms
Software and Operating System
Configuration Software
Software Picture
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+
Account Required
No
Cloud Sync
Yes
Macro Programming
Software and Onboard
Ease Of Use
Easy
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
Wireless Mobile Compatibility
0.0
Android
No
Not Compatible
iOS
No
Not Compatible
iPadOS
No
Not Compatible
Media Key Compatibility
Not Compatible
Check Price
Black
Apex Pro Mini
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Apex 9 TKL
Searching
Finding storeGhost Edition
Apex Pro Mini
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Finding storeBlack
Apex 9 Mini
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Finding storeFaZe Clan Limited Edition
Apex 9 Mini
Searching
Finding store
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SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini
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Comments
SteelSeries Apex Pro Mini vs SteelSeries Apex 9: Main Discussion
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