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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 vs Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

SteelSeries Apex Pro
Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 21, 2024 07:55 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated May 29, 2023 03:11 PM

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Amazon.com
SteelSeries Apex Pro Picture
Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed Picture

Variants

  • Apex Pro (Black)
  • BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed (Black)
  • BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed (Phantom Edition)

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex Pro

Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed

The SteelSeries Apex Pro and the Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed are fantastic mechanical gaming keyboards, but the SteelSeries offers more features. The SteelSeries is a full-size board with a programmable OLED screen, a USB passthrough, and a volume control wheel. The SteelSeries comes with proprietary linear OmniPoint switches, which let you change the pre-travel distance needed to actuate a key. On the other hand, the Razer is a 65% compact board that can pair with up to three devices at once via Bluetooth, and it's available with linear Razer Yellow or clicky Razer Green switches. The Razer also has lower latency.

0 

Check Price

Black
Apex Pro
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Phantom Edition
BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro
B&H
 
Black
Apex Pro
Walmart.com
 
Read more

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.6
9.0

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
1.8 mm

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
10

Operating Force 
 

41 gf
58 gf

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Top Picture
Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed Top Picture

Size 
 

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

Height 
 

1.6" (4.0 cm)
1.6" (4.1 cm)

Width  

17.2" (43.7 cm)
12.5" (31.8 cm)

Depth 
 

5.5" (13.9 cm)
5.1" (13.1 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

8.3" (21.1 cm)
N/A

Weight 
 

2.14 lbs (0.970 kg)
1.59 lbs (0.723 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
7.5

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Build Quality Close Up
Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.5

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Side Picture
Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
Straight

Split Keyboard 
 

No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

4.5°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

11°

Home Row Height 
 

33.0 mm (1.3")

Wrist Rest  

No
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

6.0

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex Pro 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 
 

No

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Soldered

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Backlight Features 
 

10
9.9

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Backlighting Picture
Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Max
Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Min
Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed Brightness Min

White Shot 
 

SteelSeries Apex Pro White Shot
Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed White Shot

RGB 
 

Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes

Color 
 

RGB

Color Mixing 
 

Good
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex Pro White Shot
Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed White Shot
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wireless

Detachable 
 

No
Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)

Length  

5.9 ft (1.8 m)
6.6 ft (2.0 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

Not Detachable
USB type-C
Show Text 

Wireless Versatility 
 

0.0
10

Bluetooth 
 

No
Yes

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

No
3

Proprietary Receiver 
 

No
Yes

Battery Type 
 

No Batteries
Rechargeable
Show Text 

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

5.5

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Yes

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Extra Features
Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Non-Dedicated
Hot Keys

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

Yes
No

Control Knob 
 

No

USB Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

Numpad  

Yes
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps & Num Lock
Caps Lock

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

All
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Bundle Picture
Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
7.0

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

7.2
7.0

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

53.7 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No

Noise 
 

Loud
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

OmniPoint
Razer Green

Switch Type 
 

Hall-effect

Feel 
 

Linear
Clicky

Analog 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

OmniPoint
Razer Green

Mechanical 
 

Yes

Feel 
 

Linear
Clicky

Operating Force 
 

41 gf
58 gf

Actuation Force 
 

41 gf
54 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
1.8 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.2 mm
4.0 mm
Show Text 

Latency 
 

9.0
10

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

4.1 ms
1.2 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
0.8 ms

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
9.5 ms
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
10

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
1.2 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
0.8 ms

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
9.5 ms

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 Picture  

Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed Software Picture

Software Tour  

Software Name  

Steelseries Engine
Razer Synapse 3

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
No

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 
 

10
8.5

Windows 
 

Fully Compatible
Full

macOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Partial

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Fully Compatible
Partial

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Windows, MacOS & Linux

Android  

Not Compatible
Partial

iOS  

Not Compatible
Partial

iPadOS  

Not Compatible
Partial
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

0.0

Android 
 

Not Compatible
Partial

iOS 
 

Not Compatible
Partial

iPadOS 
 

Not Compatible
Partial

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Not Compatible

Check Price

Black
Apex Pro
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Phantom Edition
BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro
B&H
 
Black
Apex Pro
Walmart.com
 

SteelSeries Apex Pro

Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed

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SteelSeries Apex Pro vs Razer BlackWidow V3 Mini HyperSpeed: Main Discussion

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