Get insider access
Preferred store
Notice: Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
Notice: 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
    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 ROCCAT Magma

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

SteelSeries Apex Pro
ROCCAT Magma

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 21, 2024 07:55 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Nov 08, 2023 02:36 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
SteelSeries Apex Pro Picture
ROCCAT Magma Picture

Variants

  • Apex Pro (Black)
  • Magma (100%)
  • Magma Mini (60%)

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex Pro

ROCCAT Magma

The SteelSeries Apex Pro is an overall better gaming keyboard than the ROCCAT Magma. The SteelSeries uses proprietary linear OmniPoint switches, which lets you adjust the operating force to your preferences. It has much lower latency, individually-lit keys, and you can set macros to any key on the board. Comparatively, the ROCCAT only lets you set macros to certain keys, activated when in Game Mode only.

0 
Read more

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.6
7.7

Backlight Features 
 

10
5.7

Operating Force 
 

41 gf
58 gf

Build Quality 
 

8.0
7.0

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
2.4 mm

Computer Compatibility 
 

10
7.2

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Top Picture
ROCCAT Magma Top Picture

Size 
 

Full-size (100%)
Full-size (100%)

Height 
 

1.6" (4.0 cm)
1.3" (3.4 cm)

Width  

17.2" (43.7 cm)
17.7" (45.0 cm)

Depth 
 

5.5" (13.9 cm)
6.1" (15.5 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

8.3" (21.1 cm)
9.1" (23.0 cm)

Weight 
 

2.14 lbs (0.970 kg)
1.51 lbs (0.684 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
7.0

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Build Quality Close Up
ROCCAT Magma Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
7.5

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Side Picture
ROCCAT Magma Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
Straight

Split Keyboard 
 

No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

4.5°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

11°

Home Row Height 
 

33.0 mm (1.3")

Wrist Rest  

Detachable
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
5.7

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Backlighting Picture
ROCCAT Magma Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Max
ROCCAT Magma Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Min
ROCCAT Magma Brightness Min

White Shot 
 

SteelSeries Apex Pro White Shot
ROCCAT Magma White Shot

RGB 
 

Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
No

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes

Color 
 

RGB

Color Mixing 
 

Great
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex Pro White Shot
ROCCAT Magma White Shot
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

No
No

Length  

5.9 ft (1.8 m)
6.1 ft (1.9 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

Not Detachable
Not Detachable
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

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Extra Features
ROCCAT Magma 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
Yes

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps & Num Lock
Caps, Scroll & Num lock

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

Dedicated only
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Bundle Picture
ROCCAT Magma 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
10

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

53.7 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No

Noise 
 

Very Quiet
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

OmniPoint
Rubber Dome

Switch Type 
 

Hall-effect

Feel 
 

Linear
Tactile

Analog 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

OmniPoint
Rubber Dome

Mechanical 
 

No

Feel 
 

Linear
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

41 gf
58 gf

Actuation Force 
 

41 gf
37 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
2.4 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.2 mm
3.8 mm
Show Text 

Latency 
 

9.0
8.8

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

4.1 ms
6.1 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
8.8

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
6.1 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

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 Picture  

ROCCAT Magma Software Picture

Software Tour  

Software Name  

Steelseries Engine
ROCCAT Swarm

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
No

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
Yes

Profiles 
 

6+
5

Account Required 
 

No

Cloud Sync 
 

No

Macro Programming 
 

Software

Ease Of Use 
 

Okay
Show Text 

Computer Compatibility 
 

10
7.2

Windows 
 

Fully Compatible
Full

macOS 
 

Fully Compatible
Partial

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Fully Compatible
Partial

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Windows, MacOS & Linux

Android  

Not Compatible
No

iOS  

Not Compatible
No

iPadOS  

Not Compatible
No
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

0.0

Android 
 

Not Compatible
No

iOS 
 

Not Compatible
No

iPadOS 
 

Not Compatible
No

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Not Compatible

SteelSeries Apex Pro

ROCCAT Magma

Comments

  1. Comparison

SteelSeries Apex Pro vs ROCCAT Magma: 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