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  1. Home
  2. Keyboard
  3. Compare
  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 Vulcan Pro

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

SteelSeries Apex Pro
ROCCAT Vulcan Pro

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 21, 2024 07:55 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated May 13, 2024 08:18 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
SteelSeries Apex Pro Picture
ROCCAT Vulcan Pro Picture
ConnectivityWired
Size
Full-size (100%)
Switch Type
Hall-effect
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
ConnectivityWired
Size
Full-size (100%)
Mechanical
Yes

Variants

  • Apex Pro (Black)
  • Vulcan Pro (Black)
  • Vulcan TKL Pro (Black)
  • Vulcan Pro (White)
  • Vulcan TKL Pro (White)

Review

See SteelSeries Apex Pro Review
See ROCCAT Vulcan Pro Review
3 
2 

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex Pro

ROCCAT Vulcan Pro

The SteelSeries Apex Pro is better than the ROCCAT Vulcan Pro. The SteelSeries has unique optical linear switches that allow you to customize the pre-travel distance, for a quick and responsive gaming experience. Every key is also macro-programmable. However, the ROCCAT's wrist rest isn't a dust magnet like on the SteelSeries.

0 

Check Price

Black
Apex Pro
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Vulcan Pro
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro
SEARCH
B&H
Black
Vulcan TKL Pro
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro
SEARCH
Walmart.com
White
Vulcan Pro
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
White
Vulcan TKL Pro
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Read more

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.6
9.2

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
1.5 mm

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
10

Computer Compatibility 
 

10
7.2

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Top Picture
ROCCAT Vulcan Pro Top Picture

Size 
 

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

Height 
 

1.6" (4.0 cm)
1.3" (3.2 cm)

Width  

17.2" (43.7 cm)
18.1" (46.1 cm)

Depth 
 

5.5" (13.9 cm)
6.3" (16.0 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

8.3" (21.1 cm)
9.2" (23.4 cm)

Weight 
 

2.14 lbs (0.970 kg)
2.05 lbs (0.931 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
7.5

Build Quality Close Up  

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

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
7.5

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Side Picture
ROCCAT Vulcan Pro Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
Straight

Split Keyboard 
 

No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

4.5°
2°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

11°
8°

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
9.6

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Backlighting Picture
ROCCAT Vulcan Pro Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Max
ROCCAT Vulcan Pro Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Min
ROCCAT Vulcan Pro Brightness Min

White Shot 
 

SteelSeries Apex Pro White Shot
ROCCAT Vulcan Pro 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 
 

9.0

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex Pro White Shot
ROCCAT Vulcan Pro White Shot
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

No
No

Length  

5.9 ft (1.8 m)
5.9 ft (1.8 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 Vulcan Pro Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Non-Dedicated
Hot Keys

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

Yes
Yes

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 Vulcan Pro Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
8.0

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

7.2
9.0

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

53.7 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No

Noise 
 

Quiet
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

OmniPoint
ROCCAT Titan Linear

Switch Type 
 

Hall-effect

Feel 
 

Linear
Linear

Analog 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Key Switches 
 

OmniPoint
ROCCAT Titan Linear

Mechanical 
 

Yes

Feel 
 

Linear
Linear

Operating Force 
 

41 gf
45 gf

Actuation Force 
 

41 gf
44 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
1.5 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.2 mm
3.8 mm
Show Text 

Latency 
 

9.0
10

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

4.1 ms
0.7 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A
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
0.7 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 Vulcan Pro 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 
 

Easy
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

Check Price

Black
Apex Pro
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Vulcan Pro
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro
SEARCH
B&H
Black
Vulcan TKL Pro
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro
SEARCH
Walmart.com
White
Vulcan Pro
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
White
Vulcan TKL Pro
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Back to Top

SteelSeries Apex Pro

ROCCAT Vulcan Pro

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

SteelSeries Apex Pro vs ROCCAT Vulcan Pro: Main Discussion

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