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- Table of Contents
- Top
- Main Differences
- Design
- Typing Experience
- Performance
- Software and Operating System
- Comments
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) vs 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023)
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard
Tested using Methodology v1.3.1
Updated Dec 02, 2024 03:46 PM
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Walmart.comTested using Methodology v1.3.1
Updated Dec 07, 2023 07:53 PM
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Amazon.com
ConnectivityWired
SizeTenKeyLess (80%)
Switch TypeHall-effect
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)Yes
Hot-Swappable SwitchesNo
ConnectivityWireless
SizeTenKeyLess (80%)
Switch TypeMechanical
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)Yes
Hot-Swappable SwitchesYes
Variants
- Apex Pro TKL (2023) (Black)
- Retro Mechanical Keyboard (Fami Edition)
- Retro Mechanical Keyboard (N Edition)
Our Verdict
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023)
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard
The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) and the 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard are gaming keyboards with tenkeyless layouts but are otherwise very different. The SteelSeries has better overall performance and uses hall-effect switches that allow you to adjust individual keys' actuation and reset distance. The 8BitDo has a much more retro-inspired look and feel and uses clicky mechanical switches. It also includes a separate two-button gamepad module. The SteelSeries also has full RGB backlighting, which the 8BitDo lacks.
Check Price
Fami Edition
Retro Mechanical Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comN Edition
Retro Mechanical Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comMain Differences forGaming
Gaming
Threshold
Gaming
8.6
7.0
Backlight Features
10
0.0
Backlight Clarity
9.0
0.0
Chord Split
7.7
9.5
Multi-Key Latency
8.7
7.8
Full Comparison
Design
Dimensions
Top Picture
Size
TenKeyLess (80%)
TenKeyLess (80%)
Height
1.7" (4.2 cm)
1.8" (4.6 cm)
Width
13.9" (35.4 cm)
14.8" (37.6 cm)
Depth
5.1" (12.8 cm)
6.7" (17.0 cm)
Depth With Wrist Rest
8.3" (21.1 cm)
N/A
Weight
1.62 lbs (0.737 kg)
2.29 lbs (1.039 kg)
Build Quality
8.0
8.0
Build Quality Close Up
Keycap Material
PBT
PBT
Ergonomics
6.0
6.0
Side Picture
Curved/Angled
No
No
Split Keyboard
No
No
Key Alignment
Staggered
Staggered
Minimum Incline
4°
7°
Medium Incline
7°
N/A
Maximum Incline
11°
N/A
Home Row Height
34.1 mm (1.3")
31.8 mm (1.3")
Hardware Customizability
6.0
8.9
Customizability Overview
Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers
Yes
Yes
Stabilizer Fixation
Plate-Mounted
Plate-Mounted
Spacebar Stabilizer Size
6.25u
6.25u
Size Of Right Mod Keys
1.25u
1.25u
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
Yes
Switch Stem Shape
Cherry MX Style
Cherry MX Style
Switch PCB Socket
Soldered
5-pin Cherry
North-Facing Cherry MX Interference
Yes
Yes
Backlight Features
10
0.0
Backlighting Picture
Brightness Max
Backlighting
Yes
No
Brightness Min
RGB
Yes
No
Per-Key Backlighting
Yes
No
Effects
Yes
No
Software Controllable
Yes
No
Backlight Clarity
9.0
0.0
White Shot
Cable & Connector
Connectivity
Wired
Wireless
Detachable
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)
Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)
Length
7.4 ft (2.3 m)
6.0 ft (1.8 m)
Connector (Keyboard side)
USB type-C
USB type-C
Wireless Versatility
0.0
7.5
Bluetooth
No
Yes
Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing
No
No
Proprietary Receiver
No
Yes
Battery Type
No Batteries
Rechargeable
Macro Keys And Programming
5.5
6.7
Dedicated Macro Keys Count
0
4
Onboard Macro Programming
Yes
No
Macro Programming With Software
Yes
Yes
Extra Features
Extra Features
Media Keys
Non-Dedicated
Non-Dedicated
Trackpad / Trackball
No
No
Scroll Wheel
Yes
No
Control Knob
No
Yes
USB Passthrough
No
No
Numpad
No
No
Windows Key Lock
Yes
Yes
Lock Indicator
Caps Lock
Caps & Scroll Lock
In The Box
Bundle Picture
Typing Experience
Typing Quality
8.0
7.0
Key Spacing
19.0 mm (0.748")
19.0 mm (0.748")
Typing Noise
6.9
4.5
Typing Sample
Average Loudness
55.2 dBA
54.6 dBA
High Pitch Clicks
No
Yes
Switches
Wobble Video
Switch Name
OmniPoint 2.0
Kailh Box White V2
Switch Type
Hall-effect
Mechanical
Feel
Linear
Clicky
Analog
Yes
No
Keystrokes
Key Switch Actuation Graph
Operating Force
40 gf
57 gf
Actuation Force
40 gf
47 gf
Pre-Travel
2.1 mm
1.9 mm
Total Travel
4.2 mm
3.6 mm
Performance
Single-Key Latency
9.0
8.5
Single-Key Latency Graph
Best Connection
3.8 ms
8.1 ms
Best Connection Std Dev
±0.6 ms
±0.7 ms
Wired
3.8 ms
8.1 ms
Receiver
N/A
10.0 ms
Bluetooth
N/A
13.8 ms
PCB (Estimated)
N/A
6.5 ms
Multi-Key Latency
8.7
7.8
Latency Video
Multi-Key Latency Graph
Connection Evaluated
Wired
Receiver
Key Press
3.7 ms
11.0 ms
Key Release
11.1 ms
16.7 ms
Data Transmission
8.7
8.7
Multi-Key Raw USB
Connection Evaluated
Wired
Receiver
USB Polling Rate
1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz
Effective Update Rate
1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Yes
Multiple Keys Per USB Report
Yes
Yes
Chord Split
7.7
9.5
Chord Split Graph
4 Chord Split Delay
5.6 ms
1.2 ms
8 Chord Split Delay
16.1 ms
4.9 ms
Software and Operating System
Configuration Software
Software Tour
Software Name
SteelSeries GG
8BitDo Ultimate Software V2
Software Windows Compatible
Yes
Yes
Software macOS Compatible
Yes
No
Onboard Memory
Yes
Yes
Profiles
6+
6+
Computer Compatibility
10
10
Windows
Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible
macOS
Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible
Linux (Ubuntu 22)
Fully Compatible
Fully Compatible
Media Key Compatibility
Windows, MacOS & Linux
Windows, MacOS & Linux
Wireless Mobile Compatibility
0.0
10
Android
Not Compatible
Fully Compatible
iOS
Not Compatible
Fully Compatible
iPadOS
Not Compatible
Fully Compatible
Media Key Compatibility
Not Compatible
Android, iPhone & iPad
Check Price
Fami Edition
Retro Mechanical Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comN Edition
Retro Mechanical Keyboard
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
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SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023)
8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard
Comments
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) vs 8BitDo Retro Mechanical Keyboard: Main Discussion
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