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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
  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 TKL (2023) vs Keychron Q1 HE

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023)
Keychron Q1 HE

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Dec 02, 2024 03:46 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Mar 19, 2025 03:55 PM

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SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Picture
Keychron Q1 HE Picture
ConnectivityWired
Size
TenKeyLess (80%)
Switch Type
Hall-effect
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
ConnectivityWireless
Size
Compact (75%)
Switch Type
Magnetic
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Hot-Swappable Switches
Yes

Variants

  • Apex Pro TKL (2023) (Black)
  • Q1 HE (Carbon Black)
  • Q3 HE (Carbon Black)
  • Q5 HE (Carbon Black)
  • Q6 HE (Carbon Black)
  • Q1 HE (Shell White)
  • Q3 HE (Shell White)
  • Q5 HE (Shell White)
  • Q6 HE (Shell White)

Review

See SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Review
See Keychron Q1 HE Review
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Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023)

Keychron Q1 HE

The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) and the Keychron Q1 HE are gaming keyboards with Hall effect switches that allow you to adjust individual switches' actuation and reset distance. The SteelSeries has a slightly larger TKL (80%) form factor. It also includes a wrist rest and has a customizable OLED display and shine-through keycaps, all features that the Keychron lacks. Comparatively, the Keychron has a smaller compact (75%) form factor and has added wireless support. The Keychron also has a programmable control knob, a more premium-feeling aluminum case, and a double-gasket mount design that produces a somewhat softer-feeling typing experience.

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Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
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Carbon Black
Q1 HE
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Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
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Carbon Black
Q3 HE
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Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
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Carbon Black
Q5 HE
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Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
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Carbon Black
Q6 HE
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Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
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Shell White
Q1 HE
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Shell White
Q3 HE
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Shell White
Q5 HE
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Shell White
Q6 HE
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Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.6
8.4

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0
4.0

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Top Picture
Keychron Q1 HE Top Picture

Size 
 

TenKeyLess (80%)
Compact (75%)

Height 
 

1.7" (4.2 cm)
1.8" (4.6 cm)

Width  

13.9" (35.4 cm)
12.9" (32.7 cm)

Depth 
 

5.1" (12.8 cm)
5.7" (14.5 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

8.3" (21.1 cm)
N/A

Weight 
 

1.62 lbs (0.737 kg)
3.84 lbs (1.740 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Build Quality Close Up
Keychron Q1 HE Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

PBT
PBT
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Side Picture
Keychron Q1 HE Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

4°
5.2°

Medium Incline 
 

7°
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

11°
N/A

Home Row Height 
 

34.1 mm (1.3")
35.3 mm (1.4")
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

6.0
9.1

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Customizability Overview
Keychron Q1 HE Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Yes
Yes

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Plate-Mounted
Screw-in

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

6.25u
6.25u

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

1.25u
1u

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

No
Yes

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style
Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Soldered
Non-Cherry Pinout

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Backlight Features 
 

10
10

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Backlighting Picture
Keychron Q1 HE Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Brightness Max
Keychron Q1 HE Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Brightness Min
Keychron Q1 HE Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0
4.0

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) White Shot
Keychron Q1 HE White Shot
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wireless

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)
Yes (Wired Mode and Charge)

Length  

7.4 ft (2.3 m)
5.8 ft (1.8 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

USB type-C
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
4.0

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Yes
No

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Extra Features
Keychron Q1 HE 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
No

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Caps Lock
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Bundle Picture
Keychron Q1 HE Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
8.5

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
19.0 mm (0.748")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

6.9
9.3

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

55.2 dBA
42.6 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

OmniPoint 2.0
Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula

Switch Type 
 

Hall-effect
Magnetic

Feel 
 

Linear
Linear

Analog 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Operating Force 
 

40 gf
49 gf

Actuation Force 
 

40 gf
49 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.1 mm
2.2 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.2 mm
3.9 mm
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
9.1

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

3.8 ms
3.2 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±0.6 ms
±0.7 ms

Wired 
 

3.8 ms
3.2 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
4.3 ms

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
9.3 ms

PCB (Estimated) 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

8.7
8.9

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Wired

Key Press 
 

3.7 ms
3.3 ms

Key Release 
 

11.1 ms
6.2 ms
Show Text 

Data Transmission 
 

8.7
8.2

Multi-Key Raw USB  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Multi-Key Raw USB
Keychron Q1 HE Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Wired

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
No
Show Text 

Chord Split 
 

7.7
7.5

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

5.6 ms
6.4 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

16.1 ms
13.8 ms
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

SteelSeries GG
Keychron Launcher

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
Yes

Profiles 
 

6+
3
Show Text 

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
Show Text 

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
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
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Carbon Black
Q1 HE
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Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
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Carbon Black
Q3 HE
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Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
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Carbon Black
Q5 HE
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Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
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Carbon Black
Q6 HE
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Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
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Shell White
Q1 HE
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Shell White
Q3 HE
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Shell White
Q5 HE
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Shell White
Q6 HE
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Back to Top

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023)

Keychron Q1 HE

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 11 months ago

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) vs Keychron Q1 HE: Main Discussion

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