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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 SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023)
SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Dec 02, 2024 03:46 PM

SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Dec 04, 2024 02:52 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Picture
SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Picture
ConnectivityWired
Size
TenKeyLess (80%)
Switch Type
Hall-effect
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
ConnectivityWired
Size
Full-size (100%)
Switch Type
Hall-effect
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Hot-Swappable Switches
No

Variants

  • Apex Pro TKL (2023) (Black)
  • Apex Pro Gen 3 (Black)
  • Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 (Black)

Review

See SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Review
See SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Review
9 
11 

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023)

SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3

Both the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 and the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) are wired, analog gaming keyboards with comparable gaming performance in the same product lineup. The Apex Pro Gen 3 is a newer model with a full-size layout compared to the older Apex Pro TKL (2023) which has a tenkeyless (80%) layout. The newer Gen 3 has some minor build quality improvements, like tuned stabilizers and acoustic foam that improve the sound profile and dampen typing noise. Unfortunately, its actuation settings are much less accurate, although this may be something SteelSeries can fix with firmware updates in the future. 

0 

Check Price

Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Apex Pro Gen 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
Apex Pro TKL Gen 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
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Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.6
8.7
No major differences between these keyboards for gaming. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Top Picture
SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Top Picture

Size 
 

TenKeyLess (80%)
Full-size (100%)

Height 
 

1.7" (4.2 cm)
1.6" (4.0 cm)

Width  

13.9" (35.4 cm)
17.2" (43.7 cm)

Depth 
 

5.1" (12.8 cm)
5.5" (13.9 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

8.3" (21.1 cm)
8.3" (21.1 cm)

Weight 
 

1.62 lbs (0.737 kg)
2.42 lbs (1.098 kg)
Show text

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.0

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Build Quality Close Up
SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

PBT
PBT
Show text

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Side Picture
SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

4°
4°

Medium Incline 
 

7°
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

11°
11°

Home Row Height 
 

34.1 mm (1.3")
32.8 mm (1.3")
Show text

Hardware Customizability 
 

6.0
5.4

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Customizability Overview
SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 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
No

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style
Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Soldered
Non-Customizable Design

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes
Yes
Show text

Backlight Features 
 

10
10

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Backlighting Picture
SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Brightness Max
SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Brightness Min
SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes
Show text

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0
8.5

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) White Shot
SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 White Shot
Show text

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)

Length  

7.4 ft (2.3 m)
7.5 ft (2.3 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

USB type-C
USB type-C
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
5.5

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Yes
Yes

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes
Yes
Show text

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Extra Features
SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Non-Dedicated
Non-Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

Yes
Yes

Control Knob 
 

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
No

Numpad  

No
Yes

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Caps, Scroll & Num lock
Show text

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Bundle Picture
SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Bundle Picture
Show text
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
8.0

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
19.0 mm (0.748")
Show text

Typing Noise 
 

6.9
8.1

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

55.2 dBA
49.6 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
No
Show text

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

OmniPoint 2.0
OmniPoint 3.0

Switch Type 
 

Hall-effect
Hall-effect

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
43 gf

Actuation Force 
 

40 gf
43 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.1 mm
2.5 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.2 mm
4.0 mm
Show text
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
9.2

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

3.8 ms
2.7 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±0.6 ms
±0.5 ms

Wired 
 

3.8 ms
2.7 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

N/A
N/A
Show text

Multi-Key Latency 
 

8.7
9.0

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
2.7 ms

Key Release 
 

11.1 ms
7.0 ms
Show text

Data Transmission 
 

8.7
8.7

Multi-Key Raw USB  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Multi-Key Raw USB
SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 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
Yes
Show text

Chord Split 
 

7.7
7.9

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

5.6 ms
5.8 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

16.1 ms
11.2 ms
Show text
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

SteelSeries GG
SteelSeries GG

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
Yes

Profiles 
 

6+
6+
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
0.0

Android 
 

Not Compatible
Not Compatible

iOS 
 

Not Compatible
Not Compatible

iPadOS 
 

Not Compatible
Not Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Not Compatible
Not Compatible

Check Price

Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Apex Pro Gen 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
Apex Pro TKL Gen 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
 
Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
SEARCH
B&H
 
Back to Top

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023)

SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 4 months ago

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) vs SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3: Main Discussion

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