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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 vs Mountain Everest Max

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

SteelSeries Apex Pro
Mountain Everest Max

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 21, 2024 07:55 PM

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Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:25 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
SteelSeries Apex Pro Picture
Mountain Everest Max Picture

Variants

  • Apex Pro (Black)
  • Everest Max (Gunmetal Gray)
  • Everest Max (Midnight Black)

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex Pro

Mountain Everest Max

The SteelSeries Apex Pro is better for gaming than the Mountain Everest Max. They're each customizable keyboards but in different ways. The SteelSeries is only available with linear OmniPoint switches, and you can adjust their pre-travel distance on a per-key basis. It also has lower latency for a more responsive gaming experience. On the other hand, the Mountain is a modular keyboard, so you can remove and move around the Numpad and media dock as you wish, and the switches are hot-swappable, so you can use whichever you prefer.

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Black
Apex Pro
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Gunmetal Gray
Everest Max
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Black
Apex Pro
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Midnight Black
Everest Max
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Black
Apex Pro
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Black
Apex Pro
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Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.6
8.2

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
8.1

Multi-Key Latency 
 

8.7
8.0

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Top Picture
Mountain Everest Max Top Picture

Size 
 

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

Height 
 

1.6" (4.0 cm)
1.6" (4.1 cm)

Width  

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

Depth 
 

5.5" (13.9 cm)
6.7" (17.1 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

8.3" (21.1 cm)
9.6" (24.3 cm)

Weight 
 

2.14 lbs (0.970 kg)
2.70 lbs (1.224 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
7.5

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Build Quality Close Up
Mountain Everest Max Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Side Picture
Mountain Everest Max Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

4.5°
3.6°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
8.5°

Maximum Incline 
 

11°
14°

Home Row Height 
 

33.0 mm (1.3")
33.8 mm (1.3")
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

6.0
8.5

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Customizability Overview
Mountain Everest Max 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
3-pin Cherry

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Backlight Features 
 

10
10

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Backlighting Picture
Mountain Everest Max Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Max
Mountain Everest Max Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Min
Mountain Everest Max Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0
8.0

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex Pro White Shot
Mountain Everest Max White Shot
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

No
Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)

Length  

5.9 ft (1.8 m)
6.4 ft (2.0 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

Not Detachable
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
6.7

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
4

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Yes
No

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes
Yes

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Extra Features
Mountain Everest Max Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Non-Dedicated
Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

Yes
No

Control Knob 
 

No
Yes

USB Passthrough 
 

Yes
Yes

Numpad  

Yes
Yes

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps & Num Lock
Caps, Scroll & Num lock
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Bundle Picture
Mountain Everest Max 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 
 

7.2
7.6

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

53.7 dBA
51.7 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

OmniPoint
Cherry MX Brown

Switch Type 
 

Hall-effect
Mechanical

Feel 
 

Linear
Tactile

Analog 
 

Yes
No
Show Text 

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Operating Force 
 

41 gf
55 gf

Actuation Force 
 

41 gf
44 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
2.1 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.2 mm
4.0 mm
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
8.1

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

4.1 ms
10.2 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±0.5 ms
±1.5 ms

Wired 
 

4.1 ms
10.2 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

N/A
8.2 ms
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

8.7
8.0

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Wired

Key Press 
 

4.1 ms
10.2 ms

Key Release 
 

8.2 ms
13.4 ms

Data Transmission 
 

8.7
8.3

Multi-Key Raw USB  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Multi-Key Raw USB
Mountain Everest Max Multi-Key Raw USB

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Wired

USB Polling Rate 
 

1,000 Hz
1,000 Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

1,000 Hz
500 Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Yes
Yes

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Yes
Yes

Chord Split 
 

7.9
8.0

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

5.9 ms
5.9 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

8.7 ms
8.4 ms
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

Steelseries Engine
Mountain Base Camp

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
No

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
Yes

Profiles 
 

6+
5
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
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Gunmetal Gray
Everest Max
Searching
Finding store
Black
Apex Pro
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Midnight Black
Everest Max
Searching
Finding store
Black
Apex Pro
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 
Black
Apex Pro
B&H
 

SteelSeries Apex Pro

Mountain Everest Max

Comments

  1. Comparison

SteelSeries Apex Pro vs Mountain Everest Max: Main Discussion

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