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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
    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 SteelSeries Apex 5

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

SteelSeries Apex Pro
SteelSeries Apex 5

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 21, 2024 07:55 PM

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Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Jun 21, 2023 04:41 PM

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Amazon.com
SteelSeries Apex Pro Picture
SteelSeries Apex 5 Picture

Variants

  • Apex Pro (Black)
  • Apex 5 (Black)

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex Pro

SteelSeries Apex 5

The SteelSeries Apex Pro is a better gaming keyboard than the SteelSeries Apex 5, mainly because it has significantly lower latency. The Apex Pro has linear Omnipoint switches and allows you to customize the pre-travel distance on a per-key basis to suit your preference. It provides a better typing experience overall, but its switches don't give tactile feedback, which the Hybrid Blue Mechanical switches on the Apex 5 do. That said, the Apex 5 is much louder and might not be ideal for quiet offices. Both keyboards have excellent build quality, full RGB backlighting, and include a wrist rest. The only other difference is that the Apex Pro has a USB passthrough, which the Apex 5 lacks.

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Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.6
8.7

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
6.5

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
1.8 mm

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Top Picture
SteelSeries Apex 5 Top Picture

Size 
 

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

Height 
 

1.6" (4.0 cm)
1.5" (3.7 cm)

Width  

17.2" (43.7 cm)
17.5" (44.4 cm)

Depth 
 

5.5" (13.9 cm)
5.6" (14.1 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

8.3" (21.1 cm)
8.3" (21.2 cm)

Weight 
 

2.14 lbs (0.970 kg)
1.98 lbs (0.900 kg)
Show text

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Build Quality Close Up
SteelSeries Apex 5 Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show text

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Side Picture
SteelSeries Apex 5 Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

4.5°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

11°
9.5°

Home Row Height 
 

33.0 mm (1.3")
32.6 mm (1.3")
Show text

Hardware Customizability 
 

6.0
7.4

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Customizability Overview
SteelSeries Apex 5 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
Non-Customizable Design

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes
Yes
Show text

Backlight Features 
 

10
10

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Backlighting Picture
SteelSeries Apex 5 Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Max
SteelSeries Apex 5 Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Min
SteelSeries Apex 5 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
SteelSeries Apex 5 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
5.5

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Yes
Yes

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes
Yes

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Extra Features
SteelSeries Apex 5 Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Non-Dedicated
Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

Yes
No

Control Knob 
 

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

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
SteelSeries Apex 5 Bundle Picture
Show text
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
7.5

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
Show text

Typing Noise 
 

7.2
4.4

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

53.7 dBA
55.5 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
Yes
Show text

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

OmniPoint
Hybrid Blue Mechanical

Switch Type 
 

Hall-effect
Mechanical

Feel 
 

Linear
Clicky

Analog 
 

Yes
Show text

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Operating Force 
 

41 gf
54 gf

Actuation Force 
 

41 gf
50 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
1.8 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.2 mm
4.0 mm
Show text

Latency 
 

9.0
6.5

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

4.1 ms
24.4 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A
Show text
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
6.5

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
24.4 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 Tour  

Software Name  

Steelseries Engine
Steelseries Engine

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

SteelSeries Apex Pro

SteelSeries Apex 5

Comments

  1. Comparison

SteelSeries Apex Pro vs SteelSeries Apex 5: Main Discussion

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