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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 SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

SteelSeries Apex Pro
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 21, 2024 07:55 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 30, 2023 07:02 PM

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Picture
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Picture

Variants

  • Apex Pro (Black)
  • Apex 7 TKL (Black)
  • Apex 7 (Black)
  • Apex 7 TKL (Ghost Edition)

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex Pro

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL

The SteelSeries Apex Pro and SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL are wired, mechanical gaming keyboards with very similar build qualities and many features in common. Their major differences are in size and available switch types. The Apex Pro has OmniPoint linear switches that allow you to adjust the pre-travel distanced needed to input keystrokes to your liking. While the version we tested was the full-sized version, there’s also a TenKeyLess variant available. On the other hand, the Apex 7 TKL we tested is a TenKeyLess design, but a full-sized variant, the SteelSeries Apex 7, is also available. The unit we tested has tactile SteelSeries Brown switches that feel similar to Cherry MX Brown switches, and It’s also available with clicky SteelSeries Blue or linear SteelSeries Red switches.

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Ghost Edition
Apex 7 TKL
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Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.6
8.3

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
8.0

Multi-Key Latency 
 

8.7
7.8

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Top Picture
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Top Picture

Size 
 

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

Height 
 

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

Width  

17.2" (43.7 cm)
14.0" (35.5 cm)

Depth 
 

5.5" (13.9 cm)
5.5" (13.9 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

8.3" (21.1 cm)
8.3" (21.0 cm)

Weight 
 

2.14 lbs (0.970 kg)
1.54 lbs (0.700 kg)

Show text

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Build Quality Close Up
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS

Show text

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Side Picture
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL 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°
10.5°

Home Row Height 
 

33.0 mm (1.3")
32.2 mm (1.3")

Show text

Hardware Customizability 
 

6.0
6.0

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Customizability Overview
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL 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
Soldered

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Backlight Features 
 

10
10

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Backlighting Picture
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Max
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Min
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0
9.0

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex Pro White Shot
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL White Shot

Show text

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

No
No

Length  

5.9 ft (1.8 m)
6.2 ft (1.9 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 7 TKL Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Non-Dedicated
Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

Yes
Yes

Control Knob 
 

No
No

USB Passthrough 
 

Yes
Yes

Numpad  

Yes
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps & Num Lock
Caps Lock

Show text

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Bundle Picture
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL 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
6.0

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

53.7 dBA
60.0 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
No

Show text

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

OmniPoint
SteelSeries 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
44 gf

Actuation Force 
 

41 gf
37 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
2.4 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.2 mm
4.1 mm

Show text

Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
8.0

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Best Connection 
 

4.1 ms
11.9 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±0.5 ms
±1.3 ms

Wired 
 

4.1 ms
11.9 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

N/A
9.7 ms

Show text

Multi-Key Latency 
 

8.7
7.8

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
12.6 ms

Key Release 
 

8.2 ms
11.7 ms

Show text

Data Transmission 
 

8.7
8.7

Multi-Key Raw USB  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Multi-Key Raw USB
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL 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 
 

7.9
8.0

Chord Split Graph  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

5.9 ms
5.4 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

8.7 ms
11.3 ms

Show text

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+
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

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Ghost Edition
Apex 7 TKL
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SteelSeries Apex Pro

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL

Comments

  1. Comparison

SteelSeries Apex Pro vs SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL: Main Discussion

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