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  1. Home
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Razer BlackWidow Lite vs SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL

Which Keyboard Is Better?

    Top
    Main Differences
    Design
      DimensionsBuild QualityErgonomicsHardware CustomizabilityBacklight FeaturesBacklight ClarityCable & ConnectorWireless VersatilityMacro Keys And ProgrammingExtra FeaturesIn The Box
    Typing Experience
      Typing QualityTyping NoiseSwitchesKeystrokesLatency
    Performance
      Single-Key LatencyMulti-Key LatencyData TransmissionChord Split
    Software and Operating System
      Configuration SoftwareComputer CompatibilityWireless Mobile Compatibility
    Comments

Products

Razer BlackWidow Lite
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Dec 15, 2022 08:08 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 30, 2023 07:02 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Razer BlackWidow Lite Picture
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Picture
ConnectivityWired
Size
TenKeyLess (80%)
Mechanical
Yes
ConnectivityWired
Size
TenKeyLess (80%)
Switch Type
Mechanical
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Hot-Swappable Switches
No

Our Verdict

Razer BlackWidow Lite

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL

The SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL and the Razer BlackWidow Lite are wired TenKeyLess mechanical keyboards with several standout differences. The SteelSeries features lower latency, full RGB backlighting, an included wrist rest, and companion software compatible with Windows and macOS. The unit we tested has tactile SteelSeries Brown switches, but it’s also available with linear SteelSeries Red and clicky SteelSeries Blue switches. The Razer only has white backlighting, does not have an included wrist rest, and its companion software is only compatible with Windows. It has tactile Razer Orange switches that have low pre-travel, require light force to actuate keystrokes, and are very quiet. There are no other switch types available.

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Variants

  • BlackWidow Lite (Black)
  • BlackWidow Lite (Star Wars Stormtrooper Limited Edition)
  • BlackWidow Lite (White)
  • Apex 7 TKL (Black)
  • Apex 7 (Black)
  • Apex 7 TKL (Ghost Edition)

Review

See Razer BlackWidow Lite Review
See SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Review
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Check Price

Black
BlackWidow Lite
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 7 TKL
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Star Wars Stormtrooper Limited Edition
BlackWidow Lite
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 7
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
White
BlackWidow Lite
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Ghost Edition
Apex 7 TKL
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Read more

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.8
8.3

Pre-Travel 
 

1.8 mm
2.4 mm

Software & Programming 
 

7.1
10

Keyboard Compatibility 
 

7.2
10

Latency 
 

7.4
8.0

Backlighting 
 

9.3
10

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Razer BlackWidow Lite Top Picture
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Top Picture

Size 
 

TenKeyLess (80%)
TenKeyLess (80%)

Height 
 

1.4" (3.5 cm)
1.6" (4.0 cm)

Width  

14.2" (36.1 cm)
14.0" (35.5 cm)

Depth 
 

5.2" (13.3 cm)
5.5" (13.9 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
8.3" (21.0 cm)

Weight 
 

1.51 lbs (0.687 kg)
1.54 lbs (0.700 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.5

Build Quality Close Up  

Razer BlackWidow Lite Build Quality Close Up
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.5
6.0

Side Picture  

Razer BlackWidow Lite Side Picture
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

Straight
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

2°
4°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

5°
10.5°

Home Row Height 
 

32.2 mm (1.3")

Wrist Rest  

No
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

6.0

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Customizability Overview

Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Yes

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Plate-Mounted

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

6.25u

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

1.25u

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

No

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Cherry MX Style

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Soldered

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Yes

Backlight Features 
 

9.3
10

Backlighting Picture  

Razer BlackWidow Lite Backlighting Picture
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

Razer BlackWidow Lite Brightness Max
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

Razer BlackWidow Lite Brightness Min
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Brightness Min

White Shot 
 

Razer BlackWidow Lite White Shot
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL White Shot

RGB 
 

Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes

Color 
 

White

Color Mixing 
 

Great
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0

White Shot  

Razer BlackWidow Lite White Shot
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL White Shot

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

Yes (Wired Only Keyboard)
No

Length  

6.5 ft (2.0 m)
6.2 ft (1.9 m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

Micro USB
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

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Yes

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Razer BlackWidow Lite Extra Features
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Hot Keys
Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

No
Yes

Control Knob 
 

No

USB Passthrough 
 

No
Yes

Numpad  

No
No

Windows Key Lock 
 

No
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps Lock
Caps Lock

Macro Programmable Keys 
 

All
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Razer BlackWidow Lite Bundle Picture
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.5
8.0

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

9.0
6.0

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

60.0 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No

Noise 
 

Quiet
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

Razer Orange
SteelSeries Brown

Switch Type 
 

Mechanical

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Analog 
 

No

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Key Switches 
 

Razer Orange
SteelSeries Brown

Mechanical 
 

Yes

Feel 
 

Tactile
Tactile

Operating Force 
 

55 gf
44 gf

Actuation Force 
 

40 gf
37 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

1.8 mm
2.4 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.0 mm
4.1 mm
Show Text 

Latency 
 

7.4
8.0

Latency Video  

Latency Wired 
 

10.6 ms
11.9 ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

7.4
8.0

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details

Best Connection 
 

11.9 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±1.3 ms

Wired 
 

10.6 ms
11.9 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

9.7 ms
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

7.8

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details

Connection Evaluated  

Wired

Key Press 
 

12.6 ms

Key Release 
 

11.7 ms
Show Text 

Data Transmission 
 

8.7

Multi-Key Raw USB  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL 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
Show Text 

Chord Split 
 

8.0

Chord Split Graph  

See details

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

5.4 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

11.3 ms
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Picture  

Razer BlackWidow Lite Software Picture

Software Tour  

Software Name  

Razer Synapse 3
Steelseries Engine

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

No
Yes

Onboard Memory 
 

No
Yes

Profiles 
 

6+
5

Account Required 
 

No

Cloud Sync 
 

Yes

Macro Programming 
 

Software

Ease Of Use 
 

Easy
Show Text 

Computer Compatibility 
 

7.2
10

Windows 
 

Full
Fully Compatible

macOS 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Partial
Fully Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Windows, MacOS & Linux

Android  

No
Not Compatible

iOS  

No
Not Compatible

iPadOS  

No
Not Compatible
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

0.0

Android 
 

No
Not Compatible

iOS 
 

No
Not Compatible

iPadOS 
 

No
Not Compatible

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Not Compatible

Check Price

Black
BlackWidow Lite
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 7 TKL
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Star Wars Stormtrooper Limited Edition
BlackWidow Lite
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 7
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
White
BlackWidow Lite
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Ghost Edition
Apex 7 TKL
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Back to Top

Razer BlackWidow Lite

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Razer BlackWidow Lite vs SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL: Main Discussion

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