Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB vs SteelSeries Apex 3

Which Keyboard Is Better?

Products

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB
SteelSeries Apex 3

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:28 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.4.3

Updated Mar 13, 2026 06:41 PM

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Our Verdict

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB

SteelSeries Apex 3

The SteelSeries Apex 3 and the Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB are very different keyboards. The SteelSeries is a full-size membrane keyboard, while the Redragon is a TKL mechanical keyboard. The SteelSeries is more comfortable to type on because it has a lower profile and comes with a wrist rest. The typing experience is also very different. The SteelSeries' rubber dome switches feel a bit mushy, and the tactile feedback doesn't feel as distinct as on the Redragon's Outemu Blue switches. The Outemu switches have a shorter pre-travel distance but require more force to actuate. While the SteelSeries has lower latency, it's still relatively high for a wired keyboard and might not be ideal for serious gamers. You can't program any macros on the Redragon, and customizing the RGB backlight can be somewhat complicated because there's no software.

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Variants

  • K552 KUMARA RGB (Black)
  • Apex 3 (Black)

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Black
K552 KUMARA RGB
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Black
Apex 3
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Black
K552 KUMARA RGB
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Black
Apex 3
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Black
K552 KUMARA RGB
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Black
Apex 3
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Black
K552 KUMARA RGB
B&H
Black
Apex 3
B&H
Black
K552 KUMARA RGB
Redragon
Black
Apex 3
SteelSeries
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Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

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Gaming 
 

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Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Size 
 

Locked
Locked

Height 
 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Width  

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth 
 

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

N/A
Lock" (Lock cm)

Weight 
 

Lock lbs (Lock kg)
Lock lbs (Lock kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Close Up  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Build Quality Close Up Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Build Quality Close Up Sample

SAMPLE

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Underside Picture   

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Underside Picture  Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Underside Picture  Sample

SAMPLE

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Keycap Material  

Locked
Locked
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Ergonomics 
 

N/A
N/A

Side Picture  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Curved/Angled 
 

Locked
Locked

Split Keyboard 
 

Locked
Locked

Key Alignment 
 

Locked
Locked

Minimum Incline 
 

Lock°
Lock°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

Lock°
Lock°

Home Row Height 
 

Lock mm (Lock")
Lock mm (Lock")
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Hardware Customizability 
 

N/A
N/A

Customizability Overview  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Customizability Overview Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Customizability Overview Sample

SAMPLE

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Replaceable Cherry Stabilizers 
 

Locked
Locked

Stabilizer Fixation 
 

Locked
Locked

Spacebar Stabilizer Size 
 

Locked
Locked

Size Of Right Mod Keys 
 

Locked
Locked

Hot-Swappable Switches 
 

Locked
Locked

Switch Stem Shape 
 

Locked
Locked

Mechanical Switch Compatibility 
 

Locked
Locked

Magnetic Switch Compatibility 
 

Locked

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Locked
Locked
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Backlight Features 
 

N/A
N/A

Backlighting Picture  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Backlighting Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Backlighting Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Brightness Max  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Brightness Max Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Brightness Max Sample

SAMPLE

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Backlighting  

Locked
Locked

Brightness Min  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Brightness Min Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Brightness Min Sample

SAMPLE

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RGB 
 

Locked
Locked

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Locked
Locked

Effects 
 

Locked
Locked

Software Controllable 
 

Locked
Locked
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Backlight Clarity 
 

N/A
N/A

White Shot  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB White Shot Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 White Shot Sample

SAMPLE

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Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Locked
Locked

Detachable 
 

Locked
Locked

Length  

Lock ft (Lock m)
Lock ft (Lock m)

Connector (Keyboard side) 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Wireless Versatility 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

Locked
Locked

Proprietary Receiver 
 

Locked
Locked

Battery Type 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Macro Keys And Programming 
 

N/A
N/A

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

Lock
Lock

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Locked
Locked

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Locked
Locked

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Extra Features Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Extra Features Sample

SAMPLE

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Media Keys 
 

Locked
Locked

Trackpad / Trackball  

Locked
Locked

Scroll Wheel 
 

Locked
Locked

Control Knob 
 

Locked
Locked

USB Passthrough 
 

Locked
Locked

Numpad  

Locked
Locked

Windows Key Lock 
 

Locked
Locked

Lock Indicator  

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Bundle Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Bundle Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Key Spacing 
 

Lock mm (Lock")
Lock mm (Lock")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

N/A
N/A

Typing Sample  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Typing Sample Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Typing Sample Sample

SAMPLE

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Average Loudness 
 

Lock dBA
Lock dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

Locked
Locked
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Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Initial Force 
 

N/A

Peak Tactile Force 
 

Lock gf
Lock gf

Actuation Force 
 

Lock gf
Lock gf

Bottom-Out Force 
 

Lock gf

Pre-Travel Distance 
 

Lock mm
Lock mm

Total Travel Distance 
 

Lock mm
Lock mm
Show Text 

Adjustable Input Granularity 
 

N/A
N/A

Input Linearity Graph  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Input Linearity Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Input Linearity Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Analog Output Graph  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Analog Output Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Analog Output Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Top Deadzone 
 

N/A

Bottom Deadzone 
 

N/A

Detection Ratio 
 

N/A

Minimum Step Depth 
 

N/A

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Wobble Video Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Wobble Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Switch Name 
 

Locked
Locked

Switch Type 
 

Locked
Locked

Feel 
 

Locked
Locked

Output Type 
 

Locked
Locked
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Single-Key Latency Graph  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Single-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Single-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Best Connection 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±Lock ms
±Lock ms

Wired 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Video  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Multi-Key Latency Graph  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Multi-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Multi-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Connection Evaluated  

Locked
Locked

Key Press 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Key Release 
 

Lock ms

Data Transmission 
 

N/A
N/A

Multi-Key Raw USB  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Multi-Key Raw USB Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Multi-Key Raw USB Sample

SAMPLE

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Connection Evaluated  

Locked
Locked

USB Polling Rate 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Locked
Locked

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Locked
Locked

Chord Split 
 

N/A
N/A

Chord Split Graph  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Chord Split Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Chord Split Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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4 Chord Split Delay 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB Software Tour Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 3 Software Tour Sample

SAMPLE

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Software Name  

Locked
Locked

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Locked
Locked

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Locked
Locked

Onboard Memory 
 

Locked
Locked

Profiles 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Computer Compatibility 
 

N/A
N/A

Windows 
 

Locked
Locked

macOS 
 

Locked
Locked

Linux 
 

Locked
Locked

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Wireless Mobile Compatibility 
 

N/A
N/A

Android 
 

Locked
Locked

iOS 
 

Locked
Locked

iPadOS 
 

Locked
Locked

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Locked
Locked

Check Price

Black
K552 KUMARA RGB
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
K552 KUMARA RGB
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Apex 3
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
K552 KUMARA RGB
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
Apex 3
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
K552 KUMARA RGB
B&H
Black
Apex 3
B&H
Black
K552 KUMARA RGB
Redragon
Black
Apex 3
SteelSeries

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB

SteelSeries Apex 3

Comments

  1. Comparison

Redragon K552 KUMARA RGB vs SteelSeries Apex 3: Main Discussion

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