SteelSeries Apex 3 vs Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT

Which Keyboard Is Better?

Products

SteelSeries Apex 3
Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT

Tested using Methodology v1.4.3

Updated Mar 13, 2026 06:41 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 27, 2023 05:18 PM

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  1. Recommended in 3 articles:
  2. Budget Gaming
  3. Quiet
  4. Corsair

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex 3

Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT

The Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT and the SteelSeries Apex 3 are non-mechanical gaming keyboards with comparable performance. The Corsair has significantly lower latency, individually-lit keys that are independently customizable, and its companion software has onboard memory, but you can't sync settings to the cloud. On the other hand, the SteelSeries has ten zone RGB backlighting, but the keys aren't individually backlit. That said, it feels sturdier, it has a wheel on the top right, and it has more stable keys that offer a better typing experience than the Corsair.

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Variants

  • Apex 3 (Black)
  • K55 RGB PRO XT (Black)

Check Price

Black
Apex 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
K55 RGB PRO XT
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 3
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
K55 RGB PRO XT
B&H
Black
Apex 3
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
K55 RGB PRO XT
BestBuy.com
Black
Apex 3
B&H
Black
K55 RGB PRO XT
Corsair
Black
Apex 3
SteelSeries
Black
K55 RGB PRO XT
Walmart.com
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Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

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Gaming 
 

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Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Top Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT 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 
 

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

Weight 
 

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

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Build Quality Close Up Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Build Quality Close Up Sample

SAMPLE

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Underside Picture   

SteelSeries Apex 3 Underside Picture  Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Underside Picture  Sample

SAMPLE

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Keycap Material  

Locked
Locked
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Ergonomics 
 

N/A
N/A

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT 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")
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

N/A
N/A

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Customizability Overview Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT 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

Backlight Features 
 

N/A
N/A

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Backlighting Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Backlighting Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Brightness Max Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Brightness Max Sample

SAMPLE

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Backlighting  

Locked
Locked

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Brightness Min Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Brightness Min Sample

SAMPLE

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RGB 
 

Locked
Locked

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Locked
Locked

Effects 
 

Locked
Locked

Software Controllable 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

N/A
N/A

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex 3 White Shot Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT 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  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Extra Features Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT 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  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Bundle Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT 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  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Typing Sample Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Typing Sample Sample

SAMPLE

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Average Loudness 
 

Lock dBA
Lock dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT 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  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Input Linearity Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Input Linearity Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Analog Output Graph  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Analog Output Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT 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  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Wobble Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Wobble Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Switch Name 
 

Locked
Locked

Switch Type 
 

Locked
Locked

Feel 
 

Locked
Locked

Output Type 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Single-Key Latency Graph  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Single-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT 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  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Multi-Key Latency Graph  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Multi-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT 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  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Multi-Key Raw USB Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT 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  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Chord Split Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT Chord Split Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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4 Chord Split Delay 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

Lock ms
N/A
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

SteelSeries Apex 3 Software Tour Sample

SAMPLE

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Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT 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
Apex 3
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
K55 RGB PRO XT
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 3
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
K55 RGB PRO XT
B&H
Black
Apex 3
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
Black
K55 RGB PRO XT
BestBuy.com
Black
Apex 3
B&H
Black
K55 RGB PRO XT
Corsair
Black
Apex 3
SteelSeries
Black
K55 RGB PRO XT
Walmart.com

SteelSeries Apex 3

Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT

Comments

  1. Comparison

SteelSeries Apex 3 vs Corsair K55 RGB PRO XT: Main Discussion

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