SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL vs Apex 5

Which Keyboard Is Better?

Products

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL
SteelSeries Apex 5

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Nov 30, 2023 07:02 PM

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BestBuy.com

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Jun 21, 2023 04:41 PM

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Amazon.com
SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Picture

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SteelSeries Apex 5 Picture

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Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL

SteelSeries Apex 5

The SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL and the SteelSeries Apex 5 are wired mechanical keyboards with similar features but a few important differences. The Apex 7 we tested is a TenKeyLess keyboard, though there’s also a full-sized variant. It’s available with tactile SteelSeries Brown, linear SteelSeries Red, or clicky SteelSeries Blue switches. On the other hand, the Apex 5 is a full-sized keyboard without any smaller variants and is only available with clicky Hybrid Blue Mechanical switches that feel similar to Cherry MX Blue switches. Unfortunately, it also has extremely high latency, which likely won't be a problem for slower-paced gaming, but it's less suitable for competitive and reaction-based games.

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Variants

  • Apex 7 TKL (Black)
  • Apex 7 (Black)
  • Apex 5 (Black)

Check Price

Black
Apex 7 TKL
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Amazon.com
Black
Apex 5
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 7
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Apex 5
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Ghost Edition
Apex 7 TKL
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 5
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 
Black
Apex 5
B&H
 
Black
Apex 5
SteelSeries
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Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 
 

0.0
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Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Top Picture Sample

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SteelSeries Apex 5 Top Picture 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)

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Build Quality Close Up Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 5 Build Quality Close Up Sample

SAMPLE

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Keycap Material  

Locked
Locked

Ergonomics 
 

N/A
N/A

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 5 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")

Hardware Customizability 
 

N/A
N/A

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Customizability Overview Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 5 Customizability Overview 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

Switch PCB Socket 
 

Locked
Locked

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Locked
Locked

Backlight Features 
 

N/A
N/A

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Backlighting Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 5 Backlighting Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Brightness Max Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 5 Brightness Max Sample

SAMPLE

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Backlighting  

Locked
Locked

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Brightness Min Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 5 Brightness Min Sample

SAMPLE

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RGB 
 

Locked
Locked

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Locked
Locked

Effects 
 

Locked
Locked

Software Controllable 
 

Locked
Locked

Backlight Clarity 
 

N/A
N/A

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL White Shot Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 5 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

Wireless Versatility 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

Locked
Locked

Proprietary Receiver 
 

Locked
Locked

Battery Type 
 

Locked
Locked

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 7 TKL Extra Features Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 5 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

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Bundle Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 5 Bundle Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Key Spacing 
 

Lock mm (Lock")

Typing Noise 
 

N/A
N/A

Typing Sample  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Typing Sample Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 5 Typing Sample Sample

SAMPLE

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Average Loudness 
 

Lock dBA
Lock dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

Locked
Locked

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Wobble Video Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 5 Wobble Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Switch Name 
 

Locked
Locked

Switch Type 
 

Locked
Locked

Feel 
 

Locked
Locked

Analog 
 

Locked

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 5 Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Operating Force 
 

Lock gf
Lock gf

Actuation Force 
 

Lock gf
Lock gf

Pre-Travel 
 

Lock mm
Lock mm

Total Travel 
 

Lock mm
Lock mm

Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Video  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 5 Latency Video Sample

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Latency Wired 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Latency Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Single-Key Latency Graph  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Single-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 5 Single-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Best Connection 
 

Lock ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±Lock ms

Wired 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

Lock ms

Multi-Key Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Video  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 5 Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Multi-Key Latency Graph  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Multi-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 5 Multi-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Connection Evaluated  

Locked

Key Press 
 

Lock ms

Key Release 
 

Lock ms

Data Transmission 
 

N/A
N/A

Multi-Key Raw USB  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Multi-Key Raw USB Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 5 Multi-Key Raw USB Sample

SAMPLE

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Connection Evaluated  

Locked

USB Polling Rate 
 

Lock Hz

Effective Update Rate 
 

Lock Hz

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Locked

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Locked

Chord Split 
 

N/A
N/A

Chord Split Graph  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Chord Split Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 5 Chord Split Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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4 Chord Split Delay 
 

Lock ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

Lock ms
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL Software Tour Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex 5 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

Computer Compatibility 
 

N/A
N/A

Windows 
 

Locked
Locked

macOS 
 

Locked
Locked

Linux (Ubuntu 22) 
 

Locked
Locked

Media Key Compatibility 
 

Locked
Locked

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 7 TKL
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 5
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 7
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Apex 5
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Ghost Edition
Apex 7 TKL
Amazon.com
Black
Apex 5
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 
Black
Apex 5
B&H
 
Black
Apex 5
SteelSeries

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL

SteelSeries Apex 5

Comments

  1. Comparison

SteelSeries Apex 7 TKL vs SteelSeries Apex 5: Main Discussion

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