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  1. Home
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SteelSeries Apex Pro vs Corsair K70 CORE

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 NoiseKeystrokesAdjustable Input GranularitySwitches
    Performance
      Single-Key LatencyMulti-Key LatencyData TransmissionChord Split
    Software and Operating System
      Configuration SoftwareComputer CompatibilityWireless Mobile Compatibility
    Comments

Products

SteelSeries Apex Pro
Corsair K70 CORE

Tested using Methodology v1.4.1

Updated Aug 21, 2025 06:31 PM

SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Dec 02, 2024 06:29 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
SteelSeries Apex Pro Picture
Corsair K70 CORE Picture
ConnectivityWired
Size
Full-size (100%)
Switch Type
Magnetic
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Output Type
Adjustable Actuation
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
ConnectivityWired
Size
Full-size (100%)
Switch Type
Mechanical
N-Key Rollover (NKRO)
Yes
Output Type
No
Hot-Swappable Switches
No
  1. Recommended in 4 articles:
  2. Gaming
  3. Budget Gaming
  4. Budget And Cheap
  5. 1

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex Pro

Corsair K70 CORE

The SteelSeries Apex Pro and the Corsair K70 CORE are full-size gaming keyboards. The SteelSeries uses hall-effect switches that allow you to customize the actuation and reset point on individual keys. It also has a programmable OLED screen and scroll wheel, as well as an aluminum frame that makes it a bit sturdier feeling. Conversely, the Corsair has slightly better overall gaming performance. It also has a programmable control knob and uses standard linear mechanical switches that come pre-lubed from the factory, making them feel a bit smoother and more consistent, comparatively.

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Variants

  • Apex Pro (Black)
  • K70 CORE (Black W/ Palmrest)
  • K70 CORE (Black W/O Palmrest)
  • K70 CORE (Steel Gray W/O Palmrest)
  • K70 CORE SE (White W/ Palmrest)

Review

See SteelSeries Apex Pro Review
See Corsair K70 CORE Review
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Check Price

Black
Apex Pro
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black W/ Palmrest
K70 CORE
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black W/O Palmrest
K70 CORE
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro
SEARCH
B&H
Steel Gray W/O Palmrest
K70 CORE
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Apex Pro
SEARCH
Walmart.com
White W/ Palmrest
K70 CORE SE
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Read more

Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 

8.6
8.6
No major differences between these keyboards for gaming. See full list of tests below.

Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Top Picture
Corsair K70 CORE Top Picture

Size 
 

Full-size (100%)
Full-size (100%)

Height 
 

1.6" (4.0 cm)
1.7" (4.2 cm)

Width  

17.2" (43.7 cm)
17.6" (44.8 cm)

Depth 
 

5.5" (13.9 cm)
5.4" (13.6 cm)

Depth With Wrist Rest 
 

8.3" (21.1 cm)
8.4" (21.4 cm)

Weight 
 

2.14 lbs (0.970 kg)
2.06 lbs (0.934 kg)
Show Text 

Build Quality 
 

8.0
7.5

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Build Quality Close Up
Corsair K70 CORE Build Quality Close Up

Keycap Material  

ABS
ABS
Show Text 

Ergonomics 
 

6.0
6.0

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Side Picture
Corsair K70 CORE Side Picture

Curved/Angled 
 

No
No

Split Keyboard 
 

No
No

Key Alignment 
 

Staggered
Staggered

Minimum Incline 
 

4.5°
3°

Medium Incline 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

11°
8°

Home Row Height 
 

33.0 mm (1.3")
33.9 mm (1.3")
Show Text 

Hardware Customizability 
 

6.0
6.7

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Customizability Overview
Corsair K70 CORE 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
No
Show Text 

Backlight Features 
 

10
10

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Backlighting Picture
Corsair K70 CORE Backlighting Picture

Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Max
Corsair K70 CORE Brightness Max

Backlighting  

Yes
Yes

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Min
Corsair K70 CORE Brightness Min

RGB 
 

Yes
Yes

Per-Key Backlighting 
 

Yes
Yes

Effects 
 

Yes
Yes

Software Controllable 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Backlight Clarity 
 

9.0
8.0

White Shot  

SteelSeries Apex Pro White Shot
Corsair K70 CORE White Shot
Show Text 

Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Wired
Wired

Detachable 
 

No
No

Length  

5.9 ft (1.8 m)
5.8 ft (1.8 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
4.0

Dedicated Macro Keys Count  

0
0

Onboard Macro Programming 
 

Yes
No

Macro Programming With Software 
 

Yes
Yes

Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Extra Features
Corsair K70 CORE Extra Features

Media Keys 
 

Non-Dedicated
Non-Dedicated

Trackpad / Trackball  

No
No

Scroll Wheel 
 

Yes
No

Control Knob 
 

No
Yes

USB Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

Numpad  

Yes
Yes

Windows Key Lock 
 

Yes
Yes

Lock Indicator  

Caps & Num Lock
Caps, Scroll & Num lock
Show Text 

In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Bundle Picture
Corsair K70 CORE Bundle Picture
Show Text 
Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

8.0
7.0

Key Spacing 
 

19.0 mm (0.748")
19.0 mm (0.748")
Show Text 

Typing Noise 
 

7.2
7.8

Typing Sample  

Average Loudness 
 

53.7 dBA
51.3 dBA

High Pitch Clicks 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Keystrokes 
 

Key Switch Actuation Graph  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Operating Force 
 

41 gf
42 gf

Actuation Force 
 

41 gf
42 gf

Pre-Travel 
 

2.2 mm
1.6 mm

Total Travel 
 

4.2 mm
3.8 mm
Show Text 

Adjustable Input Granularity 
 

7.8

Input Linearity Graph  

See details

Analog Output Graph  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Analog Output Graph

Top Deadzone 
 

0.52 mm

Bottom Deadzone 
 

0.32 mm

Detection Ratio 
 

79%

Minimum Step Depth 
 

0.05 mm
Show Text 

Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

Switch Name 
 

OmniPoint
CORSAIR MLX Red

Switch Type 
 

Magnetic
Mechanical

Feel 
 

Linear
Linear

Output Type 
 

Adjustable Actuation
No
Show Text 
Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

9.0
9.3

Single-Key Latency Graph  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Best Connection 
 

4.1 ms
2.3 ms

Best Connection Std Dev  

±0.5 ms
±0.5 ms

Wired 
 

4.1 ms
2.3 ms

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

8.8
9.0

Latency Video  

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

Connection Evaluated  

Wired
Wired

Key Press 
 

4.1 ms
2.4 ms

Key Release 
 

7.8 ms
Show Text 

Data Transmission 
 

8.7
8.7

Multi-Key Raw USB  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Multi-Key Raw USB
Corsair K70 CORE 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
8.4

Chord Split Graph  

See details
See details
 Compare in Graph Tool

4 Chord Split Delay 
 

5.9 ms
4.6 ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

8.7 ms
8.7 ms
Show Text 
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

Software Name  

Steelseries Engine
iCUE

Software Windows Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Software macOS Compatible 
 

Yes
Yes

Onboard Memory 
 

Yes
Yes

Profiles 
 

6+
6+
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

Check Price

Black
Apex Pro
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black W/ Palmrest
K70 CORE
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black W/O Palmrest
K70 CORE
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro
SEARCH
B&H
Steel Gray W/O Palmrest
K70 CORE
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Apex Pro
SEARCH
Walmart.com
White W/ Palmrest
K70 CORE SE
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Back to Top

SteelSeries Apex Pro

Corsair K70 CORE

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

SteelSeries Apex Pro vs Corsair K70 CORE: Main Discussion

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