SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) vs Apex Pro Gen 3

Which Keyboard Is Better?

Products

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023)
SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3

Tested using Methodology v1.4.3

Updated Dec 19, 2025 03:37 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.4.3

Updated Mar 06, 2026 06:00 PM

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Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023)

SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3

Both the SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 and the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) are wired, analog gaming keyboards with comparable gaming performance in the same product lineup. The Apex Pro Gen 3 is a newer model with a full-size layout compared to the older Apex Pro TKL (2023) which has a tenkeyless (80%) layout. The newer Gen 3 has some minor build quality improvements, like tuned stabilizers and acoustic foam that improve the sound profile and dampen typing noise. Unfortunately, its actuation settings are much less accurate, although this may be something SteelSeries can fix with firmware updates in the future. 

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Variants

  • Apex Pro TKL (2023) (Black)
  • Apex Pro Gen 3 (Black)
  • Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 (Black)

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Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
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Black
Apex Pro Gen 3
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Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
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Black
Apex Pro TKL Gen 3
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Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
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Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
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Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
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Main Differences for
Gaming

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Gaming 
 

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Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Top Picture Sample

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 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)
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Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Underside Picture   

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Underside Picture  Sample

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Underside Picture  Sample

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Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Build Quality Close Up Sample

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Build Quality Close Up Sample

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Keycap Material  

Locked
Locked
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Ergonomics 
 

N/A
N/A

Side Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Side Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Side Picture Sample

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Curved/Angled 
 

Locked
Locked

Split Keyboard 
 

Locked
Locked

Key Alignment 
 

Locked
Locked

Minimum Incline 
 

Lock°
Lock°

Medium Incline 
 

Lock°
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  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Customizability Overview Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 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

Mechanical Switch Compatibility 
 

Locked
Locked

Magnetic Switch Compatibility 
 

Locked
Locked

North-Facing Cherry MX Interference 
 

Locked
Locked
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Backlight Features 
 

N/A
N/A

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Backlighting Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Backlighting Picture Sample

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Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Brightness Max Sample

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Brightness Max Sample

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Backlighting  

Locked
Locked

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Brightness Min Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Brightness Min 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  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) White Shot Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 White Shot 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
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Wireless Versatility 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

Locked
Locked

Bluetooth Multi-Device Pairing 
 

Locked
Locked

Proprietary Receiver 
 

Locked
Locked

Battery Type 
 

Locked
Locked
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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
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Extra Features 
 

Extra Features  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Extra Features Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Extra Features 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
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In The Box  

Bundle Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Bundle Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Bundle Picture Sample

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Typing Experience

Typing Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Key Spacing 
 

Lock mm (Lock")
Lock mm (Lock")
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Typing Noise 
 

N/A
N/A

Typing Sample  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Typing Sample Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 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  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample

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Initial Force 
 

Lock gf
Lock gf

Peak Tactile Force 
 

N/A
N/A

Actuation Force 
 

Lock gf
Lock gf

Bottom-Out Force 
 

Lock gf
Lock gf

Pre-Travel Distance 
 

Lock mm
Lock mm

Total Travel Distance 
 

Lock mm
Lock mm
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Adjustable Input Granularity 
 

N/A
N/A

Input Linearity Graph  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Input Linearity Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Input Linearity Graph Sample

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Analog Output Graph  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Analog Output Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Analog Output Graph Sample

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Top Deadzone 
 

Lock mm
Lock mm

Bottom Deadzone 
 

Lock mm
Lock mm

Detection Ratio 
 

Lock%
Lock%

Minimum Step Depth 
 

Lock mm
Lock mm
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Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Wobble Video Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Wobble Video Sample

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Switch Name 
 

Locked
Locked

Switch Type 
 

Locked
Locked

Feel 
 

Locked
Locked

Output Type 
 

Locked
Locked
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Performance

Single-Key Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Single-Key Latency Graph  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Single-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Single-Key Latency Graph 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) 
 

N/A
N/A
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Multi-Key Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Multi-Key Latency Graph  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Multi-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Multi-Key Latency Graph Sample

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Connection Evaluated  

Locked
Locked

Key Press 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms
Show Text 

Data Transmission 
 

N/A
N/A

Multi-Key Raw USB  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Multi-Key Raw USB Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Multi-Key Raw USB 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
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Chord Split 
 

N/A
N/A

Chord Split Graph  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Chord Split Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Chord Split Graph Sample

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4 Chord Split Delay 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

Lock ms
Lock ms
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Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) Software Tour Sample

SAMPLE

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SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3 Software Tour 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 Pro TKL (2023)
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Black
Apex Pro Gen 3
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Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
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BestBuy.com
Black
Apex Pro TKL Gen 3
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Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
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Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
B&H
 
Black
Apex Pro TKL (2023)
SteelSeries
 

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023)

SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3

Comments

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SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL (2023) vs SteelSeries Apex Pro Gen 3: Main Discussion

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