SteelSeries Apex Pro vs Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021

Which Keyboard Is Better?

Products

SteelSeries Apex Pro
Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021

Tested using Methodology v1.4.1

Updated Aug 21, 2025 06:31 PM

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BestBuy.com

Tested using Methodology v1.3.1

Updated Mar 14, 2025 05:34 PM

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  2. iPad

Our Verdict

SteelSeries Apex Pro

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021

The Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 and the SteelSeries Apex Pro are keyboards made for very different uses. The Apple is a folio board made for the 11" and 12" iPad Pro and 11" iPad Air only. It uses a Smart Connector to pair to the iPad, and you can't use it with any other device. On the other hand, the SteelSeries is a mechanical gaming keyboard with proprietary OmniPoint switches that let you set the operating force to your needs. It's fully compatible with Windows and macOS, and although the customization software isn't available on Linux, all of the keys should still work.

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Variants

  • Apex Pro (Black)
  • Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11" (Black)
  • Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11" (White)

Check Price

Black
Apex Pro
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
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Apple.com
Black
Apex Pro
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
White
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro
B&H
 
Black
Apex Pro
SteelSeries
 
Black
Apex Pro
Walmart.com
 
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Main Differences for
Gaming

Threshold 

0.10

Gaming 
 

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Full Comparison

Design

Dimensions 
 

Top Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Top Picture Sample

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 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)
N/A

Weight 
 

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

Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build Quality Close Up  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Build Quality Close Up Sample

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 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 Side Picture Sample

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 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 
 

N/A
N/A

Maximum Incline 
 

Lock°
N/A

Home Row Height 
 

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

N/A
N/A

Customizability Overview  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Customizability Overview Sample

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 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
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Backlight Features 
 

N/A
N/A

Backlighting Picture  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Backlighting Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Backlighting Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Brightness Max  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Max Sample

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Brightness Max Sample

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Backlighting  

Locked
Locked

Brightness Min  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Brightness Min Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 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 White Shot Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 White Shot Sample

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Cable & Connector  

Connectivity  

Locked
Locked

Detachable 
 

Locked
Locked

Length  

Lock ft (Lock m)
N/A

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 Pro Extra Features Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 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 Bundle Picture Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Bundle Picture Sample

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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 Pro Typing Sample Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 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 Key Switch Actuation Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 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
Show Text 

Adjustable Input Granularity 
 

N/A
N/A

Input Linearity Graph  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Input Linearity Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Input Linearity Graph Sample

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Analog Output Graph  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Analog Output Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Analog Output Graph Sample

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Top Deadzone 
 

Lock mm

Bottom Deadzone 
 

Lock mm

Detection Ratio 
 

Lock%

Minimum Step Depth 
 

Lock mm
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Switches 
 

Wobble Video  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Wobble Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 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 Pro Single-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Single-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Best Connection 
 

Lock ms
N/A

Best Connection Std Dev  

±Lock ms
N/A

Wired 
 

Lock ms
N/A

Receiver 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

N/A
N/A

PCB (Estimated) 
 

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Multi-Key Latency 
 

N/A
N/A

Latency Video  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Multi-Key Latency Graph  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Multi-Key Latency Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Multi-Key Latency Graph Sample

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Connection Evaluated  

Locked
N/A

Key Press 
 

Lock ms
N/A

Key Release 
 

N/A

Data Transmission 
 

N/A
N/A

Multi-Key Raw USB  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Multi-Key Raw USB Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Multi-Key Raw USB Sample

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Connection Evaluated  

Locked
N/A

USB Polling Rate 
 

Lock Hz
N/A

Effective Update Rate 
 

Lock Hz
N/A

N-Key Rollover (NKRO) 
 

Locked
Locked

Multiple Keys Per USB Report 
 

Locked
N/A

Chord Split 
 

N/A
N/A

Chord Split Graph  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Chord Split Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 Chord Split Graph Sample

SAMPLE

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4 Chord Split Delay 
 

Lock ms
N/A

8 Chord Split Delay 
 

Lock ms
N/A
Software and Operating System

Configuration Software 
 

Software Tour  

SteelSeries Apex Pro Software Tour Sample

SAMPLE

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Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021 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 (Ubuntu 22) 
 

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
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
Apex Pro
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
SEE PRICE
Apple.com
Black
Apex Pro
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
White
Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11"
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Black
Apex Pro
B&H
 
Black
Apex Pro
SteelSeries
 
Black
Apex Pro
Walmart.com
 

SteelSeries Apex Pro

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021

Comments

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SteelSeries Apex Pro vs Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad 2021: Main Discussion

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