SteelSeries Apex Pro VS Apex 7
PC gaming is very popular and the fact that most people have computers or laptops nowadays makes it accessible to almost everyone. With the popularity of video games, many people also want to have a full gaming setup with the necessary peripherals such as gaming keyboards like SteelSeries Apex Pro Vs Apex 7. These are among the most popular and advanced keyboards in the market but not exactly the same which is why you need to know what they can offer before deciding the option.
In this comparison, we are going to talk about:
- What are the Differences Between Gaming and Regular Keyboard
- What are SteelSeries Apex Pro and Apex 7
- How are the Design of SteelSeries Apex Pro and Apex 7
- What are the Switches in SteelSeries Apex Pro and Apex 7
- How are the Experience with SteelSeries Apex Pro and Apex 7
- What else SteelSeries Apex Pro and Apex 7 can offer
- SteelSeries Apex Pro Vs Apex 7
Gaming and Regular Keyboard
Keyboard is an integral part of your computer because it is used to insert the command and the data that you want to use or command in the software we are running. Because we are always interacting with the keyboard, it is necessary to get the one that matches best with the type of application or which seems to work best in your experience. For gaming purposes, we have gaming keyboards and they are not the same as regular keyboards with some crucial differences.
The most noticeable difference is the core of these keyboards itself because most regular variants are using membrane while gaming specific keyboards often come with mechanical switches. You can notice this difference when pressing the keys because membranes are cushiony and heavy to press as we are pressing a dome silicone below the keycaps. On the other hand, mechanical switches use springs and the actuation point sits above the lowest point or above the bottom of compression thus, no need to reach the bottom for the keystroke to register.
When pressed, the most noticeable advantage of mechanical keys is that they are very light, meaning not as much effort used while typing. They are also known to be very durable and can sustain millions of clicks while giving you this prominent feedback too. The drawback is they can be quite expensive as there are more parts to make a mechanical switch and also, typically loud too. If you are travelling or putting the keyboard on the backpack from place to place, they are heavier as well.
From the outer look, you can see how they appear on the outside because gaming peripherals are also very different. Usually, the gaming keyboards are stylish with the logo of the company’s brand. In some variants, there are also additional features such as RGB lighting and macro buttons including multimedia buttons, especially if you are going for the full-size. If you pay attention to the build quality, the reliable options are made of hard plastic or even metal frame to make sure they last long.
In general, both gaming and regular keyboards are the same so you can use a regular keyboard for gaming or a gaming keyboard for typing and working on the typical tasks on the computer. As long as the keyboard is still working properly, any of these keyboards will be useful. The overall difference is just because the gaming keyboard has more ergonomics for the application. They are also more comfortable if you prefer a lighter and responsive press.
| SteelSeries Apex Pro | SteelSeries Apex 7 | |
|---|---|---|
  |   |
|
| Product Dimensions | 5.5 x 17.2 x 1.6 inches | 5.5 x 17.2 x 1.6 inches |
| Shipping Weight | 2.14 pounds | 2.1 pounds |
| Best offer | Check price | Check price |
About SteelSeries Apex Pro and Apex 7
If you want to improve the gaming experience or want to have a full gaming setup at home, we highly recommend investing in some of the gaming keyboards too. They can be quite expensive depending on the model but we can still save some by going with the entry-level alternatives such as Redragon K552 Vs Tecware Phantom. The differences are usually build quality including material and features that you can find on the equipment. The most advanced options give superb build quality and better materials for durability and experience.
Now for the options, you can go with any brands depending on which seems to fit in the pocket or preference the most. For those who want to get some of the best options in the market, the SteelSeries is one of the most popular brands to rely on. They are covering both entry-level and expensive ranges so depending on how much you can spend, we can find the ideal choice. Some of them are rather similar however so it is wise to consider it wisely.
Among the high-end keyboards from this brand, the SteelSeries Apex Pro and Apex 7 are two very similar but different models to consider. These are quite expensive especially when you think about how many other mechanical keyboards that cost much less from many other brands. These keyboards are available in two variants or the full-size and TKL which is smaller. We are going to talk about their full-size variants that are almost identical technologically but they have different switches.
This is the core of gaming keyboard so different switches mean a lot to affect the experience. In general, you will have a wider option if choosing the Apex 7 as we can opt from a few different switches but when it comes to the versatility, Apex Pro is the higher option. In comparison, the Pro variant is also the more expensive and the price gap is quite a lot so it is wise to think about whether you really need the feature offered by Apex Pro.
SteelSeries Apex Pro and Apex 7 Design
Before getting into what they can offer, let’s take a look into the unit first. Physically, the SteelSeries Apex Pro and Apex 7 are very much the same to each other so it will be very difficult to tell them apart from each other. What we love the most from these keyboards is their build quality as they are made with an aluminum case on the top combined with plastic below it. The fashion is the same including a small screen on the top left of the keyboards.
These are wired keyboards so we will need to use the cable to make them work and this is high quality, thick cable. At the right top, you can find a USB port for plugging other devices too. Flip the keyboard and you can find cable routing slots below for cable arrangement. There are also rubber pads here to prevent the keyboards from moving on the table. In addition, you can add wrist rest as well to these keyboards which are connected using a magnetic panel at the bottom.
SteelSeries Apex Pro and Apex 7 Switch
Now for the most important part, let’s see what the SteelSeries Apex Pro and Apex 7 can offer starting from the most important part or switch itself. Starting from the Apex Pro, this keyboard is using a linear switch which is similar to Cherry MX Red switches and what’s special is most of the keys are using the OmniPoint switch. The special thing about the technology is that it can be adjusted at the actuation point which is not always present in most mechanical keyboards.
Next is the Apex 7 and as it has been mentioned above, this keyboard is available in three switches, the Red, Blue, and Brown but now we are going to choose the Red switch so it should be similar to the Pro variant. Just like most Cherry MX Red, this linear switch is very comfortable to use and should be quite as well compared to Blue or Brown.
SteelSeries Apex Pro and Apex 7 Experience
Moving further, let’s talk about the experience and out of the box, these SteelSeries Apex Pro and Apex 7 are very similar to each other. While OmniPoint is special, it feels like typical Red switches, these keys are using magnetic components to detect the height of the press from the standard mechanical system. The OmniPoint is only available for the whole main keys however or the keys on the left so the upper and numerical pad don’t have the feature.
What sets the two apart in experience is just because you can decide the actuation point of the Apex Pro OmniPoint switch from 0.4mm to 3.6mm so we can decide how shallow or how deep the keypress will register. Besides adjusting it from the built-in control panel at the top or through the small display, we can also use the software to optimize the customization.
SteelSeries Apex Pro and Apex 7 Features
Lastly we want to talk about the additional features on SteelSeries Apex Pro and Apex 7 that you can find on these keyboards and one our favorite is the OmniPoint on the Apex Pro itself. The most interesting for general users is probably the control panel with scroll wheel to adjust the profile or the actuation point if you choose the Pro variant. It can show GIFs as well and with some compatible games we can even view the related information conveniently.
Comparison
In comparison, the SteelSeries Apex Pro and Apex 7 are more similar than different. They are identical from the features built in the unit as well as the build quality and material including fashion but the switch itself. With OmniPoint, we have the freedom to decide how far or short the key will travel to actually register the command so we can make it shorter and more responsive or deeper so we can avoid pressing the wrong keys before they register the command.
Conclusion
You can go amazing with any of these keyboards but do consider whether you need the adjustable actuation because the Pro variant is expensive and if budget is not an issue, we recommend this keyboard for further personalization on how the switch is registering the press.