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Tech head-to-head

Keychron K2vsSteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3

Age hasn't cost the 2019 Keychron K2 the lead: it averages 8.2 against 7.9 for the 2024 SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3, and takes Value 8.8 to 6.2.

Keychron K2

Keychron

8.2

The default recommendation for a first mechanical keyboard, and it has held that spot for years.

Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens the current Amazon listing.

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3

SteelSeries

7.9

Actuation you set per key, from a hair of travel to the full stroke, on a board that charges for it.

Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens the current Amazon listing.

Where they diverge

The widest gap is Value, Keychron K2 ahead 8.8 to 6.2. They come closest on Durability, 8.0 to 7.8. Left of center is Keychron K2, right is SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3.

Keychron K2 versus SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 — axis scores out of 10Horizontal bar chart of editorial scores out of 10 across 5 axes. Bars for Keychron K2 run left from the axis labels, bars for SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 run right. Keychron K2: Performance 8.0, Value 8.8, Durability 8.0, Ease of use 8.2, Design 8.0. SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3: Performance 9.4, Value 6.2, Durability 7.8, Ease of use 7.4, Design 8.6.Keychron K2 (left)SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 (right)PerformanceKeychron K2 — Performance 8.0 out of 108.0SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 — Performance 9.4 out of 109.4ValueKeychron K2 — Value 8.8 out of 108.8SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 — Value 6.2 out of 106.2DurabilityKeychron K2 — Durability 8.0 out of 108.0SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 — Durability 7.8 out of 107.8Ease of useKeychron K2 — Ease of use 8.2 out of 108.2SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 — Ease of use 7.4 out of 107.4DesignKeychron K2 — Design 8.0 out of 108.0SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 — Design 8.6 out of 108.6Editorial score out of 10 — higher is better

Which one to pick

Take the Keychron K2

Leads on Value, Durability and Ease of use.

  • Your first mechanical keyboard, without committing to a build
  • You switch between a Mac and a PC on the same desk
  • Arrow keys and a delete key are non-negotiable

Take the SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3

Leads on Performance and Design.

  • Competitive games where actuation depth is worth tuning key by key
  • You want a handful of keys set shallow and the rest left normal
  • Media control and profile switching without opening an app

What each one gets wrong

Keychron K2

  • You want a low-profile board — the front height is tall without a wrist rest
  • Per-key firmware customisation matters to you

SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3

  • Typing is the main job — shallow actuation punishes resting fingers
  • You would rather not have the SteelSeries suite installed to configure it
  • You expect to change switches later; these are not sockets

Specs, side by side

SpecKeychron K2SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3
Layout75 percentTenkeyless
ConnectionBluetooth and USB-C—
SwitchesHot-swappable on current revisionsOmniPoint 3.0 magnetic, 0.1–4.0 mm adjustable
Top plate—Aluminum alloy
Extras—OLED display, onboard profiles, double-shot PBT keycaps

Rankings they both appear in

Questions

The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 is 5 years newer. Why does it score lower?
Because the axes didn't move the way the release dates suggest. The 2019 model takes Value, Durability and Ease of use, widest on Value at 8.8 to 6.2. Performance and Design are where the 2024 model answers, and whether that is enough is the whole question.
What did the 2024 model improve?
Performance and Design. Performance runs 9.4 to 8.0; Design runs 8.6 to 8.0. That is not enough to move the average, which stays 8.2 to 7.9.
Which one ranks higher in "Every board here is sold on exactly one feature"?
Keychron K2 sits at #2 in "Every board here is sold on exactly one feature", SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 at #4.