Keychron K8 HE vs SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Only show differences

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Share comparison

K8 HE compared with Apex Pro TKL Gen 3

	KeychronK8 HE	SteelSeriesApex Pro TKL Gen 3
Overview
Released
Released	May 2025	September 2024
Typing
Layout
Layout	Tenkeyless	Tenkeyless
Switches
Switches	Magnetic (Hall effect)	Magnetic (Hall effect)
Backlight
Backlight	RGB	RGB
Keys labelled for
Keys labelled for	Mac, Windows and more	Windows
Touch ID
Touch ID	No	–
Switches
Switches	Pre-lubed Gateron Double-Rail Magnetic Nebula switches with a TMR sensor under each key; hot-swappable with Gateron double-rail magnetic switches only; actuation adjustable from 0.2 to 3.8 mm with 0.1 mm sensitivity	OmniPoint 3.0 adjustable HyperMagnetic switches (analogue Hall effect magnetic sensors, not mechanical contacts), rated for up to 100 million keystrokes; per-key lubrication; 0.7 ms response time
Key travel
Key travel	–	Actuation point adjustable from 0.1 to 4.0 mm; 45 g bottom-out force
Keycaps
Keycaps	Cherry-profile double-shot PBT, shine-through (Standard Version); OSA-profile double-shot PBT, not shine-through (Special Edition)	Double-shot PBT
Layouts
Layouts	80% TKL; ANSI (keychron.com); a Japanese JIS version is also sold	–
Backlight
Backlight	North-facing RGB LEDs	Dynamic per-key RGB, 16.8 million colours, with reactive typing effects
Special keys
Special keys	Rapid Trigger; four-in-one Dynamic Keystrokes; Last Keystroke Prioritization and Snap Click; N-key rollover wireless and wired	OLED smart display; Rapid Trigger, Rapid Tap and Protection Mode; 5 onboard profiles; 32-bit ARM processor
Connections and battery
Connects by
Connects by	Bluetooth, USB receiver and Cable	Cable
Devices it switches between
Devices it switches between	3	–
Power
Power	Rechargeable	Cable
Battery life (maker's claim)
Battery life (maker's claim)	Up to 110 hours	–
Receiver
Receiver	2.4 GHz USB receiver at 1,000 Hz polling; Bluetooth 5.2 at 125 Hz to up to three devices; USB-C wired at 1,000 Hz	–
Battery life detail
Battery life detail	4,000 mAh lithium-polymer battery; up to 110 hours (Keychron's lab tests; Keychron doesn't say with what backlight setting)	–
Works with
Works with	Windows, macOS and Linux	Windows 10 and above; macOS 11 Big Sur and above with SteelSeries GG and Engine (not all features supported on macOS)
Software
Software	QMK firmware; Keychron Launcher web app for actuation, Rapid Trigger, key remapping and lighting	SteelSeries GG with Engine and QuickSet
Design
Weight
Weight	1185 g	974 g (better)
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	359.2 × 129.2 × 41 mm	355 × 129 × 42 mm
Size
Size	359.2 × 129.2 mm, about 1,185 g (Standard Version); 363.2 × 129.2 mm, about 1,162 g (Special Edition); 34.3 mm high at the front and 41.0 mm at the back with keycaps; typing angles of 5°, 9.34° and 12.43°	355 × 129 × 42 mm (width × depth × height); rubber tri-level feet
Materials
Materials	Aluminium body (aluminium and wood on the Special Edition); ABS bottom case; aluminium plate; screw-in PCB stabilisers	Aluminium top plate; sound-dampening foam
Colours
Colours	Black (Standard Version); Black or White with wood sides (Special Edition)	Black; other finishes on steelseries.com
In the box
In the box	–	Keyboard, detachable braided USB-C to USB-A cable, extension adapter, wrist rest, keycap puller, product information guide