SteelSeries Apex 3 vs Apex 5

What published reviews say about each, where the two differ, and who each one suits.

Summed up from 15 published reviews

SteelSeries

Apex 3

The SteelSeries Apex 3 is a quiet, budget-friendly membrane keyboard with zone-based RGB and spill resistance, but trades away mechanical responsiveness and USB passthrough.

Best for: Budget-conscious gamers wanting quiet keys, RGB lighting, and spill protection
Skip it if: You prioritize fast mechanical response, per-key lighting, and USB passthrough

PriceToday's price on AmazonView on Amazon

What reviewers say about the SteelSeries Apex 3

SteelSeries

Apex 5

The Apex 5 is a sturdy, feature-rich gaming keyboard with tactile switches and extensive customization, though noise, premium pricing, and limited modability are trade-offs.

Best for: Gamers wanting tactile keys, RGB, macros, and an OLED display
Skip it if: Buyers prioritizing silence, wireless freedom, hot-swap switches, or low latency

PriceToday's price on AmazonView on Amazon

What reviewers say about the SteelSeries Apex 5

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Specs side by side

Spec	SteelSeries Apex 3	SteelSeries Apex 5
Switches	Membrane	Clicky
Size	Full size	Full size
Best for	Gaming	Gaming
Wireless	No	No
Hot-swap	No	No
Backlight	RGB	RGB

Rows where the two differ come first.

Where only one fits

feel: Apex 3Low & quiet; Apex 5Clicky

What reviewers like, and what they don't

SteelSeries Apex 3

Affordable pricing with RGB, macros, and multimedia controls 1 2 3 5
Quiet membrane switches suit shared spaces and extended typing 1 2 3 4
IP32 water resistance provides practical everyday spill protection 2 3 4 5
Sturdy construction and adjustable typing angles support daily use 1 2 5
Membrane response feels slower and less precise than mechanical switches 1 3 5 7
Fixed cable may knot or fray and cannot detach 1 2 5
Lacks USB passthrough for convenient front-panel connections 1 5
Zone-based RGB lacks per-key lighting and extensive customization 2 4 6

SteelSeries Apex 5

Extensive RGB, macro, and profile customization through SteelSeries software 1 2 3 4
Tactile, clicky hybrid switches provide satisfying gaming feedback 1 3 4 6
Sturdy construction and a comfortable magnetic wrist rest 2 4 5 6
Configurable OLED information and dedicated media controls 3 4 5 6
Strong gaming performance with reliable, responsive input 1 2 4 5
Noisy clicks may disrupt offices and shared spaces 3 6 7
Fixed cable, no hot-swapping, and limited firmware options 2 5 7
Premium price versus basic mechanical keyboard alternatives 3 8
Dim RGB and limited OLED utility may feel gimmicky 1 8

Sources

We don't test products ourselves. This page sums up 15 published reviews, read on October 21, 2026; each point above links to the reviews that make it.