Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless 8KHz vs SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3
Updated

Razer · TKL
Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless 8KHz
£209.99List priceWhere to buy
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SteelSeries · TKL
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3
£209List priceWhere to buy
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Which to pick
Both are wired esports tenkeyless boards at around £210 in the UK, with per-key adjustable actuation and rapid trigger, plastic bodies with aluminium top plates, double-shot PBT keycaps and switches you can't swap.
The difference is how each switch senses the key. Razer uses analog optical switches, where the stem interrupts a beam of light; SteelSeries uses OmniPoint 3.0 magnetic Hall effect switches. Both offer the same kind of tuning, so the choice comes down to the rest of the board.
The Huntsman has an 8,000 Hz polling rate, Razer's Snap Tap feature, a digital dial and a confirmed UK ISO version. The Apex Pro comes with a magnetic wrist rest, but as far as we can tell its UK version is the US key shape with UK legends rather than a true ISO board.
If you want the tall UK Enter key, pick the Huntsman. If you're used to ANSI or want the wrist rest in the box, the Apex Pro is the one.
Specifications side by side
9 rows differ
| Spec | Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Tenkeyless 8KHz | SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price (differs) | £209.99List price | £209List price |
| Sound (editorial) (differs) | Muted | Not listed |
| Version (differs) | 8KHz | Gen 3 |
| Size | TKL (80%) | TKL (80%) |
| Layouts (differs) | ANSI / ISO | ANSI |
| Switch options (differs) | Razer Analog Optical Switch Gen-2 | SteelSeries OmniPoint 3.0 Adjustable Magnetic |
| Switch type (differs) | Optical | Hall-effect (magnetic) |
| Hot-swap | No, soldered | No, soldered |
| Connection | Wired (USB-C) | Wired (USB-C) |
| Polling rate (differs) | 8,000 Hz | Not listed |
| Case | Plastic | Plastic |
| Mounting | Other | Other |
| Keycaps (differs) | PBT, OEM profile, doubleshot | PBT, Other profile, doubleshot |
| Software | Proprietary app | Proprietary app |
| Lighting | Per-key RGB | Per-key RGB |
| Knob (differs) | Yes | Not listed |
Prices are list prices unless marked as a live price. Check the retailer before you buy. Sound tags are our summary of what owners and reviewers report, not measurements. Add a third keyboard
Guides
- Buying a magnetic (Hall-effect) keyboardWhat to check before buying a Hall-effect keyboard: who it helps, switch lock-in, software, polling rate, UK layouts and current prices.
- ANSI or ISO: a layout guide for UK buyersThe physical differences between ANSI and ISO keyboards, UK legends, OS layout settings, and why ISO parts cost more.
More comparisons
Sources
Specs come from our catalogue, which records where each fact was read:
- razer.com/gaming-keyboards/razer-huntsman-v3-pro-tenkeyless-8khz
- tomshardware.com/peripherals/keyboards/razer-huntsman-v3-pro-tkl-review
- scan.co.uk/products/razer-huntsman-v3-pro-8khz-tenkeyless-gaming-keyboard-razer-analog-optical-gen2-switches-n-key-rollo
- steelseries.com/en-gb/gaming-keyboards/apex-pro-gen-3
- techradar.com/computing/keyboards/steelseries-apex-pro-tkl-gen-3-review