The SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL and the Wooting 80HE are two Hall effect keyboards gamers weigh against each other, and "apex pro tkl vs wooting 80he" is something people search for word for word. Both use magnetic switches, so you can choose how deep a press counts and turn on rapid trigger, which resets a key the moment it starts to come back up. On paper they do much the same job, so how they sound and feel to type on can be what decides it.
Both boards are in the Mechvibes library as community sound packs, so you can hear them before you buy. We have not used these keyboards ourselves; the facts below come from their makers' pages, linked.
Some links below go to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate, Mechvibes earns from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.
SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL
Played 2,055 times on Mechvibes in the last 30 days across 12 community packs, and counting.
Wooting 80HE
Played 394 times on Mechvibes in the last 30 days across 4 community packs, and counting.
At a glance
| SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL | Wooting 80HE | |
|---|---|---|
| Layout | Tenkeyless | 80% |
| Case | Aluminum frame and top plate | PCR ABS or zinc alloy, with a polycarbonate plate and a silicone gasket mount |
| Switches | OmniPoint 3.0, actuation from 0.1 to 4.0 mm | Lekker L60 V2, actuation from 0.1 to 4.0 mm |
| Connectivity | Wired, detachable USB-C to USB-A cable | USB-C to USB-C cable |
| Sound in its packs | Creamy, clacky, clicky, thocky | Clacky, creamy, thocky |
| Packs on Mechvibes | 12 | 4 |
| Pack views in the 30 days to November 12, 2026 | 2,034 | 392 |
Pack views count each person once a day. Apex Pro TKL facts are for the Gen 3, the version on SteelSeries's store. Wooting 80HE facts from Wooting.
How they sound
Most of the Apex Pro TKL packs record its earlier switches, the original OmniPoint and OmniPoint 2.0. apex pro tkl bluex, on OmniPoint switches, is the one people opened most. Apex PRO TKL by kauankkj, on OmniPoint 2.0, and SteelSeries APEX PRO TKL, on OmniPoint, are both described as clacky. APEX PRO TKL is described as creamy, and SteelSeries Apex Pro TKL 2023 as thocky and clacky. APEX PRO TKL GEN 3 records the OmniPoint 3.0 switches SteelSeries sells it with now, and it is described as clacky and clicky.
The Wooting 80HE packs split between two switches. Wooting 80HE Keyboard and Wooting 80HE with Lekker L60 switches record Lekker L60 switches; Wooting ships the board with Lekker L60 V2. The first is described as clacky and creamy. [DREW] Wooting 80HE Cerakey V2, the one people opened most, and wooting 80HE gateron jade 70g record Gateron Jade switches, not the switch Wooting lists for the board, and both are described as thocky and creamy.
A simple way to compare: open one pack of each and type the same sentence on both, at the same volume. For the boards as their makers sell them, pick the Apex Pro TKL Gen 3 pack and a Lekker L60 pack for the 80HE.
What sets them apart
- The size. The Apex Pro TKL is a tenkeyless board, 355 mm wide (SteelSeries). The 80HE is an 80% board, 346 mm wide (Wooting).
- What is inside for sound. SteelSeries lists per-key lubrication, for a smoother and quieter press, and sound dampening foam to reduce noise and vibration (SteelSeries). Wooting lists a silicone gasket mount for less noise and a softer feel, a polycarbonate plate that mutes more of the high frequencies, and screw-in stabilizers against rattle (Wooting).
- The case and weight. The Apex Pro TKL has an aluminum frame and top plate and weighs 974 g. The 80HE comes in a PCR ABS case at 790 g or a zinc alloy one at 2,160 g (SteelSeries, Wooting).
- What each maker puts forward. SteelSeries lists an OLED display for changing settings on the keyboard, and a wrist rest in the box (SteelSeries). Wooting lists 8 kHz polling and an LED bar that can show the active profile (Wooting).
Both makers give the same adjustable actuation range, 0.1 to 4.0 mm, and both list rapid trigger.
Which one to hear first
If you want a deeper sound, start with the 80HE packs on Gateron Jade switches: both are described as thocky and creamy. Keep in mind that Wooting lists Lekker L60 V2 switches for the board, so hear a Lekker L60 pack too. If you like a brighter, sharper sound, start with the Apex Pro TKL: most of its packs that carry a description are described as clacky, and the Gen 3 pack is described as clacky and clicky.
If you want to hear the Apex Pro TKL across its generations, it has the most packs of the two, from the original OmniPoint switches to OmniPoint 3.0.
How to listen
Every pack page has a keyboard you can type on. Turn the volume up and type anywhere on the page to hear the pack. To hear it while you work in other apps, download Mechvibes, open the pack and press Install.
The same keyboard can sound very different from one recording to the next. Switches, keycaps, the desk and the microphone all change the sound, which is why some keyboards here have several packs. If you own one of these boards in a setup that is missing here, such as the 80HE with Lekker L60 V2 switches or the Apex Pro TKL Gen 3, you can record your own pack and add it to the library.