What To Know
- The Razer Huntsman Mini weighs a mere 440 grams, while the SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini is slightly heavier at 530 grams.
- Both the Razer Huntsman Mini and the SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini are excellent compact gaming keyboards that offer a range of features and performance enhancements.
- The Razer Huntsman Mini features a sturdier aluminum frame, while the SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini has a reinforced aluminum top plate.
In the realm of gaming peripherals, compact keyboards have gained immense popularity, offering a sleek and portable form factor without compromising on performance. Two prominent contenders in this category are the Razer Huntsman Mini and the SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini. This comprehensive comparison will delve into the key features, strengths, and weaknesses of each keyboard, helping you make an informed decision.
Design and Build Quality
The Razer Huntsman Mini boasts a sturdy aluminum frame, giving it a solid and durable construction. Its compact 60% layout eliminates the function row and numpad, resulting in a highly portable design. The SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini, on the other hand, features a plastic chassis with a reinforced aluminum top plate. While it may not feel as premium as the Huntsman Mini, it still offers a robust build.
Switches
One of the most crucial aspects of a gaming keyboard is the switches used. The Razer Huntsman Mini comes equipped with Razer’s proprietary optical switches, which utilize infrared light to detect keystrokes. These switches provide lightning-fast actuation and a tactile feel, making them ideal for competitive gaming. The SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini offers a wider selection of switches, including linear, tactile, and clicky options. This allows you to choose switches that suit your specific preferences and gaming style.
Keycaps and RGB Lighting
Both keyboards feature PBT keycaps, which are known for their durability and resistance to wear. The Razer Huntsman Mini uses doubleshot keycaps, ensuring the legends won‘t fade over time. The SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini utilizes a unique hybrid system that combines PBT keycaps with a translucent top layer, allowing for vivid RGB lighting to shine through. Both keyboards offer customizable RGB lighting, giving you the ability to create vibrant and personalized lighting effects.
Software and Features
The Razer Huntsman Mini is compatible with Razer Synapse 3, a powerful software suite that allows you to customize key bindings, create macros, and adjust lighting effects. The SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini is supported by SteelSeries GG, which provides similar functionality, including profile management and advanced lighting customization. Both software platforms offer a wide range of options to enhance your gaming experience.
Performance and Responsiveness
When it comes to performance, both keyboards deliver exceptional responsiveness and accuracy. The Razer Huntsman Mini’s optical switches offer a blistering actuation speed of 0.2ms, giving you a competitive edge in fast-paced games. The SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini’s magnetic Hall Effect switches also provide lightning-fast actuation, ensuring precise and reliable keystrokes.
Portability and Connectivity
The compact size of both keyboards makes them highly portable. The Razer Huntsman Mini weighs a mere 440 grams, while the SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini is slightly heavier at 530 grams. Both keyboards come with a detachable USB-C cable for easy connectivity. However, the SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini additionally supports Bluetooth connectivity, providing wireless freedom.
Recommendations: The Final Verdict
Both the Razer Huntsman Mini and the SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini are excellent compact gaming keyboards that offer a range of features and performance enhancements. While the Razer Huntsman Mini excels with its durable construction and lightning-fast optical switches, the SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini provides greater customization options, hybrid keycaps, and Bluetooth connectivity. Ultimately, the best choice depends on your individual preferences, switch preferences, and budget.
Answers to Your Questions
Q: Which keyboard has a more durable build quality?
A: The Razer Huntsman Mini features a sturdier aluminum frame, while the SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini has a reinforced aluminum top plate.
Q: Which switches are better for gaming?
A: Both keyboards offer high-quality switches, but the Razer Huntsman Mini‘s optical switches provide the fastest actuation speed. The SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini offers a wider selection of switches to suit different preferences.
Q: Which keyboard offers more customization options?
A: The SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini provides a wider range of customization options, including switch selection, hybrid keycaps, and advanced RGB lighting effects.
Q: Which keyboard is more portable?
A: Both keyboards are highly portable, but the Razer Huntsman Mini is slightly lighter and more compact.
Q: Which keyboard supports Bluetooth connectivity?
A: Only the SteelSeries Apex 9 Mini supports Bluetooth connectivity, providing wireless freedom.
