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If you’re shopping the budget keyboard tier and have ruled out everything under $40, two boards keep showing up on every list: the SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL at $49.97 and the Razer BlackWidow V3 at $99. They’re separated by fifty bucks and a fundamental philosophy disagreement about what a budget keyboard should be. The Apex 3 TKL is the quiet, water-resistant, premium-feeling daily driver that doesn’t use real mechanical switches. The BlackWidow V3 is the loud, full-featured, true-mechanical battlestation board with all the accessories.
Picking between them is less about which is “better” and more about which battlestation you’re building. Here’s the head-to-head.
At-a-Glance: Apex 3 TKL vs BlackWidow V3
| Spec | SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL | Razer BlackWidow V3 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $49.97 | $99 |
| Layout | TKL (87 keys) | Full-size (104 keys) |
| Switches | Whisper-Quiet membrane-mech | Razer Green clicky mechanical |
| True mechanical | No (hybrid) | Yes |
| Sound | Quiet | Loud |
| RGB | 8-zone | Per-key Chroma |
| Wrist rest | Magnetic, included | Plush, included |
| Water resistance | IP32 | None |
| Volume roller | Yes (metal) | Yes |
| Weight | 1.83 lbs | 3.16 lbs |
SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL — The Quiet Spill-Proof Pick
SteelSeries Apex 3 TKL gaming keyboard is the first ever water resistant TKL esports keyboard. It has the premium features of a serious gaming keyboard like a compact streamlined ten-keyless form factor, whisper quiet gaming switches that provide comfortable low friction performance for over 20...
The Apex 3 TKL’s pitch is simple: name-brand quality at $49.97 with a feature set that punches into the $80 tier. IP32 water and dust resistance, magnetic detachable wrist rest, metal volume roller, and Whisper-Quiet switches that don’t wake the house at 2 AM. Read the full Apex 3 TKL review for the complete breakdown, but the headline is: this is the best $50 keyboard for someone who wants premium feel without paying premium prices and doesn’t strictly need real mechanical switches.
Razer BlackWidow V3 — The Loaded Mechanical Default
Razer BlackWidow V3 Mechanical Gaming Keyboard: Green Mechanical Switches, Tactile & Clicky, Chroma RGB Lighting, Compact Form Factor, Programmable Macro Functionality, Classic Black. The name that started it all returns to reassert its dominance. Feel the difference with the Razer BlackWidow...
The BlackWidow V3 is the easy-mode “real mechanical keyboard” pick at $99. Razer Green clicky switches, doubleshot ABS keycaps, full-size layout with dedicated media keys and a metal volume roller, plush wrist rest in the box, and Chroma RGB across every key. It’s the keyboard you buy when you want everything a keyboard can do without crossing $100 — and it does it with name-brand RMA support and the most polished lighting software in the budget tier.
Switch Feel — The Big One
This is where these two keyboards diverge most. Razer Greens are real mechanical clicky switches — sharp click, full 4mm travel, satisfying tactile bump that feels like a typewriter. The Apex 3 TKL’s Whisper-Quiet hybrid feels closer to a high-end laptop keyboard than a real mech. Softer bottom-out, less defined click, and noticeably quieter. Neither is wrong; they’re tuned for different people.
If you’ve used mechanical keyboards before and know what Cherry MX Blue feels like, the BlackWidow’s Razer Greens will feel familiar and crispy. The Apex 3’s switches will feel mushy by comparison. If your previous keyboard was a $20 membrane Logitech, the Apex 3 will feel like a huge upgrade and the BlackWidow’s clack might actually be too loud. Sample matters here — try them at a Best Buy if you can.
Build and Durability
The BlackWidow’s chassis is heavier (3.16 lbs vs 1.83 lbs) and feels more planted on a desk. Aluminum top plate, full-size frame, the kind of build that survives years of heavy gaming. The Apex 3 is lighter and slightly less rigid, but it has a feature the BlackWidow doesn’t: IP32 water and dust resistance. Spill a coffee on the BlackWidow and you’ll be shopping for a new keyboard. Spill on the Apex 3 and you wipe it down. For desks where drinks live, this matters.
Lighting
BlackWidow wins this one cleanly. Per-key Chroma RGB with the deepest customization software in gaming, integration with games like Apex Legends and CS2, and a community library of effects. The Apex 3’s 8-zone RGB is fine for static backlighting and basic gradients but it’s not in the same league for reactive effects. If lighting matters to you, BlackWidow.
Use Case Verdict
- Buy the BlackWidow V3 if: you want a real clicky mechanical, full-size layout with numpad, deep RGB customization, and don’t share a quiet room with anyone.
- Buy the Apex 3 TKL if: you stream, share a room, want spill protection, are on a strict $50 budget, or are buying a first keyboard for someone who hasn’t decided if they want mechanical at all.
Final Pick
If you can stretch the budget, the Razer BlackWidow V3 is the better keyboard in absolute terms — real mechanical switches, more features, better lighting. If $50 is the hard ceiling, the Apex 3 TKL is the obvious pick at a price point where almost nothing else competes on build quality. They’re not interchangeable. Pick the one that matches your budget and your noise tolerance.
Want the wider field? See the best budget mechanical keyboard guide for the full lineup.
