- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Our Verdict
- Test Results
- Differences
- Compared To Others
- Deals
- Discussions
The Glorious Modular Mechanical Keyboard, better known as the GMMK, is an overall great keyboard. This full-size keyboard comes with a variety of different switches so you can select the ones that better suit your needs. The board is hot-swappable, meaning you don't have to desolder the switches to put in new ones. It also features full RGB lighting and offers great customizability. You can also get this board in a compact 60% or a TKL format. Unfortunately, its latency is quite high, making it less ideal for fast-paced, competitive gaming.
Our Verdict
The Glorious GMMK is an excellent gaming keyboard, but its high latency might disappoint some gamers. Our unit has Gateron Brown switches that seem to have a bit more pre-travel than other keyboards, although most people shouldn't notice this. That said, this board is hot-swappable, so you can put your favorite mechanical switches without soldering. Every key is macro-programmable, and the RGB lighting is great for gaming in the dark.
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Hot-swappable board.
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Very well-built design.
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Available in different sizes.
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Full customizable RGB backlighting.
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Typical non-ergonomic design.
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Fairly high latency.
The Glorious GMMK is wired-only and isn't designed to be used with mobile devices.
The Glorious GMMK is a good office keyboard. Its full-size format gives you access to all necessary keys, including a NumPad. Thanks to its hot-swappable board, you can easily put in or change the switches based on your needs. Unfortunately, it isn't fully compatible with macOS as there are a few keys that don't work, and the customization software is only available for Windows.
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Hot-swappable board.
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Very well-built design.
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Available in different sizes.
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Typical non-ergonomic design.
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Software unavailable for macOS and Linux.
The Glorious GMMK is a very good programming keyboard. All keys can be remapped, and they feel solid and steady. Typing on this board feels very nice, and you can choose your preferred switches thanks to the hot-swappable board. The board is almost fully compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, although some non-alphanumerical keys don't work on the latter two.
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Hot-swappable board.
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Very well-built design.
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Available in different sizes.
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Software unavailable for macOS and Linux.
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No wireless connectivity or multi-device pairing.
The Glorious GMMK is bad for use with a home theater PC. You can only use it wired, and the cable isn't detachable, so depending on your setup, it might not be long enough to reach your PC. Additionally, the lack of a trackpad means you need a separate mouse for navigation.
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Very well-built design.
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Available in different sizes.
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No trackpad.
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No wireless connectivity or multi-device pairing.
- 8.5 Gaming
- 2.8 Mobile/Tablet
- 7.8 Office
- 7.9 Programming
- 4.9 Entertainment / HTPC
- Updated Mar 23, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Dec 04, 2020: Corrected error about keycaps; they're ABS, not PBT.
- Updated Jul 20, 2020: Remeasured the pre-travel distance with different keys.
- Updated Jul 08, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Jun 30, 2020: Early access published.
Test Results
The Glorious GMMK's full-sized layout is very large due and takes a lot of space on a desk. However, it's also available in TKL and compact 60% formats.
Update 12/04/2020: We incorrectly stated that the keycaps are PBT, but they're actually ABS. The review has been updated accordingly.
The Glorious GMMK is very well-built and feels premium. The frame is made out of a nice plastic backing with a sleek metal edge and plate, and it exhibits very little flex. It comes with doubleshot ABS keycaps that are slightly textured and don't pick up any fingerprints or oil. The keys wobble a bit, but it isn't noticeable while typing. The rubber feet aren't very grippy, so the keyboard slides around easily when bumped. This board is hot-swappable, meaning you can easily change your switches without desoldering them.
Like most straight keyboards, the Glorious GMMK has just okay ergonomics. The board naturally sits at a three-degree incline, and it only has a single incline setting. It has a fairly low profile, and the front edge is very thin, so some people might not need a wrist rest. Unfortunately, if you need a wrist rest, there isn't one included in the box, although Glorious does sell some. If you want a similar keyboard with better ergonomics, take a look at the Corsair K70 RAPIDFIRE.
The Glorious GMMK features full RGB lighting, which you can customize through software or directly on the board. There are plenty of presets available, but it also allows for personalized effects, which is nice.
The cable should be long enough to reach your desktop without any issues. Unfortunately, it isn't detachable. If you want a keyboard with a detachable cable, then look into the Leopold FC900R.
The Glorious GMMK is wired-only and can't be used wirelessly.
The Glorious GMMK has media hotkeys on the Fn keys. You can easily remap every key and register macros by using the software. If you want to lock your Windows key, you can easily do so by pressing Fn+Windows key.
- Glorious Modular Gaming Keyboard
- Extra keycaps
- Switch puller
- Keycap puller (not pictured)
- Sticker
- User manuals
Update 07/20/2020: We measured the pre-travel distance on multiple keys. In our initial test, the pre-travel was measured with the letter 'U', and we got 2.58mm, which is considered high and affected the scoring. We remeasured with the 'B' key and got 2.38mm, and did it again with the ',' key and got 2.59mm. The variation in switches is in line with the tolerance of Gateron switches. We kept the lowest pre-travel distance and updated the review.
Our Glorious GMMK features Gateron Brown tactile switches, which feel somewhat similar to the very popular Cherry MX Brown switches. However, our switches seem to have variation in distance between keys. Most people shouldn't notice the small difference in the pre-travel difference as it's within manufacturing tolerance. Note that the board is hot-swappable, meaning you can easily choose which switches you want, and your experience will vary depending on which switch you go for.
Update 12/04/2020: We incorrectly stated that the keycaps are PBT, but they're actually ABS. The review was updated accordingly.
Typing on this keyboard feels excellent. The keypresses feel snappy and precise, without being too tiring during long periods. The keys are well spaced out, which helps reduce typos. The rugged ABS keycaps feel nice but don't feel as premium and thick as others. On the upside, all the keys are stable, and there's no wobble when typing. If you want a similar keyboard with an even better typing quality, check out the Ducky One 2.
When typing on Gateron Brown switches, this board is pretty quiet. This should be fine for an open-office area, and you shouldn't disturb the people around you. Note that the board is hot-swappable, meaning you can easily choose which switches you want, and the noise will vary depending on which switch you go for.
The Glorious GMMK's latency is quite high for a wired keyboard. It's okay for general desktop use and casual gaming, but not for serious, competitive gamers.
The Glorious GMMK is compatible with the software of the same name. This app allows you to map macros and customize the RGB lighting. There are a lot of presets available, and you can also create your own. Unfortunately, you can only create up to three different profiles, which isn't a lot when comparing to other brands. Also, the software is a bit slow and has noticeable lag, which hinders the user experience.
While this keyboard is fully compatible with Windows, there are a few non-alphanumerical keys that don't work on macOS or Linux. The software also isn't available on those two operating systems, which means you need to customize the board on Windows before bringing it to another OS.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
This keyboard is available in compact 60%, TKL, or full-size. We reviewed the full-size model, but expect most of the review to be valid for all variants, other than dimensions. Both the TKL and compact 60% models also have a detachable cable, which the full-size doesn't have. Note that since the Glorious GMMK is hot-swappable, your experience will vary depending on which switches you decide to use. There's also a barebones variant called the Glorious GMMK PRO, which doesn't come with any switches or keycaps, giving you plenty of customization.
Compared To Other Keyboards
The Glorious GMMK is one of the few keyboards made by well-known brands that's hot-swappable, although this seems to become a bit more popular. This means the switches aren't soldered in the PCB, and you can easily take them out with the included switch puller. You can add any compatible switch and change as often as you want to better suit your needs. If you want more options, check out our recommendations for the best keyboards, the best gaming keyboards, or if you're on a tighter budget, check out the best cheap mechanical keyboards.
The Glorious GMMK and the Glorious GMMK PRO are both wired gaming keyboards, but the GMMK is a full-size prebuilt board, while the GMMK PRO is a 75% barebones board. The GMMK comes with Gateron Brown switches, but you can always switch them out if you want a different feel. On the other hand, the GMMK PRO doesn't come with any switches or keycaps, so you can buy and install whichever ones you want. Also, it has a programmable rotary knob. Both are compatible with easy-to-use customization software to remap keys, set macros, and adjust the backlighting.
The Glorious GMMK and the Ducky One 2 are two highly customizable keyboards. Both are available in different sizes. The Glorious has a hot-swap board so that you can change the switches without soldering, while the Ducky is available in various switch options. The Ducky has better latency for gaming, but it lacks software for customization, which the Glorious has. Although we tested a variant of the Ducky that doesn't have backlighting, you can get one that does.
The Obinslab Anne Pro 2 and the Glorious GMMK are very different keyboards. The Glorious is wired-only, while the Obinslab is wireless and has multi-device pairing. The Glorious has a hot-swap board that lets you change the switches without soldering, allowing for greater customization. That said, the Obinslab is available in various Cherry MX, Gateron, and Kailh switches. Although we reviewed the full-size variant of the Glorious, it's also available in a compact 60% or TKL size. If you plan on gaming, the Obinslab has significantly lower latency.
The Glorious GMMK and the Durgod Taurus K320 are fairly similar overall. The main difference is that the Glorious is a hot-swappable board that lets you change the switches without soldering. That said, the Durgod has multiple Cherry MX switch options. The Durgod has better latency for gaming, though not by much. Although we tested a full-sized variant of the Glorious, you can get it in a 60% or TKL size.
The Glorious GMMK and the Keychron K4 are two very different keyboards. The Glorious is a wired keyboard, while the Keychron is wireless via Bluetooth and can be paired with up to three different devices. The Glorious has a hot-swap board that allows quick-release of the switches, so it's easier to customize to your needs. The Keychron is available in various switch options, including Gateron and LK Optical switches. It has better latency than the Glorious, but only if you use it wired. The Ducky has macro-programmable keys and software for customization, which the Keychron lacks.
The Glorious GMMK and the Ducky Shine 7 are very similar, with the main difference being that the Glorious has hot-swappable switches. That said, the Ducky is available in multiple Cherry MX switches. The Ducky has significantly lower latency, making it a better choice for gaming. We tested a full-size variant of the Glorious, but you can get it in a 60% or TKL size.
The Ducky One 2 Mini V1 and the Glorious GMMK are fairly different boards. While we reviewed the full-size format of the Glorious, it's also available in a compact 60% or TKL layout. The Glorious has a hot-swap board, making it a lot more versatile than the Ducky because you can choose and easily swap the switches without soldering. That said, the Ducky is also available in various switch options. The Ducky comes with better PBT keycaps that feel thicker, and it provides a better typing experience overall. Both keyboards have somewhat high latency, though the Ducky is a bit better.
The Keychron C2 and the Glorious GMMK are both full-sized, wired keyboards. The Keychron is a decent entry-level office keyboard that comes with Gateron Red, Blue, and Brown switches as well as a hot-swappable version. The Glorious is available in multiple sizes and is fully hot-swappable. The Keychron has better latency, but it doesn't have customization software, which the Glorious has.
Overall, the Glorious GMMK is much better than the Corsair K60 RGB PRO Low Profile. The Glorious has a better build quality, and the Gateron Brown switches on our unit provide a much better typing experience. However, the Corsair is more comfortable to type on due to its low profile, and the iCUE software lets you save more custom profiles.
The Glorious GMMK is better overall than the Leopold FC900R. The Glorious has macro-programmable keys, RGB backlighting, and dedicated software. However, the Leopold offers a better overall typing experience with the Cherry MX Brown switches we tested, but they're each available in a range of switches, so your experience may vary.