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 hotswappable, 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.
The Glorious GMMK is a pretty good keyboard all around. It's pretty versatile thanks to its hotswappable board that allows you to pull out switches and put in new ones. This makes it easier to try different types of switches and find the best ones for your needs, whether it's for gaming or the office. Overall, the frame is very well-made and each key features RGB lighting, which is nice.
The Glorious GMMK is an excellent gaming keyboard. Our unit has Gateron Brown switches that seem to have a bit more pre-travel than other keyboards, but most people shouldn't notice this and it's within the manufacturer's tolerance. Nevertheless, since this board is hotswappable, you're able to choose your favorite gaming switches without any issues. The board is well-built and the RGB lighting is great to have.
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. It offers a great overall typing quality thanks to steady keys and a very well-built frame. Thanks to its hotswappable board, you can easily put in and change the switches based on your needs.
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 hotswappable board. The board is almost fully compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, although some non-alphanumerical keys don't work on the latter two.
Update 12/04/2020: We incorrectly stated that the keycaps are PBT, but they're actually ABS. The review has been updated accordingly.
This keyboard 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 comes with doubleshot ABS keycaps. 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. There's only a single incline setting and when it's not used, the board is very flat. There isn't any wrist rest included, although Glorious do sell some. If you want a similar keyboard with better ergonomics, take a look at the Corsair K70 RAPIDFIRE.
The cable is long enough to reach your desktop without any issues. Unfortunately, it isn't detachable if you want to customize it. If you want a keyboard with a detachable cable, then look into the Leopold FC900R.
This keyboard 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.
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 won't notice this pre-travel difference as it's within manufacturing tolerance. Note that the board is hotswappable, 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 keycaps 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 hotswappable, meaning you can easily choose which switches you want, and the noise will vary depending on which switch you go for.
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.
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 hotswappable, your experience will vary depending on which switches you decide to use.
The Glorious GMMK is one of the few keyboards made by well-known brands that's hotswappable, 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 Ducky One 2 are two highly-customizable keyboards. Each are available in different sizes and you can use whichever switches you prefer. The Cherry MX Brown switches on the Ducky offer better typing quality than the Gateron Brown switches on the Glorious. The Glorious also has dedicated software, which the Ducky doesn't have.
The Ducky One 2 Mini 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% layout. The Glorious has a hotswap board, which is a lot more versatile than the Ducky. You can choose and easily swap your switches. On the other hand, the Ducky comes with better PBT keycaps that feel thicker and provide a better typing quality overall.
The Glorious GMMK and the Keychron K4 are two very different keyboards. The Glorious has a hotswap board that allows quick-release of the switches, so it's easier to customize to your needs. On the other hand, the Keychron can be used wirelessly via Bluetooth with up to three different devices, which is nice. However, the Keychron doesn't feel as well-built and it doesn't support full RGB lighting like the Glorious does.
The Obinslab Anne Pro 2 and the Glorious GMMK are two great keyboards, but the Glorious is a bit more versatile if you like to try out different switches. Even if we reviewed the full-size variant of the Glorious, it's also available in a similar layout to the Obinslab. It feels a bit better-built, but it can't be used wirelessly like the Obinslab. If you want a keyboard to bring on the go and use via Bluetooth, the Obinslab is a better option, but if you want to change your switches depending on your needs, go for the Glorious.
The Glorious GMMK and the Ducky Shine 7 are two great full-size keyboards. However, the typing quality on the Ducky feels a bit better, and its software allows for more profiles. If you like dabbling with different switches, the Glorious' hotswap board will be better for you, allowing you to find the best switch for your needs.
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 a better keyboard than the Durgod Taurus K320. The Glorious is a full-sized board with full RGB backlighting and superior companion software. That said, the Durgod has two incline settings and a detachable cable.
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.
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