The GLORIOUS GMMK 3 is a wired mechanical gaming keyboard that continues the GLORIOUS GMMK lineup. This keyboard has a gasket mount design, which means there are small silicon gaskets inside the case that provide a softer, slightly springier typing experience compared to keyboards with conventional top mount design. It also features a hot-swappable PCB, so you can change out switches without soldering. You can adjust various settings, including RGB lighting, macros, and custom profiles using the configuration software.
Like previous models in their GMMK lineup, GLORIOUS places an emphasis on customizability for this keyboard, providing a wide range of configuration options at purchase. We bought and tested the full-size model of this keyboard, but it's also available in smaller compact sizes. Additionally, while we bought a pre-built model, you can create your own configuration from the ground up with custom color options, materials, and features. For more information, see the Differences Between Variants section.
Disclaimer: This keyboard stopped working properly the morning after our testing concluded. For more details, see the Build Quality section. While the cause of the failure is unclear, we've determined that our unit is faulty and have purchased a replacement. Once the new unit arrives in our lab, we'll validate our results and update the review as necessary.
Our Verdict
The GLORIOUS GMMK 3 is an impressive gaming keyboard. It provides excellent average latency performance, suitable for playing games in any genre. However, the latency is somewhat inconsistent with fluctuations that can impact your performance in competitive games. This keyboard also has full RGB backlighting. It's very bright, and the shine-through legends are easy to read in darker rooms. Regrettably, the build quality is only satisfactory, with some noticeable key wobble and minor fit and finish issues. The software is also unreliable, and many settings don't work or save properly to the onboard memory.
Excellent latency performance, overall.
Very bright RGB lighting and clear shine-through keycap legends.
Build quality is only decent.
Extremely buggy software experience.
Unable to take full advantage of its polling rate, bottlenecked by a significantly lower effective update rate.
Performance is a bit inconsistent, especially compared to most other wired gaming keyboards.
The GLORIOUS GMMK 3 is sub-par for office use. The build quality is only satisfactory, with noticeable key wobble, hollow-feeling stabilized keys, and other minor fit and finish issues. It has a gasket mount design, but it's quite stiff and doesn't offer much springiness. Typing is also somewhat loud despite layers of basic acoustic foam inside the case. Unfortunately, the software is also unreliable as many settings don't work or frequently don't save properly.
Build quality is only decent.
Mediocre typing experience.
Extremely buggy software experience.
The GLORIOUS GMMK 3 is a wired-only keyboard that isn't compatible with tablets or mobile devices.
The GLORIOUS GMMK 3 is okay for programming use. Its full-size layout includes a row of F-keys as well as Pause/Break and Print Screen keys, which are needed for some programming workflows. It also has bright RGB backlighting and PBT keycaps with clear shine-through legends that are easy to read in darker rooms. Unfortunately, the build quality is otherwise only decent. There's noticeable key wobble while typing, and larger stabilized keys have an unpleasant hollow feeling, among other minor issues. Typing noise is also on the louder side, and while you can program macros and configure backlighting using the software, it's unreliable as many other software settings don't work or frequently fail to save properly.
Very bright RGB lighting and clear shine-through keycap legends.
Build quality is only decent.
Mediocre typing experience.
Extremely buggy software experience.
The GLORIOUS GMMK 3 isn't designed for use in an entertainment or home theater setup. It's a wired-only keyboard, and it has a fairly bulky full-size layout that's awkward to use from a couch. Unfortunately, the build quality is also only satisfactory, and it lacks dedicated media keys. That said, it has very bright RGB backlighting with clear shine-through legends that are easy to read in the dark.
Very bright RGB lighting and clear shine-through keycap legends.
Build quality is only decent.
Wired-only.
Bulky.
The GLORIOUS GMMK 3 has excellent overall performance, making it well-suited for playing casual or competitive games in any genre. Unfortunately, it isn't able to take full advantage of its 1000Hz polling rate as it has a considerably lower effective update, resulting in somewhat more inconsistent performance compared to most wired, dedicated gaming keyboards. While you won't be able to notice these small inconsistencies while playing, it may still impact your performance if you play at a very high competitive level.
Excellent latency performance, overall.
Unable to take full advantage of its polling rate, bottlenecked by a significantly lower effective update rate.
Performance is a bit inconsistent, especially compared to most other wired gaming keyboards.
Changelog
-
Updated Dec 18, 2024:
We've added new information to the Introduction and Build Quality sections as we've determined our original unit was defective and have purchased a second unit to validate our results.
- Updated Dec 02, 2024: Review published.
- Updated Nov 22, 2024: Early access published.
- Updated Nov 14, 2024: Our testers have started testing this product.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The GLORIOUS GMMK 3 is available in three sizes and in either a prebuilt or barebones configuration. The standard prebuilt models are available in Black or White colorways and with linear Glorious Fox mechanical switches. We bought and tested a full-size pre-built model in Black. For reference, see a photo of our unit's label.
GLORIOUS also offers a service called 'Boardsmith' that lets you design your own GMMK 3 from scratch or choose from various custom designs.
This keyboard is part of a wider family of related GMMK 3 series keyboards. We've provided a table below comparing them.
| Name | Sizes | Switch Compatibility | Case Material | Maximum Polling Rate | Prebuilt Color Options | Connectivity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GMMK 3 | Compact (65%), Compact (75%), Full-size (100%) | Mechanical (MX) hot-swappable | Plastic | 1000Hz | Black, White | Wired |
| GMMK 3 HE | Compact (65%), Compact (75%), Full-size (100%) | Hall effect hot swappable | Plastic | 8000Hz | Black, White | Wired |
| GMMK 3 PRO | Compact (65%), Compact (75%), Full-size (100%) | Mechanical (MX) hot-swappable | Aluminum | 1000Hz | Black, White | Wired/Wireless |
| GMMK 3 PRO HE | Compact (65%), Compact (75%) | Dual hot-swappable mechanical (MX) / Hall effect | Aluminum | 8000Hz | Black, Silver | Wired/Wireless |
We expect our tests to broadly apply to all configurations of the standard GMMK 3, including custom designs. However, depending on your exact configuration, there may be minor build quality differences. Furthermore, all models with hall-effect switches, higher polling rates, or wireless connectivity will perform differently than the model we tested in this review.
If you have this keyboard and would like to share your experience, we'd love to hear from you in the comments.
Popular Keyboard Comparisons
The GLORIOUS GMMK 3 is a wired mechanical gaming keyboard that continues GLORIOUS' GMMK lineup. This keyboard offers an extremely customizable experience with options for different color combinations, keycaps, switches, switch plates, gasket stiffness, material choices, and more. This degree of customization sets it apart from other options on the market, surpassing the customizability of options like the Keychron V5 Max as well as more straightforward, dedicated gaming keyboards like the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro or the Corsair K70 CORE. Unfortunately, the build quality is only satisfactory, the typing experience is mediocre, and fully customizing your keyboard is quite expensive. Furthermore, the software experience is extremely buggy, and while the raw performance is excellent overall, it's also somewhat inconsistent and still falls short of the flagship gaming keyboards from other brands.
For more recommendations, see our picks for the best keyboards, the best mechanical keyboards, and the best budget and cheap keyboards.
The GLORIOUS GMMK 3 PRO HE and GLORIOUS GMMK 3 are mechanical gaming keyboards in the same lineup. Both are designed with modularity and customizability in mind. While they're available in prebuilt configurations, you can also customize various parts and colors on GLORIOUS' website. The GMMK 3 is newer and features a new gasket mount design that provides a slightly softer typing experience. It also has somewhat better gaming performance. On the other hand, the GMMK 3 has a standard top mount design and a slightly more compact (96%) form factor.
The GLORIOUS GMMK 3 and GLORIOUS GMMK 2 are mechanical gaming keyboards in the same lineup.
Both are designed with modularity and customizability in mind. While they're available in prebuilt configurations, you can also customize various parts and colors on GLORIOUS' website. The GMMK 3 is newer and features a new gasket mount design that provides a slightly softer typing experience. It also has somewhat better gaming performance. On the other hand, the GMMK 2 has a standard top mount design and a slightly more compact (96%) form factor.
The Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro and GLORIOUS GMMK 3 are wired mechanical gaming keyboards. The Razer has significantly better raw performance, build quality, and typing quality. It also includes a wrist rest and a full set of dedicated media controls, which the GLORIOUS lacks. On the other hand, the GLORIOUS offers more in-depth hardware customization. You can also choose to customize the GLORIOUS extensively at purchase with a much wider range of color options, materials, and features. The GLORIOUS also has a hot-swappable PCB, while the Razer's switches are soldered.
Both the Corsair K70 CORE and the GLORIOUS GMMK 3 are full-size mechanical gaming keyboards. The Corsair has superior raw performance, build quality, and typing quality. It also includes a wrist rest, which the GLORIOUS lacks. Comparatively, while the GLORIOUS is available as a prebuilt model, you can choose to customize it at purchase with different color options, materials, and features.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for videos & test results
