The GLORIOUS GMMK PRO is a barebones keyboard that doesn't come with keycaps or switches. It's highly customizable since you can change the cable, get a different rotary knob color, and even replace the included aluminum PCB switch plate for a brass or polycarbonate one. While we got GLORIOUS Panda switches with GLORIOUS PBT keycaps, you can purchase and install any switches or keycaps that you'd like. It's a 75% compact board with spaced dedicated navigation keys, including arrow keys. It has RGB backlighting with individually-lit keys, and you can customize the lighting and set macros to any key within the Glorious Core software. Unfortunately, while it has a fairly high profile, it doesn't come with a wrist rest, so you may need to buy one separately. At the time of writing, the board can only be reserved and purchased from the GLORIOUS website.
Note: We purchased the GLORIOUS Panda switches and GLORIOUS PBT Rain Forest keycaps from the official website, but your experience will vary if you purchase and install different switches and keycaps.
Our Verdict
The GLORIOUS GMMK PRO is great for gaming and feels incredibly well-built, thanks to its all-aluminum chassis and base plate. It has RGB backlighting, macro-programmable keys, and a programmable rotary knob. The GLORIOUS Panda switches on the unit we bought and tested have a satisfying tactile bump, but the overall feeling is still somewhat light and responsive. But thanks to its hot-swappable PCB, you can also use switches of your choosing.
- Feels incredibly well-built.
- All keys are macro-programmable.
- Programmable rotary knob.
- Extremely customizable.
- No wrist rest or incline settings.
The GLORIOUS GMMK PRO is good for office use. Thanks to its all-aluminum chassis and base plate, it feels incredibly well-built. It's sold barebones, so it doesn't come with switches or keycaps; however, it's hot-swappable, so you can easily put in whichever switches you prefer based on your needs. The GLORIOUS Panda switches we purchased require some force to actuate a key, but the overall feeling remains somewhat light. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with a wrist rest despite its fairly high profile, and it doesn't have any incline settings.
- Feels incredibly well-built.
- All keys are macro-programmable.
- Programmable rotary knob.
- Extremely customizable.
- No wrist rest or incline settings.
- Wired-only board.
The GLORIOUS GMMK PRO is a wired keyboard that isn't meant for mobile or tablet use.
The GLORIOUS GMMK PRO is great for programming. Its all-aluminum body feels incredibly well-built, and it also has programmable RGB backlighting, remappable and macro-programmable keys. Unfortunately, since it's a wired board, you can't connect it to more than one device at a time, but it's compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS, although a few functions don't work on macOS. Also, despite its fairly high profile, it doesn't come with a wrist rest, and it doesn't have any incline settings.
- Feels incredibly well-built.
- All keys are macro-programmable.
- Programmable rotary knob.
- Extremely customizable.
- No wrist rest or incline settings.
- Wired-only board.
The GLORIOUS GMMK PRO isn't for use with a home theater PC since it's a wired keyboard. It doesn't have a trackpad, so you have to have a mouse on the side to navigate. However, it does have superb backlighting, media keys, and a programmable rotary knob.
- Feels incredibly well-built.
- Programmable rotary knob.
- No trackpad.
- Wired-only board.
The GLORIOUS GMMK PRO provides very good raw performance with very good single- and multi-key latency. It also has an effective polling rate of 1000Hz that's used effectively without being bottlenecked by other latency components.
- Feels incredibly well-built.
- Programmable rotary knob.
Changelog
- Updated May 03, 2024: We've added a link to the newly-reviewed Corsair K65 PLUS WIRELESS to the Wireless Versatility section of this review.
- Updated Mar 13, 2024: We've added a link to the newly reviewed Keychron Q5 Max in the Build Quality section of this review.
- Updated Nov 29, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3.1, which adds a new estimated PCB latency test to the Single-Key Latency section and a new Analog test to the Switches section of this review. You can see the full changelog here.
- Updated Nov 15, 2023: We've found that latency results are impacted by the placement of the testing solenoid, so we retested this keyboard for consistency with other reviews. This review has been updated, and you can find more information regarding this retest here.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The GLORIOUS GMMK PRO is available in Black Slate and White Ice. We tested the Black Slate variant with GLORIOUS Panda mechanical switches and GPBT Rain Forest keycaps. Note that this board comes barebones, and you need to buy the switches and keycaps separately, so your results may vary since you can install any switches and keycaps you want.
Popular Keyboard Comparisons
Unlike most keyboards we've tested, the GLORIOUS GMMK PRO is a barebones, hot-swappable board that doesn't come with switches or keycaps. It's designed for people who want to build a custom board, whether you're an enthusiast or a beginner. That said, it offers more customizations than pre-built keyboards we've tested, from the keycaps and switches to the material of the switch plate.
For other options, see our recommendations for the best keyboards, the best gaming keyboards, and the best mechanical keyboards.
The GLORIOUS GMMK PRO is an older model in the same product lineup as the GLORIOUS GMMK PRO 3 HE. The major difference with the newer GMMK PRO 3 HE is that it supports wireless connectivity and uses Hall-effect switches. While both keyboards have hot-swappable PCBs, the GMMK PRO 3 HE is compatible with both mechanical and hall effect switches, while the GMMK PRO is only compatible with mechanical switches. Unfortunately, the software for the newer GMMK PRO 3 HE is also significantly worse, with many features that don't work correctly.
The GLORIOUS GMMK PRO and the Keychron Q5 Max are highly customizable mechanical keyboards. The GLORIOUS is a wired-only model with a plastic case. It's also available with a much wider array of build options at purchase. On the other hand, the Keychron has a comparatively more premium-feeling solid aluminum case and double-gasket mounting design that provides a better typing experience out of the box. The Keychron also has wireless connectivity via Bluetooth or a 2.4 GHz receiver. Lastly, unlike the GLORIOUS, which is only available in a compact 75% form factor, the Keychron is part of a wider Q Max lineup with many different size variants available.
The GLORIOUS GMMK PRO and the GLORIOUS GMMK 2 are two similar hot-swappable keyboards, but they have a few differences. The GMMK PRO comes in a 75% form factor and has a programmable knob in the top right corner whereas the GMMK 2 comes in a 96% full-size or a 65% compact size. The GMMK 2 has slightly improved latency over the GMMK PRO.
The GLORIOUS GMMK PRO and the Corsair K65 PLUS WIRELESS are gaming keyboards with compact (75%) form factor and similar raw gaming performance. The Corsair is a wireless model that comes stock with linear switches and has no configuration options at purchase. On the other hand, the GLORIOUS is much more configurable at purchase. You can choose from a wide range of build options, including switches and keycaps. Both keyboards also have a control knob in the top left corner, but the knob on the Corsair knob is more flexible and allows you to scroll and zoom in on content or change settings such as volume and RGB brightness.
Test Results
The height and weight of the GLORIOUS GMMK PRO that we measured includes the switches and keycaps that are bought separately. If you're interested in a keyboard with a similar form factor that's much lighter, check out the Keychron V Series, which includes the compact (75%) Keychron V1. Or, for slimmer, low-profile options, check out the Keychron S Series.
The GLORIOUS GMMK PRO feels incredibly well-built. It's made of a full aluminum chassis and base plate, both of which feel very solid and don't flex at all. There are four small circular rubber feet on the underside that provide great grip, although the heavy weight of the board might help with this. The GPBT Rain Forest keycaps we purchased for the board have dye sublimation legends that feel great and durable, but this may vary depending on the keycaps you install. While the alphanumerical keys have a slight wobble to them, it isn't very noticeable while typing. However, the Tab, Caps Lock, | \ key, and the right Shift all wobble a lot more and are noticeable when typing.
To see a detailed shot of our unit with no keycaps and with no switches, click here.
The GLORIOUS GMMK PRO has unremarkable ergonomics. It's a straight board with no incline settings and a fairly high profile. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with a wrist rest, but GLORIOUS does sell some.
Note that this keyboard has south-facing LEDs which aren't ideal if you're interested in using use keycaps with shine-through legends. For more information, see the Backlight Clarity test below.
The GLORIOUS GMMK PRO has RGB backlighting, with individually-lit keys. You can adjust the brightness levels and customize the colors and effects from the Glorious Core software.
The board is only decent at color mixing, so if you want to set your lighting to white, there are some hints of pink in some areas. The GLORIOUS GPBT keycaps we bought aren't shine-through, so it's hard to see the key legends in a dark room. If you're interested in what the backlight clarity looks like with shine--through keycaps, we've taken a photo with several shine-through keycaps to give you an idea.
Our GLORIOUS GMMK PRO unit comes with a black, USB-C to USB-A braided cable. It feels good quality, but it does kink easily. Note that if you get the White Ice variant, the cable is white.
This is a wired-only keyboard. If you're interested in a wireless alternative, check out the Epomaker TH80 Pro, the Corsair K65 PLUS WIRELESS, the ASUS ROG Azoth, or the Keychron Q5 Max.
The GLORIOUS GMMK PRO has many extra features, including a clickable and programmable knob which you can easily swap out for a different color. While the secondary functions aren't labeled on the GPBT keycaps we bought, there are many hotkeys to control media, lock the Windows key, and cycle through profiles and layers. You can find all of them in the online user guide. The RGB strips on both sides of the board flash when Caps Lock is on. However, if you're interested in a hot-swappable keyboard that's also completely reconfigurable, meaning you can change the layout of any of its keys, check out the System76 Launch.
This is a barebones keyboard which doesn't come with switches or keycaps. We divided our list below by what comes in the box with the board and what we purchased separately. While our photo above shows the switches and keycaps installed, you can see a photo of the board disassembled here.
Included in the box:
- Barebones GLORIOUS GMMK PRO keyboard
- Detachable cable
- Keycap puller tool
- Switch puller tool
- Braided USB-C to USB-A cable
- Stickers
- Extra gasket strips
- Advisory/Warranty card
- Pamphlet about where to find user guide online
Sold separately:
- 3 boxes of GLORIOUS Panda mechanical switches (36 switches per box)
- GPBT Rain Forest keycaps
Our GLORIOUS GMMK PRO unit with GPBT Rain Forest keycaps and GLORIOUS Panda switches provides an excellent typing experience. The switches provide nice tactile feedback, and although they require some force to actuate, the overall feeling is still somewhat light. The board has a fairly high profile, and it doesn't come with a wrist rest, so this may cause wrist strain for some people. The alphanumerical keys, Spacebar, and Enter key all wobble a small amount, but it isn't too noticeable during regular use. Unfortunately, the Tab, Caps Lock, | \ key, and right Shift key wobble noticeably while typing. Note that our results are only applicable if you get the same switches and keycaps that we did. Since you can install any switches and keycaps you want to the board, your results may vary.
Our GLORIOUS GMMK PRO unit is quiet, but this can vary depending on the switches you install.
The GLORIOUS Panda switches we purchased for our GLORIOUS GMMK PRO unit require some force to actuate and may cause fatigue for some, but the overall feeling remains somewhat light. However, since the barebones board doesn't come with switches, you can install any switch you want, so these results will vary depending on the brand and type you install.
This keyboard provides great single-key latency. This performance is consistent and provides a responsive-feeling experience for casual or competitive gaming.
This keyboard provides very good multi-key latency performance that's reasonably consistent, making it suitable for playing games requiring inputs while multiple keys are pressed and maintained.
This keyboard offers great data transmission performance, with full n-key rollover and the ability to send multiple keys per USB report. It also has an effective rate of 1000Hz that matches its polling rate of 1000Hz.
This keyboard has decent chord split performance with fairly low 4-chord and 8-chord split delay.
The Glorious Core software is very user-friendly and easy to use. You can set macros, change the key bindings, adjust the polling rate, and customize the RGB backlighting. You can create a maximum of three profiles on the software, but you can also have up to three layers in each profile, giving a total of nine programmable layers. You can save all three profiles and their layers to the onboard memory. You can switch between the profiles by using Fn + Ctrl + Up/Down and the cycles by using Fn + Ctrl + Alt + Up/Down. The (v0041) firmware update adds an Input Latency setting in the software to lower the latency.
The GLORIOUS GMMK PRO is fully compatible with Windows, but there are some keys and functions that don't work on macOS, namely the Print Screen, Calculator, Web Browser, and My Computer keys. The software isn't compatible with Linux or macOS, so you can't set macros, remap keys, or customize the backlighting, but all the keys work on Linux.