Glorious is a well-known brand in the DIY keyboard category, and the GMMK Pro continues to be the go-to choice for a lot of users getting started with customizable keyboards. After using various gaming keyboards for the better part of a decade, I switched to the GMMK Pro a year and a half ago, and the difference was immediately noticeable; the gasket-mounted design delivered much better feedback, and the keyboard unlocked hitherto undiscovered customization options.
There are dozens of brands in this segment, but Glorious still stands out for its customizable designs, and the brand’s pre-built keyboards lower the barrier to entry. Glorious is now looking to build on that advantage with the introduction of its latest keyboard, the GMMK 3. To say that the keyboard is an upgrade over the GMMK Pro would be an understatement — it is instead a ground-up overhaul.
The GMMK 3 comes in various sizes and has hall effect switches in addition to the traditional MX-style switches, and the Pro model gets Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity alongside USB-C. But the biggest differentiator is Boardsmith, Glorious’s new customization utility. With nine points of modularity and plenty of options in each category, there are endless design variations available — Glorious is touting over 1 billion combinations.
I customized a full-size edition of the GMMK 3 Pro with hall effect switches and used it as the default keyboard for close to a month now. It didn’t take long to realize that Glorious is onto something great, and if you need a new keyboard, here’s why you need to pay attention to the GMMK 3 Pro.
This review was made possible with a review unit provided by Glorious. The company did not see the contents of the review before publishing.
Glorious GMMK 3 Pro: Pricing and availability
The GMMK 3 and GMMK 3 Pro are available in three sizes: 65%, 75%, and 100%. Given the customizable nature of the keyboard, there are plenty of unique configurations you can select, and Glorious also has standard pre-built and barebones kits available.
The regular GMMK 3 comes with USB-C connectivity and MX switches, and it costs just $119 for the 65% version, $129 for the 75% model, and $139 for the 100% variant. This includes the fully assembled keyboard with Glorious Fox switches and GPBT keys for a good overall value. If you don’t need the extras and just want the barebones kit, it is available in a black color scheme and costs $79 for the 65% version, $89 for the 75% variant, and $99 for the 100% design.
Glorious is going all-in on hall effect switches with this generation, and the GMMK 3 HE model includes the brand’s hall effect switches with a customizable actuation point. This variant retails for $179 if you’re getting the 65% model, $189 for the 75% edition, and $199 for the 100% version.
There’s also a GMMK 3 Pro, and this keyboard is more interesting as it has 2.4GHz and Bluetooth connectivity in addition to USB-C. The chassis is also made out of metal, and it’s just a better all-round keyboard. The GMMK 3 pre-built model is sold in white and black, and it starts at $239 for the 65% edition, $259 to $299 for the 75% version, and $299 for the 100% design. This includes the keyboard along with the Glorious Fox switches and GPBT keys.
Glorious is obviously offering a hall effect variant of the GMMK 3 Pro, and this model is sold in black and silver and includes the brand’s Fox HE linear switches with customizable actuation. It costs $299 to $349 for the 65% and $319 to $369 for the 75% model, and there isn’t a full-size edition in this configuration as a pre-built choice.
Similar to the regular model, the GMMK 3 Pro is also available as a barebones kit, and it costs $189 for the 65% design, $199 for the 75% model, and $239 for the 100% version. There’s also a hall effect model that you can get as a barebones model, and that costs $259 and is available in just the 75% design — unless you use the configurator.
That’s clearly a lot of configurations, and I didn’t even get to the custom designs yet. The GMMK 3 can be easily customized by Boardsmith, Glorious’s brand-new utility that allows you to tweak just about every area of the keyboard.
The version I chose has a 100% design, tactile hall effect switches (Panda), a blue and white color scheme with Pixel Punk keys, and a red rotary knob and badge. I used Boardsmith to customize my board, and it came out to $567 in total. Obviously, that’s at the higher end of the scale for the GMMK 3 Pro, and you can easily build a custom design for much less. Also, it says something about the mechanical keyboard hobby that the GMMK 3 Pro isn’t the costliest keyboard in my collection.
Glorious GMMK 3 Pro: Design
As the GMMK 3 Pro is inherently customizable, the design you end up with is going to look different — if you’re going the custom route. The pre-built variants have straightforward color choices (white or black), and regardless of whatever model you choose, the chassis is the same.
Like the best mechanical keyboards, the GMMK 3 Pro has an all-aluminum chassis, and it is among the heaviest keyboards I used — it comes in at 5.67lb (2.57 kg). That’s a good thing, as it ensures the keyboard stays planted on a desk. There are eight rubber feet on the underside, and you’ll also find the Glorious logo emblazoned on the bottom plate.
You don’t get much in the way of branding on the top plate, and other than the Glorious mascot logo on the badge next to the rotary knob, there isn’t any way to distinguish the keyboard. I went with a full-size design as I need the number pad, and it is an absolute unit; the 75% model is a much better option if you don’t need a dedicated number pad.
The keyboard has a medium inclination; the angle isn’t as high as the Keychron Q6 Pro I reviewed earlier in the year. You don’t get the ability to change the angle, and in my use, I found a wrist rest was necessary with the keyboard — and yes, Glorious sells one.
The build quality is better than that of the GMMK Pro, and out of all the keyboards I tested recently, only the Angry Miao Cyberboard has a more obsessive attention to detail. The rotary knob is attached securely — this wasn’t the case on my GMMK Pro — and there isn’t any wobble.
RGB has always been a big feature on Glorious keyboards, and you still get side-mounted LED lights on either side of the GMMK 3 Pro. These are just as customizable as the RGB LED keys, and there’s even an RGB indicator on the badge this time. I also like that the USB-C port is centered; this is a minor point, but the coiled cable I use has a 1.2m length, and it’s a bit of a hassle to extend it to the side, as is the case on most keyboards.
Of course, Glorious sells coiled cables of its own, and you can even get it in the same color as the keyboard. The packaging includes switch samples to give you a feel of the different switches that Glorious has to offer, and you get the usual switch and key puller tools.
Glorious did all the right things with the design of the GMMK 3 Pro. The extensive customizability is a huge differentiator, and it gives the GMMK 3 Pro a unique presence in this category. The build quality is among the best of any keyboard I used, and that’s no small feat.
Glorious GMMK 3 Pro: Customizability
GMMK doubled down on customizability with the GMMK 3 Pro, and the Boardsmith utility allows you to change just about every part of the keyboard. You can obviously select the size — the keyboard is sold in 65%, 75%, and 100% variants — and you get pre-built, barebones, and custom options within those models.
I’ll run through the various configuration options: once you choose the size, you can select if you want wired or wireless connectivity and standard MX style or hall effect switches. Going with the hall effect switches gives you better versatility as you can also slot in regular MX switches if you need them, but it raises the cost. The regular GMMK 3 lets you choose between north and south-facing LEDs, but if you’re getting the Bluetooth model, you’ll get north-facing LEDs.
Then comes the bottom case. I went with the Midnight Blue option, and there are nine choices in total in this area. You get a similar set of options with the top case as well, and as I wanted a two-tone design, I selected the Matte White color. Next, you can choose what switches you’ll need, and Glorious has a good selection in this regard; I prefer the Panda tactile and Lynx linear switches. Of course, you don’t need to choose one — you can build a barebones board with the configurator.
Similarly, there’s plenty of customizability with the keys, with Glorious offering 22 options. There are a few limited-edition sets, and I went with the Pixel Punk option. There are 16 choices available for the badge and rotary knob colors and 11 variants of the coiled cable.
Lastly, you can select the switch plate, with brass, aluminum, FR4, and polycarbonate options available. I went with aluminum, and I selected poron foam for the gasket mount. Glorious had decent customizability on the GMMK Pro, and it did a great job building on that with the GMMK 3 Pro.
Glorious GMMK 3 Pro: Features
The GMMK 3 Pro isn’t short on features. The keyboard connects over USB-C as well as Bluetooth and 2.4GHz, and you get a USB receiver in the package. The only issue is that there’s no way to store the dongle in the keyboard itself; I tend to lose these dongles with alarming regularity, and Glorious should have built a cubby into the side of the GMMK 3 Pro to store the receiver.
I used the keyboard with USB-C and Bluetooth most of the time, and I had no connectivity issues in the latter mode. Battery life was decent as well; I got a week’s worth of use before having to plug in the keyboard, and that’s more than adequate. The GMMK 3 Pro has 8000Hz polling over USB-C, and that’s a distinct differentiator over other DIY keyboards, which have 1000Hz polling as standard.
You can switch between modes via a toggle that’s to the left of the USB-C port, and there’s another toggle on the other side that switches between Windows and macOS modes. The HE edition of the GMMK 3 Pro has greater versatility in that you can use traditional MX-style switches as well as magnetic hall effect options.
RGB lighting is great in its own right, and while I prefer south-facing LEDs, the GMMK 3 Pro delivers decent diffused light. The Pixel Punk keys I went with don’t have shine-through legends, so you only get diffused light, and if you want brighter RGB lighting, you can always switch out the keys.
You can customize lighting effects and change key combinations via Glorious Core, the brand’s software. While the software was nearly unusable when I tested the GMMK Pro, Glorious overhauled the feature-set, and the new 2.1 build doesn’t have many issues.
As the keyboard has hall effect switches, you get the ability to change the actuation point of the switch; you can do so at a global level or change per-key settings, and the latter is handy if you just need to change the trigger point of the WASD cluster. You can adjust the actuation point anywhere between 0.4mm to 4mm, giving you a significantly faster trigger than traditional mechanical keyboards.
Glorious GMMK 3 Pro: Typing experience
Glorious says it integrated all the learnings from the GMMK Pro and GMMK 2 into the GMMK 3 Pro, and that’s clearly evident. The biggest change is the gasket-mounted design; I didn’t like the stiffness of the GMMK Pro, and I had to change the mounts to get it to be springy. Thankfully, that isn’t a problem on the GMMK 3 Pro, and the keyboard has a decent bounce that makes typing enjoyable.
While the feedback is better than the GMMK Pro, it isn’t quite on the same level as the Keychron Q6 Pro or the Angry Miao Cyberboard R4 I reviewed a few months ago. Of course, the customizability extends to the internals as well, and if you want a bouncier feel to the keyboard, you can easily switch out the silicone gasket mounts.
The Pixel Punk keys are of good quality, and they have a textured finish that feels good in regular use. The double-shot PBT construction should allow the keys to last, and they diffuse RGB lighting to a moderate degree. The keys use a standard OEM profile, and there isn’t much to get excited about in this area. I prefer MT3 or the Keychron derivate KSA profile as they are better in day-to-day use, but Glorious only offers OEM keys via its configurator.
The star of the show is the Panda HE switch; I predominantly use Gateron’s linear switches, but I like the feel and sound of Glorious’s Panda switch, so I went with that instead of the usual linear option.
The hall effect model of the switch is pretty great in its own right, and the ability to customize the actuation point leads to a noticeable difference in gaming. You don’t need to fully press down on the key to activate it, and what’s even better is that you can assign two keystrokes to the same key, albeit at various actuation points.
If you’re going the custom route, I’d suggest just getting the barebones edition. The unique colors make a real difference, but you don’t need to buy the brand’s switches or keys — there are better choices to be had.
Glorious GMMK 3 Pro: The competition
There isn’t another keyboard that is anywhere as customizable as the GMMK 3 Pro. If you just need a pre-built 75% or 100% keyboard, Keychron’s offerings are still a great choice. The Q1 HE is the latest addition to the series, and it uses hall effect switches — just like the GMMK 3 Pro. The fully assembled model costs $239 on Amazon as of writing.
If you need a full-size keyboard, the Q6 Pro is an easy recommendation. The keyboard is available in barebones and pre-built configurations, and at $209, it is a terrific value.
Glorious GMMK 3 Pro: Should you buy it?
You should buy this if:
- You need a highly customizable mechanical keyboard
- You need fast switches for gaming
- You want the convenience of Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity
- You need a keyboard that’s built to last
You shouldn’t buy this if:
- You need the best value
- You want a springy gasket-mounted board
There are dozens of great gasket-mounted keyboards available today, and most of these don’t cost as much as the GMMK 3 Pro. What you’re getting with Glorious is better customizability; the ability to tailor the chassis to your preferences is pretty great, and that is the biggest reason to choose the GMMK 3 Pro over its rivals.
The rest of the keyboard is pretty great as well; the hall effect switches are phenomenal for gaming, and the ability to set the actuation point is just plain cool. You get versatile connectivity, the battery life is great over 2.4GHz, and the build quality is among the best of any keyboard I used.
If you don’t mind spending extra to get a custom keyboard, the GMMK 3 Pro is a great choice.
