Glorious GMMK Pro review – what a crazy keyboard

I've built a few computers, but never a keyboard. I did get a DIY keyboard to test, but it was already pre-assembled. Too bad. I guess I'll have to wait until I lose my DIY innocence.

Glorious GMMK Pro price and specifications

• Glorious GMMK Pro Prebuilt: around €350 (currently discounted to €138 on Amazon)

If you would like to build it yourself, choose the Barebones version and your own switches and buttons.

Glorious GMMK Pro – it’s hard to recreate a more premium feel

Almost two kilograms – that’s how much the Glorious GMMK Pro weighs, although it comes pre-assembled, but you can also assemble it yourself with any switches and keys you want. That’s crazy weight for a keyboard. The fairer sex had a hard time lifting it with one hand, let alone carrying it confidently around the room. It’s not even designed for that, as it’s only available in a wired version. If you’re looking for a DIY wireless mechanical keyboard, you’ll have to look elsewhere.

The weight is not an obstacle for me at least. It gives me a sense of security, premiumness and even if I'm rough, I know it won't move around on the desk. It's a 75 % set, which means that all the basic keys (arrow keys and function keys on the side) are preserved, only the numeric keypad is omitted, which you can purchase as a separate accessory if you wish. Because of this, it doesn't take up much space, although I occasionally missed the numeric keypad for work, mainly because of certain shortcuts.

Visually, the GMMK Pro looks minimalistic yet elegant. I tested the black version (Black Slate), which has a matte black body and two-tone molded PBT keys in white (White Ice). The contrast between the black body and white keys is attractive, and the PBT material ensures that the keys will not wear out quickly or become shiny with use. The caps are “doubleshot”, which means that the characters on the keys are permanent and will not be erased. The keys have a slightly rough texture under the fingers, which prevents your fingers from sliding during fast typing.

The top right corner features an aluminum rotary knob that is nicely notched for a good grip. By default, it controls the computer's volume. Rotating it adjusts the volume, pressing it mutes the sound. This button was very convenient while working in the office, as I could quickly adjust the volume of music, and while playing at home, I used it to adjust the volume of the game without having to minimize the game or use another shortcut. I like that the button has a slight resistance, a tactile click when pressed, which gives a satisfying feeling.

It's also worth noting that the package includes a soft foam wrist rest. Since the GMMK Pro is a fairly tall keyboard (the case profile is raised and it doesn't have tilting feet), this wrist rest is almost essential for prolonged typing. Without the supportive foam, I found the typing experience very uncomfortable.

We also get a nice braided USB-C cable in black, which acts as an aesthetic addition to the desk. I don't recommend this (due to the weight), but for testing purposes I moved the keyboard between the office, where I used it to write articles, and at home, where it tried to follow me while playing games.

Glorious GMKK Pro: everything about it is exceptional

The Glorious GMMK Pro is not only beautiful to look at, but also impressive under the hood. It is a so-called gasket-mount construction. The inner plate on which the switches are mounted is attached to the housing via special soft gaskets (rubber washers). This design acts as a suspension. When a key is pressed, the gaskets soften the contact of the plate with the housing, which reduces vibrations and sound. The result is a slightly more flexible typing feel and much quieter operation, as metal overtones are effectively dampened.

Additionally, the keyboard has two layers of foam insulation inside to further absorb the sound of typing. When I type, I hear a nice, smooth sound. There's no rattling or metallic ringing, which is often a problem with cheaper, non-damped mechanical keyboards.

I was also impressed by the stabilizers that ensure the stability of the larger keys such as the spacebar, Enter, Shift, etc. The manufacturer used screw stabilizers that are already lubricated at the factory. Simply put, this means that the large keys do not rattle or wiggle. I can press the spacebar right up to the edge and it still acts smoothly, without any annoying metallic vibration. When writing articles, a stable spacebar and Shift are very important to me, as I often hit the keys quickly and also at a slightly angle. The GMMK Pro did not disappoint me in this regard, everything remains firm and quiet.

On the bottom of the case, there are four thick rubber feet that provide excellent grip on the table. The keyboard has a fixed angle.

Glorious Fox switches and typing feel

One of the main features are the Glorious Fox mechanical switches. These are linear switches from Glorious's own brand, which are already factory-lubricated. I noticed this immediately upon first pressing the keys. The movement is extremely smooth, without any rubbing. The linear switches have no tactile bump, the pressure flow is uniform from top to bottom. The Glorious Fox switches have a 45-gram actuation force (medium-light switch) and a linear travel of 2 mm to the actuation point.

When I was writing articles, including this test, my fingers glided over the keys nicely, without much effort. The keyboard responds evenly to each touch. Since there is no tactile bump or click, typing is quieter than on many other mechanical keyboards. It is not silent, it only makes a muffled sound when the key touches the bottom, and even that sound is largely muffled. My office colleague had no complaints, although silence is important to us both for concentration.

If you feel that the factory keyboard doesn't suit you, you can still tweak the keyboard yourself, for example if you think they overused the lubricant, the stabilizers aren't to your taste, etc. For me, the factory configuration was very well-tuned.

It's better for gaming, but it wasn't bad for work either.

The keyboard test in an office environment included writing longer texts, editing documents, and browsing the web, in short, typical tasks of a journalist or editor.

The layout of the keys is mostly fine. Two things bother me. First, the key for the letter "ž", which is right above the Enter key, which is also specifically shrunk. For the first few days, I spent most of my time getting used to clicking the "ž" key with my little finger. At the same time, I was pulling my hair out because I pressed both keys (ž and Enter) too many times. The Delete function key is also a little too high for me, just by a few millimeters. If I wanted to click it, I had to move my hand, which throws me off my rhythm while typing.

The ergonomics are good with the wrist rest, but terrible without it. The PBT plastic key surface is pleasant and doesn't become slippery even after hours of typing. After several weeks of testing, the keys show no signs of wear.

The keyboard's programmability also comes in handy for office use. The GMMK Pro supports Glorious CORE software (Windows only), which allows you to adjust the backlight, set macros, and configure the keys. I used it to set one of the additional keys as a shortcut to open Word, which made my work faster. At home, I used it to open Discord.

For more advanced users, there is also support for QMK/VIA, although I think the default program will be sufficient for most. Mac users will be happy to know that the set also includes Mac keys (2x cmd, 2x option).

At home, I tested the GMMK Pro in its second element, as a gaming keyboard. It was clear to me from the specifications that I would enjoy gaming. The 1000 Hz poll rate and NKRO (register of all keys pressed simultaneously) mean that every action will be detected immediately, without ghosting or delays. The Glorious Fox linear switches perform excellently in games. Since they have no tactile resistance, I was able to quickly process repetitive commands, such as repeatedly pressing the same key for a semi-automatic weapon or performing consecutive jumps. Every press is smooth and fast, nothing slowed me down at all. The 45 g force is just right to prevent unwanted presses with a light touch.

Glorious GMMK Pro is a fantastic enthusiast keyboard

Glorious has made an exceptional keyboard. I like that they went into the details, into the guts. There are quite a few rivals, but at least in my experience I see no reason why it can't compete with all of them. It has everything I expect from a mechanical keyboard for enthusiasts: top-notch workmanship, quality keys, a very good typing experience and good personalization options, either through the Glorios Core or QMK/VIA programs.

I have no serious complaints. It is heavy, which could be a problem for some, without a backrest the ergonomics are very poor, and there is no wireless version.

If you catch the discounted price (around €140), you'll actually get exceptional value for your money.