GMMK Pro keyboard review.
Glorious PC Gaming Race is back at it again with a product that has the potential to shift the industry forward. The GMMK Pro is attempting to redefine what keyboard enthusiasts can expect from a more mainstream brand. In the same way that the Model O forced competitors to embrace lightweight mice at reasonable prices, the GMMK Pro provides a new benchmark for what gamers and typists should expect from the more premium-priced keyboards out there. Glorious calls the GMMK Pro “a showpiece of engineering and design,” but what do we think? This is the GameRevolution review.
Unboxing and building
The GMMK Pro itself is a foundation for users to build upon. The box itself looks great and the foam packing inside is reassuring considering the long trips this product will have to make across the world. Beneath the top foam layer is the GMMK Pro itself and, wow, it is heavy. It feels incredibly solid and oozes premium quality. It’s substantial and will please those who dropped $170 on the purchase. Branding is reserved for the rear, with large engraved “Glorious” text. It’s frankly stunning. A cable, keycap remover, switch puller, and quick start guide are also in the box.
Custom keyboard newcomers may be surprised at the lack of keycaps and switches. These are sold separately, allowing users to mix and match from their favorite keycap sets and switch types. Of course, Glorious will happily sell you its own range of keycaps and switches through its store.
When it comes to keycaps, Glorious’ new line of GPBT options is stellar. I dig the gradient colors especially and the pricing is very good for the quality offered. Highlights include the big, centered legends of the alpha keys and the “Ascend” return key. The keycaps are just as vibrant as they appear on the website and really pop when placed on the GMMK Pro (and other boards).
As for switches, Glorious offers a wide variety of options from Kailh and Gateron, as well as its own brand of Pandas. Of course, users can throw in any switches they like thanks to the easy-to-use hot swappable PCB. Though I’m a linear guy at heart, I set the GMMK Pro up with the Panda tactiles for the full Glorious experience.
The variety of plate options is another neat touch. The stock GMMK Pro comes with a color-matched aluminum plate, but there’s also polycarbonate and brass available. However, they cost a little more and I’ve found the aluminum to already provide a great sound. With that said, linear fans may want to consider the polycarbonate for the extra $19.99.
Glorious is clearly clued-in on the latest custom keyboard trends, with the 75% layout striking a great balance between the trending tenkeyless and 60% form factors, but the company has gone beyond that by even targeting cables. Coiled cables are becoming all the rage and, though they are cosmetic only, it’s good to see Glorious offering its own coiled cable options. At $49.99, they’re certainly a luxury, but that price is competitive with others on the market and the quality is top-notch.
Finally, when building out the GMMK Pro using the website tool, buyers have the chance to purchase a vast supply of accessories. These range from being great deals to not-so-great deals. Savvy buyers will want to research what accessories they actually need and perhaps shop around for alternatives. That said, the lube station for $34.99 will be worth it for those who customize a lot of boards. It’s low-key a great new product from Glorious.
Endgame potential without the headaches
For someone new to the scene or a budget user looking to make a push into higher-end custom keyboards, Glorious has made it super easy to configure a build. Then, once it arrives, popping in the switches and keycaps is a breeze. It’s very well thought-out.
What’s more, Glorious is aiming to make sure the GMMK Pro is always available to order. For anyone who knows the pain of pre-ordering boards and waiting countless months for them to arrive, this product offers a well-priced solution.
Without extras, the $169.99 asking price is stellar, providing Glorious can keep up with demand. With the necessary extras, i.e. keycaps and switches, the starting price of $239.97 is also pretty killer when you consider the “endgame” potential here.
A huge step forward
My experience with the GMMK Pro has been fantastic for both work and play. The combination of keycaps, switches, plate, gasket mount, and additional foam makes for a very satisfying clack and feel. It’s a giant leap over what mainstream products have offered in the past and I think this will make the likes of Corsair, Razer, and ASUS, all of which target the higher price ranges, evaluate how they do things.
While some products aim to keep users out by making it tricky to get inside, Glorious has made it easy with the GMMK Pro. Only a few screws stand between the user and any mods or fixes they wish to make. What’s more, the internals are kept very tidy. It’s a great bonus that tinkerers will massively appreciate.
Software support is much improved with Glorius focusing on its revamped Core app, which makes customization of the board and its notably bright RGB lighting very simple. That RGB shines behind the keys and also through the sides of the board with a diffused strip. It looks awesome. Oh, and the app also allows configuration of the rotary encoder. (This is the knob at the top-right of the board, which I should have mentioned by now as it’s fantastic to see!)
GMMK Pro Review: The final verdict
Overall, Glorious has exceeded expectations with the GMMK Pro. It’s a hefty, high-quality slab that is jam-packed full of the latest features, all for a great price with the promise of stock. I know keyboard enthusiasts everywhere will be eyeing this one up, but newcomers should also pay attention as this is the best entry point, and potential endgame, to the custom keyboard scene.
With only minor areas of improvement, which include renaming the “white” variant to more accurately reflect the actually silver appearance, giving some additional love to the space bar to make it truly shine out of the box, and perhaps a rethink of the foam used in the base of the board, the GMMK Pro delivers an almighty experience for the price and gets a hearty recommendation from me. This will be a game-changer and thoroughly earns the Editors’ Choice award.
GMMK Pro review unit was provided by Glorious PC Gaming Race.
