Glorious Lynx Review: ‘A beautifully smooth linear keyswitch’

GLORIOUS LYNX MECHANICAL SWITCH REVIEW.

With the custom keyboard scene growing more popular with each passing day, the demand for awesome-feeling and sounding keyswitches is increasing. Glorious was one of the first mainstream brands to embrace the idea of custom builds, with its range of hotswappable keyboards, and has more recently released a high-end solution in the form of the GMMK Pro. To complement the pro, Glorious launched a range of custom keyboard components including its own tactile keyswitch, the Glorious Panda. However, not everyone prefers tactile, with linear switches becoming to the go-to for many. Thankfully, Glorious is now back with the Lynx, a “new breed of linear” that promises to be “silky smooth and perfectly precise.” Does it succeed? This is my Glorious Lynx review.

Packaging is important

While it’s “only” a pack of switches, it’s nice for them to be well-packaged. Instead of going for the usual bag-in-the-mail, Glorious switches come in a little box that protects them in shipping. It also makes them feel more premium, which combines with the included sticker to provide a positive first impression.

With a PC setup centered around a light blue theme, I love the color of the Glorious Lynx. They have a light blue housing with a white stem in the middle. On boards with floating keycaps, the switch color is viewable from the side, so housing color can impact the overall aesthetic of the board. While the Glorious Panda switches were clearly based on the Holy Pandas, the Glorious Lynx have their own style and they look good!

Lynx lubed vs. unlubed

At $24.99 for the unlubed version (70 cents per switch) and $34.99 for the lubed version (97 cents per switch), many will be wondering if the extra $10 is worth paying. For me, the extra 27 cents per switch is worth it, especially when you consider the overall great job Glorious does at applying the lube. In my three packs of lubed switches I received for review, I opened three from each pack to inspect. The lube job was consistent and as generous as I would apply myself.

Of course, it’s good that Glorious is offering the unlubed version for those who just want to either go stock or apply lube themselves. However, I’d be remiss for not saying how the Lynx switches are very similar to other JWK linears and clones.

Popping ’em in

For those with a hotswappable keyboard, inserting the Glorious Lynx switches is as simple as pushing them into place. It’s effortless, especially when compared to soldering. They are unsurprisingly a perfect pair for Glorious’ own GMMK products, but they can be placed into any hotswappable keyboard. Those with a 3-pin board will need to snip the legs off each switch, however, though that will be a rare use case.

Time to type

When it comes to typing, the Glorious Lynx switches are beautifully smooth. The 60 grams operating force is in a sweet spot between being fast enough for gaming without being too sensitive when it comes to typing. The lower the weight, the more likely typos are to occur. 60 grams is good.

Lubed by Glorious, I’d compare them to other top-tier linears that I’ve used like the Black Inks and Tangerines. With that said, the 55 gram Everglide Aqua King switch remains my favorite, though Glorious comes close with the Lynx.

Glorious Lynx Review: The final verdict

For the price, the Glorious Lynx switch is a solid option for linear fans. Compared to the competition, they are generally more expensive, but availability is much more consistent. If you’re building out the GMMK Pro, the Glorious Lynx is my go-to recommendation.

With the Glorious Lynx, the company has successfully bolstered its arsenal with a compelling linear option to pair with their Panda tactiles. Whatever your preference, Glorious can now provide. (Let’s not discuss clicky options!)

Lynx Mechanical Switch review unit was provided by Glorious.