GMMK 2 Keyboard Review: ‘A Classic Remade and Improved’

GLORIOUS GMMK 2 REVIEW FOR PC GAMING.

The GMMK 2 is a chance for Glorious to update its original keyboard designs to target those looking for a solid budget option. This time around, the GMMK 2 comes in two sizes, 65% and 96%. The latter size is especially interesting to me, as it makes full-size more accessible to gamers. What’s more, both keyboards boast a bunch of modern features that even premium keyboard enthusiasts will appreciate. Glorious has done this while still keeping the price sensible, especially for the pre-built models that include keycaps and switches. Is this another win for Glorious? Or is it a miss? This is the Glorious GMMK 2 review.

A matter of size

Glorious continues to nail its packaging, from the premium outer design to the additional goodies included within. Joining the GMMK 2 in its box is a plastic cover, which can be used as a dust cover when the board isn’t in use; a detachable USB-C cable, which is especially great to see on the 96% variant; and keycap and switch pullers, to help users take advantage of the board’s hotswappable nature.

I’ve tested both the 65% and 96% versions, one of which is black and the other which is white. There’s also a pink version available at launch, along with pink keycaps. While I’d love to see more colors in the future, this is a good number of options for release day and they can be further customized by Glorious’ wide range of accessories.

While I’m personally more into the 65% form factor for my usage, I can definitely see people picking up the 96% version for the number pad. Glorious has made it as compact as possible, fitting in the necessary buttons but minimizing the width. This makes it a viable gaming option, as there’s still a good bit of room left over for swinging a mouse.

Lube it up

Having two versions of the GMMK 2 for review also allows me to check out the consistency in the build and lubrication job. Happily, both of my units were fantastic out of the box, with a great overall feel and sound. The usual pain points for many keyboards are the stabilizers, but Glorious has done a brilliant job of rescuing its plate-mounted stabs from the rattle. The lube job was generous and consistent for both boards and I didn’t feel the need to re-lube, which is rare.

If I did need to re-lube the stabs, the spacebar would be an easy task. The foam sheet included in the GMMK 2 to help deaden sound has a cut-out for the spacebar stabs. This means users don’t have to disassemble the entire thing, which is great! What’s more, it appears that the GMMK 2 supports screw-in stabilizers here, which many will be happy to hear.

Low-key switch

The stabs aren’t the only thing hiding below the keycaps, as Glorious’ new “Fox” switches are debuting with the pre-built versions of the GMMK 2. These linear options have a red stem and transparent housing, which is a nice combination. To my ear and touch, they feel similar to the Glorious Lynx, which I’m a fan of. With that said, while I do love smooth linears and they are admittedly the best for gaming, having a tactile pre-built option would have been good to see. Glorious’ Panda switches are fantastic, though a little pricey when bought on their own.

Going back to the keycaps, they use ABS plastic. Though the legends benefit from the double-shot process and so will never fade, ABS plastic is notorious for quickly developing a shine. If you’re a stickler for keeping your board looking brand new, you may want to consider swapping the ABS option out for PBT, or at least going for the white model where the shine is less noticeable.

Change it up

Of course, it’s not only the keycaps that can be swapped out, as the GMMK 2 supports hotswappable switches. This makes changing up the sound and feel very simple, while also making it easy to repair after long-term use. In my eyes, hotswap is a must-have feature for premium boards and I’m glad Glorious continues to recognize that after making waves with the original hotswappable GMMK. It’s worth mentioning that, this time around, the GMMK 2 supports 5-pin switches, so there’s no clipping necessary!

For those installing the optional software, you’ll be met with a clean and functional setup. Choosing lighting options and rebinding a few keys was made easy and I’m perfectly happy with Glorious’ app. The main highlight is that it’s inoffensive at start-up and I only notice it when I want to actually see it and tweak something.

As seen with the GMMK Pro (which is still available for those looking to go extra premium), Glorious has created a robust “keyboard builder” on its website. This allows users to create their own unique board configuration, while also seeing the price changes as they add and remove options. It works as well as ever.

GMMK 2 Review: The final verdict

At $119.99 for the pre-built (with color-matched keycaps and Fox linear switches) and $79.99 for the barebones edition, Glorious has once against produced compelling options at this mid-range price point. I’m especially happy with the more unique sizings of 65% and 96%, rather than going with the usual 60%/TKL/full-size line-up. These more niche sizes keep important keys while still cutting down on the overall scale. This helps the GMMK 2 stand out from the competition.

For anyone who’s looking to get into the mechanical keyboard scene, Glorious has quickly become the one-stop shop for first purchasing, and then heavily customizing, a solid board that feels like it will stand the test of time and multiple build refreshes. Glorious has taken what made the original GMMK so compelling, improved it, and barely increased the cost to the consumer. Great stuff!

GMMK 2 keyboard review unit provided by Glorious.