Glorious Modular Mechanical Keyboard (GMMK) Review

A rare modular, hot-swappable, mechanical keyboard for everyone (unless you want wireless).

Glorious unleashed its $79-$120 Glorious Modular Mechanical Keyboard alongside its $36 "Holy" Panda switches. Both offer excellent value and high quality. But they're not for everyone. Should you buy either the GMMK or the Glorious Panda switches?

Glorious offers three GMMK sizes: 61-key, 87-key tenkeyless (TKL), and 104-key variants, along with white or black-colored cases and ABS keys. There are also barebones models, without switches and keycaps for $79.

Who Is the GMMK For?

The GMMK caters to anyone who wants to try different mechanical-keyboard switches. That includes gamers, typists, and programmers. If you've already found the switch of your dreams, it's not for you. But if you're interested in trying out the hundreds, if not thousands, of mechanical keyboard switches, the GMMK offers excellent value.

What's a Modular Mechanical Keyboard Switch?

The GMMK uses modular switch housings, also known as SIP sockets. With a SIP socket, you can unplug and replace mechanical switches, even when the keyboard is connected to a computer. Only a few other branded keyboards, such as the ErgoDox EZ, use modular sockets. To my knowledge, the other modular keyboards come from no-name manufacturers with sketchy warranty policies and absent customer support.

Additionally, the GMMK requires plate-stabilized, Cherry-style switches. However, you could convert PCB-mounted switches by trimming off the PCB-stabilizing pins.

On the downside, if you don't check the metal connectors on your switches, they'll flatten out when you insert them into the SIP socket.

Changing Your Keyboard's Mechanical Switches

It's easy.

After pulling off your keycap with the included keycap puller (which is housed on the back of the keyboard), you insert the steel switch remover underneath the slots on the top and bottom of the mechanical switch. Then you pinch and wiggle out the switch.

My criticism is that removing the switch can require a fair amount of force. But after pulling the factory-fitted switches once, subsequent attempts were much easier.

Glorious Typing Experience

The stock mechanical switches inside the GMMK are Gateron Browns. I prefer Gateron switches in general over Cherry, mostly because of the smoother key presses. But truth be told, there's not a huge difference. Aside from some very subtle differences in actuation, most keyboardists only notice a slightly more scratchy and rigid feel to Cherry Browns, compared to Gateron Browns. That's likely because of a difference in the plastic used to make the switch's stem. Plastics with higher friction coefficients tend to produce a less smooth and more ridid feel. It's believed that a combination of lubricant and plastic is what results in Gateron's smoother switch presses.

Glorious's Keycaps

Glorious uses double-shot, LED-compatible, ABS-plastic keycaps on their designs, as opposed to PBT plastic. ABS is generally regarded as a lower-end material for keycaps, although it's a fairly tough plastic. Purists hold ABS-plastic in low esteem because it picks up finger prints easily. PBT, in comparison, is harder to manufacture and costs more.

Glorious's keycaps dodge around ABS's problems with finger grease (also known as shine) by using a rough texturing on its surface. The rough texture is only on the tops of the keycaps, so smudges on the sides and keyboard case will be noticeable.

On the downside, Glorious choose to use painted-on lettering for its function keys. The quality of the paint is fairly low, although because these keys are not pressed as often as lettered and numbered keycaps, they will likely hold up to years of use. But over time the function keys will probably rub off, given enough usage, and the length of your fingernails.

Macros and Backlight Programmability

Like many mechanical keyboards, Glorious offers Windows software that can add keyboard shortcuts and macros. If you don't know what a macro is, here's a brief explanation:

A macro can string together multiple key presses into a single key or key-press combination. For example, if you're playing DOTA 2 (in which some macros are illegal) and need to initiate a particular key-combo, you'd go into Glorious's software, and then input the keys, delay between inputs, and wire it to a key or a key combination. While there's plenty of software that does this without requiring a special keyboard, Glorious's software allows for the LED backlights to change depending on the macro. In other words, you can set a key to a macro and then turn the LED on that key to a visually distinct color.

One of my favorite uses for macros is to set up a shortcut to run Ditto (the open source clipboard manager).

GMMK's Red-Green-Blue (RGB) SMD Backlighting

The GMMK uses a RBG SMD lighting system. In other words, each key contains a three-color lighting system, soldered onto the motherboard. That means it can provide a dazzling 18.2-million colors.

While the keyboard's switches are modular, the lighting system isn't. Although, considering it employs a three-color lighting system, there's little reason to want swappable LEDs, other than for maintenance purposes.

Affordably Priced, High-End Mechanical Gaming Keyboards

Amazon, and other retailers, sell a variety of keyboards with modular switch sockets. But the majority are from no-name brands with no history of reliability and a completely absent return policy. For example, there's the Keychron K2, which include modular sockets. There's also the Epomaker SK64, which offers swappable Gateron optical switches. However, the SK64 is compatible with only optical switches and there aren't that many out, unlike classic Cherry-clone switches. Overall, while modular keyboards are starting to appear on Amazon and other online sources, they're usually expensive or sketchy.

N-Key Rollover

Like other high-end keyboards, the GMMK supports N-key rollover (NKRO). While this feature isn't particularly useful for typists, for gamers, it allows you to press virtually every key on the keyboard and have them all registered. Cheaper, low-end keyboards tend to either lose keystrokes or create phantom keystrokes. In other words, if you type fast enough, additional key presses may appear which you did not press.

The GMMK's NKRO is no different from other high-end keyboard. I tried mashing a variety of keys together and at no point were phantom key presses registered.

The GMMK Works on Smartphones and Tablets

Not all high-end gaming keyboards draw low enough amounts of power to work as an OTG keyboard. Even the DIY 3D-printed 30-key keyboard that I built draws 123mAh. Using a power meter, the GMMK indicated at 123mAh, or the same draw of a much smaller keyboard designed for mobile use.

The GMMK worked with full backlighting on both tablet and smartphones, provided that the device supports On-the-Go (OTG) wiring.

However, you'll need a Micro-USB adapter or USB-A to Micro-USB cable in order to connect it to a mobile device.

The RBG Backlighting Is Superb for the Price

Most budget keyboards with illuminated keys come with single-LED lighting. In other words, they can only produce a single light color, often white. Glorious's method relies on using three RGB diodes per switch, which allows for an enormous number of color and effects. For example, each diode array can produce, in theory, 18.3-million colors. Although if you want the full range of colors, you'll have to install Glorious's customization software.

On top of its superb color range, the GMMK also includes multiple lighting effects. Each lighting effect is loosely categorized under a function-key combo. There are six function keys, with each key having two modes. A third press on a function key shifts the keyboard into rainbow mode, where it shifts through the color spectrum.

Each backlight-effect function key cycles through variant animation effects. Each function key includes a total of three effects. You can also combine each animation with a different RGB-color setting. For example, you can combine K-Effect, layer two, with the rainbow coloration. There are a total of nine default color layers: red, amber, yellow, green, aqua, blue, purple, white, and rainbow. And there are a total of eighteen animations.

You can also control the speed of each animated lighting effect by holding the function button and tapping either the left or right directional key; left slows the animation down and right increases the speed.

Why Modular Mechanical Keyboards Are a Big Deal

If you're like me, you're constantly trying out new mechanical keyboard switches. I've built quite a few keyboards on my own, from 3D-printed designs to DIY kits ordered through group-buy websites. And had I originally purchased a modular keyboard, I'd have saved countless hours on desoldering, cleaning, and resoldering. It's my belief that all mechanical keyboards should include modular sockets, at least on the lettered keys.

While you can build a keyboard that includes SIP sockets, this is time-consuming and extremely labor-intensive. A well-priced modular keyboard is a big deal.

The GMMK's Price is Glorious

At somewhere around $79 and $120, the GMMK offers the best value out of all high-end wired mechanical keyboards on today's market. For example, a Corsair K95 Platinum XT costs just under $200 while offering nothing that the GMMK doesn't, other than dedicated macro keys. A Razer BlackWidow V3 runs for over $200 and while it includes Bluetooth wireless capabilities, a USB-C port, and a variety of switch options, if you don't need wireless, it's hugely overpriced.

Glorious Switches, Formerly known as "Holy Panda" switches.

Glorious's Panda Switches are a clone of a mechanical keyboard switch known as the Holy Panda, manufactured by Invyr. Invyr went out of business and its manufacturing equipment disappeared, according to Drop.com. However, Glorious reported that their Holy Panda switches are made with the original Invyr manufacturing tools.

So what are Holy Panda switches? In short, they are a medium-weight, tactile switch which produces a strong bump at the top of its actuation. Unlike tactile Cherry MX Browns, which produce a bump midway through its stroke, the Holy Pandas produce tactile feedback at the very top of a keypress.

Originally produced through Drop.com as a limited-edition bulk order and now distributed through Glorious Mechanical Keyboards (GMK), the mechanical keyboard community forced Glorious to remove the "Holy" portion of their name. The Glorious Panda switches are no longer available anywhere that I could find online and unfortunately won't be available anytime soon (until at least March).

The Holy Panda switch uses a fairly standard Polyoxymethylene (POM) plastic for its stem and polycarbonate plastic in its top housing and PA66, or nylon, in its bottom. The overall switch, owing to a combination of lubrication and POM plastic, feels like a Gateron switches. Less scratchy and smoother than Cherry or Kailh switches. With a weight of 67g of force, the switch is moderate in heaviness. And it makes a noticeably less sharp clicking noise when compared to similar tactile, like Cherry or Gateron Browns.

Overall, the switches are rated at approximately the same quality of the Holy Panda switches available through Drop.com, but at a lower price and with standard shipping, rather than group-buy delayed shipping, which can take months for delivery.

Overall, the $25 price is lower than any of its competitors for a switch that is functionally almost identical to the original switches. Compared to Drop.com-sourced switches, the price is less and the quality the same. At $95 per 110 switches, the Drop.com switch is a difficult purchase.

Should You Buy the GMMK or Glorious Panda Mechanical Switches

Both the GMMK and the Glorious Panda mechanical switch are excellent, well-priced products for gamers, typists, and really anyone interested in mechanical keyboards. But they're not perfect.

Should You Buy the Glorious Modular Mechanical Keyboard (GMMK)?

The GMMK is the best, for the money, high-end mechanical keyboard I've tested, particularly when paired with the Panda-type switch. But while it's great, it's not for everyone. There's no wireless option, and it uses a Micro-USB port for connectivity instead of what should be the modern standard: USB Type-C (USB-C).

Glorious released an updated, limited-release version of the white GMMK which includes a USB-C port, dubbed the White Ice Edition. Apparently, Glorious intends on updating their entire GMMK line with USB-C, though, so I'd recommend waiting until the 2021 models are released, if you want one.

Should You Buy the Glorious "Holy" Panda Switch?

Regarding the Glorious Panda switch, I'm a total convert. Indeed, these are among the best tactile switches that I've ever used. But your experience may differ depending on whether or you enjoy a tactile bump at the top of the actuation curve and a deeper-pitched "thock" sound as opposed to a "click". But given how these are essentially the same as the "Holy" switches sold by Drop, for less money, it's a no-brainer decision.

Why You Might Not Want a Glorious Modular Mechanical Keyboard

There are two issues with buying a GMMK right now.

First, Cherry's upcoming Viola mechanical switch system will introduce modularity to a wide range of keyboards. Unfortunately, the Viola switch system isn't compatible with current modular boards based on Cherry clones. Neither are the Viola's keycaps, which use an entirely new stem form factor.

Second, Glorious announced a 75% (or 75-key) barebones edition of the GMMK, known as the GMMK Pro, that comes with an apparently programmable rotary dial for $70. If you're not familiar with rotary dials, they're rotating knobs, often used in video or audio production.

Why You Should Trust my Review

I've spent countless hours cobbling together keyboards, some from kits and others based on hand-wired, 3D-printed models. I don't game often, but prefer mechanical keyboards for writing.

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