The Glorious GMMK 3 is an ultra-premium keyboard that aims to work for anyone by going all out on the customization process. Nearly every aspect of this keyboard can be adjusted and built to order. You can emphasize your preferred typing feel and select from an astonishing array of aesthetic choices. We have some minor gripes with the keyboard’s design and its potential price, which starts at $79.99 for a barebones model but rings up at a whopping $519 for the specific Pro HE configuration we tested. Still, the GMMK 3 is one of the best ways to enter the keyboard-modding hobby. A streamlined customizing experience leads to a good-looking keyboard that is easy to open up for further mods, making it an Editors’ Choice winner among enthusiast custom models that’s sure to thrill keyboard enthusiasts.
Design: The Bespoke Keyboard of Your Dreams
The GMMK 3 is different from most other keyboards we review because of how customizable it is. Every component in the GMMK 3 can be selected to your liking, assembled at the factory for your convenience, and shipped out within a week of ordering from the US. This is not an off-the-shelf buying process, so your keyboard may look and feel entirely different from the one we’re reviewing.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Every major component of the GMMK 3 can be mixed and matched, with detailed descriptions at every step to explain any benefits or detriments the component might entail. For example, while many keyboard enthusiasts prefer the stability offered by an all-aluminum frame, some folks might prefer a lighter case made of plastic if they’re constantly moving the keyboard around.
To build your custom GMMK 3, you’ll need to use a configurator on the Glorious website. Progressing through the configurator is similar to using services like PCPartPicker, which help you plan builds of custom PCs. You can start from scratch, selecting one component at a time, or you can choose from a list of pre-configured models.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
We chose the GMMK 3 Pro wireless printed circuit board (PCB) with white shine-through keycaps. We went with the red aluminum frame, although both the top and bottom sections can be independently configured. The GMMK 3 is available in three different PCB layouts. The 65% layout will be most popular with pro gamers who need more space to move their mouse. We opted for the 75% layout, which keeps the function row of keys. The 100% layout keeps the number pad on the right side of the keyboard. The 75% configuration looks similar to the Keychron Q1 HE we reviewed earlier this year; the biggest difference is the placement and grouping of some of the keys.
Some keyboard manufacturers already offer multiple layouts of the same keyboard. (For example, one of our favorite budget keyboards, the Montech Mkey, has a 75% layout option.) But the GMMK 3 doesn’t stop at different sizes. Would you prefer wired-only connectivity or wireless? How about a hot-swappable PCB for traditional switches or HE magnetic switches (named for the Hall Effect)? You can also select north- or south-facing LEDs depending on which PCB you go with.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
According to a Glorious spokesperson, the company’s strategy includes supporting the GMMK 3 for the foreseeable future with new keycap designs, more frame options, and other options. While the GMMK 3 has so many options from the configurator, even more combinations open up if you consider third-party components from other manufacturers. As long as the switches are compatible with your chosen PCB, nothing stops you from buying new ones from your favorite retailer.
With so much jargon in the mechanical keyboard space, it’s easy to get confused if you don’t know what all of these terms mean. We especially appreciate that each step of the GMMK customization experience has a helpful description that describes each option and offers suggestions for specific builds.
The GMMK 3 Pro HE we built comes out to $519, a hefty price even in this niche corner of the keyboard market. Even if you chose the cheapest configurable build, the GMMK 3 comes out to $149.99, or $79.99 if you opt for the barebones version that requires you to source and install your own switches and keycaps. Compare that with the Fnatic Streak65 Gaming Keyboard, which hovers around $100. Also, consider that one of our favorite keyboards of 2024, the Razer BlackWidow V4 Pro 75%, feels and sounds great out of the box at $300 and is just as easy to open for mods.
True, most people would scoff at spending $500 on a keyboard, but most versions of this keyboard aren’t this expensive to build. The benefit of a configurable system comes from choosing which materials are worth the expense to the specific individual. If you go for a less-expensive build, you probably won’t get a keyboard as feature-rich as, say, the $499 Asus ROG Azoth, another highly customizable pre-built model. But you also won’t be burdened with features you didn’t want or need.
You may build your GMMK 3 dream board online, but if you have any issues with your unit, Glorious includes an old-fashioned customer support number in the box, and parts are covered by a two-year warranty.
Testing the GMMK 3: Choose Your Own Keyboard Adventure
Your experience with the GMMK 3 will vary depending on your configuration, of course. When building our keyboard, we went with a “thoccier” configuration that emphasizes tactility and the responsiveness of our key presses.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Our GMMK 3 Pro HE uses Raptor MX switches with stock stabilizers and a brass switch plate. The Raptor switches are magnetic, rated for 55g of actuation force, enough to depress a switch without excessive pressure. Since this is a hot-swappable PCB, the switches can be removed at any point for other switches you may want to try. The brass switch plate is denser than the more commonly used aluminum. The brass adds heft and a higher-pitched sound profile when tapping keys.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
We aimed to create a responsive keyboard that limits any mistypes, and the GMMK 3 Pro matched our expectations. Key presses were reliable thanks to the responsive magnetic switches, and the shine-through backlighting on the keycaps had no noticeable obstructions, making for a very nice effect. The brass plate adds that nice heft, but we mostly appreciated how stable it made the keyboard as we played games or typed up this review. A Monkeytype test gave a 68-word-per-minute average, which is close to my average on my home keyboard.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
It’s not just the keycaps that glow on this keyboard. A magnetic badge on the top right of the keyboard features RGB lighting and doubles as a Bluetooth connectivity indicator. Two plastic pieces on either side of the keyboard feature RGB lighting, as well. Each layout of the GMMK 3 comes with this badge and those plastic slits, though the badge is the only one that’s customizable.
Glorious also offers braided USB-C cables for $40. The USB-C cable is braided in what feels like nylon, with black ends and a metallic black quick-release plug. While the cable build is sturdy and nice-looking, we don’t find anything special about this cable that warrants adding an extra $40 to the price of the keyboard. You can opt for a more standard USB-C cable in white or black for no added cost.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
The USB-C cable plugs into the USB-C port on the rear edge of the keyboard. On either side of this port, you’ll find a mode-selector switch, one for selecting between a Mac or Windows keyboard layout (the box contents include extra keys for a Mac layout) and the other for toggling between the wireless options: either 2.4GHz wireless via a dongle, or Bluetooth.
(Credit: Joseph Maldonado)
Getting into the GMMK 3’s chassis couldn’t be easier, as a screwdriver comes in the box to let you remove the four screws under the rubber feet. The screwdriver, along with a keycap and key-switch puller, is all you need to get into the device and swap out parts or make any mods you may have in mind.
Software: More Tweaks for Your Custom Build
The functionality of any keyboard expands when you use it in conjunction with a control utility. For the GMMK 3, that utility is Glorious Core 2.1, which lets you adjust different features on the keyboard.
(Credit: Glorious)
You can control the brightness of the RGBs, configure new effects, or adjust the key-press activation point of the magnetic switches. You can adjust these settings across three different keyboard profiles, stored in the onboard memory on the keyboard. The app also lets you create and upload additional profiles to the Glorious servers if you’ve made an account.
Verdict: A Keyboard for Every Taste
Typing feel is so subjective that a large community of opinionated keyboard tinkerers exists to debate it. These tinkerers have gone so far as to create dozens of new switches, keycaps, and cases to fit their needs. But doing so requires a lot of expertise and time, and if you’ve got more money than either of those, you might be looking for an easier way into the hobby.
That’s where the GMMK 3 comes in. While it can prove pricey when way up-configured, it’s ideal for users who want an aesthetics-first keyboard that feels good and performs well but who don’t want to go through the hassle of building a keyboard from scratch. Our build is extremely expensive, but we chose a premium build to see if the GMMK 3 Pro HE was worth the investment. The fact you have so many options to choose from is a great example of the quality that makes the GMMK 3 an Editors’ Choice-winning keyboard for enthusiasts.
Pros
The Bottom Line
No keyboard we’ve tested recently has come close to the Glorious GMMK 3 in terms of pricing or customizability. From aesthetics to typing feel, every aspect of this excellent board can be styled to your liking—if you can afford it.
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About Francisco Lahoz
Junior Analyst, Hardware
