Glorious has launched a new keyboard with the GMMK3 series. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann tested the 75% model and explained whether the purchase is really worth it. Above all, the high volume doesn’t really convince him. On the other hand, certain features give you a real advantage over other players.
With the GMMK3 series, Glorious has introduced its first keyboard series with reverb effect switches. This is what the “HE” in the name of the HE models stands for. Glorious is primarily focusing on modularity in its new series: This means that you can dismantle pretty much every component of the keyboard and replace it with another. So more or less a finished custom keyboard.
But the highlight of the keyboard are the hall effect switches, because they can be adjusted extremely finely. This also brings tangible advantages when gaming, as I discovered when testing the GMMK3 HE (75%). In the following article I explain what you get for the price of 219.99 euros and why the HE switches are so good.
Test at a glance
Who tested that?
I’m a tech editor at MeinMMO and have a passion for peripherals and test mice, keyboards and gaming headsets. Gaming mice in particular are among my absolute favorites. In addition to the PS5, I also play on my Steam Deck.
Transparency note: The model was provided to us by the manufacturer for testing.
Benedict Schlotmann
Hardware editor MeinMMO
Technical details
Here you can find the technical details as a table (click to expand):
What does the scope of delivery look like? In addition to the keyboard, the box also contains plenty of accessories with which you can customize your purchased keyboard. In addition to screwdrivers, screws and spacers, this also includes a few replacement buttons and a few test switches of different color types.
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This is practical for a short test, but not enough for installation. On the other hand, you have usually already decided on a set of switches when purchasing, which is located under the keys. I would have found a few replacement switches of the same type as the switches already installed to be more useful in the event of a defect.
How is the keyboard structured? The keyboard offers you an official 75% profile. This means that the arrow keys are located directly below the enter key and are therefore slightly inserted into the main body. The same applies to a handful of special keys. The function keys (F1 – F12) are also available, but a number pad is missing.
At the top right there is a so-called “knot” that you can turn to change the volume in the basic setting or to switch it off completely with one press.
What does the keyboard look like? The keyboard comes in a white design with white keycaps. The keyboard is also available in black. In principle, you can also equip the keyboard with other key caps and thus change the design.
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The keyboard has a plastic body and at first glance seems less valuable than the Akko Mod007B-HE (for testing), which is made of aluminum and weighs a good 2 kilograms. On the other hand, the weight of the Glorious keyboard remains just under 1 kg. However, Glorious uses aluminum for the switch plate. For around 20 euros more, the Akko Mod007B-HE has significantly higher quality workmanship.
The most interesting point, however, is the modularity that Glorious actively advertises. Thanks to the modularity, (almost) all components of the keyboard can be removed and replaced with others. Even the insulation and sealing system can be changed. But then it quickly becomes confusing and fiddly.
software
When it comes to software, Glorious relies on the “Glorious Core” software. The software is a real chunk and you first have to download almost 500 MB. The installation then requires another 1 GB on your hard drive or SSD.
On the other hand, and this surprised me during testing, the software only requires a slim 20 to 30 MB of RAM. This is almost nothing compared to other manufacturers (Logitech, Razer and Corsair) and, above all, almost absurd compared to the huge size of the software.
Also good: Pretty much all features can be used without a login or account. The exception is cloud profiles, for which you need a “Glorious ID”.
ergonomics
The keyboard’s small design (75%) makes it more ergonomic than large keyboards that fill the entire desk. Because you have more space for your “mouse arm” on the table with a small keyboard.
In the basic configuration, however, the keyboard is surprisingly high: the lowest point of the body at the very front is 2 centimeters, and including the space bar it is already 3.5 centimeters. A wrist rest is not included, but you can buy it from the manufacturer for around 25 euros. I myself bought a palm rest made of bamboo, so the key height of the GMMK 3 feels more comfortable.
The buttons
There are “Glorious Fox HE” switches under the keycaps of the keyboard. These are Hall Effect switches. Magnetic switches are currently the fastest switches you can use in a keyboard.
In addition, you can adapt the activation of each individual button to your needs. The settings range from 0.1 mm to 4.0 mm. This is usually what other HE switch manufacturers offer, such as Akko or SteelSeries.
At first it feels like you need to get used to it if you manually set the keys differently, but it gives you a speed advantage. For example, if you place a special ability on the “Q” key and set it to 0.1 mm, the key will be triggered with a simple touch.
What are magnetic or hall effect switches?
“The gaming keyboard has the abbreviation “HE” in its name, which stands for Hall Effect. Magnetic switches have several advantages for gamers:
Why does this almost feel like cheating? You can fine-tune your buttons so that your reaction speed is significantly faster than other players. If you only have to press the keys in 0.1 mm deep, then it is simply faster than if you have to press the key all the way in.
At the beginning it takes some getting used to because you tend to trigger buttons too early. This has happened to me often enough in everyday life that I’ve fired an ultimate ability into nothingness because I adjusted the button too finely. However, once you get used to it, you’ll be able to move much faster, be it with movements or with skills in the game.
In the same context I also have to mention the “Rapid Trigger” function. With “Rapid Trigger” the confirmation point of each key can be dynamically adjusted. In contrast, every movement, no matter how small, is registered. This has the advantage if you have to press keys very quickly. For example with “Strafing” in Counter-Strike.
The discussion isn’t entirely new among gamers either as to whether keyboards can make players “too good.” This even went so far that certain keyboard features such as rapid triggers have already been banned in certain shooters. Because this tends to give you an advantage over other players who don’t rely on such modern hardware.
But you have to limit it: I’m not a professional when it comes to shooters or other genres. That’s why my gaming advantages are limited. In the hands of a professional, this keyboard should show off its potential even more.
How loud is the keyboard? The switches themselves (Glorious Fox HE in my case) are absolutely quiet and cannot be heard. The sound-absorbing elements inside the keyboard do a good job. To give a comparison: With the Akko Mod007B-HE you hear a clear and distinct “click” with every touch. With the Glorious keyboard you only hear the keys, but not the switches or a magnetic (post-)click.
However, the keyboard itself is anything but quiet. You can clearly hear every keystroke acoustically; the keys almost sound “rickety”.
The space bar in particular is really loud and unpleasant. However, I have to add a caveat here: On other keyboards, the space bar is usually the weak point when it comes to noise. If you want to use the keyboard in an open-plan office to work, I would advise against it.
Sound test: To show you the volume of the keyboard, I recorded three different keyboards typing quickly. In particular, you can hear the difference between GMMK3 and Dark Project Midnight very clearly:
GMMK3 HE 75%, Switches: Glorious Fox HE (linear, magnetic):
Dark Project Midnight TKL, Switches: G3MS Zircon (linear, mechanical):
Corsair K65 Plus Wireless, Switches: Corsair MLX Red (linear, mechanical):
Conclusion: Good gaming keyboard for a price that is far too high
Is the keyboard worth it? With an RRP of 219 euros, the gaming keyboard is not exactly cheap, but is within the range of other keyboards with HE technology. If you are looking for a very good, modular keyboard with plenty of setting options, then you get a very good overall package with the Glorious GMMK3.
If you don’t need the very fast switches or such extensive options when setting up your keyboard, then there are better and significantly cheaper options for a gaming keyboard.
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What alternatives are there?
More gaming keyboards: Are you looking for further recommendations in the peripheral area? Then take a look at the following purchasing advice on MeinMMO. Here we explain to you which keyboards are currently most worthwhile: The best gaming keyboards you can currently buy