The PC gaming experience is not only defined by your PC’s components or the display you play on, but the mouse and keyboard ties it all experience together. In a market saturated with keyboards of all shapes and sizes, Glorious GMMK 3 stands out for its incredible features and immersive feel. After nearly two months of gaming and browsing with the GMMK 3 at my fingertips, I can clearly say that this is one of the best options for gamers right now, despite it’s premium price point.
Back in August, I had the opportunity to speak with Glorious VP of Marketing & DTC Amanda Dwyer to learn more about the GMMK 3 and its innerworkings. This brand-new fully customizable keyboard is the first in Glorious’ lineup to offer Hall Effect magnetic switches in all keyboard sizes. This is a rather important step forward, as it ensures an even longer switch lifespan when compared to traditional, lubricated switches. Moreover, the Hall Effect switches offer an unprecedented level of customization in regards to actuation points on each key press.
After hearing about what the GMMK 3 is capable of, I needed to know what this keyboard actual entails when applied to typing and gaming. I quickly found my answer shortly after unboxing the keyboard, as I immediately noticed how smooth and satisfying each press felt. The ABS Polymer and aluminum materials also give the keyboard some weight without feeling cumbersome. The out-of-the-box typing experience is already so great, but I needed to see what else this keyboard offers me directly, of course.
Glorious GMMK 3 is Excellent Right Out of the Box
Firstly, the Glorious GMMK 3 comes in normal, HE, Pro, and Pro HE variants, with HE and Pro model denoting Hall Effect and additional features respectively. I was able to get my hands on a 75% GMMK 3 HE, which is the sweet spot of the lineup at its $179.99 to $199.99 MSRP. I consider the GMMK 3 HE as the ideal entry point into the family for those wanting to take advantage of Hall Effect switch without breaking the bank too much. For reference, the GMMK 3 Pro HE price lands in the $299.99 to $369.99 range, and it’s use case is more specialized for those wanting a custom configuration in competitive shooters like Valorant and CS GO 2.
Nonetheless, the GMMK 3 HE has been an absolute treat to use for the past two months, especially when it comes to typing. The Hall Effect switches make each key stroke feel effortless, and the modular gasket mount adds a level of cushioning that doesn’t feel too rigid either. There were some imperfections involving key fonts on the caps, but I can commend the keyboard’s overall finish. Every switch is swappable on a universal level, so you can tailor your setup however you want and even use a mixture of HE and MX switches. Personally, I’d just prefer to use HE switches to get the most consistent and durable setup possible.
The GMMK 3 HE is very reliable and feels much better than my previous daily driver, the HyperX Alloy Origins Core TKL (red MX). I tested the keyboard with its default configuration in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone, and I couldn’t be any happier. The HE switches make each key feel more precise with my actual movements in game and on the keyboard itself.
The Customization Factor
We can’t discuss the GMMK 3 HE variants without discussing the amount of customization you can do. Aside from the actual swappable switches and keycaps, you can adjust the actuation point globally or per key in the Glorious Core software. The actuation point determines how far a press must go down to fulfill its function, such as walking forward or typing the letter W. By default, my GMMK 3’s actuation point was set to 2 mm, so that’s how far down the key must be pressed to register. This is just fine for me, but you can customize this within a 4 mm range if needed.
There’s also a Rapid Trigger feature, which dynamically actuates or resets the key based on how you press or release it. Personally, I did not need to use Rapid Trigger in the games I play, but I did test it to see how it feels, and it’s quite snappy with even the slightest of presses. This is certainly an option to consider for games that do require a very fast response time, and the GMMK 3 can certainly accommodate with Rapid Trigger and the 8000 Hz polling rate via the included USB-C cable.
Physical customization is one of the hallmarks of the GMMK 3 thanks to the new Glorious Boardsmith, an official website that lets you customize the keyboard to your liking. Customization options include the switch type, the top and bottom cases, and the colors for the keycaps, to name just a few. Glorious noted that there’s 1 billion combinations here, and I definitely believe it considering that almost every aspect of the keyboard can be customized.
Glorious Core Remains at the Core
The Glorious Core 2.1 software is required to get the most out of GMMK 3, and I think Glorious makes it very clear from the start. I think there’s still a stigma around peripheral software in the PC gaming space, so having a great out-of-the box experience is a plus in my book. Although there’s still some bugs, particularly involving updates within the software, Glorious Core is lightweight and non-intrusive.
Along with RGB lighting, keybinding, actuation, and macro customization, Glorious Core lets you set up to three keyboard profiles within the software and additional profiles over the cloud. I didn’t need to use more than one profile, but this is a great feature for those wanting game-specific profiles. For instance, you can make a profile that’s specific to Overwatch 2 and then switch to your Warzone profile by simply selecting it within Glorious Core.
The Glorious GMMK 3 is 2024’s Best Keyboard
At its various price points, the material quality and features offered by the Glorious GMMK 3 is clearly beating the competition like the Razer Huntsman and Steelseries Apex PRO ($179.99 each). There’s just more to take advantage of at similar prices against its competitors, including the Hall Effect switches. In fact, GMMK 3 has a massive edge since the Hall Effect switches are only $50 more than their MX counterparts, according to Glorious Boardsmith. The price difference is reduced even further with sales on pre-built keyboards as well.
All in all, the Glorious GMMK 3 family of keyboards are exceptional with its precise and satisfying keystrokes, modular design, and premium feel. Aesthetics and performances are neatly intertwine in a design that’s going to be a clear favorite for small form factor enthusiasts at 65% to those wanting a full suite of controls for productivity and streaming with the 100% layout. You can’t go wrong with the GMMK 3, since you have the opportunity to make this keyboard your very own, tailored just for you.
Disclaimer: Glorious provided a Glorious GMMK 3 HE review unit to Final Weapon for coverage.
