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The first thing I noticed about the new GMMK line is the fact that they made some smart design choices, at least for me personally. It comes in two sizes, namely a 65% version and a full size (96%) version. That last one has the key clusters closer together and sacrifices some keys for the smaller form factor but it still has the numpad and functionality you’d expect from a full-sized board, which I like. I am not a fan of full-sized keyboards so I did most of my testing on the 65% board, though both keyboards are the same under the hood so what I say in this review regarding the performance, keycaps, and all of that goes for both versions. Arranged in an ANSI layout, there are 67 keys on the TKL model and they use the standard OEM profile. This profile creates a nearly flat top, with the keys all pretty much level yet sporting a cylindrical bow to meet the curve of your fingers. This maximises grip as well as providing a natural typing position. Follow steps 13 - 20 again to recompile your newly edited keymap firmware and flash it to your board. Let’s talk about the switches first. The GMMK 2 (the prebuilt version at least; you can also get a barebones version) features Glorious’ new Fox linear switches. Followers of the keyboard world will know that Glorious already have a linear switch in their arsenal in the form of the Lynx, but this is a new one. For now, these Fox switches are exclusive to the GMMK 2 though I of course don’t know what kind of plans Glorious has for the future.
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. 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. Glorious is one such company that has tried to raise the standards in a bunch of markets (their GMMK Promade some serious waves in the keyboard community, and the Model O was one of the first commonly available ultralight mice) and today we’re taking a look at the newest iteration of their first gaming keyboard. This review goes over the Compact TKL version of the GMMK 2, which is a creative way of saying this is a 65% form factor keyboard. It has dedicated arrow keys and four other keys from the Ins-Pg Dn cluster, and does so by taking up some room to the right of the alphanumeric section. There are 67 keys on this US ANSI layout rather than the usual 68, and ISO versions will be available separately. The missing key is on the bottom row—instead of three 1u keys to the right of the space bar, we have two 1.25u keys, which results in a somewhat ungainly gap there I would have rather seen filled with a third key. I am sure a dedicated Menu key would have gone well with many. It's not a case of standard keycap sizing throughout either, with R.Shift still shorter than on most other 65% form factors.
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! The board has a polymer bottom portion and an aluminum top frame, which makes it feel very sturdy. What also helps in that department is the fact that Glorious have added weights to the case. This both fills the case up (which changes the acoustics as it makes the case less hollow) and it makes the keyboard feel heavier and thus more premium. There’s no creaking or flexing with the GMMK 2, and while it obviously doesn’t feel as premium as something like the GMMK Pro it doesn’t feel cheap or ‘budget’ at all to me. The typing and gaming experience is, as I mentioned in the previous section, very pleasing. Glorious have successfully married enthusiast-level features (lubed stabilizers and switches, case foam, …) with this slightly more budget-oriented keyboard and it’s a marriage that works if you ask me. We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3, which overhauls how key input is evaluated. We've added new tests for Single Key Latency, Multi Key Latency, Data Transmission, and Chord Split. We've also introduced a new Raw Performance usage and adjusted how the Gaming and Office usage scores are calculated. You can see the full changelog here. Note:This means the Glorious QMK Forked branch is successfully copied to your local machine, and QMK is ready for you to start compiling your first firmware.
By far the most important aspect of a switch is how it feels though, and I like these foxes. They’re rather smooth out of the box and even though the lubing job isn’t anything close to what an experienced keyboard maker can do by hand I would say that lubing these isn’t a necessity at all. They feel and sound nice straight from the factory, with no audible pinging and no scratchiness on my testing boards. It does take a bit of time to really break them in (there can be some inconsistencies between the feeling of different switches at first) but once you’re past that they really feel quite great. Note:Windows Defender SmartScreen may stop the program from running. Select 'More info' then 'Run anyway.' If you want to customize your QMK further with new layers, different keymaps, layouts, and custom snippets then navigate to theqmk_firmwarefolder located here: Then, simply type the following GIT command below to access the GMMK 2 branch within the forked qmk_firmware project:
Customize your own GMMK 2
Type 'y' and press the right Enter / Ascend key.After a moment, the program will begin cloning the necessary files. Select the correct firmware file with a '.bin' extension. Its name will look like the command you entered in Step 14. Made from ABS plastic, the keycaps are doubleshot for enhanced durability. The legends are moulded into the keycap for a seamless finish and lettering that won’t rub away with extensive use. For these keys, the legends are clear to best allow the RGB lighting to shine through. Plus, on both the full-size and TKL models, there are front-facing legends printed onto certain keys to denote extra layers of functionality without cluttering the keycap. Juicy. QMK for the GMMK 2 uses our official Glorious forked branch that has all of the board's official QMK firmware updates and keymaps. For most of this guide, we will follow the official QMK installation tutorial found here.
It could be a coincidence, but ever since the COVID pandemic forced the majority of the population to work and study at home, we’ve seen the (custom) mechanical keyboard scene boom like never before. In these past two years, standards have risen considerably not only in the higher tiers of custom built boards, but also when it comes to (budget) prebuilt gaming keyboards. Now it's time to flash your new firmware file to your GMMK 2. We will highlight the main steps below, but you can refer to the Official QMK Documentation for more specific information regarding flashing here. 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 Note:Steps 7-12 should be done in one window. Don’t close out your QMK MSYS session until all steps are successfully completed to ensure it’s done properly. Arranged in a UK ISO layout, the keycaps have an OEM profile. This is the standard profile for mechanical keyboards, where all the keys reach up to the same height. This puts them on a level plane, enhancing comfort. From there, the keys meet the curve of your fingers with a cylindrical bow to maximise on grip. All for that comfortable typing experience. Plus, there is a spare, novelty ESC key adorned with the Glorious branding for that extra je ne sais quoi! CORE Software and CustomisingWe've added a link to the newly reviewed Keychron Q Pro Series in the Wireless Versatility section of this review.
We identified a testing issue with this keyboard wherein we didn't properly filter out the end point of our data set before calculating the averages to produce our Latency results. We've now recalculated the Single Key Latency and Multi-Key Latency scores with the endpoint properly filtered out, and both scores have lowered slightly. The stabilizers on the GMMK 2 also come pre-lubed and these also feel very decent. I can’t detect any noticeable or annoying rattle, and even though some of the stabilized keys can feel a tiny bit mushy I can’t say that I was ever annoyed by any of this. The stabilizers are plate-mounted, but the GMMK 2 also supports screw-in stabilizers should you want to use those with this board. To create the default GMMK 2 keymap on QMK, run the command below that applies to your board in the QMK MSYS window: Open up the default folder. Then open the keymap.cfile in your text editor to remap any keys you wish, add or remove layers, and have fun exploring!
Low-key switch
As both the pre-built and barebone versions share the same foundation, we’ll start with the inner workings of the GMMK 2 Barebone Keyboard. The frame is manufactured using two materials, the top being CNC milled aluminium and the bottom a robust polymer. Providing a delightfully balanced weight, this keyboard will stay firmly placed, even during the most intense battles. The rubberised feet help, too. Naturally, the GMMK 2 Pre-Built Keyboard comes with pre-installed keycaps and switches. Thanks to the included keycap and switch puller, you are free to swap, change, and customise these too. The hot-swapping technology is still there.
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