Ever since the original GMMK launched a few years ago, Glorious PC Gaming Race has been marketing itself to keyboard and mouse enthusiasts. At the time, the GMMK v1 offered novel features at an excellent price point, and at $10 more in 2022, the company has somehow squeezed out an updated version that is objectively superior in almost every way; that is, for anyone who doesn't want a 100% or TKL keyboard version. By going with 65% and 96%, Glorious hopes to distinguish the GMMK 2 from the vast majority of keyboards on the market that have since taken on the modular aspect by offering hot-swappable switches. In return, we get multiple colors and layouts that will no doubt please many. I also fully understand why the company chose to debut its new branding exercise with the launch of the GMMK 2—this is a major release for the company as it aims to step away from any mixed feelings associated with the Glorious PC Gaming Race moniker.

This review is specifically about the GMMK 2 Full Size (96%), but if interested, the GMMK 2 Compact TKL (65%) is covered separately here. It would be fair to say that I am happy with this 96% keyboard; it is more amenable to my particular needs at work, where a numpad is a must and a crowded desk means the space savings over a 100% keyboard are appreciated. Glorious has otherwise given users what they have asked for since the GMMK PRO was just barely teased, with a 5-pin hot-swap socket and QMK/VIA support sharing the honors. The former increases native support with the vast majority of all switches on the market today, and the latter has open-source firmware support for users to control the keys and onboard LEDs, including side lighting. The first-party Glorious Core software experience has also improved since the last time I checked it out, though it still needs some polishing before it moves from the cons to the pros above.

At $80 for the barebones kit, the GMMK 2 is an excellent offering for those looking into their first keyboard build. But the pre-built edition at $120 is what I see selling more since the specific combination of aluminium frame, steel weights, foam sheet, pre-lubed switches, stabilizers, and ABS doubleshot keycaps makes for a very good alternative to the typical mainstream offerings that have long since been priced out of this bracket. Build quality is quite good here, and going with a pre-lubed linear switch is at least a decent compromise if there has to be one. Sure, hybrid wireless connectivity would have been nice, but the overall feature set is impressive enough to merit a recommendation. You just need to decide whether you want the 65% or 96% version, or perhaps even both? I know I am certainly taking this 96% keyboard, modifying it to my needs, and taking it to work.