Our Verdict
Customizable from an entry stage all-plastic, wired possibility, all the best way as much as a metal-bodied, wi-fi unit, the Superb GMMK 3 is meant to be the one keyboard to rule all of them, with a complete of over a billion customization choices. It largely delivers on its promise. Nevertheless, the entry stage plastic model is a bit flimsy, and the very best finish variations get a bit expensive. In between is a wealth of improbable tinkering enjoyable, with essential gaming options corresponding to analog-capable Corridor Impact switches and extra.
- Close to endlessly customizable
- Incredible construct high quality and design
- Low price of entry
- Analog-capable due to Corridor Impact switches
- Full {custom} items are costly
- Entry-level plastic possibility is flimsy
- Cable is sort of too chunky
- Cannot improve wired model to wi-fi
The Superb GMMK 3 is the third iteration of the corporate’s keyboard lineup, and it replaces each the second-gen GMMK 2 and first-gen GMMK Professional with a single, unified design starting from entry-level wired, plastic choices to high-end aluminum and brass wi-fi items. This implies you possibly can chop and alter nearly each side of the board, from its case to its keycaps and most features in between. There are a number of limitations however, general, Superb can fairly declare that is essentially the most customizable gaming keyboard round.
Vying for a spot on the very best gaming keyboard lists of the world, the Superb GMMK 3 vary is offered in 100%, 75%, and 65% layouts in each Professional and non-Professional configurations, with wired and wi-fi choices obtainable. Costs fluctuate significantly relying on measurement, and whether or not you go for an entry-level model or a completely custom-built unit with a metallic body, wi-fi innards, and premium further choices. With costs beginning at simply $119.99, although, you can begin your journey into the GMMK3 ecosystem for a comparatively modest price.
Specs
| Dimensions (mm) | 333 x 146 x 32.6 (W x D x H) |
| Weight | Diversified, 2042g (evaluation pattern) |
| Format | 65%, 75%, 100% |
| Connection | USB-C or USB-C with 2.4GHz wi-fi and Bluetooth 5 |
| Swap sort | Cherry MX sort or Superb Corridor Impact sort |
| Swap life | Not acknowledged |
| Backlighting | Sure |
| Extras | Keycap puller, key change puller, USB-A to USB-C cable, spare keycaps |
Options
As an overarching vary, the headline options that the GMMK 3 and GMMK Professional assist are: using Cherry MX or Corridor Impact switches (with analog, Fast Set off, and Snap Faucet equal modes), wired or wi-fi (with Bluetooth and wired) connections, plastic or metallic casings, adjustable gasket mounts, and swappable change plates. Plus, you possibly can after all swap the switches and keycaps.
This universality of design makes the Superb GMMK 3 lineup concurrently easy and fairly convoluted. That’s as a result of, whereas practically all features of the keyboard may be interchanged and upgraded, there are some laborious stops.
The primary of those stops, after all, is the shape issue of every keyboard. Keycaps, switches, and gasket mount pads may be modified between the 65%, 75%, and 100% sizes, however the board’s format constrains every little thing else.
Past that, the following laborious cease is you could’t improve a wired-only, GMMK 3 (non-Professional) unit to a wi-fi GMMK 3 Professional one. It is a disgrace, because the non-Professional possibility is what supplies the actually low entry worth to the system, with the Professional choices instantly demanding over $100 extra. The improve scenario is identical the opposite method spherical however, provided that the wi-fi items can be wired, there ought to be no cause you’d wish to downgrade.
One other no-go is upgrading from customary Cherry MX-type switches to Corridor Impact switches. The GMMK 3 HE fashions assist Superb’ personal Corridor Impact switches, which then can present analog enter and the much-publicized quick repress and immediate counter-strafing capabilities (corresponding to Razer Snap Faucet) of different analog keyboards. You possibly can drop Cherry MX switches into the HE board (which is able to lose the analog perform), however you possibly can’t drop HE switches into a regular non-HE board. You can even combine MX and HE switches in HE boards.
With all that out the best way, we are able to look extra intently on the precise {hardware} choices themselves, essentially the most visually putting of which is the selection of circumstances. You possibly can go for a wide range of totally different coloured plastic circumstances, in addition to a spread of stable aluminum circumstances with anodized coloured finishes, such because the inexperienced coloration of our evaluation unit. You possibly can utterly chop and alter case tops and bottoms, mixing plastic and metallic as you please.
Subsequent up is the selection of change plate. That is the plate onto which the switches are mounted, with the switches then connecting electronically to the PCB beneath this part. The change plate is the half that’s seen beneath your keycaps, so it contributes lots to the look. Plus, given the wide range of construct supplies, it might additionally contribute lots to the burden and really feel of the keyboard. Choices embrace plastic, brass (as used right here), and carbon fiber.
Subsequent on the choices listing is your selection of change, with Superb providing eight totally different Cherry MX-style switches and 6 totally different HE-type switches. You can even drop in any of your most popular MX-style switches for those who select to purchase a barebones unit of the GMMK 3, or for those who fancy a change from the preliminary ones to procure.
Keycaps come subsequent, and Superb presents a variety in a enjoyable collection of colours, plus you possibly can, after all, match any of the 1000’s of other Cherry MX cross-compatible keycaps obtainable elsewhere. Superb’ most important choice features a handful of stable coloration caps, a handful of gradient colours corresponding to our evaluation board, a translucent rainbow set, and black caps with RGB shine-through legends, together with some limited-edition choices. Most of them don’t provide shine-through legends.
The ultimate two little prospers are the rotary encoder knob, which is offered in brass, aluminum, and varied shades of anodized aluminum. Plus there are the little badges, that are magnetically connected little tabs with clear home windows to indicate the RGB indicator beneath.
We’re practically there… The ultimate few bits to decide on are the coiled cable coloration (or you possibly can follow the usual non-coiled black cable) and gasket mounts. The latter are small sections of silicone or a silicone-and-PORON combine, that are used to mount the change plate to the case. These present a little bit little bit of cushioning for the plate, and relying on whether or not you select the pure silicone (tougher) or PORON combine (softer), you possibly can fluctuate the give of the board while you sort.
Exterior all these variations, the board presents little in the best way of true further options, aside from the Corridor Impact analog gaming options. You possibly can, after all, customise all the important thing capabilities in software program, however there are not any bodily further gaming keys, no USB hub, and no further screens or buttons.
Design
Magnificence is after all within the eye of the beholder however there’s a powerful case to be made that the GMMK 3 is likely one of the finest-looking keyboards obtainable. It follows in a well-established custom – notably within the 75% kind issue of our evaluation pattern – with the likes of the Monsgeek M1W and Drop CSTM80 arguably being even sharper in their designs, however that is nonetheless a great-looking board.
Crucially, our commentary isn’t simply based mostly on the inexperienced and gold/brass combo right here. You possibly can utterly change up the appears to be like nonetheless you want, going for a slick black and crimson scheme, making an all-aluminum and silver board, or simply mixing up all kinds of colours for a glance that really matches the respiratory rainbow results you possibly can assign to the RGB backlighting. We noticed and skilled a number of various combos on the launch occasion for the keyboard, and there have been masses that basically caught our eye, together with the crimson and silver choices with white keys beneath.
The place this lineup is barely much less spectacular is within the look and construct of the entry-level model of the board, which is the black model proven on the prime of the web page and beneath. It appears to be like okay from the highest, and the orange beneath is enjoyable sufficient, however the plastic does really feel a bit too versatile for our liking. All it might take to stiffen up this design significantly is the addition of a change plate materials that’s extra inflexible, corresponding to brass or carbon fiber, or upgrading to at the very least an aluminum backside case, however these instantly bump up the value fairly a bit.
You should buy the GMMK 3 in a wide range of customary configurations, or absolutely customise your unit utilizing the corporate’s Boardsmith utility on its web site. You possibly can experiment to your coronary heart’s content material with coloration combos to search out simply the look you need, however for those who don’t fairly get it proper, you possibly can all the time simply swap different components later.
One issue to notice is that, for those who do go for the aluminum case and a weighty change plate materials corresponding to brass, these boards do find yourself being fairly heavy and thus tough to choose up – this board weighs 2,042g or 4.5lbs. That’s nice for stability, however not essentially the most handy for those who’re often swapping boards round or shifting your keyboard out of the best way for different desk actions, particularly as the perimeters of this design are fairly easy – it’s much more tough to choose up than the Monsgeek M1W.
Upgradability
As for the upgrading course of, we had been hoping to obtain a baseline plastic model of the keyboard, together with our {custom} one, to experiment with swapping round components, however this sadly didn’t flip up on time. Nevertheless, we nonetheless dismantled our evaluation unit considerably, and the method of doing that is as straightforward as you’d hope for a keyboard that places a lot emphasis on customization.
On the underside of the board are 4 rubber ft, which simply pull out of their holes to disclose 4 screws (notably, there are not any adjustable ft for top/angle adjustment). Undo these screws and the case comes aside, with the highest part simply lifting off cleanly. From right here on, it’s important to be a bit cautious in regards to the wiring of the board’s PCB resulting in the USB socket on the again edge.
You possibly can raise up the PCB to entry the gasket mounts (the black and yellow items spherical the perimeters) and swap out the froth for sound-deadening materials, however something past that is a little more concerned. In actual fact, you’ll in all probability wish to use the included keycap and change removing instruments to tug out all these options earlier than dismantling the case, because the case acts as a assist, in opposition to which the entire meeting pulls.
In the end, a full customization job of swapping the change plate specifically will not be for the faint-hearted and positively veers into fanatic/tinkerer territory, however Superb has made it about as straightforward as doable.
Efficiency
The general really feel of your GMMK 3 of selection will fluctuate massively relying on, primarily, the switches you’ve chosen, but in addition the gasket materials, the sound deadening system, the case materials, and even the shape issue – the 65% plastic board is barely stiffer than the full-size plastic board, for example.
For our evaluation pattern, which makes use of an aluminum case, brass plate, and Fox HE linear switches (described as having a easy, linear really feel and creamy sound), the general key really feel could be very mild and easy, with the pre-lubed switches gliding effortlessly. The heavy body and sound deadening additionally make for one of many quietest boards I’ve ever examined, measuring solely round 48dB when measured from 20cm above the board.
As such, with the decent-quality PBT keycaps and their pretty customary profile, the typing expertise of this board is great. I typically desire a tactile really feel for typing, however this board did a good job of convincing me of the deserves of lighter-feeling linear switches.
As for gaming, the general effectiveness of the GMMK 3 will once more be affected by your selection of change, each when it comes to its really feel and when it comes to whether or not you go for Corridor Impact switches or not. With customary switches, you get a “customary” gaming expertise, when it comes to there being no main further options to talk of – exterior the flexibility to program macros and different key responses by way of Superb’ Core software program.
Nevertheless, with HE switches, you possibly can unlock the flexibility to arrange the keys to supply an analog response, which may be helpful for video games corresponding to racing and flight sims, the place a easy response is required. You can even regulate the actuation level per key and allow a Fast Set off mode, so you possibly can re-press a key quicker than with regular switches.
Worth
Pricing for the Superb GMMK 3 begins at simply $119.99 for the 65%, plastic, non-Professional model, rising to $139.99 for the full-size model of this mannequin. HE variations then begin at $189.99 whereas the Professional fashions begin at $239.99 and the vary tops out at $369.99 for a 75% Professional HE mannequin, though even that’s earlier than including premium extras corresponding to a brass change plate.
Our evaluation mannequin got here to a complete price of $493.99, making it clearly a really costly keyboard. For comparability, the equally aluminum-built Monsgeek M1W prices lower than a 3rd of the value, and loads of different pretty high-end gaming keyboards price lower than half. Nevertheless, to all intents and functions, this can be a {custom} keyboard, constructed to order in Superb’ Texas manufacturing unit, and this worth isn’t so unhealthy while you evaluate it to particular person {custom} keyboard builders that may typically cost 1000’s of {dollars}. In the meantime, a equally specced Drop CSTM80 with an additional brass change plate, metallic case cowl, and selection of keycaps prices $351, and that’s not a custom-built unit.
It’s only a disgrace that choosing the really entry-level variations of the GMMK 3 don’t permit a full improve path, as having the ability to spend $120 now, then steadily improve as you go alongside can be an effective way to unfold the associated fee and get a really feel for the path you would possibly wish to take with future upgrades.
Verdict
The Superb GMMK 3 is a really particular gaming keyboard that mixes an unimaginable quantity of customization choices with the flexibility to begin your {custom} keyboard journey with an off-the-shelf possibility. There merely aren’t some other keyboards that may fairly provide that very same mixture.
What’s extra, it’s a great-looking keyboard, with excellent construct high quality and choices to tailor it to swimsuit nearly any model selection. Gaming and typing efficiency can be glorious and may be tuned to your preferences.
The place the scenario will get a little bit difficult is with the excessive price of going straight for a custom-built keyboard and the complication of what upgrades you possibly can and might’t apply to totally different boards. Sure, you should purchase a board for as little as $120 and improve it, however you possibly can solely improve a lot.
Alternate options
Monsgeek M1W SP
In case you’re searching for a really comparable model of board with a heavy obligation aluminum construct, like our {custom} evaluation unit, the Monsgeek M1W SP is a superb possibility. It appears to be like wonderful – arguably even sharper than the GMMK3 – and is constructed like a tank. It’s additionally wi-fi, although it doesn’t provide HE change choices, though that’s honest when it solely prices $130.
Drop CSTM80
One other very similar-looking board to this 75% GMMK3 is the Drop CSTM80, which can be a customizable mannequin. For a $149 beginning worth, you possibly can add new change plates, case covers, base weight plates, and naturally swap switches and keycaps. Nevertheless, it doesn’t provide HE switches and is wired solely.
