Glorious Model D Wireless Review

Glorious is a peripherals company that has had a meteoric rise over the past couple of years. Their first couple of releases were received in a rather ‘cold’ manner but when they announced the Model O mouse they almost immediately gathered an enormous following in the enthusiast scene. Despite some hiccups here and there (that’s really something that’s almost inevitable when you produce peripherals) they have now firmly solidified themselves as a company that produces high tier peripherals, complete with the latest innovations and trends.

Today, we’re taking a look at their newest release, the Model D Wireless. What’s interesting here is that Glorious has made a number of changes when compared to their latest wireless release, the Model O Wireless. The Model D obviously has a different shape, but we also see the removal of holes in the buttons, for example, and (more interestingly) the inclusion of Glorious’ very own mouse switches. Combine that with a tightened up QC process and a very attractive price when compared to other wireless options on the market and you’ve got what could be one of the best options out there at this point in time.

Theory and practice can sometimes be far apart, so we’ve sent a unit to our reviewer to find out if this is worth your hard earned cash. Read our full Glorious Model D Wireless review to find out everything you need to know!

At A Glance

Glorious Model D Wireless

Used by 1 player (Apr, 2024)

• JessieVash
  

Staff’s Choice

It’s perhaps not the most impressive release of the year, but the Model D Wireless does exactly what’s advertised on the tin, and it does so at a friendly price point, which is something that I can only applaud. Quality wireless mice are still a rarity in today’s market, and the ones that do exist often cost a lot of money (relative to what a gaming mouse normally costs) so the fact that Glorious is trying to bring this tech to the market at these prices is worthy of praise in itself.

Lars

5 of 5

More Glorious Check price

Pros

• Friendly price
• Solid build quality
• Great wireless and gaming performance
• Great shape
• Decent stock feet

Cons

• Some people might be ‘over’ holes in mice
• Design won’t suit everyone

Specs

Sensor	BAMF
DPI	100-19000, in steps of 50
Polling Rate	125 / 500 / 1000 Hz
Button Switches	Glorious Switches
Connection	Wireless
Shape	Ergonomic
Length	12.19cm
Height	4.32cm
Weight	69g
Width	5.99cm

First Impressions

One of the first things you notice on the Model D Wireless is the fact that there are no more holes in the mouse buttons. Most companies seem to be moving away from the cheese grater designs these days (or at least reducing the amount of holes in the shell) and it seems like Glorious is following suit on this front. I can’t say that I have any strong opinions on the subject, though. I don’t mind holes in a mouse and I also don’t mind the feeling of my fingers resting on said holes, but I do know that a lot of people in the community don’t really appreciate feeling them underneath their fingers so on the whole this is probably a welcome change.

Another thing that I noticed is that the Model D Wireless feels really solid. This hasn’t always been the case with Glorious’ mice (though I have to say that I’ve never reviewed a unit that was downright faulty in the QC department) so it’s good to see that there’s almost no flexing to be found here. More on that later on in the review though.

The Model D Wireless is a medium-large sized ergonomic mouse that comes in at an impressive weight of just 69 grams. For a wired mouse that wouldn’t be considered impressive anymore in this day and age, but for a wireless mouse of this size I would definitely say that this is an impressive feat.

One thing I will say is that, if they’re going for a cleaner look with the whole ‘less holes’ thing, they might want to consider changing that bearded man logo to perhaps something like the ‘GLORIOUS’ typeface that can be found on the back of the GMMK Pro, but that’s obviously just my personal opinion.

Lastly I’ll say that the Model D Wireless is currently only available in matte white and matte black. I’ve obviously been testing the white version but there’s no difference between the two colors. I mention this because the first releases of Glorious’ mice did come in a glossy versions too, but that’s not the case with the Model D Wireless.

Packaging

Inside the box of the Model D Wireless you’ll find the usual stuff: a quickstart guide, some warranty information, and a sticker. Along with that you also get a (flexible, but more on that later) charging cable and a USB receiver extender, as well as two large additional feet that allow you to ‘expand’ the gliding area of the mouse.

These large feet are an interesting addition to the overall package, but I would have also liked to see some replacement feet for the smaller ones since I think that would come in handy for more people. Still, it’s cool to see that Glorious is giving you the ability to tweak the experience to your own liking.

Shape, Coating, and Mouse Feet

The Model D Wireless (obviously, perhaps) has the same shape as the Model D, and for those of you who are familiar with gaming mice, the Model D will not introduce any surprises. It’s a shape that’s extremely reminiscent of the Zowie EC and its many clones, meaning that’s it’s a comfortable and naturally flowing ergonomic shape with little to no sudden curves or angles. If you’re into ergonomic mice then this will more than likely fit you. Whether or not it’s a perfect fit will obviously depend on your personal preferences, but I don’t think anyone who is into ergonomic mice would actively dislike this one, unless you absolutely want a hump that’s located towards the back rather than the middle.

The (matte) coating that Glorious uses has always been one that I particularly like. It doesn’t offer the most amazing grip in the world but I had no issues with it myself, and I much prefer a coating that manages to keep the mouse looking and feeling clean like this one over a stickier (but fingerprint-attracting) coating. This is obviously down to personal preference but unless you have extremely dry hands this coating should serve you well. The shape also helps with the fact that it’s easy to pick up.

The few holes that remain don’t have any sharp edges  but, perhaps more importantly, there are no holes at any of the grip contact points, so if you’re someone who dislikes the feeling of having holes underneath your thumb or what have you then this should be okay. All of this leads me to think that covering up the holes on the top shell might be a good idea to consider for Glorious though. I don’t imagine that these remaining holes do any big work in the weight reduction department, and a completely smooth top shell would look a lot more clean than this ‘halfsies’ version if you ask me. Of course that’s nitpicking on a microscopic level, but it’s just something I thought about during the review process.

On the bottom of the mouse you’ll see four small G-Skates feet. These provide a quick and smooth glide straight out of the box. For me personally they’re among the better stock feet on the market but they are on the faster side. For a lot of people that will be a net positive, but if you’re used to more controlling feet you might need some time to adjust.

What’s also included are two additional larger feet that allow you to customize the glide area of the mouse. These do not drastically change the overall speed or smoothness of the glide but if you prefer larger skates over smaller ones (like I do) then they’re a handy addition to have.

One amusing update comes in the form of blue ‘remove’ stickers on the feet. I read a lot of posts on forums from people not knowing that Glorious’ mouse feet came with a protective film applied to them that you had to remove prior to usage, and I guess Glorious has also noticed this. In any case: you can’t really miss the fact that you need to remove the film before using the mouse now.

Recommended Grip Types

The Model D is based on one of the most famous mouse shapes of all time: the EC. As such, this mouse probably won’t bring many surprises for people who are familiar with the mouse market. It’s a very naturally flowing ergonomic design with no sudden indentations or curves so if you’re looking for a medium-large ergonomic mouse with a central hump this might be it for you.

This mouse can certainly work for all grip styles (minus maybe a pure fingertip grip, I could imagine way better mice for that) but it’s important to consider your own preferences on this front. Us reviewers can only give you a rough guideline on this front. Some people with huge hands like small mice, while others might perform at their best with a mouse that’s, theoretically speaking, too big for them. Always take these size/grip guides with a grain of salt.

Buttons and Scroll Wheel

The Model D is the first mouse to use Glorious’ very own Glorious switches. These have been co-developed with Kailh and have been specifically designed for ‘satisfyingly crisp clicks,’ and for me personally Glorious have succeeded here. I’ve been using the Model D Wireless for a bit longer than I usually test mice (partially because I wanted to see how it held up over time, something that other Glorious mice have been known to have issues with in the past) and the clicks still feel as crispy and pleasant as they did when I first unboxed it.

The click feeling is really clear and snappy, and that combined with the fact that there’s little pre travel makes for a very satisfying set of clicks. There are some tiny flaws here, though. The left button, for example, feels a bit loose when not pressed, resulting in some side travel, and on the right button there’s a bit of side travel after pressing said button, particularly if you press it near the right hand side. None of this is pronounced enough to actually annoy me ingame, but it’s something that should be noted regardless.

As with many mice, there’s a touch of post travel, but this is something that happens with a lot of mice and it’s well within acceptable tolerances.

The scroll wheel is very quiet but it does have a lot of tactility in between steps for a wheel that’s this discrete in the volume department. The whole thing feels very stable and reliable and clicking it requires just the right amount of force, for me at least. It’s easy enough to click without adjusting your grip but it’s firm enough to not result in unwanted clicks when scrolling. There’s also no side movement to be noted here, and the whole scrolling experience feels very consistent.

Both side buttons actuate with a tactile feeling and there’s almost none of that typical ‘side button mushiness’ present. There is a bit of a pivoting issue: the center part of the side button has virtually no post travel whereas the further out from the center you push, the more post travel becomes apparent. The buttons never travel inside the shell though (unless you apply a whole lot of force and you press them at their very edge) and even then the travel stays limited so as far as I’m concerned these side buttons are perfectly up to par.

I’ve spent a bit more time evaluating this portion of the mouse because the QC of the buttons and scroll wheel is one of the most often complained about aspects on enthusiast forums (by which I don’t mean that every Glorious mouse had issues on this front: people are far more likely to post their complaints than they are to post their praises, for one) but I can’t really find any big flaws here. It’s true that the main buttons technically aren’t flawless, but I have been looking at those under a proverbial microscope and they come out just fine for day to day usage.

Build Quality and Cable

Glorious hasn’t always been a company that’s known for their stellar QC process so this section might be a bit more important for this mouse than it is for others.

I tested the Model D Wireless over the course of a few weeks and I’ve also given it the usual ‘stress tests’ and it came out just fine. Contrary to what you could find on some of the brand’s older models, there’s now no flexing or creaking, making for a mouse that feels well built. The mouse is also dead silent when shaking or tapping it. Their promise of tightening their quality control process doesn’t seem to be an empty promise.

Of course us reviewers can only test what’s in front of us: mistakes can always happen and not a single company has a 100% track record when it comes to releasing flawless product after flawless product, so take all of this with a grain of salt.

The charging cable that you get with the mouse is Glorious’ so-called’ Ascended Cable’. It’s a flexible, paracord-like cable that comes with prongs at the end to give you a reliable connection, even when you’re using the mouse while charging.

Getting a charging cable that’s actually usable when you’re tryharding in games is always something that I appreciate with wireless mice. Ideally, you should never run out of juice while you’re playing, but in the event that it does happen you can rest assured that you won’t be having to drag a jumper cable around on your mousepad. The connection isn’t proprietary either: you can plug in any USB-C cable, provided its end part isn’t too thick.

Sensor and Everyday Performance

The Model D uses Glorious’ BAMF sensor. That one’s based on the 3370 and was created in collaboration with PixArt, and from my testing I can’t find anything wrong with it. There were some sensor issues when the BAMF was first implemented in the Model O Wireless but those have since been fixed with a firmware update and it seems like they got it right from the start this time.

It’s completely possible to use the Model D Wireless without ever installing anything, but if you want to use an uncommon DPI or change the RGB you will need Glorious’ Core software. This is a pretty lightweight piece of software, but it’s not the most reliable driver program out there. One day during testing, it asked me to update the program, which I obviously did, and afterwards it asked me again, after which it sort of reinstalled itself and I lost my saved lighting profile on my GMMK Pro keyboard, for example. Obviously we’re talking about the Model D Wireless here, so what the software does to my keyboard isn’t exactly relevant, but it is an example of how it needs some work.

Aside from a few bugs here and there, Glorious Core works perfectly fine for me. Keep in mind that I am not a big macro user and I tend to just set up my peripherals and then leave those driver programs alone, but I had no issues using Glorious Core. You can record macros, change the lighting, DPI, LOD (you can choose between 1mm and 2mm), and click latency, so there’s plenty to configure if you’re someone who likes to do that.

As far as the battery goes I haven’t noticed any annoyances. The battery life isn’t the most impressive on the market, but if you turn off your RGB lights you should be getting around 70 hours of juice out of the battery. That’s plenty for even the most hardcore gaming marathon, and if you need to top up your battery while you’re gaming you can just use the included flexible cable.

I didn’t notice any issues with Glorious’ wireless tech, either. There were no dropouts or hiccups during any of my testing, so all of that is in order.

Glorious Model D Wireless Review – Conclusion

The Glorious Model D Wireless is, on its own, perhaps not a very groundbreaking release in today’s market. We have lightweight wireless mice, and we have a lot of lightweight ergonomic mice. What’s important here is the price, however. The Model D Wireless comes in at a much friendlier price point than similar mice from (well-known) competitors, giving it a leg up over those competitors.

The Model D Wireless has a number of exciting improvements over Glorious’ earlier mice, but I think the improvement that most fans are looking forward to the most can be found in the QC department. The mouse itself feels really solid, with no creaking or flexing anywhere, and even though the buttons aren’t exactly flawless their flaws certainly aren’t enough to annoy me in everyday usage. Of course I can only judge this one copy, but from what I can tell this is one solid mouse.

Top that off with great wireless performance, a lightweight chassis, great stock feet, and a tried and trusted shell design, and you’ve got a really reliable overall package.

It’s perhaps not the most impressive release of the year, but the Model D Wireless does exactly what’s advertised on the tin, and it does so at a friendly price point, which is something that I can only applaud. Quality wireless mice are still a rarity in today’s market, and the ones that do exist often cost a lot of money (relative to what a gaming mouse normally costs) so the fact that Glorious is trying to bring this tech to the market at these prices is worthy of praise in itself.

5 of 5

More Glorious Check price

Lars

Reviews, Community, FPS

Former semi-pro gamer turned writer, product reviewer, and community manager.