If you’ve been eyeing a high-end mechanical keyboard to elevate your desk setup, now might be the time to strike. Glorious’ GMMK 3 Pro HE barebones kit has dropped to its lowest price yet, now available for just $173 on Amazon – that’s a solid 33% off its typical $259.99 list price and the lowest I’ve seen yet.
Glorious GMMK 3 Pro HE barebones
A phenomenal entry into the custom keyboard market with a mindful price so you can have it your way. Read our review.
This isn’t your average barebones kit. Glorious is known for pushing enthusiast-grade features into more accessible packages, and GMMK 3 Pro HE is its most advanced board to date. For starters, it’s carved from a solid block of CNC aluminium, giving it a rigid, premium feel that few mainstream boards can rival. Even without switches or keycaps installed, it carries a reassuring heft preventing it from sliding all over the show.
What really sets it apart, though, is support for Hall Effect magnetic switches, opening the door to analogue input, rapid trigger functionality, and deeper levels of customisation than standard mechanical fare. Pop in a compatible switch set and you’re ready to tune actuation points on a per-key basis, or enable ultra-low latency tapping for competitive gaming. I’m partial to Glorious Panda HE switches, but Gateron Banana Jupiter or even the new be quiet! Silent Tactile switches are good alternatives.
Wired up, you’ll also benefit from an insane 8,000Hz polling rate, minimising input lag to make it one of the fastest keyboards around – although you should note that you’ll need an appropriately speedy monitor that’ll show all the inputs GMMK 3 can handle. This is enthusiast-tier tech that’s typically reserved for pro-level esports gear.
The kit doesn’t come with switches or caps, but for many, that’s the point. It’s a canvas. You get a modular, 75% layout with a programmable rotary knob, pre-installed gasket-mounted plate, and layers of sound-dampening foam. Rather than muting your key presses, however, it results in a satisfyingly clacky experience unlike nothing on the market. It even includes a flex-cut PCB and plate for a more comfortable, bouncy typing experience – a real treat for long sessions.
And because it’s hot-swappable, you can experiment to your heart’s content. Fancy a brass plate down the line? No problem. Prefer a softer typing feel? Swap in a POM plate or lighter gaskets. Every part of the board is up for debate, making this ideal for enthusiasts chasing the perfect build. I’ve chopped and changed mine several times since my review, trading the green top plate for white, rotary knob to blue, and keycaps to a neon-clad Solar Synth design.
At $173, it’s still an investment – no doubt about it. But for what’s included, you’re getting a lot of keyboard for the money. With Glorious’ proven track record and a rapidly improving Glorious Core software, GMMK 3 Pro HE is one of the most capable barebones kits available today.
Stock won’t last long at this price, so if you’ve been waiting for the right moment to build your dream board, this might be it. And if you fancy seeing more deals like this one, follow us on Google News.
