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Model I in the test: Glorious' Mouse metamorphosis doesn't go far enough

Jun 30, 2022

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Three years after the Model O, Glorious wants to continue the success with shooter mice and deliver a multi-purpose tool for games of all genres. However, the Model I turns out to be a minimal evolution that has not been thought far enough, which is not only prevented by its comparatively lower functionality, but also by its price.

Table of contents

1 Glorious' Mouse metamorphosis doesn't go far enough
1. The new design has its pitfalls
2. Familiar primary and three additional keys
2 Sensor technology, software and processing
1. PixArts PAW-3370 will be standard in 2022
2. Small software can do less
3 Conclusion

The Model O (tests) and the Model D (tests) are followed by the Model I, the third mouse family from Glorious PC Gaming Race. The input device, which was previously only available and presented as a wired variant, is not aimed specifically at shooter players, but wants to be an all-round model for a wide variety of game genres with three additional and partially customizable buttons. Glorious himself speaks of the company's “most feature-rich” mouse to date.

The appearance of the Model I immediately suggests a Glorious input device with a perforated case and strip-shaped RGB lighting on the flanks. However, the shape of the mouse is new and remotely reminiscent of Logitech's G502 Hero (test) or Razer's Basilisk V3 (test), but Roccat's new Kone XP (test) is also a direct competitor. This test is intended to clarify whether Glorious' novice does justice to the genre of all-round mice and whether the Model I can stand up to direct comparison with the competition mentioned.

Glorious PC Gaming Race Model I Corsair Ironclaw RGBCorsair Ironclaw RGB WirelessCorsair Saber ProCorsair Saber RGB ProGlorious PC Gaming Race Model DGlorious PC Gaming Race Model D-Glorious PC Gaming Race Model D- WirelessGlorious PC Gaming Race Model D WirelessGlorious PC Gaming Race Model I ✔Logitech G502 (Hero) ✔Logitech G502 (Lightspeed)Logitech G604 LightspeedMountain Makalu 67Razer Basilisk UltimateRazer Basilisk V2Razer Basilisk V3 ✔Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeedRazer DeathAdder V2Razer DeathAdder V2 ProRazer DeathAdder V2 X HyperSpeedRazer Naga ProRazer Naga XRazer Pro ClickRazer Pro Click MiniRocca Kat Burst CoreRoccatimoRintoccatimo 10.0 Kain 120 AimoRoccat Kain 200 AimoRoccat Kone AimoRoccat Kone EMPRoccat Kone ProRoccat Kone Pro AirRoccat Kone Pure UltraRoccat Kone XP ✔Roccat Kone[+] Roccat Kone XP Corsair Ironclaw RGBCorsair Ironclaw RGB WirelessCorsair Saber ProCorsair Saber RGB ProGlorious PC Gaming Race Model DGlorious PC Gaming Race Model D – Glorious PC Gaming g Race Model D- WirelessGlorious PC Gaming Race Model D WirelessGlorious PC Gaming Race Model I ✔Logitech G502 (Hero) ✔Logitech G502 (Lightspeed)Logitech G604 LightspeedMountain Makalu 67Razer Basilisk UltimateRazer Basilisk V2Razer Basilisk V3 ✔Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeedRazer DeathAdder V2Razer DeathAdder V2 ProRazer DeathAdder V2 X HyperSpeedRazer Naga ProRazer Naga XRazer Pro ClickRazer Pro Click MiniRoccat Burst CoreRoccat Burst ProRoccat Kain 100 AimoRoccat Kain 120 AimoRoccat Kain 200 AimoRoccat Kone AimoRoccat Kone EMPRoccat Kone ProRoccat Kone Pro AirRoccat Kone Pure UltraRoccat Kone XP ✔Roccat Kone[+] Razer Basilisk V3 Corsair Kone Ironclaw RGBCorsair Ironclaw RGB WirelessCorsair Saber ProCorsair Saber RGB ProGlorious PC Gaming Race Model DGlorious PC Gaming Race Model D-Glorious PC Gaming Race Model D- WirelessGlorious PC Gaming Race Model D WirelessGlorious PC Gaming Race Model I ✔Logitech G502 (Hero) ✔Logitech G502 ( Lightspeed)Logitech G604 LightspeedMountain Makalu 67Razer Bas ilisk UltimateRazer Basilisk V2Razer Basilisk V3 ✔Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeedRazer DeathAdder V2Razer DeathAdder V2 ProRazer DeathAdder V2 X HyperSpeedRazer Naga ProRazer Naga XRazer Pro ClickRazer Pro Click MiniRoccat Burst CoreRoccat Burst ProRoccat Kain 100 AimoRoccat Kain 120 AimoRoccat Kain 200 AimoRoccat Kone ProEMPRoccat Kone ProEMPRoccat Kone ProEMPRoccat Kone Aimo AirRoccat Kone Pure UltraRoccat Kone XP ✔Roccat Kone[+] Logitech G502 (Hero) Corsair Ironclaw RGBCorsair Ironclaw RGB WirelessCorsair Saber ProCorsair Saber RGB ProGlorious PC Gaming Race Model DGlorious PC Gaming Race Model D-Glorious PC Gaming Race Model D- WirelessGlorious PC Gaming Race Model D WirelessGlorious PC Gaming Race Model I ✔Logitech G502 (Hero) ✔Logitech G502 (Lightspeed)Logitech G604 LightspeedMountain Makalu 67Razer Basilisk UltimateRazer Basilisk V2Razer Basilisk V3 ✔Razer Basilisk X HyperSpeedRazer DeathAdder V2Razer DeathAdder V2 ProRazer DeathAdder V2 X HyperSpeedRazer Naga ProRazer ProRazer ClickR azer Pro Click MiniRoccat Burst CoreRoccat Burst ProRoccat Kain 100 AimoRoccat Kain 120 AimoRoccat Kain 200 AimoRoccat Kone AimoRoccat Kone EMPRoccat Kone ProRoccat Kone Pro AirRoccat Kone Pure UltraRoccat Kone XP ✔Roccat Kone[+] Ergonomics: Right-handed Sensor: Glorious BAMF (PMW-3370)< br>Optical
Lift-Off Distance: 1.0 PixArt PAW-3370
Optical
Lift-Off Distance: 1.0-2.0mm PixArt PAW-3399
Optical
Lift-Off-Distance: 1.0-3.0 mm Logitech Hero
Optical Resolution: 100-19,000 CPI
4 levels 100-19,000 CPI
5 levels 100-26,000 CPI
5 levels 100-25,400 CPI
5 levels Speed: 10.2 m/s 16.5 m/s 10.2 m/s Acceleration: 490 m/s² 392 m/s² USB polling rate: 1,000 Hz Primary button: Kailh, 80 million Clicks Roccat Titan Optical, 100 million Clicks Razer Optical, 70 million Clicks Omron, 50 million Clicks Number of Buttons: 9
Top: 5
Left Side: 4 13
Top: 8
Left Side: 5 11
Top: 7 Bottom: 1
Left Side: 3 11
Top: 8
Left side: 3 special keys: mouse wheel
cpi switch, profile switch 4-way mouse wheel
cpi switch 4-way mouse wheel that can be cut out
cpi switch, profile switch that can be cut out 4-way mouse wheel
cpi switcher software: 5 profiles
fully programmable
macro recording
Internal memory 5 profiles
Fully programmable, secondary use
Macro recording
Internal memory: 5 profiles 3 profiles
Fully programmable, secondary use
Macro recording
Internal memory: 3 profiles Illumination: Color: RGB< br>Modes: Breathing, Waves, Color Loop
cpi indicator Color: RGB, 8 addressable zones
Modes: Breathing, Waves, Color Loop
Reactive Color: RGB, 11 addressable zones
Modes: Breathing, waves, color bow
Reactive, game integration Colour: RGB, 1 addressable zone
Modes: breathing, color loop
CPI indicator housing: 128 × 74 × 42 mm
Hard plastic
Glossy elements
Sliding feet: PTFE (pur ) 126 × 76 × 40 mm
Hard plastic, coating
Glossy elements
Sliding feet: PTFE (pure) 129 × 76 × 43 mm
Hard plastic
Glossy elements, rubber elements
Sliding feet: PTFE (pure ) 132 × 75 × 40 mm
hard plastic, coating
glossy elements
Sliding feet: PTFE base (painted) Weight: 69 grams (without cable) 104 grams (without cable) 101 grams (without cable) 121 grams (without cable)
5 weights of 3.6 grams each Connection: USB-A to USB-C cable, 2.00 m, taped USB-A cable, 1.80 m, taped USB-A cable, 2.10 m, taped Price: from €70 from €80 from €55 € from €35

As always, the price is a key criterion. With a recommended retail price of around 70 euros, the Model I theoretically costs less than the counterparts from Logitech, Razer and Roccat. However, the Basilisk V3 and especially the G502 Hero are now much cheaper to buy on the open market. Only the Kone XP is more expensive.

The new design has its pitfalls

The biggest difference to previous Glorious mice can be found in the shape of the Model I. While the Model O offers a symmetrical chassis and is primarily designed for fingertip grip, the shape of the Model I with a slight slope to the right implies how already with the Model D the palm grip, in which the entire palm of the hand is placed on the input device. A horizontal thumb rest on the left side is typical for the genre of all-round mice. The new Glorious model is reminiscent of the competition mentioned at the beginning: Logitech's G502 became extremely popular with the same design and Razer took over the concept with the Basilisk series.

Compared to the G502 Hero and Basilisk V3, the Model I, like Logitech's mouse, is primarily suitable for medium-sized hands. In both cases, one reason for this is the position of the lower thumb button, which is too far back for large hands, so that either the thumb always has to be bent uncomfortably or the palm of the hand is not at the level of the mouse and therefore cannot be put down. On the Basilisk V3, the button is placed a bit further forward, but it's not suitable for really big hands either. In the pictures, Logitech's and Razer's models are represented by the identically shaped wireless variants G502 Lightspeed and Basilisk Ultimate.

The Model I, meanwhile, also narrows wide thumbs a little, because the three other additional keys on the left are on the one hand a little lower than on the competition and on the other hand stand out further. And whereas Logitech and Razer provide a grip on the right flank with a rubber coating, the deeper, flat and smooth right side of the Model I ring and little finger offers almost no grip. As a result, particularly longer limbs drag over the mouse pad. The slightly concave primary key covers, which are wider especially compared to the G502, are also popular.

Probably the most slidable mouse of your concept

< p class="p text-width">The gliding properties of the Model I are just as commendable. With a weight of around 69 g, it is considerably lighter than its competitors. The Basilisk V3 and Kone XP each weigh a good 100 g, while the G502 Hero, which the mouse community likes to compare to a brick, weighs in at 121 g – mind you without its five additional weights, which can even increase the weight to 139 g. Together with mouse feet made of white PTFE and a flexible cable, the Model I glides noticeably better, even more or less on the level of a shooter mouse.

It should not go unmentioned, however, that Glorious buys the low weight again through holes in the housing. This is typical for the manufacturer's mice apart from the new Model O Pro and Series One Pro, but not for asymmetrical all-round mice. In this category, the mass is simply less critical than in dedicated shooter rodents, so that the perforated chassis acts more as a distinguishing feature and trend than a constructive feature.

Apart from that, the cable and the mouse feet are relevant for the gliding properties. And there is nothing new on these two points either: Glorious again relies on a flexibly wrapped cable that only minimally influences the mouse movements, and white sliding elements made of pure PTFE. All in all, the Model I glides better than most input devices that claim to be all-round mice.

There is typical Glorious RGB package

Comparatively conspicuous RGB lighting is also typical of Glorious. Like the Model O and Model D, the Model I has a luminous strip on each side and an RGB mouse wheel. The G502 Hero offers less, the Basilisk V3 is about the same. Roccat's Kone Pro XP plays in a league of its own with a particularly opulent RGB spectacle. On the underside of the Model I there is an LED indicator that provides information about the currently selected sensor resolution.

Known primary and three additional additional keys

The built-in switches are functionally more relevant. After many manufacturers recently focused on opto-mechanical buttons and advertised shorter response times and, above all, less wear and tear, Glorious handles it in the classic way with the Model I: Two mechanical switches are used as the primary buttons again, in this case they come from Kailh. The lifetime, which is only significant on paper, is up to 80 million clicks. Since numerous competitors rely on the same or similar mechanical switches – including Logitech with the G502 Hero – criticism is difficult. Nevertheless, the Model I falls behind when compared to the Basilisk V3 or the Kone XP: Both mice offer opto-mechanical primary buttons and the associated durability benefits.

This is because experience with mechanical primary switches teaches us that sooner or later corrosion or contamination of the contacts can lead to erroneous triggering behavior. The consequences are, for example, unwanted double clicks with simple operations. Although the possibility alone does not have to mean that the keys of the Model I break quickly, they do not enjoy any special protection.

The primary buttons also remain inconspicuous in other respects. There's a bit of pre-travel, but the keycaps' wiggle room isn't bothersome. Both the left and right mouse buttons feel precise and very tactile. Compared to the Basilisk V3 and Kone XP with the opto-mechanical switches, which are often perceived as somewhat spongy, this is a plus point, albeit not an earth-shattering one. In terms of latency, the switches are on par with Logitech's and Roccat's counterparts. Razer's buttons react slightly faster, but this does not result in any advantage in practice.

Shooter mouse + three buttons = allround mouse?

The number of additional buttons is a first for Glorious. With a total of six buttons on the back of the mouse and three on the left side, the Model I offers more than all previous mice from the manufacturer. Another novelty is the magnetic attachment of the key cover for the rear and lower left-hand key. Users can choose between two different profiles and an almost flat cover if they don't want to use the button. The concept basically allows for minor adaptability, but in both cases the replacement is quite fiddly: In order to separate magnetically fixed covers from the Model I, users either have to use long fingernails or another thin object.

< figure class="text-asset text-asset--with-border-bottom text-width">

The Model I with standard equipment

Figure 1 of 11

Of course, this isn't a problem once the keycap of choice has been found and attached. But even then, Glorious' Solution not quite round. On the one hand, the question arises as to why only two of the four side buttons can be adjusted in this way. And on the other hand, the general arrangement of the switches seems questionable. The three additional keys arranged in a row extend over a distance that is by no means comfortable to cover with the tip of the thumb – no matter how big or small your own limbs are. Actuation with the flat inside of the thumb, on the other hand, is difficult because two keys are pressed too easily.

The bottom thumb button, on the other hand, is too far forward for small hands and potentially uncomfortably far back for large thumbs. This is by no means a problem with which the Model I is alone in the all-round mouse genre – but since Glorious is already experimenting with magnetically exchangeable covers, the manufacturer could have solved the dilemma elegantly in this way. Apart from that, a different arrangement of the side buttons would probably have made more sense, the Kone XP says hello. The space to the left of the left mouse button is also available, as Logitech and Roccat have demonstrated. The area would definitely be more accessible than the back of the mouse.

The competition shows itself to be more versatile

Even beyond these basics, the competing mice are expanding their more far-reaching functionality. For example, the Model I lacks the 4-way mouse wheel that is actually obligatory in the all-round genre – i.e. a wheel with which users can not only scroll up and down, but also left and right by pressing. At the latest with these two additional programmable actions, the Glorious Mouse loses touch with the total number of additional keys. Model I and Basilisk V3 each offer six additional keys if the horizontal operation of the four-way mouse wheel is counted; the switches of the Razer mouse are easier to reach. The G502 Hero and Kone XP, however, boast the same numbering with eight and ten additional keys respectively.

Glorious Model I

Roccat Kone XP

Razer Basilisk V3

Logitech G502

Logitech and Razer also take it a step further by offering an optional mouse wheel override that allows it to be toggled from a slow, precise scrolling mode to fast spinning at the touch of a button. The Model I wheel, on the other hand, has nothing of the sort and sticks to basic functionality found on any shooter mouse. At least it is pleasantly quiet, although this is due to a less tactile grid.

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Sensor technology, software and processing