Glorious have done it again. The Model D gaming mouse is one of the best ergonomic mice available especially for the price.
Verdict
An ergonomic masterclass from Glorious. A top-end mouse for palm or claw grip players
- 3360 Sensor
- Extremely lightweight
- Ascended Paracord cable
- RGB
- Tactile primary clicks
- Good scroll wheel
- PTFE smooth feet
- Side grips are slippery
- Side buttons could be better
The Glorious Model D is Glorious’ second mouse release and their first option for all the ergonomic mice fans out there. The mouse is heavily influenced by the Zowie EC series which G Wolves also used to design the G Wolves Skoll.
For around $40 Glorious continue to deliver value for a fraction of the price compared to their competition. The Model D is a solid, high end mouse that should be at the top of your list to try out.
Glorious Model D Specifications
- Grip Style: Palm/Claw
- Sensor: PMW3360
- DPI: 400-12,000
- Buttons: 6
- Polling Rate: 1000Hz
- Connectivity: Paracord cable
- Length: 12.8cm / 128mm
- Width: 6.30cm / 63mm
- Height: 4.20cm / 42mm
- Weight: 68g
- Ambidextrous: No
The Model D is around the same size as the Zowie EC-A series but considerably lighter. The Model D is also considerably larger compared to the Xtrfy M4 & G Wolves Skoll.
There are 6 buttons in total consisting of the primary mouse 1 and mouse 2, scroll wheel, DPI button & two side buttons. The polling rate of the mouse can be configured up to 1000 hz which is set by default. To change the polling rate you must install the Glorious Model D software.
At 68g the Model D’s weight is impressive considering its size and it feels very lightweight particularly when paired with the fantastic PTFE mouse feet & ascended paracord.
For more detail on mice comparisons check out the section at the bottom of the article.
Colours & Coating
The Glorious Model D comes in two colours, black and white. Each colour also comes in two coatings, glossy or matte. I always recommend choosing matte if you haven’t used a glossy mouse before. If you suffer from sweaty hands then also choose matte otherwise the glossy texture can become very slippery.
If you don’t suffer from sweaty hands however, the glossy coating can provide extra grip.
Shape
Glorious has taken the shape directly from the infamous Zowie EC series. The EC series has been a staple mouse across esports and competitive gaming in general. The shape is designed specifically with comfort in mind and feels like it moulds to your hand. The reason Glorious, XTRFY & G Wolves have copied this shape is because it works.
Ergonomic mice are often the most comfortable to use compared to ambidextrous because of the natural curvature of the hand.
The Model D has a steep incline on the hump and the distinct ergonomic arch providing excellent support for palm grip players. The size and shape also support a 1-2-2 grip perfectly, with the right side of the mouse providing ample room for finger placement.
A 1-2-2 grip is where you place your thumb on the left side of the mouse, 2 fingers on the top of the mouse and two fingers on the right side of the mouse.
Sensor
The sensor is the PMW3360 which is becoming the most common top-end sensor nowadays. Having tested endless mice with this sensor I can confirm it is a brilliant optic that will serve you well.
There is zero jitter skipping or spin-outs so you can be sure you are getting a top of the line sensor.
Grip Style & Size Recommendations
Ergonomic mice like the Glorious Model D are primarily designed for palm grip players. The steep incline and high hump on the mouse provides extra support to palm grip players. This hugs the centre of your hand offering more control and precision. This is the reason why you see so many professional CSGO players using ergonomic mice.
Due to the size of the Glorious Model D I would recommend it for palm grip or claw grip players with hands larger than 18/18.5cm. If you have smaller hands than this the Model D will still work for you but you might prefer a smaller mouse such as the XTRFY M4 or G Wolves Skoll.
At the time of this article, the Model D Minus is not released but that should be a consideration once it is as it will be a smaller version of the Model D. This is something Glorious did with the Model O mice series.
Buttons & Side Grips
I have always been impressed by Glorious’ quality control when it comes to their mice buttons. Considering the price you might expect there to be some durability or quality issues but this is exactly why Glorious has blown up in popularity.
The primary mouse buttons are very crisp and tactile with minimal pre-travel or post-travel. The buttons are separate from the shell which can sometimes cause wobble after extended use. However, after 100 hours of gameplay, I am pleased to say they have held up extremely well.
The side grips consist of a matte or glossy texture depending on what version you choose which is similar to the rest of the mouse shell. They can get a little slippery if you suffer from sweaty hands so I would recommend some grip tape.
Cable
Glorious has greatly improved the ascended cord that was shipped with the original version of the Model O. The paracord is very lightweight and it is tightly woven making it one of the best stock paracords available at the moment.
I always recommend a bungee if you are using a wired mouse as it stops your cable from snagging on anything. Putting the Model D cable in a mouse bungee makes the mouse feel wireless.
Mouse Feet
The Model D comes with Glorious’ own ‘G-Skate’ mouse feet which are PTFE feet. Most of the top-end mice today are now moving over to PTFE feet as they provide a much smoother glide compared to previous stock mouse feet.
The G Skate feet are fantastic and arguably some of the best stock mouse feet you can get. Once you bungee this mouse the feet really make it feel wireless with how easy it glides, particularly on fast mouse pads.
Durability
After 100 hours of playtesting the Glorious Model D has shown no signs of noticeable wear and tear. The primary mouse buttons are still solid and have not become wobbly. The mouse feet still feel smooth but these will always need replacing after a certain amount of playtime. Glorious is kind enough to supply you with a second pair of mouse feet for free inside the box.
The scroll wheel is often a point for contention on gaming mice after heavy use. I use the scroll wheel and scroll wheel click keybinds heavily in all the games I play in order to test their durability. During my play testing there was no creaking or clicking and the scroll wheel still felt solid.
Software
Glorious’ software is simple and functional. It does exactly what you would expect without any of the added fluff and bloatware. I am looking at you Razer. The software allows you to configure each of your profiles on the mouse including the DPI, polling rate, lift off distance, lighting effects and the debounce time.
The debounce time is designed to improve mouse click latency. The lower the debounce time the higher the risk of double-clicking. Double-clicking is where the mouse registers two clicks even though it has only been clicked once. This is extremely annoying so I recommend you test this out and use a double click test tool online before going ahead with the setting.
One improvement Glorious could make is to avoid the need to install two separate pieces of software if you own the Model D & the Model O. Each mouse should be able to be configured through a single piece of software.
Mice Comparisons
I always like to compare the mouse I am reviewing to other mice that you might be considering or have not though of. This helps you make an educated decision on the pros and cons of each to ensure you are picking the correct mouse for you.
Glorious Model D vs G Wolves Skoll
The G Wolves Skoll was one of the first ergonomic lightweight gaming mice available having been released in late 2019. It is smaller in terms of length (125mm vs 128mm) compared to the Glorious Model D but it is significantly wider (68mm vs 63mm). If you have large hands then either of these mice will work but be prepared for the difference in width as it does affect the feel of the mouse.
The Skoll is really wide so the Model D will suit more people in terms of the overall shape. However, the shape of your mouse is a personal preference thing so this is just a guideline.
In terms of clicks, these two are very evenly matched. The Skoll clicks feel marginally more lightweight but not noticeable enough to base your decision off this.
As for the side buttons, I would have to give it to the Glorious Model D. The Skoll’s side buttons are still good but they are a little too high making them harder to reach.
Glorious Model D vs XTRFY M4
The XTRFY M4 really surprised me with its aggressive curves and extremely tactile clicks. In terms of shape, the XTRFY M4 is much smaller than the Glorious Model D in each measurement but it is 1g heavier.
The weight will not make a difference here but the M4 is almost 10mm shorter. So if you have small to medium hands (around 18.5cm or less) you might find the XTRFY M4 better for you.
The stand out feature of the XTRFY M4 are the clicks which feel extremely good. There is zero pre-travel or post-travel. Out of all the mice in this comparison section, the M4 wins in terms of primary clicks.
However, if you use your side buttons a lot you might find the M4 buttons hard to reach. The buttons are placed really high on the side grip and because of the aggressive left side curve it naturally pushes your thumb down. I really struggled to stretch and use the side buttons effectively so keep this in mind when choosing.
Glorious Model D vs Zowie EC Series
The Zowie EC series are the original or the ‘OG’ as some might say. The EC mice come in a variety of sizes and specifications that can become confusing. At the time of this article I would recommend only looking at the EC2-B or the EC1-B.
The EC-B series has a newer sensor compared to the EC-A series. Comparing the measurements between these models the EC1-B is almost identical in terms of measurements as the Glorious Model D but its weight is significantly more at 94g. I can’t stress how different these mice feel because of the weight.
If you prefer heavier mice then definitely consider the EC series however if you have not tried a lightweight mouse I would recommend the Model D. The EC2-B however is smaller than the Model D in terms of length but around the same height and slightly narrower. If you have smaller hands then consider the EC2-B or XTRFY M4.
Zowie are lagging behind in a few core areas though such as the cable. Zowie still use rubber cables for their mice which if you don’t have a bungee can be an issue. The cable often drags across your mat or snags and this can be detrimental to your aim. The Model D paracord is a huge improvement over this.
As for the primary clicks, Zowie are known for their heavier clicks. If you plan to use your mouse for MOBAs then the Model D would be a much better pick for you. The Model D has much lighter primary clicks and side buttons.
The mouse feet are also important and the Model D beats the Zowie EC series comfortably here. Thanks to the PTFE feet the Model D glides much smoother compared to the EC series.
Verdict
An ergonomic masterclass from Glorious. A top-end mouse for palm or claw grip players
- 3360 Sensor
- Extremely lightweight
- Ascended Paracord cable
- RGB
- Tactile primary clicks
- Good scroll wheel
- PTFE smooth feet
- Side grips are slippery
- Side buttons could be better
Glorious has done it again with the Model D. It is another highly affordable yet brilliant mouse that scratches the itch for all the ergonomic lovers out there looking for a lightweight gaming mouse.
It isn’t without its flaws however, the side buttons could be better and the side grips are quite slippery but these are small issues overall. Glorious has also stepped it up with their cables, the new ascended cord is a huge improvement.
This is a palm grip mouse you should definitely try. Check out how the Model D ranked on GamingGem’s Choose My Mouse Tool here.
If you are interested in picking one up then click here.
