Glorious has updated its popular Model O 2 and Model D 2 mice to enter the pro performance arena, bringing ultra-lightweight performers to the fray. The new mice, the Model O 2 Pro and the Model D 2 Pro aim to give users a pro-level experience without breaking the bank compared to other pro-level mice on the market.
Specifications:
Model O 2 Pro:
- Weight: 57g (4K/8K Edition: 59g)
- Switch: Glorious Optical 100M
- Sensor: BAMF 2026K
- Max Polling Rate: 1000Hz (4K/8K edition: 4000Hz Wireless; 8000 Hz Wired)
- Connectivity: USB-C Wired, 2.4GHz Wireless (dongle included)
- MSRP: $99.99 (4K/8K Edition: $129.99) on Glorious website
Model D 2 Pro:
- Weight: 60g (4K/8K edition: 62g)
- Switch: Glorious Optical 100M
- Sensor: BAMF 2026K
- Max Polling Rate: 1000Hz (4K/8K edition: 4000Hz Wireless; 8000 Hz Wired)
- Connectivity: USB-C Wired, 2.4GHz Wireless (dongle included)
- MSRP: $99.99 (4K/8K Edition: $129.99) on Glorious website
First Thoughts
At first glance, the Glorious Gaming O 2 Pro and D 2 Pro don’t look like your standard gaming mouse - and that is a good thing. While the original Model O and Model D feature Glorious’s Honeycomb body design with RGB strips flanking the sides of the mouse, the Pro version strips all that away, instead opting for a single body with no RGB to be found. Given that these are meant to be pro-level performance mice, it makes sense to strip away at least the RGB as it can drain a wireless mouse's battery life.
However, I would be lying if I said I didn’t miss the honeycomb lattice design that the Glorious mice typically have. I loved it on the Model I 2 Wireless I reviewed last month, and I would have loved to have seen the same aesthetic here, at least.
Also missing is the large Glorious logo printed on the side of the mouse like the original Model O and Model D, instead the company opted for a smaller, nondescript level of branding this time around.
While looking at the mice straight on, you would be forgiven for thinking they are identical. Yet, the Model O 2 Pro and the Model D 2 Pro have enough differences to make choosing a mouse more up to your own personal preference than anything else.
Specs-wise, they are identical in every way except for weight. The Model O 2 Pro and Model O 2 Pro 4K/8K are both lighter than the Model D 2 Pro and D 2 Pro 4K/8K mice, and the shape of the two mice are vastly different in the hand. The Model O 2 Pro is more symmetrical, aiming to be a more ambidextrous mouse versus the D 2 Pro, which is more ergonomic and designed for righties.
Both mice have six total buttons, from the standard right, left, and mouse clicks to two side buttons and the DPI adjustment button. These buttons are programmable in the Glorious Core software, which is nice, though I didn’t find any need to do so during my own testing.
One area I did adjust, though, was the DPI settings. As someone who loves an incredibly responsive mouse overall, adjusting my specific DPI setting and locking it into the software was great. I appreciated the touch of being able to set an RGB color to represent what DPI setting I was on at a glance as well, indicated by a small light on the underside of the mouse.
Glorious Model O 2 Pro and Glorious Model D 2 Pro Performance
Since the performance of each mouse will be (in theory) identical thanks to the identical specs, I spent most of my time over the last week using the 4K/8K variants of each mouse. Compared to my regular gaming mouse, the Logitech G502 Lightspeed Wireless mouse, I found the D 2 Pro much more comfortable in the hands.
This was partly because, despite wanting a lightweight mouse, the Model O 2 Pro is a little too lightweight for my personal preference. While the Model D 2 Pro is still lighter than my Logitech, it felt more solid in my hand by comparison.
Another quirk that is going to come down to your own personal preference is the position of the thumb side buttons on the mice. The Model O 2 Pro has smaller buttons on the side, and they are positioned higher on the mouse's body than the Model D 2 Pro, which, for my grip, sits right where my thumb naturally wants to rest. I really prefer the more ergonomic shape of the Model D 2 Pro compared to the symmetrical shape of the Model O 2 Pro, but again, this is purely down to preference.
Gaming with the mouse feels responsive, especially when using the higher polling rates the 4K/8K variants offer. While you need to be wired in to unlock the full potential of the mouse, the 4K polling rate is useable thanks to the wireless dongle included. I didn’t find any issues with latency or smoothness during gaming sessions using the 4K rate, at least at first.
However, when using the Model O 2 Pro 4K/8K Edition on my work Mac Mini, I noticed some issues with latency, especially when the receiver wasn’t close by. The mouse pointer would skip across the screen, and if the dongle was somewhat obscured by something (in this case, my phone sitting nearby and a markerboard on my desk), that skipping was heightened intensely. Moving my phone helped, but it didn’t clear up completely until I moved the dongle to free up the line of sight to the mouse. This didn’t happen on my gaming PC, where I used the Model D 2 Pro 4K/8K Edition, though the receiver wasn’t nearly as covered up as on my Mac desk.
This was a bit weird to me as normally I can throw a dongle, especially one wired into a system, behind the PC itself, and it will work flawlessly. Yet here, it exhibited weird behavior if it was even slightly obscured. While this could have just been something quirky with my particular setup, it’s something to keep an eye on should you drop the money on one of these mice.
In my opinion, one major miss is the lack of Bluetooth connectivity. Personally, when I travel I love bringing lightweight mice with me, and being able to connect one of these mice to my MacBook Air without needing the dongle would have been nice.
The mouse doesn’t require you to install the Glorious Core software to use, but doing so unlock the full potential of both models. Here you can adjust things such as the DPI presets on the mouse itself, as well as set the polling rate on the higher-end models. You can also tweak individual settings of the mouse, such as the liftoff distance as well as advanced debounce settings to tweak how the mouse responds to your use the way you want.
Glorious Model O 2 Pro and Model D 2 Pro Final Thoughts
In the end, though, both mice are fitting successors to the Model O and Model D variants by Glorious. For those who have been clamoring for a professional-focused entry in the Model O and D lineups, this is definitely the mouse model to look at, especially at the price. Compared to the competition in the space, the Pro Model and even the 4K/8K models are reasonably priced overall. The Razer Naga V2 Pro MMO mouse sits at $178.99 on Best Buy right now, while the Logitech G502 X Plus Lightspeed can be found for $159.99.
Even when looking at the super-lightweight variants of the mice, the Glorious Model O 2 Pro and Model D 2 Pro come out ahead. With the extra polling rate, the 4K/8K models provide, even that pricing is great compared to its competition, where sometimes you must buy the 4K dongle separately.
Performance-wise, which model you choose will be down to your own personal comfort level, but the mouse works admirably well. While I personally had some issues with the dongle on the Model O 2 Pro 4K/8K edition, that could simply have been down to the amount of stuff sitting on my desk that could interrupt the signal.
While I wish the mouse still had the honeycomb latticework I love on the other Glorious mouse models, the two models are still attractive to look at. Both are sleek, and the texturized surface of the mouse makes it easier to keep in the hand during long and frenetic gaming sessions. I do appreciate the lack of RGB as it greatly extends the battery life. After using the mouse for more than a week, I’ve yet to charge it, despite forgetting to even turn it off at the end of the night. It’s been a fantastic change of pace compared to the Model I 2 Wireless variants I’ve used off and on since last month.
Regardless of which model you choose, the Glorious Model O 2 Pro and Model D 2 Pro are both fantastic entries into the tournament pro-level space. Both editions are priced quite well compared to the competition, and both provide great performance for the money. Whether you prefer a more ergonomic-minded mouse or a symmetrical body design, Glorious has you covered.
Full Disclosure: The Products discussed were provided by the manufacturer for the purposes of this review.
