Glorious Model D2 Pro review

Having the best gaming mouse in your arsenal is a near-necessity if you’re a competitive player. The Glorious Model D2 Pro hopes to earn a spot amongst the best of the best, but it just misses out. I’ve tested its siblings — the Glorious Model D2 and the Glorious Model O2 — and I’d say both are better than the Model D2 Pro.

Don’t get me wrong: the mouse boasts 4,000Hz (wireless) or 8,000Hz (wired) polling and a maximum DPI of 26,000, lending you an edge. It also utilizes user-friendly companion software for quick and easy customization.

But the Model D2 Pro isn’t the cheapest mouse, and for the money, it looks and feels a little tacky. Its battery life is also short, and there’s no left-handed variant or onboard dongle storage. While I haven’t rated the Model D2 very highly either, I’d still recommend it over the Model D2 Pro because, at the end of the day, it doesn’t feel very “pro” and your money could be better spent elsewhere — even on the Model O2, really.

For the complete breakdown, read my full Glorious Model D2 Pro review.

Glorious Model D2 Pro review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A wireless gaming mouse for both casual and competitive gaming
• Who is it for? For professional gamers who need 8,000Hz polling and high DPI
• How much does it cost? The Glorious Model D2 Pro costs $129 / £119
• What do we like? It’s very lightweight and great for competitive gaming, and user-friendly software makes customization easy
• What don’t we like? It looks cheap, there’s no left-handed version or onboard dongle storage and the battery life is short

Glorious Model D2 Pro review: Specs

Glorious Model D2 Pro review: The ups

The Glorious Model D2 Pro is lightweight and (fairly) comfortable, and offers up to 8,000Hz polling for competitive gaming.

Lightweight and comfortable

Much like its cheaper family members, the Glorious Model D2 ($99) and the Glorious Model O2 ($99), both of which I personally reviewed for Tom’s Guide, the Glorious Model D2 Pro is a very lightweight mouse, weighing just 2.25oz. In fact, it’s even lighter than the two aforementioned rodents: the Model D2 weighs 2.32oz while the Model O2 weighs 2.39oz.

The Model D2 Pro is a comfortable mouse, too. It measures 5 x 2.63 x 1.65 inches, so it’s great for those with medium-sized hands like mine. As Glorious claims, the mouse is comfy to use with either a palm or claw grip — both work well for me. I also like how wide the left- and right-click buttons are, as they give my fingers enough room to spread out as and when needed.

Overall, the Model D2 Pro is fairly comfortable, but I wish its textured body felt softer under my touch, although I’ll discuss that in detail later.

(Up to) 8,000Hz polling

There are two models of the Glorious Model D2 Pro available, both of which boast different polling rates. The 1,000Hz model, which is good for casual gaming, costs $99, while the 4,000Hz-8,000Hz model costs $129 / £119, making it ideal for competitive gamers and esports players.

Not everyone necessarily needs 8K polling. But if you’re an aspiring or established professional, or a highly competitive player, the Model D2 Pro’s 8,000Hz polling will ensure there are zero latency issues, giving you a potential edge.

Great for competitive gaming

The Glorious Model D2 Pro’s 8,000Hz polling rate means latency issues are a thing of the past, and I didn’t notice any in my testing. The Model D2 Pro utilizes the Glorious BAMF 2.0 sensor to deliver a maximum DPI of 26,000 — the same as the Model O2 and the Model D2. The excellent Fnatic x Lamzu Maya 8K ($119), for comparison, has a maximum DPI of 30,000. But let’s be honest, 26,000 is still plenty.

Located right behind the left- and right-click buttons is a dedicated DPI button which lets you cycle through four presets (as opposed to six on the Model D2). I love a good DPI button as it lets me quickly swap between a low and high DPI, depending on the game, without having to dive into the companion software.

I played a few games to test the Model D2 Pro and it reigned supreme throughout. When using a sniper rifle in Counter-Strike 2 or aiming at an assassination target surrounded by bodyguards in Hitman, I dropped to a low DPI of 400 to fine-tune my movements. Slowing down helped me aim more accurately, and I could execute precise headshots.

Pressing the button thrice right after taking headshots let me achieve a higher DPI of 10,000. In Hitman, I could then sprint towards the bodyguards as they drew their guns and shoot them with my rifle, taking several out within a matter of mere seconds.

The Model D2 Pro’s textured scroll wheel is also highly responsive, making quick work of scrolling through large, crowded inventories in titles like Baldur’s Gate 3 (yes, I’m a hoarder who picks up every single item). Overall, the Model D2 Pro is a fantastic mouse for both competitive and casual gaming.

User-friendly software

You’ll need to use Glorious Core software on your Windows machine to customize the Glorious Model D2 Pro. While the mouse works well on macOS machines, the software isn’t available on Apple devices (yet). Glorious Core is a no-frills software that sports a clean UI, and it makes customizing the Model D2 Pro very easy.

Here, I could quickly set two different polling rates for wired (up to 8,000Hz) and wireless (up to 4,000Hz), assign different values to the dedicated DPI button, adjust the advanced debounce settings and more. The Model D2 Pro’s internal memory can also store up to three custom profiles.

Glorious Model D2 Pro review: The downs

Unfortunately, the Glorious Model D2 Pro looks cheap, has no onboard dongle storage or left-handed model and its battery life is short, too.

No left-handed model

If you’ve followed my coverage of mice at Tom’s Guide, you’ll know that it always frustrates me when a mouse doesn’t have a left-handed variant. Even though I myself am not left-handed, my job is to ensure you’re spending your money well. Just like the Glorious Model D2, the Glorious Model D2 Pro is designed for right-handed folks only thanks to the placement of the side buttons.

Left-handed people are limited in choice, unfortunately. I recommend picking up the Razer Viper 8KHz ($57), which features, as the name suggests, 8,000Hz polling and buttons along the mouse’s right-hand edge.

No onboard dongle storage

Controversial opinion: I believe that any mouse that comes with a 2.4GHz dongle should have a slot on its body to store the dongle when you’re traveling or not using the mouse. You don’t want to lose it, as more often than not brands don’t sell replacements. The Glorious Model D2 Pro suffers from this issue, just like the cheaper Glorious Model D2.

The Model D2 Pro’s dongle needs to be plugged into your laptop or computer via a USB-C cable to achieve 4,000Hz polling over a wireless connection. The dongle is bigger than the ones I’ve seen on most other mice, so I can understand that, realistically, Glorious wouldn’t have been able to slot it into the mouse. Still annoying, though.

Looks cheap

I’m no stranger to lackluster mice, having tested the likes of the Cherry XTRFY M50 ($69) and the Lemokey G1’s ($64), and there’s nothing wrong with a minimalist design — in fact, I prefer it over honeycomb/perforated mice. The Glorious Model D2 Pro also sports a no-frills design, but it looks and feels cheap, and that’s not what you want from a mouse costing $129.

The plastic used in the Model D2 Pro construction doesn’t scream “pro” to me, as it isn’t soft to touch. My ideal mouse is the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 ($159), but I also appreciate that it’s $30 pricier than the Model D2 Pro. I’d recommend the Fnatic x Lamzu Maya 8K ($119) for its soft shell design and fantastic performance.

Short battery life

Gaming with 4,000Hz or 8,000Hz polling can be a drain on system resources and a device’s battery life, so chances are you’ll use the Glorious Model D2 Pro while plugged in. But what if you want to play wirelessly? 4K polling can be achieved over a 2.4GHz wireless connection, of course.

The bad news is that the Model D2 Pro’s battery life is fairly (and annoyingly) short. When using the mouse with the polling rate set to 1,000Hz, a single charge yields 80 hours of play time. This drastically drops to a measly 35 hours when playing over 4,000Hz. There’s also no warning lights when the battery is about to die, so the mouse might turn off in the middle of an important boss fight. Frustrating, infuriating, all the synonyms.

If you want longer battery life, it’s worth spending some extra money on the Cherry M68 Pro ($139), whose battery life can last up to 90 hours at 1,000Hz and, in our testing, “drained incredibly slowly.” Or, if you want to save some money, the Lemokey G1’s battery life when using 8,000Hz polling is better than the Model D2 Pro’s at 40 hours.

Glorious Model D2 Pro review: Verdict

The Glorious Model D2 Pro is a good gaming mouse if you’re right-handed and not short on money. It boasts 4,000Hz polling over a 2.4GHz dongle and 8,000Hz over a wired connection. It’s got a maximum DPI of 26,000, too, giving you an edge in competitive gaming. Also, customizing the mouse is a walk in the park, thanks to the user-friendly companion software.

However, the mouse doesn’t come cheap, and there’s no left-handed version. I’m also not a fan of the cheap-looking and cheap-feeling plastic used in its construction. The battery life isn’t anything to write home about either.

I believe mice like the Fnatic x Lamzu Maya 8K and the Cherry M68 Pro offer better value for money. The Model D2 Pro faces fierce competition and, alas, doesn’t do enough to taste glory.