Glorious Model O 2 Wireless Review

About the Glorious Model O 2 Wireless

• Price: $100
• Connectivity: USB Type-C to Type-A (detachable), 2.4GHz Wireless via USB-A dongle, Bluetooth 5.2 LE
• Dimensions: 5 x 2.6 x 1.5 inches
• Weight: 68 grams (2.4 ounces)
• Sensor: 26,000 DPI BAMF 2.0 Optical Sensor
• Battery life: 210 hours over Bluetooth, 110 hours over 2.4 GHz wireless
• Buttons: 6 buttons
• Material: Plastic
• Colors: Black, white
• Cable: 6.5 feet, braided paracord
• Special Features: Glorious switches (80m click lifespan) PTFE feet, dual programmable RGB lighting accents

On the surface, the honeycombed Model O 2 Wireless doesn’t seem that different from the original Model O Wireless, but a number of ergonomic changes make it more comfortable to use and more modern in appearance.

Like the original, it uses a six-button layout symmetrical design with two main buttons on the top, a rubber-treaded middle mouse wheel and DPI button beneath it, and two thumb buttons on the left side. (Sadly, this is still a mouse for right-handed users only.) There’s a DPI indicator light on the bottom, and a new selector switch to choose between Bluetooth, 2.4 GHz wireless, and wired mode (Off). Swapping between 2.4 GHz and Bluetooth devices is reliably fast and I was usually able to begin using the mouse by the time I had flipped it back over.

The majority of the changes are internal. The Model O 2 Wireless brings with it Glorious’s new BAMF 2.0 optical sensor and an even higher DPI range of 100 - 26,000, up from 19,000 on the original. The switches are no longer OMRON branded and are instead a custom Glorious model with quadruple the lifespan at 80M clicks. Battery life is dramatically improved at 110 hours over 2.4 GHz and 210 hours over Bluetooth.

The Glorious Model O 2 Wireless makes for a great follow-up to an all-around excellent gaming mouse.

The original Model O was one of my first ultralight gaming mice and one of my favorites thanks to its balance of speed, hand support, and precision. The sequel keeps everything that made the original so good but offers subtle improvements that clearly show Glorious is listening, responding, and upgrading.

It falls right in line with other lightweight gaming mice from even bigger brands, like the Razer Viper V2 Pro and the $150 Asus ROG Harpe Ace at 68 grams, but you’ll need to keep your pinky up to prevent finger drag. The symmetrical, low-profile shape is similar enough to the original that transitioning to the Model O 2 was seamless, and within three rounds of Tile Frenzy on 3D Aim Trainer, my scores went from 85 back to my average of 113.

The physical changes to the Model O 2 are small enough that they’re not worth upgrading for all on their own, but they’re still a noticeable improvement. The main programmable buttons are slightly more scooped, which helps center your fingers and ensure consistent clicks. The body feels more robust with no flex, creaking, or rattle, though the sides can be slippery without any grip tape. Glorious also added a bit of internal RGB which follows the customizable LED strips on either side and lights up the internals.

The internal upgrades are much more meaningful. The sillily named BAMF 2.0 optical sensor is as accurate as ever, and even though it doesn’t hit 30,000-plus DPI like its competition, 26,000 DPI is more than enough even for high DPI, low-sensitivity gamers.

More important are the other upgrades, like the new Glorious switches which have a noticeably crisper click on par with the best in the industry (like Logitech). The scroll wheel is also gripper and very tactile, though not quite as clicky as the buttons. Or the long-lasting battery life, which allows you to only plug it in once every week or two depending on how much you play; less if you turn off RGB or use Bluetooth.

The software integration is less impressive. Glorious’s CORE software works fine to remap buttons and change lighting effects, but the software is in beta and feels rough around the edges in appearance and responsiveness. There are also known bugs, like the inability to delete macros. Since it is being actively developed, this should only improve in time.

Perhaps the biggest benefit is that you’re getting nearly all of the real-world performance of the competition for substantially less money.

Should you buy the Glorious Model O 2 Wireless?

Yes, especially if you find the competition too expensive

The Glorious Model O 2 Wireless is a solid evolution of the Model O Wireless, which was already one of the best gaming mice for the money. Its shape caters to claw and fingertip grip users, offering a stellar mix of support and precision for first-person shooters. The upgraded switches and sensor feel great to use and offer accurate, responsive performance. The exceptional battery life is icing on the cake.

While the Model O 2 Wireless offers impressive specs, it’s not exactly top-of-the-line. The Razer Viper V2 Pro offers a higher maximum speed, acceleration, DPI, and a faster 4,000Hz polling rate. It bests Steelseries’ competitor, the Aerox 3 Wireless, across the board for the same price however, so is certainly nothing to balk at.

Despite those differences, the Glorious Model O 2 Wireless just feels good to actually use. My aim didn’t suffer at all when transitioning to it, and any differences in specs were imperceptible at the DPI levels a human would actually use. The result is a mouse that can perform where it’s needed, has better battery life, and improved Bluetooth connectivity for $50 less than the competition. The Viper V2 Pro and ROG Harpe Ace are stellar mice in their own right, but the Model O 2 Wireless is an excellent alternative for budget-conscious gamers.

Glorious Model O 2 Wireless

The Glorious Model O 2 Wireless is faster and lighter than the original.

Buy the Glorious Model O 2 Wireless

Meet the tester

Christopher Coke

Contributor

@gamebynight

Chris has been specializing in PC and audio-related tech since 2015. Find him at IGN, Tom's Hardware, PC Perspective, MMORPG.com, and more.

See all of Christopher Coke's reviews