If you’re on the hunt for a top-notch tactile mechanical keyboard switch, both the Glorious Panda vs Holy Panda switches are worthy contenders. While the Holy Panda has gained a legendary reputation, the Glorious Panda offers an equally impressive performance at a more affordable price. 

In this article, we’ll explore the unique features and benefits of each switch and compare them head-to-head. So, whether you’re a seasoned mechanical keyboard enthusiast or a newbie looking for the perfect typing experience, read on to discover the switch that suits your needs.

Glorious Panda Keyboard Switches

The Glorious Panda switches are nothing short of a revelation in the mechanical keyboard world. These switches are an upgrade to the original INVYR Panda housing molds, designed to deliver a tactile typing experience that’s nothing short of glorious.

The first standout feature of the Glorious Panda switch is its actuation force. You’ll need 67 grams of force to register a keypress. It’s the Goldilocks zone of actuation force—not too heavy, not too light, just right. This balance strikes a chord with many keyboard enthusiasts.

Compatibility is another feather in the Glorious Panda’s cap. These switches play nice with all GMMK models, whether you prefer the dazzling RGB lighting or different types of mechanical keycaps. The flexibility they offer is truly commendable.

The construction of the Glorious Panda switches is where things get exciting. The top shell, crafted from premium-grade polycarbonate, bears the Glorious branding with pride. The stem is optimized to minimize pretravel before the tactile bump, and the stainless steel spring pairs beautifully with the stem. The bottom shell, courtesy of INVYR, maintains its top-notch quality. In essence, the Glorious Panda Keyboard Switch is a treat for your fingers and your keyboard.

Benefits of the Glorious Panda Switches

Optimal Actuation Force: The 67-gram actuation force strikes a perfect balance, making these switches comfortable for both typists and gamers.

Wide Compatibility: Glorious Panda switches work seamlessly with all GMMK models, ensuring you can enjoy their tactile goodness regardless of your keyboard choice.

Impressive Construction: The premium materials used in these switches and the thoughtful engineering result in a switch that’s not just functional but also aesthetically pleasing.

Holy Panda Keyboard Switches

The Holy Panda keyboard switch is the product of a legendary collaboration between two keyboard switch giants: INVYR Panda and Halo switches. It’s the culmination of the best elements from both worlds, resulting in a switch that lives up to its lofty name.

The INVYR Panda contributes the housing and spring, while the stem and slider come from Halo switches. This union creates a tactile switch that’s incredibly smooth and offers an unparalleled typing experience. The rounded bump of the Holy Panda switch is a marvel in itself, and the sound profile is a cut above the rest, surpassing even the popular Zealios switches.

The build quality of the Holy Panda Keyboard Switch is a testament to the commitment to excellence. Every aspect, from the housing to the stem, is optimized for a tactile feel that’s second to none. The smoothness of this switch is so addictive that once you’ve tried it, it’s hard to go back to anything else.

Benefits of the Holy Panda Switches

Legendary Collaboration: The Holy Panda switch brings together the best of INVYR Panda and Halo switches, resulting in a tactile switch that’s hard to beat.

Superb Tactility: If you’re a fan of tactile switches, you’ll find the Holy Panda’s rounded bump and overall feel irresistible.

Premium Build: The quality of the materials and engineering in the Holy Panda switch sets a high standard for what a mechanical switch can be.

Glorious Panda vs Holy Panda – Feature Comparison

Now that we’ve delved into the specifics of each switch let’s put the Glorious Panda and Holy Panda head-to-head to see how they stack up in key areas.

The Feel: Winner = Holy Panda

Let’s start with the most crucial aspect of a keyboard switch: the feel. Both the Drop Holy Panda and Glorious Panda switches are equipped with a 67-gram spring, copper leaf, and a medium-heavy tactile feel. They may seem similar on paper, but there are subtle differences that can affect your typing experience.

The Glorious Panda’s spring feels slightly heavier to the touch, possibly due to its spring length. This gives it a distinct, stronger tactile feedback. However, the latest batch of Drop Holy Pandas has arrived pre-lubed, making them smoother right out of the box. After removing the lube from the Holy Pandas, both switches can be compared in a dry, unlubed state.

Surprisingly, removing lube from the Holy Panda’s stem legs and leaf increased tactility without sacrificing smoothness. When dry, the Holy Panda’s bump feels more distinct and intentional compared to the Glorious Panda, which exhibits a slight amount of scratchiness.

While the tactile difference might not be noticeable during fast typing, the Holy Panda’s superior smoothness gives it an edge, making it the winner in the feel category.

The Sound: Winner = Holy Panda

The sound of a keyboard switch can be a significant factor for some users. The Holy Panda is known for its distinctive higher-pitched clack, making it one of the louder tactiles on the market. With proper lubrication and filming, the Holy Panda has even been compared to the sound of “Mr. Krabs walking.”

However, when you listen closely, there’s a considerable amount of metallic pinging when pressing the Holy Panda. The Glorious Panda has a similar sound profile but with one minor flaw – an additional metallic ticking, possibly caused by the copper leaf. This makes the Glorious Panda even more metallic-sounding than the Holy Panda.

While these sound differences may only be noticeable when you’re really paying attention or have the switch up against your ear, they can become more prominent in a keyboard with a hollow case, metal plate, poor stabilizers, or dry switches. If you’re sensitive to loud noises or particular about acoustics, the Holy Panda might be the better choice. However, for most users, these sound differences may not be a deal-breaker.

The Style: Winner = TIE

Switches are often recolored for aesthetic reasons, but this is usually hidden by keycaps. Unless you have a low-profile keyboard with floating keycaps or transparent keycaps, you won’t see the visual differences between these switches.

The Holy Panda comes with a white housing and the distinctive salmon-pink stem, which is a hallmark of the Halo True switch stem. This color combination represents the history of the Holy Panda and its origins as a community-created hybrid switch.

The Glorious Panda, on the other hand, features a cream-colored housing with an orange stem. This color choice emphasizes that it’s not a true Holy Panda but a reimagined version.

Build Quality and Quality Control: Winner = Glorious Panda

The build quality of these switches is nearly identical. Both feature Polycarbonate/Nylon housings, both exhibit slight North-South wobble, and both can benefit from using switch films.

However, the Glorious Panda has a slightly more noticeable East-West wobble compared to the Holy Panda. This difference could be due to slightly different mould tolerances or shrinkage in the stem design.

During a closer inspection of the disassembled switch parts, the stems are nearly identical, with only slight variations in the curve of the stem legs. The Holy Panda stem has more noticeable seam lines.

When it comes to quality control, Glorious seems to have the upper hand. The latest batch of Drop Holy Pandas had issues with broken stem legs, factory lube, and specks of debris inside the switches. Some users reported that up to 10% to 15% or more of their Holy Pandas had broken stem legs. Some even experienced key chatter and switch failure. In contrast, Glorious has shown better quality control.

If you opt for the Holy Panda, it’s advisable to open and check each switch in your set to ensure that nothing is broken, lubed, or dirty. This extra step may be necessary to guarantee a smooth experience with the Holy Pandas.

After Modding: Winner = Holy Panda

While the Holy Panda is a fantastic switch right out of the box, a bit of modification can make it even better. Proper lubrication and filming can enhance its performance, resulting in an even more satisfying typing experience.

The Glorious Panda, on the other hand, may not be as easily improved through modifications. It still retains some issues, such as increased stem wobble and a ticking noise that seems resistant to lube and films. Although these are minor flaws that can be overlooked, the Holy Panda starts and ends on a higher note when it comes to modding.

Value for Money: Winner = Glorious Panda

If you’re primarily concerned with how a switch feels and how tactile your Holy Panda is, the Glorious Panda takes the crown as the best value for your money. With a price of $0.69 per switch (or even less during a Glorious sale), the Glorious Panda matches the Holy Panda in tactility and smoothness.

Additionally, the Glorious Panda comes from the factory unlubed, including the stem legs. This results in a stock switch with stronger tactility than the stock Holy Panda, especially considering the quality control issues that plagued the latter.

Though the metallic leaf noise may be a concern for discerning keyboard enthusiasts, the Glorious Panda remains the practical choice in terms of value between these two similar tactile switches. It offers nearly all of the Holy Panda’s strengths at only two-thirds of the cost.

Final Thoughts:

In this head-to-head comparison, we’ve looked at the key aspects of the Glorious Panda and the Holy Panda switches. While it’s a close match, we have to make a decision.

If budget isn’t a concern, and you want the best-tactile switch experience possible, the Holy Panda is the way to go. It starts smoother and ends up better with modifications, making it the superior switch for critical users who demand perfection.

The Holy Panda’s balanced combination of stability, smoothness, and satisfying snappy tactility creates an unparalleled typing experience when you have a full set of perfectly functioning switches. Quality control issues aside, it’s a premium switch with a premium price tag that’s likely to leave you impressed.

However, if you’re looking for a stronger price-to-performance ratio and are content with a nearly identical typing experience, the Glorious Panda may be the more practical choice. It offers excellent tactile feedback at a lower cost.

In the end, the choice between the Glorious Panda and the Holy Panda will depend on your priorities and budget. Both switches have their strengths and weaknesses, and your ideal switch will ultimately be determined by your personal preferences and how you prioritize factors like price, sound, and feel.