I remember the first time I picked up a "holy" mouse. You know the ones—the shells look like a honeycomb, covered in hexagonal cutouts that make you wonder if you’re looking at a piece of tech or a beehive. That was my introduction to the Leading Edge Model D (better known to the gaming world as the Glorious Model D). It felt like holding nothing. Literally. When you’re used to the heavy, clunky "productivity" mice that weigh as much as a small brick, switching to a 68-gram ergonomic frame is a bit of a shock to the system.
It’s fast.
But honestly, speed isn't the only reason people are still talking about this thing years after the ultralight trend exploded. The Model D didn't just chase a trend; it refined the shape that competitive gamers had been obsessed with for a decade. It took the classic ergonomic curve—the one that fits the palm like a glove—and stripped away the fat.
The Shape That Saved My Wrist
Most people think "lightweight" is just about flicking your cursor across a 4K monitor faster. Sure, that's part of it. But for me, the Leading Edge Model D was a solution to the dull ache in my wrist after an eight-hour session of clicking through spreadsheets and UI designs.
Ergonomics are weird. What works for a pro-level CS:GO player might feel like garbage for someone with smaller hands or a "claw" grip. The Model D is unapologetically large. It’s built for righties, with a high arch that supports the base of your thumb and slopes down toward the right. It borrows heavily from the legendary Zowie EC series, but it feels more modern, more responsive.
If you have tiny hands, stop reading. This isn't for you. You'd want the Model D- (the minus version). But for the rest of us? It fills the hand. There’s something deeply satisfying about a mouse that doesn't force your fingers to cramp up just to maintain control.
Why the Honeycomb Isn't Just a Gimmick
I used to think the holes were just a way to save weight. They are, obviously. By punching holes in the top shell and the bottom plate, the engineers at Glorious managed to get the weight down to 68 grams (or 69, depending on if you're looking at the matte or glossy finish). But there’s a side effect nobody mentions: airflow.
Your palms get sweaty. It happens. Whether you’re in a high-stakes clutch moment or just grinding through a Friday afternoon deadline, heat builds up. Those holes actually provide a bit of ventilation. It sounds like a marketing line until you switch back to a solid-shell mouse in the middle of July and realize your hand feels like it's trapped in a sauna.
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Now, there is a trade-off. Dust. Hair. Spilled coffee. The Leading Edge Model D is vulnerable. If you’re the type of person who eats Cheetos while gaming, you are going to have a bad time. I’ve had to use compressed air on mine once a month just to keep the sensor area clear. It’s a small price to pay for the weight, but it's a real one.
The "Ascended" Cable and the Death of Mouse Bungees
Let’s talk about the cord.
Wireless is king now, I get it. The Model D Wireless exists, and it’s great. But the wired version of the Leading Edge Model D uses what they call the "Ascended" cable. It’s a proprietary braided cord that is so flexible it almost feels invisible.
Remember the old days when you had to tape your mouse cord to the top of your monitor so it wouldn't drag on your mousepad? Or you had to buy a $30 weighted bungee? This cable is so light that it doesn't "push back" when you move the mouse. You get 90% of the freedom of a wireless mouse without the anxiety of a battery dying in the middle of a raid.
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- The glide: They use G-Skates. These are 100% Virgin PTFE feet.
- They are rounded at the edges, so they don't snag on cloth pads.
- Most "budget" mice use cheap plastic feet that feel like sandpaper after a week.
- These feel like ice.
Software vs. Plug-and-Play
One thing I genuinely appreciate about the Leading Edge Model D is that you don't need the software. I hate bloatware. I hate having five different "Command Centers" running in my taskbar just to change my DPI.
Out of the box, you’ve got a dedicated DPI button on the top and an LED indicator on the bottom so you know which stage you’re on. You can cycle through the RGB patterns with button combos. If you want to get into the nitty-gritty—remapping buttons or setting the debounce time—the software is there. It’s lightweight. It doesn't ask you to create an account or "log in with Google" just to change the color of your mouse. That’s a win in my book.
The sensor inside is the Pixart 3360. It’s a workhorse. It’s the industry standard for a reason. No spin-outs, no jitter, no hardware acceleration that messes with your muscle memory. It just works.
What Actually Breaks?
I’m not going to sit here and tell you this mouse is indestructible. It’s built to be light, and that means the plastic is thin. If you’re a "rage gamer" who slams their mouse on the desk after a loss, the Leading Edge Model D will break. Period.
Early batches had some issues with side-wall flex. If you squeezed the sides hard enough, you could actually trigger the side buttons. Glorious fixed this in later revisions by reinforcing the internal frame, but it's still a lightweight tool, not a tank. Treat it with a bit of respect and it'll last years.
Also, the Omron switches are rated for 20 million clicks. That sounds like a lot until you realize how many times you click in an average day. Some users have reported double-clicking issues after a year of heavy use. It hasn't happened to me yet, but it's a known quirk of the Omron 20Ms across many brands, not just this one.
Actionable Steps for Choosing Your Next Mouse
If you're looking at the Leading Edge Model D, don't just click "buy" because it looks cool. Do a quick audit of your setup first.
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- Measure your hand: If your hand is longer than 18cm from the base of your palm to the tip of your middle finger, the Model D is your sweet spot.
- Check your grip: This mouse is designed for palm and claw grips. If you use a fingertip grip (where only your tips touch the mouse), it's going to feel too bulky. Look at the Model O instead.
- Surface matters: Because this mouse is so light, it performs best on a large cloth "control" pad. A hard plastic pad might make it feel too "floaty" and hard to stop accurately.
- Cleanliness check: If your desk is a mess of crumbs and dust, get a can of compressed air when you buy the mouse. You’ll need it to blow out the honeycomb shell every few weeks to keep the internals healthy.
Ultimately, the Model D stays on my desk because it disappears. When a tool is designed correctly, you stop thinking about the tool and start thinking about the work. Or the game. Or whatever it is you're doing. That’s the real "leading edge"—tech that gets out of its own way.