BenQ Zowie is one of the top gaming mice brands on the market thanks to their simple design and comfortable shell designs.
If you are confused about all the different types of Zowie mice on the market you are not alone.
Zowie haven’t made it easy when deciding between their mice models but by the end of this guide you will have a clear understanding of all of them and most importantly which one is right for you.
I am going to try and break down the different series of mice Zowie offer and explain which variant is best suited towards your grip style and hand size.
If you don’t know what grip style you use or even what a mouse grip is then I really recommend you check out my mouse grip article before reading this. It is really important to know how you grip your mouse before buying.
Zowie Benq currently has four main series which include the EC series, S Series, FK series and ZA series. Each of these are geared towards a specific set of criteria whether you have a palm grip, claw grip or fingertip and based on the size of your hand.
Table of Contents
The Zowie Mouse Series Guide
Let us get right into each series and break them down so you can find out which one sounds the best for you. It is important to know that within each series are different variants of the same mouse. Each variant of a series is exactly the same except for the size and the weight.
The one exception to this rule is the EC series which we will explain first.
Please check out the table below to help you compare each of the versions.
EC Series
The Zowie EC series is arguably the most popular of the three although it is closely followed by the FK Series. If you watch or play much CSGO then you will probably know that this is one of the top mice used my most professional CSGO players.
The EC series is hugely popular among FPS players in general due to its unique ergonomic shape, solid sensor and average weight.
However, this series is probably the most confusing since it has a lot of different versions. All you need to know is the following:
EC1 is the large version.
EC2 is the medium version.
We will get into sizes soon but another important point is that each version (EC1 & EC2) also has two variants (A & B).
EC1-A, EC1-B and EC2-A use the Avago 3310 sensor.
The EC2-B uses the PMW3360 sensor.
Sensor
The EC2-B uses the more up to date PMW3360 sensor which is a slight upgrade over the Avago 3310. There isn’t a big difference between the two sensors, the main one being the tilt slam fix. The newer 3360 fixes the issue many were having with the 3310 where you swipe your mouse really quickly which caused spin outs.
The EC series also comes in a glossy coating and a more plastic matte coating. Keep this in mind if you decide to choose an EC series mouse.
I am going to talk primarily about the EC2-B here as the rest of the EC series are the exact same except for the differences I have explained above.
Shape
Lets take a closer look at the measurements of the EC2-B as this is a great way to see how it will fit your grip style and hand.
Dimensions:
- Length: 120mm
- Width: 61mm
- Height: 40mm
- Weight: 95g
The EC series mice are widely considered to be one of the most comfortable mice on the market. Since testing the EC2-B I can see why, it is has a very nice shape and even though I prefer the FK series overall, the EC series is more comfortable.
Coming in at 95g the EC2-B is slightly heavier than its brothers. Also, keep in mind that the EC1 series is even heavier at around 100g or so.
Out of all the Zowie mice the EC series is the best mouse for palm grip players (generally speaking). Palm grips players will benefit much more from the ergonomic shape than they would with the FK or ZA series.
The EC2-B lends itself towards players with hands around 17.5 cm – 20 cm. This is measuring from the base of your palm to the tips of your middle finger.
Buttons
The EC series have 5 primary buttons which includes a mouse 1, mouse 2 scroll wheel and two side buttons.
On the base, there is also a DPI ( up to 1600 DPI in 400 increments) button and polling rate button for cycling through the different increments which are 125 Hz, 500 Hz, 1000 Hz.
If we were to compare the buttons of the FK and EC series then the EC series mouse 1 and 2 are lighter. This is something to consider if you are playing a high actions per minute game. I tried playing League of Legends with the FK1 and it was less than ideal.
As for the side buttons, they are more ‘squishy’ for lack of a better technical term than the FK or ZA buttons. They have a slightly higher travel time and they feel less tactile. The FK/ZA definitely wins over the EC series when it comes to the side buttons.
The new addition of the polling rate to the base of the mouse is a welcome one. Previously, Zowie mice were more of a pain to configure, involving you having to press a series of specific buttons to cycle through different polling rates.
The EC2-B abstracts this annoyance away from you with a helpful button and LED to highlight the rate you are using.
The DPI button is the same as the other models allowing you to cycle through colour coded DPI increments.
DPI Colours:
- 400 – Red
- 800 – Purple
- 1600 – Blue
- 3600 – Green
The biggest let down on the EC2 is the scroll wheel. Zowie mice are known for their scroll wheels being somewhat unpopular. I don’t see why they get so much hate as they are still usable.
However, the EC2 scroll wheel is particularly lacklustre compared to the FK series and poor compared to any of my Logitech mice.
Cable & Lift-off Distance
The lift-off distance for the EC2-B is around 1.5mm to 1.8mm which is around industry standard so nothing to complain about here.
The cable consists of quality durable rubber. This is something Zowie do really well because their cables create minimal drag which is something I have had issues with on the G403 and other Logitech mice.
EC Series Verdict
Overall the EC series is a solid top-end mouse that lends itself to a wide spectrum of players. It is more suited towards palm grip players but can definitely be utilised by claw grip players too. It is the most comfortable of all the Zowie mice in my opinion but its side buttons and scroll wheel let it down slightly.
S Divina Series
The newest addition to the Zowie family the S series. The S series is an improvement over the FK series. Zowie have taken what made the FK series so popular and improved upon it.
The S series comes in two variants. The S1 and S2. The S1 is the larger of the two. When the S Divina series was released you could only get it in baby blue or pink.
Recently, Zowie have announced they will also be releasing the S series in their usual black matte coating.
Sensor
Zowie have updated the mouse sensor from the Avago 3310 to the newer PMW3360 sensor. This was a greatly requested feature from many gaming mice hobbyists. It solves the issue of tilt-slamming and brings the Zowie series more in line with the competition on the market.
Shape
The following are the dimensions for the S1, the larger of the two S series variants
Dimensions:
- Length: 126mm
- Width: 61mm
- Height: 39mm
- Weight: 90g
The S series has taken the FK shape and made some small adjustments to suit a larger variance in grip styles. The hump of the mouse is slightly more pronounced and the mouse in general isn’t as flat. This pushes the mouse more towards palm grip and claw grip players. That is not to say the mouse isn’t also suited towards fingertip players, although I think the FK would be a better fit.
Zowie have kept the all the subtle comfort grooves on the primary mouse buttons and the sides of the mouse. Unlike the FK series however the S series is not ambidextrous with there only being side buttons on the left side of the mouse.
Buttons
Zowie have listened and have made the primary clicks on the S Series much lighter than the FK or ZA series. The clicks feel much better and crisper which allows the S series to be used for more than just FPS games.
As for the polling rate Zowie have added a button to the base of the mouse to help toggle between the different settings. This is a huge improvement over the FK series which involved having to press a sequence of buttons which was a pain to remember.
There is also the usual DPI button on the bottom to toggle between the 400, 800, 1600, 3200 DPI increments.
As stated previously the S series is not ambidextrous with side buttons only on the left side of the mouse. The side buttons are slightly larger compared to the FK series. There is less room for your thumb to rest too. Overall the side buttons have been improved as they feel crisper and more tactile.
Zowie have also finally listened with regards to their scroll wheels. The S series has had an upgraded and improved scroll wheel over the FK series.
Zowie are known for not having the best scroll wheels in the industry but the S series is definitely much better. The notches feel defined but not too overbearing. There is also less rattle in the scroll wheel when scrolling quickly.
Cable & Lift-Off Distance
The lift-off distance has not changed sitting a comfortable 1.5-1.8mm. The cable is a grey rubber texture and feels really flexible and lightweight for a stock cable. Zowie always have great cables compared to Logitech’s heavy braided alternatives. The mouse would still greatly benefit from a paracord
S Series Verdict
The S Series is a much needed upgrade for the Zowie mice family. Zowie are slowly migrating all their mice over to more up to date better sensors which is a great sign. The S series takes all of the good portions of the FK series and improves upon it further.
The S Series is currently my favourite in the series if you palm grip or claw grip and prefer an ambidextrous shape compared to the ergonomic EC series. I would recommend the S1 for palm grip players with hands no larger than 19.5 cm and claw grip with hands no bigger than 21cm.
FK Series
The FK series is just as renowned as the EC series having a very successful adoption by many professional eSports organisations and often replacing some competitive CSGO players old mice.
It comes in three different variants which are the FK1, FK1+ and FK2. Luckily this series is easier to understand in that the FK2 is the smallest of the three (just like the EC2 was the smallest of the EC series). The FK1 is in the middle and the FK1+ the largest.
As for grip styles and hand sizes the FK series is geared towards more of a claw grip player or palm-claw hybrid. The shell is much lower on the FK compared to the EC and ZA series in particular.
Depending on your hand size I would recommend the FK2 for hand sizes between 16.5-18cm. The FK1 for 18-19.5 and the FK1+ for anything above 20cm.
Sensor
The FK Series is powered by the slightly older Avago 3310 which I have already talked about. This shouldn’t be a driving factor for you choosing between any of the mice since there isn’t a noticeable performance difference between the two sensors discussed.
Shape
The following are the dimensions for the FK1. I am comparing the middle variant of each mouse to stay consistent.
Dimensions:
- Length: 128mm
- Width: 60mm
- Height: 37mm
- Weight: 89g
As you can see from the dimensions the FK1 is slightly longer in length than the EC series although it is narrower and shorter in height. It is also around 5g lighter which is significant when it comes to gaming mice if you prefer lighter mice.
Buttons
The buttons are similar to the EC series although there is no polling rate button. A question often asked is how to change the polling rate on the FK1 since it isn’t very clear.
Here is a snippet from the Zowie support page:
Make sure the mouse is UNPLUGGED.
- 125 Hz: Hold button 4+5 and plug the mouse into the USB port. Once the wheel lights up, the rate will be 125 Hz.
- 500 Hz: Hold button 5 and plug the mouse into the USB port. Once the wheel lights up, the rate be 500 Hz.
- 1000 Hz: Hold button 4 and plug the mouse into the USB port. Once the wheel lights up, the rate will be 1.000 Hz. (Only do this if you have previously changed to 125 or 500 Hz).”
Already you can see why the addition of the new polling rate button on the EC series was so great.
As the for the primary buttons themselves they are most resistant of all the series. This is not a bad thing though. I much prefer to browse with my FK mouse than my G403, G Pro Wireless or my EC2. The reason being is that due to the mouse clicks being stiffer I don’t accidentally right click while browsing.
This is a very specific use case but in general, if you are not playing a high action per minute game then slightly more resistant clicks are great. This may, however, come down to personal preference.
One important factor to consider with the FK series is that they are ambidextrous which is not the case for the EC series. There are two side buttons on either side of the mice to support right and left-handed players.
Some players worry that their fingers may accidentally click the side buttons on the side they are not using. I can comfortably tell you that this will not happen as your fingers will sit below them.
There is also a DPI button on the FK series as you might expect. It has the same configuration as the EC series.
Cable & Lift-off Distance
The FK series extras are basically exactly the same as the EC series. The lift-off distance is around 1.5 to 1.8mm and the cable is rubber just like the EC series.
FK Series Verdict
This is one of the staple claw-grip gaming mice. It is simple, lightweight and feels really nimble in the hand. It was my main mouse for many years thanks to the features I have described above. Definitely consider it if you are a claw grip or palm grip hybrid.
ZA Series
The ZA series was released after the EC and FK series and feels targeted towards a specific kind of player. Primarily the ZA series lends itself towards palm and claw grip players that like the look and feel of the FK series but want more support.
Following the other series footsteps the ZA has three variants called the ZA11, ZA12 and ZA13. The ZA11 is the largest, the ZA is in the middle and then the ZA13 is the smallest.
Depending on your hand size I would recommend the ZA 13 for hand sizes between 16.5-18cm. The ZA12 for 18-19.5 and the ZA11 for anything above 20cm.
Sensor
Just like the FK series above, the ZA uses the Avago 3310 sensor so it is not as up to date as the EC2. Again no issues with the 3310 sensor, it provides clean tracking and no jitters.
Shape
The ZA series has a slightly narrower shell at the base and the tip compared to the FK series. It is also slightly higher (39mm vs 37mm) which is where the added support comes in. Although, this is still not as high as the EC2-B (40mm).
The hump or arch of the mouse is more prominent towards the base of the mouse which is why its suited towards palm grip players since this provides comfort and support to the palm.
Dimensions:
- Length: 124mm
- Width: 58mm
- Height: 39mm
- Weight: 85g
The most important thing to take away from the dimensions is the fact that the ZA series in each variant is 5g lighter than the FK series and the ZA13 is 10g lighter than the EC2-B. This is a pretty significant difference if you prefer lightweight mice.
Buttons
The ZA series rocks the exact same set up as the FK series so I am not going to go over it again. Just know that the primary mouse buttons feel much and such the same as the FK series but the side buttons are more in line with what the EC2-B has. They feel more spongey and not as tactile as the FK series buttons.
It is worth mentioning that the ZA series also doesn’t have the polling rate button on the base but it does have the DPI increment button.
Cable & Lift-off Distance
The extras such as the cable are the same as always. A nice flexible rubber cable that will fit inside any mouse bungee such as the Zowie Camade. The lift-off distance is the same so nothing to worry about here.
ZA Series Verdict
Yet another solid mouse by Zowie and it has its own niche in the market. Perfect for the type of player that wants strong arch support but also wants to keep the mouse lightweight and nimble.
Definitely consider the ZA series if you find the EC2-B shape might not be for you and if the FK series seems too flat for your preference.
Closing Thoughts
Picking a mouse is very difficult due to the huge amount of models and variations that you can choose from. There isn’t a one size fits all when it comes to Zowie mice. That is why they have designed their mice in specific shapes to try and create something for everyone.
Hopefully, you have found something useful in this guide. Please refer to the table I have provided at the top of the article to help you compare each model to see which one you prefer.
Changelog
Updated (10/06/2019): Added Zowie S series.
Last Price Update on 2024-06-03 / Data taken from the Amazon Product API
7 thoughts on “Best Zowie Mouse For You – Guide To Mouse Selection”
What is the difference between EC1-A and EC1-B?
The EC1-B has a better sensor and it is a little lighter than the EC1-A.
great article
What is the best zowie mouse for claw grip for 19/ 9.5 cm hands?
Probably an FK1 I would say.
What is the best zowie mouse for palm grip for 19/ 10 cm hands
Thanks, it was very helpful!