Testing Summary
BenQ has developed its Zowie EC2 mouse with the best ergonomics after collaboration with E-sports players. In this mouse, all features were considered to boost comfort and reliability while maintaining optimal competitive performance. Using a 3360 optical sensor with four levels of configurable DPI (400/800/1600/3200), you can attain credible and configurable gaming performance without the need for additional software or drivers.
Note: There is an upgraded model of the EC2-A, which is the EC2-B. The newer model has many improvements including an upgraded sensor and better side buttons in the same shape. So, if you want to buy this mouse, I would highly recommend you getting the B model since it fixes nearly all issues encountered by EC2-A.
Introduction
Zowie EC2 is a medium-sized gaming mouse from Ben-Q that has been widely considered for several years as one of the perfect no-nonsense gaming mice available for first-person shooters and eSports competitions.
Due to the recent upgrade to the highly regarded PMW 3360 sensor, the Zowie EC-2 now ranks among the most reliable performers in the industry when it comes to tracking. The Zowie EC2 mouse has three different levels of polling rate and four different DPI levels to choose from, all of which can be adjusted using the specialized buttons attached underside of the mouse.
In the gaming World, BenQ ZOWIE EC2 is an awesome mouse with a curvy and high back design. This mouse is good for you if you are right-handed, especially when you hold it with a palm or claw grip. It has low click latency and feels responsive and comfy while gaming. ZOWIE EC2 is available in a wide range of CPI, while maximum CPI is not as high as other gaming mice.
BenQ Zowie EC2 Mouse
Summary
BenQ has developed its Zowie EC2 mouse with the best ergonomics after collaboration with E-sports players. In this mouse, all features were considered to boost comfort and reliability while maintaining optimal competitive performance. Using a 3360 optical sensor with four levels of configurable DPI (400/800/1600/3200), you can attain credible and configurable gaming performance without the need for additional software or drivers.
Specification
| Model | Zowie EC2 |
| Sensor | PMW3360 Optical |
| CPI | 400-3200 |
| No. of Buttons | 7 |
| Connection | Wired |
| Polling Rate Adjustment | Maximum 1000 Hz |
| On-Board Memory | Yes |
| Hand Grip Style | Palm Grip: (Small, Medium and Large hands) Claw Grip: (Medium and Large hands) Fingertip Grip: (Large hands) |
| Weight | With Wire: 139 g Without Wire: 95 g |
| Shape | Length: 120 mm Height: 64 mm Width: 40 mm |
| Ranking | Best Mouse for Overwatch Best mouse for PUBG |
Design
Because of its slightly curvy design for right-handed users, the ZOWIE EC2 is comfy to use. All hand sizes should have no trouble reaching the side buttons when using a palm grip because they are well-placed. A fingertip or claw grip may not be comfortable for the user with smaller hands because of the device’s size. It is not backlit, but the brand identity on the back is in red color. It does not have any RGB zones, which is unusual for the best gaming mice.
In terms of construction quality, it is only acceptable. Despite the fact that the top part feels solid, the underside has a lot of stiffness, and you can activate the side button by squeezing it below with light force. As soon as you press one of the side buttons, you will feel it sink deep into the mouse.
The Left or Right-click buttons and scroll wheel in a claw grip may be difficult to reach with small hands, but other hand sizes may have no trouble. With a fingertip grip, it should be used only by people with large to extra-large hands. Reaching a button it might be difficult for those peoples who have small or medium hand sizes.
The rubber cable is not very flexible and retains kinks from its previous packaging. USB (2.0 and 3.0) interfaces are supported by the ZOWIE EC2, which comes with a 2m USB cable. When held in the hands, the cable is flexible, but it has a mediocre feel. In addition, the ZOWIE brand logo is to be embossed on the bulkhead of the USB connector, which is golden.
The bottom side of the ZOWIE EC2 reveals the true layout and beauty of the mouse’s design. The mouse has a slim and narrow design on the top side, and its design resembles a half-cut pear on the bottom side.
There are two glider pads on the top and bottom sides of the mouse. When you compared the rest of the mouse’s surface, they have a slightly elevated surface, which makes sense because these gliders will aid in the continuous motion of the mouse. The mouse feet are made of heavy-duty PTFE that glides smoothly on a desk or mouse pad. Due to the sharpening of two straight edges, there is a little scratchiness when the tool is used on a desk directly.
When looking at the mouse as a whole, it has a solid design with a very little gap between its top and left sides, which becomes even smaller as it gets closer to the mouse’s rear side. It allows you to ergonomically rest your thumb on the inset while drifting the mouse in the center of the lower part below the buttons. As you move towards the back, the inset becomes smaller. Additionally, the logo of BenQ is present on the more downside.
Performance
It is simple and quick to set up a ZOWIE EC2 mouse on your PC, which many gamers appreciate. If you are an intensive gamer on a fast machine, the polling rate of this mouse is ideal. If your configuration is modest and using a monitor that is less than 120Hz, you might want to consider using a polling rate to relieve some of the strain on your processor. You can adjust your DPI with a dedicated button, which cycles through four different modes. Indicator light indicates the level you are currently on.
If you are playing first-person shooters, you might be used to keeping your base DPI as low as possible. If you prefer to start with a higher DPI, which results in more drastic sensitivity adjustments, you can do so by pressing a button at the bottom of the screen.
The mouse weighs 95 grams or less, provides the most comfort for the majority of users. The weight restricts lifting from occurring as a result of rapid double-clicking. The ultra-light mouse is the main issue of fingertip grippers. I have a large hand and prefer a fingertip grip; the EC2’s weight gave me greater control during the FPS game. Flicking is simple in both claw and palm grips, and a medium-weighted mouse, such as the BenQ EC2, is ideal for controlling the level of rotation you want to make.
The shape is suitable for small to medium-sized hands and can be used with a variety of grips. The ZOWIE EC2 gaming mouse feels a little small in my large hand, especially when it comes to palm grip.
The EC2’s simple button layout and ergonomic design make it a great choice for a variety of games, including first-person shooters and strategy games. However, the lack of programmability and buttons make it a poor choice for an MMORPG especially the best mouse for World of War-craft.
The scroll wheel is extremely tactile, and it produces a satisfying, deliberate click when activated. It may take more effort than you are accustomed to zooming back and forth multiple levels in a row.
Even though the BenQ ZOWIE EC2 would be more user-friendly if the DPI adjustment button were located on the mouse top, perhaps beneath the scroll wheel, this design makes it more difficult to change the sensitivity setting accidentally.
Software
The BenQ ZOWIE EC2 is a plug-and-play mouse that requires no additional software or driver to operate. The absence of software and driver is both a curse and a blessing. For professional gamers, the simplicity of ZOWIE EC2 means consistency in performance regardless of the gaming rig being used. Your settings and profiles are not controlled or saved by lethargic software or buggy drivers, as is the case with many other systems.
However, suppose you need to use the mouse for something other than gaming. In that case, you’ll be frustrated by the lack of options available with the ZOWIE EC2 because DPI adjustment cannot be remapped to any of the available buttons unless the game’s settings are reconfigured in-game; this is a disappointment for gamers who prefer on-the-fly modification at their fingertips.
If you do demand mouse software, XMouse or Autohotkey are two options to consider. Neither allows for the storage of settings or profiles on the computer’s hard drive, but it will provide you with options on that computer system.
Reasons to Buy
Reasons to Avoid
Testing Results
With its excellent performance in first-person shooter games, the ZOWIE EC2 is a perfect choice. It feels responsive with low click latency, and the little curve in its layout should make it comfy to use despite its small size. Despite the fact that it is reasonably lightweight, the cable is not particularly flexible. The overall build quality of BenQ ZOWIE EC2 is simply good because of some curves at the mice button.
