The Zowie EC2-A (and EC1-A) has been lauded for many years now as one of the best gaming mice on the planet. You can read why that is in our full review here.
Users have been calling upon Zowie to implement the newer 3360 sensor in their lineup of mice for a while now and Zowie has answered the call in the form of the EC2-B and EC1-B mice.
Is this new version really an upgrade over the A series or is it a swing and a miss? Find out in our review below.
At a Glance
ZOWIE EC2-B
Used by 12 players ()-
clax
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ztr
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Kristou
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ramz1k
The EC series has been a staple of the gaming world (and mainly the CS:GO world, where it’s by far the most commonly used mouse) for some time now and with the B series Zowie has managed to, after a few QC hiccups with the first couple of batches, improve upon that tried and true design by adding the 3360 sensor.
Pros
- Improved sensor over the EC2-A
- Great shape
Cons
- Coating doesn’t feel good
- Tiny mouse feet feel like a step down from the larger feet
- Scroll wheel could be quieter
Specs
| Sensor | PMW 3360 |
|---|---|
| DPI | 400, 800, 1600, 3200 |
| Polling Rate | 125 / 500 / 1000 Hz |
| Button Switches | Huano |
| Connection | Wired |
| Shape | Ergonomic |
| Length | 12cm |
| Height | 4cm |
| Weight | 90g |
Impression
This is nothing new for most experienced gamers, but Zowie products are all about performance. RGB lighting and other shenanigans will not help you click heads ingame so Zowie doesn’t care about that stuff.
The EC2-B might look unassuming, but there’s plenty going on under the hood.
The EC2-B will not look out of place in class or in an office environment, since it doesn’t sport any LED strips or aggressive logos. It’s finished with a small (red) Zowie logo towards the back and a very small BenQ logo on the side.
The shape and feel of a mouse is one of the most important aspects of a gaming mouse. The EC2-B is a medium sized mouse (the EC1-B is the larger model) and weighs in at around 90 grams (3.2 ounces), which makes it a pretty light mouse.
It’s ergonomically shaped and features two side buttons on the left hand side. The shape has been designed to accommodate a wide variety of grip styles.
Packaging
All Zowie mice come in a sleekly designed matte black package and obviously the EC2-B is no exception to that. A huge plus in my opinion with Zowie mice is that, included in the package, you get a pair of replacement mouse feet for your mouse.
The EC2-B features no less than 16 replacement feet, meaning you can change all the feet on your mouse four times. Big ups to Zowie for that.
Shape, Coating, and Mouse Feet
Undoubtedly one of the major advantages of the EC series is the shape. Zowie made no changes to the widely lauded shape of the A series (at least no changes that I could personally notice) and that is by no means a bad thing. The shape of the EC series is simply one of the best on the market, so there is no reason whatsoever to be changing that around.
The EC2-B features an ergonomic design with a relatively safe shape. There are no awkward humps or features on the mouse which take time to get used to, nor are there any design choices where you’d be inclined to think ‘why would they do that?’ It’s not that easy to explain, but the EC2-B really has been expertly designed and you feel that once you hold the mouse. I try not to be too hyperbolical when describing features that I like, but the shape of the EC series really does deserve some love.
Let’s just say that there is a reason that so many people absolutely love the design of the EC series.
The side buttons are placed very conveniently, so they do not get in the way or are hard to reach. The mouse coating is not the best though, to put it rather kindly. It’s a kind of mixture of glossy and matte black, and though it does its job I personally didn’t like the feeling of it very much. I’ve seen people reporting that they found the coating to be pretty slippery, but that was not the case on my model, even with my hands getting pretty sweaty when I’m gaming for long periods of time.
What I did notice was that the mouse tends to pick up on oils and sweat pretty easily and quickly, which can make the surface of the mouse feel a bit icky, so to speak. I’m pretty sensitive to that stuff (which is why I never use glossy mice) and it’s solved relatively quickly by cleaning the mouse, but it’s still a bit of a downside.
The mouse feet on the B series have been changed, with Zowie going for four small mouse feet as opposed to the two large feet featured on the A series. This makes the B series glide a bit faster and more aggressively than the A in my opinion, but whether you like that or not is obviously a matter of preference. I tend to prefer larger mouse feet, but I can’t say that I had any real issues using these.
The DPI button is located on the bottom of the mouse, which has been done to eliminate the possibility of accidentally clicking it while ingame. I don’t have an issue with that since I don’t change DPI on the fly during gaming, but gamers who like to do so should take note of this.
Grip
One of the most important aspects (arguably the most important aspect, depending on the genre) of a gaming mouse is the ‘fit’. If you don’t feel comfortable holding a mouse then it doesn’t matter if it has all of the best components.
Shape and comfort is one of Zowie’s major focus points with their mice and the EC2-B is another worthy addition to their lineup in that regard.
This is where the EC2-B really shines. The mouse will fit nearly all grip types (depending on the size of your hands, of course) and is shaped in a way that requires virtually no break in time. Most gamers will find little to no issue getting used to this one. If you are having doubts on whether or not you’ll like this one and want to try out the shape you can grab an EC2-A, since the shape has (luckily) not been changed.
Buttons and Scroll Wheel
The left and right clicks provide a rather heavy, though crisp and uniform clicking experience. There are definitely mice out there with a lighter click, though that doesn’t have to be a problem, as some people (including myself) prefer their clicks to be a bit sturdier. When the EC2-B initially came out there were complaints about the clicks feeling mushy, but I can’t say that I have experienced that on this copy.
The side buttons seem to be improved in comparison to the A series. They feature a little less travel time and a more uniform click. They’re still not the very best out there (the side button towards the back felt a tad mushy to me) but they do the job just fine.
The scroll wheel has fewer steps than most mice and also feels rather rigid. This will please some people and annoy others. The reasoning behind having fewer and more defined steps means that it’s harder to accidentally skip a step when you’re switching weapons using the scroll wheel, for example. This is fine for gaming but it’s not ideal for browsing because of the fewer steps. Additionally, the scroll wheel is also quite loud when compared with most other gaming mice.
Build Quality and Cable
I put every mouse that I review through a phase of rigorous scientific testing, which includes slamming the mouse on the desk for a few times and squeezing it as hard as I can to see if there’s nothing rattling or making noise when it shouldn’t be. The EC2-B did fine in all of those tests.
When I do a quick long flick or fast sudden movements I can hear a bit of a ‘tick’ sound when I stop the mouse or change directions, but it’s not loud enough to annoy me and I also can’t feel anything moving.
Previous iterations of the EC2-B had an issue with coil whine, where the micro vibrations of the sensor produced a rather high pitched beeping tone, which could get quite noticeable on some units. Zowie has since released a statement saying that they were working on fixing that, and on my unit I had no issues with coil whine, despite using the mouse (and leaving it plugged in) for days. Mine is from the 3/18 batch, for reference.
I obviously can’t say with confidence that the issue has been fixed for all units, but my mouse was quiet throughout the entire review process. When I put my ear up right next to the mouse in a completely silent environment I was able to make out a very quiet buzzing sound, but that’s not something you’ll be able to hear during normal usage (even if you listen for it) so that’s a non issue for me.
As per usual the cable on the EC2-B is great. It’s a thin and flexible rubber cable, which will not get in the way of your gameplay, even if you’re not using a mouse bungee, so as per Zowie tradition the cable is an absolute plus.
Sensor and Daily Performance
The main reason for the existence of the EC2-B is the 3360 sensor which is now included in the mouse. The 3360 is a flawless sensor which will not spin out under any conditions, not even when tilt-slamming it (which is the only way you can make the 3310, which is another popular sensor, spin out) so as expected the performance is absolutely flawless.
I test the sensors of mice in Paint (to check for smoothing and other cardinal gaming mice sins) and a variety of games, including FPS Aim Trainer, Overwatch and less aim intensive games, and the performance of the EC2-B has been stellar all throughout. We all know how good the 3360 is, so no surprises on that front.
The EC2-B (as with all Zowie mice) is plug and play, meaning that you just have to plug it in and it works. No messing around with drivers or software; connect it, set your DPI and polling rate (which is done through buttons on the bottom of the mouse) and get to clicking heads.
Zowie EC2-B Conclusion
The EC series has been a staple of the gaming world (and mainly the CS:GO world, where it’s by far the most commonly used mouse) for some time now and with the B series Zowie has managed to, after a few QC hiccups with the first couple of batches, improve upon that tried and true design by adding the 3360 sensor.
The major changes in my opinion are the mouse feet and the inclusion of a 3360 sensor, but you can check out the differences between their. The side buttons have had some improvements and the coating has changed (and not for the better), but those changes are rather minor in my opinion.
It’ll be up to the consumer to decide whether or not the changes that Zowie has made are enough to justify the purchase of an EC2-B if they have a perfectly functioning EC2-A, but the EC2-B series is, despite a few flaws, definitely a top tier mouse and a logical successor to the immensely popular EC2-A.
This product was received for free from the manufacturer and given to our reviewer to test and review. Brands and manufacturers have no editorial control over our reviews. For more information, check out our review FAQ.
should i buy ec2-a or ec2-b?
If you’re interested in the EC I’d actually recommend the EC2-C or the EC2 if you can’t find that one. More info on the different versions can be found here: https://on-winning.com/zowie-ec-differences/
I would love a light mouse that would fit my hand size also I would like a mouse that the cable is more flexible or without a cable. I don’t mind the clicks. My biggest worry about getting a mouse is that it will be too small or too heavy for me and thats why I asked. Also thanks for the reply(:
If you’re into bigger mice and you want to go wireless you might want to take a look at the DeathAdder V2 Pro: that’s wireless and has a reasonably light weight. There’s also the G Pro (X) by Logitech. That has a far more neutral shape so if you’re looking for a lightweight ergonomic shape that might not be the one for you. The Glorious Model D is also a very decent option if you like the EC style shape.
Hi
I love the comparison,
I was wondering which mouse to get because I recently started playing valorant but I have a mmo mouse.
I’ve got a 20.5cm hand and I haven’t established whether I claw or palm yet. What do you think I should get. Price doesn’t matter.
That’s a really difficult question to answer because there are a LOT of great mice out there these days. With your hand size you might want to go for an EC1 (though that would also depend a bit on your grip) but to give a more tailored answer to this question I’d need to know more: do you prefer light weight or does weight not matter? Are you sensitive to rigid cables or not? Do you want light clicks or heavy clicks? Those kinds of things. To ‘get started’ on gaming mice you can always read our Valorant mouse article, that one has some great mice for you to check out!
do i buy the s2 or ec2b ive used the g502 and the mm711 i like the mm711 shape more but my heart is telling me to go with the ec2 what do u think?
Well if you want the EC2 then I’d say go with that. A very important aspect for mouse is that it suits you, so if you feel like the EC2 is going to be the best fit then by all means go for that. It’s very different in your actual hand than both the G502 and the MM711 so I wouldn’t put too much stock into that. Though of course the MM711 is symmetrical, and the S series is too, so if you feel like the neutral and symmetrical shape is the deciding factor for you I’d go for the S.
Hello,i want to know the native dpi of this mouse if it’s possible thanks
These newer sensors don’t really have a native DPI in the sense of having one DPI step where the mouse performs optimally. As long as you stay between 400 and 2000 with this sensor you should be completely fine!
Hello! I have a g203 is the only mouse I tried, my hand is 19 cm and obviously this mouse is too small for me. I use a semi-claw grip for the size of the mouse. I think I could adapt to a palm style with a bigger mouse. What do you recommend the mouse? I was between ec1b and s1 , ec2b?
If you want to stay with an ambidextrous design then the S1 is a fantastic mouse with a top tier shape. If you want to try a more formed mouse the EC1 seems like the best bet, so I guess it depends on what your preferences are.
Hi there,
Having trouble binding Mouse 4 / 5 to things in CS:GO…. is this normal on the Zowie EC2-B ?
I’ve had the EC2-B for a number of years now but only just getting back into playing CS again after I retired 8 years ago.
For some reason I’m trying to bind Mouse 4 / 5 to cl_righthand 0 & cl_righthand 1 so I can quickswitch between the two while playing but it doesn’t work anymore like it did in 1.6 / source.
Any help?
Hi! I don’t really know why that is, I have things bound to those buttons (though not cl_righthand to be honest) and never had any issues so I’m afraid I can’t really help you. Make sure you use the correct command though: bind mouse5 “toggle cl_righthand 0 1”
Hi, my hands are 19-20 cm long and around 9cm wide. I have been using Roccat Kone XTD as I moved from playing games like LOL to CS:GO. I was kind of fine with the size but sometimes felt a bit sluggish especially with flicks. Would EC1 or EC2 be better for me?
From what I’m reading it sounds like you might prefer smaller feeling mice, so I’d recommend the EC2.
I have 19.5×10.5 cm hand and I’m concerned if it would be too small for me. What do you think?
I think you might be right on the edge, so to speak. If you like a more filling mouse I’d go for the EC1, but if you don’t mind a smaller feeling mouse I do believe that the EC2-B could still work. Except if you’re really going for a full palm grip, then I’d recommend the EC1.
please tell me, what should I choose between EC2-B and FK2 if I am a palm user? which one is better?
I would say that the EC2-B is a better fit for you then; the FK is very flat and offers very little palm support.
Hi, i am currently using Bloody AL90 B Blasing Laser and i am quite comfortable with it i have 18 x 9 cm. Should i go for EC2-A or EC1-A ( EC1-A is the last choice, EC2-A have been sold out).
I’d go for the newest EC2 iteration in either the regular black or the Divina version if you prefer glossy mice. We’ve got a handy overview of all the different EC models here: https://on-winning.com/zowie-ec-differences/.
I have two mice in my hand, the current opponent 310 rgb and corsair dark core rgb Do you think you should continue on your way with corsair? It seems strange to me that my hand gets used to 310 Corsair. In my head I have the following mouse to buy rival 710 logitech g703 razer deathradder elite and zowie ec2b which one do you think makes sense?
I would also appreciate if you would like to get the mechanical keyboard which is also the price performance product.
It all depends on your personal preferences. I don’t have any experience with the Corsair you mentioned, but I do know that the G703, DA Elite and EC2-B are top products. SteelSeries mice are great too but it’s been a while since I’ve done in-depth testing on them. I am not sure what you’re asking about the mechanical keyboard though, if you could elaborate that would be great.
I’ve been using the EC-2B for 3 days now, and I feel the glides on it are “over-smooth”, it’s as if like it is too fast even after lowering my sensitivity (2.5@400 to 2@400). Is this normal? Mousepad is Zowie G-SR btw, bought after seeing your reviews.
That could be because of the four smaller mouse feet which does give it a pretty different glide from most other mice. It’s something you need to get used to I’m afraid, or if you still can trade it out for a Divina EC2-B, those have the two bigger mouse feet.
Does this become a major disadvantage for low sens gaming, or is it good after getting used to it? Unfortunately I can’t trade it for the divina edition. Thank You for your reply
I got used to it after a while, though I do prefer the larger feet myself. That said, I did get used to the feet so there’s no real problem in my opinion. But your experience could be different of course.
Why pros use a lot more the EC2-A instead of just using the new EC2-B?
The EC2-A is an older model but it still works perfectly fine as a top tier gaming mouse, so most pros stick to what they’re used to and haven’t had a reason or desire to upgrade.
i am currently using a razer DA elite and i am quite comfortable with it. which mouse would you suggest? ec-1b or 2b?
The EC1-B is closer when it comes to the size of the DA Elite so I would recommend that one.
The EC2-B Black Sensor (even tho its 3360) still has spin out problems. So saying that it doesnt spin out at all is wrong.
The only EC series which doesnt spin out at all is the Divina EC series.
It didn’t spin out in my testing which is why I said that. I can only test what’s in front of me. That said I have been reading some reports on spinout with the EC2-B so I’ll try to see if that’s very widespread issue and add it to the review if necessary.
Currently using a Steelseries Sensei 310 and pretty satisfied (but haves some problems when I spray, it stops shortly and shoots again after that, so I may return it) – if it’s the case, I can spend a bit more. Would the EC2-B be the right for me? Or should I go for something bigger or smaller?
Thanks in advance.
The shapes aren’t really alike. If you like the shape of the Sensei I’d recommend the DM1 FPS or maybe something like the FK or S series. That said the EC series has a super comfortable shape so if you feel like trying something new I can definitely recommend that as well. I can’t really give size recommendations without knowing your hand size and grip style however.
Thanks for your reply^^ I tried a lot of logitech mice what I can say is: In terms of the quality of the material they are top, maybe the best, but it’s actually scary how uncomfortable all the mice of the G series are. The hump towards the back literally kills it for me. I think I will try out the Ec2b, since the return policy here in Switzerland for peripherals is 14 days and no problem.
I know what you mean, but the shape of the G Pro Wireless is a big step forward in my opinion. That said, the EC is definitely a super comfortable series of mice so you can’t go wrong with them on that front.
How does Mb1 & Mb2 feel while clicking? Can I spam the buttons like on my Deathadder Elite?
I really want to try out the shape, but I’m not sure if the huano switches will do their job in Mobas, which I play quite often.
I definitely feel like I can spam ’em, but I don’t play MOBAs, so I don’t quite have to spam as much as you do, haha. If you play MOBAs a lot I would honestly recommend you to check out another mouse. Logitech’s mice have amongst the best clicks in the business if you ask me.
Hey I currently have a Razer Deathadder. It fits me pretty well. Should I go for the Medium or the Large version?
If you like the size of the Razer DeathAdder Elite you should go for the Zowie EC1-B.