Introduction
For years, Zowie esports mice have dominated the professional CS:GO scene with a variety of gaming peripherals, being lauded mostly for their mice and their super comfortable and amazing-to-use shapes. At the very top, the Zowie EC2-A has made a name for itself as the most used CS:GO gaming mouse, being the top choice of CS:GO professionals for quite some time now.
A mouse that’s so universally loved among professional players has to be something really special, so we sent a copy over to one of our reviewers to find out just how good it is, and if it still holds up in today’s market. Spoiler alert: it’s really good.
There is no better choice for our first gaming mouse review on ProSettings.net. Read our full Zowie EC2-A review to find out why.
At a Glance
ZOWIE EC2-A
Used by 3 players ()-
Aerial
-
Aitzy
This is easily one of the best shapes I’ve ever had the pleasure of holding and this is immediately something which sets Zowie apart from its competitors; when it comes to shape there’s no brand quite like Zowie.
Pros
- Fantastic shape
Cons
- Loud scroll wheel
- Side buttons feel mushy
Specs
| Sensor | PMW 3310 |
|---|---|
| DPI | 400, 800, 1600, 3200 |
| Polling Rate | 125 / 500 / 1000 Hz |
| Button Switches | Huano |
| Connection | Wired |
| Shape | Ergonomic |
| Length | 12cm |
| Height | 4cm |
| Weight | 92g |
| Width | 6.6cm |
Initial Impressions
The first thing you notice about the EC2-A (like with all Zowie mice) is that it sports a particularly discrete design. It doesn’t have aggressive logos or wild patterns on the mouse and the only ‘gamer’ aspect of the mouse is the fact that the scroll wheel lights up.
Make no mistake. This mouse is designed for esports.
The mouse is finished with a small Zowie logo towards the back and an even smaller BenQ logo (which is barely visible) on the left side of the mouse. You definitely won’t attract a lot of moths when you use this mouse in the dark, but that is part of Zowie’s design philosophy.
One of the most important considerations when deciding on a mouse is the mouse size and weight. The EC2-A is considered “medium size” in Zowie’s size categories, and also falls into the middle of the pack when compared with other esports mice.
Weighing in at roughly 90 grams (3.2 ounces) it is one of the lighter esports mice, without sacrificing design shape and size.
Packaging
The packaging is the least important aspect of a gaming mouse, but I thought I’d mention it anyway because there’s a nice surprise in there. When you open the sleekly designed box you are greeted with the mouse, the usual user manual stuff, a sticker, and two spare mouse feet.
The inclusion of spare mouse feet is a particularly nice touch that most other mouse companies do not include, so bonus points to Zowie for that one.
Shape, Coating, and Mouse Feet
One of the first things people talk about when they hear the name Zowie is the fact that their mice are just so damn comfortable, and I have to say that this reputation is in no way an undeserved one. Every little curve and bump on the mouse seems to have been carefully designed and tweaked throughout many iterations until they managed to come up with the perfect feeling.
Obviously, there are many mice out there that feel comfortable, but there’s just something about the EC series which sets it apart from the others. It’s something you have to feel for yourself, and since the shape of the mouse is a pretty ‘safe’ one (there are no large humps anywhere and the mouse doesn’t ‘force you’ to hold it in a certain way). I feel like most gamers looking for an ergonomic rodent will agree with me on this one.
This is easily one of the best shapes I’ve ever had the pleasure of holding and this is immediately something that sets Zowie apart from its competitors; when it comes to shape there’s no brand quite like Zowie.
The only minor downside I could find is that if you want to change your DPI (the color of the scroll wheel indicates what DPI setting the mouse is on) you’ll have to reach underneath the mouse, since the button for that is located on the bottom. This however is a strong consideration for competitive gamers. If the DPI button was located on the top there is a possibility that a misclick would change your DPI.
The Zowie EC2-A is finished with a non-glossy plastic throughout, so no rubber grips anywhere or textured elements that can get sticky.
The EC2-A features two rather large mouse feet located on either end of the mouse. These provide a very smooth and controlled glide.
Recommended Grip Types
Key points of concern for grip type are often described in relation to hand size and comfort. Not unlike choosing the perfect shoe, a grip will tend to follow your playstyle and different scenarios you come across when playing. The EC2-A is shaped in a way that will benefit all sorts of grip styles, in my opinion.
Zowie mice are specifically designed for flexible use, with shape and ergonomic use being key focus points. The EC2-A is definitely a prime example of that design philosophy.
The combination of shape, coating, and weight distribution all culminate in a mouse that is incredibly pleasant to use, both for gaming and office purposes. Most larger ergonomic mice feel a bit ‘bulkier’ when quickly swiping or doing fast movements, but the EC2-A doesn’t suffer from that at all.
The mouse has virtually no break in time and doesn’t need a lot of time to get used to its shape. It was an absolute pleasure all throughout my time with it. When you’re gaming and you kind of forget that you’re holding a mouse you know you’ve got a good one, and that is absolutely the case with the Zowie EC2-A.
Buttons and Scroll Wheel
The Zowie EC2-A has a pretty heavy, though crisp clicking experience. Both clicks sound and feel the same, so no issues there. I’m not personally a fan of super light clicks so for me, the clicks on the EC2-A are real winners.
I didn’t find myself accidentally clicking a button or accidentally double-clicking and the buttons have a pleasant tactile feel to them. The side buttons are located very conveniently (they do not get in the way whatsoever during gameplay) but it has to be said that they do have quite a bit of travel time and feel a bit mushy. When you press them you kind of go ‘in’ the shell of the mouse so I’d have liked to see a bit less travel time here.
The scroll wheel is rather loud (at least in comparison to some other gaming mice out there) but it does have pretty satisfying and easy-to-feel steps to it and it’s easy enough to press. The mouse wheel is designed that way to make it easier to use for gaming-related actions, so people who select their weapons (or spells or what have you) with scroll will not accidentally skip past a weapon, for example. I rather liked the scroll, but being that it’s pretty different from most other mice not everyone will immediately fall in love with this one.
Build Quality and Cable
There is no sensor rattle, nor is there anything moving or rattling when I’m moving the mouse or doing quick flicks. I also slammed it down on the desk a few times (gotta know if it stands up to raging gamers) and it handled that just fine without anything coming loose or making a sound.
I obviously haven’t been using it for years so I can’t comment on durability, but from what I can tell the mouse has a really solid build quality. I hate it when you can hear (or even worse: feel) a bunch of stuff moving around in a mouse when you’re out there doing quick flicks and what have you, so the fact that the EC2-A remained perfectly silent throughout my review process is a huge plus for me.
The thin rubber cable is 2 meters (6.6 feet) long, and I love it. It’s very lightweight and flexible and it doesn’t seem to get in the way at all, even if I don’t pop it in my mouse bungee. I’m not a fan of bulky or braided cables (though I don’t imagine that any competitive FPS player is a fan of bulky cables) so Zowie keeps building on their ‘it just feels so good’ reputation by opting for this type of cable.
Sensor and Everyday Performance
In order to use the mouse you just have to plug it in, and that’s it. No need to mess around with software or make an account or any of those shenanigans. That’s also part of Zowie’s ‘let’s cut the talk and walk the walk’ philosophy: just plug in, set your DPI (you can choose between 400, 800, 1600, and 3200) and get to fragging.
This does mean that you can’t reprogram what the buttons on the mouse do and you also can’t choose which color the scroll wheel will be (as that is dependent on the DPI setting that you’ve chosen) but to me that is no problem at all.
The shape is so nicely done that I had no issues picking up the mouse whatsoever, even after a prolonged gaming session. The mouse is also very nicely balanced. It’s not top- or bottom-heavy, which is a definite plus. When it gets tense in games (and when doesn’t it get tense in competitive FPS games?) my hands tend to become rather sweaty which can cause problems with certain mouse coatings, but even after a few hours of gaming I had no problems with the EC2-A.
The shape is definitely the standout factor, but the mouse itself tracked my every movement with perfection and I didn’t have it fail on me once. When I’m testing mice I like to put them through a couple of rounds of aim maps because it gives me the ability to judge the tracking of the mouse as well as the comfort, since they can be pretty ‘hard on the hands’ due to the fast-paced aiming you need to pull off. The EC2-A definitely aced those tests and I had no issues with it whatsoever.
Conclusion
The hype around this mouse has been insane in certain parts of the gaming community, and that, to me, is entirely justified. I’m usually pretty keen on finding flaws in hyped-up products or shows (yes, I’m that kinda guy) but I can say with full confidence that this is one of the best mice I’ve ever had the pleasure of using.
The shape (click here to compare all different Zowie mice) of the EC2-A is the best that I’ve ever had, the sensor didn’t trip up once, the clicks feel satisfying and consistent, … The mouse fit perfectly for my style of grip, but I am pretty confident that all grip styles will work with this mouse (depending on the size of your hands) because of its pretty safe shape.
It’s not all perfect though; the side buttons can sometimes feel a bit mushy and cheap. The scroll wheel is also pretty loud and feels ‘just okay,’ though having an okay scroll wheel is by no means a downside.
In summary, if you are looking for a top-tier gaming mouse the Zowie EC2-A definitely deserves a spot on the top of your list with its absolutely amazing shape, lightweight, precise buttons, and top-tier performance.
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.
Hi, i have 19.5 x 11 hands, should i go for the ec2 or ec1?
Depends on whether you like a smaller feeling mouse or not. If you like a filling feeling I would go for the EC1 though.
Hi, I have 18,5cm x 10,5cm Hand. and i using claw grip is this a good choice?
It depends on a number of factors: the EC2 is a great mouse (beware that this EC2-A is an older version; you’ll want to look at the EC2) but of course it has to suit you. For claw grip and that hand size, as long as you like the ergonomic design and the features that it offers the EC2 is a really good mouse, but a lot comes down to subjective factors (such as shape, buttons, cable, weight, …).
Hi, I have 18cm x 10cm Hand.
I am looking for EC2 or S2, which u recomend?
I use steelseries rival 310 , and i feel is too big for me.
It depends on your grip style. The EC is an ergonomic mouse and the S2 is an ambidextrous mouse so they feel very different in your hands.
Hey,i have question,which mouse has lighter clicks ec2-a white or ec2-b black,i played in my friends house on ec2-b and found myself clicking and shooting by accident few times.
I think that the newer versions have slightly more responsive clicks which could be the reason for the misclicks.
Hi, great website, thank you for your work.
My hand size: 19,5 cm x 10,6cm.
I would like to use finger grip to play my fps (CS 1.6, CS GO, PUBG).
I prefer the finger grip because I can micro move the mouse in my hande.
Finger move>Wrist move>Arm Move
So, is the EC2-A a good mouse for my usage?
However, I am concerned about something: I love to play at 1200 dpi, and this mouse don’t have it by defaut, it is possible by any mean to save my favorite DPI? Any BenQ mouse software?
PS: I prefer the white version, does it glide so much when your hands are sweaty?
Thanks for the kind words! Glad you’re enjoying it! Generally speaking the EC isn’t really recommended for fingertip grippers due to the ergonomic shape. Of course (I always stress this) it all comes down to preferences: us reviewers can give you some guidelines but in the end it’s you who has to use the mouse so keep that in mind when you get any advice on the internet.
Zowie doesn’t have any software and as such there’s no way for you to get to 1200 DPI unfortunately. If you do want to use an EC shape there’s always the Glorious Model D, though. For fingertip grip I can recommend you to take a look at the Endgame Gear XM1, or perhaps the Logitech G Pro Wired (called the ‘G Pro Gaming Mouse’ these days I think) or the Logitech G305. Again: these are only guidelines but I hope it helps a bit.
What are the “best” csgo pros who use the EC2-A specifically?
Magisk, device, electronic, and ropz use an EC2, to give an example. These players are all in the HLTV Top 20 for 2019, but you can check all of that out (and more) in our pro lists and mouse guides.
Hi man my hand size is 18×9
Should i get large or medium pls help me
Depends on your grip, but I would go for the EC2-A based on what I’m reading, unless you really like larger feeling mice.
19.5cm x 10.5cm hand size and claw grip
What do you recommend?
For claw and that hand size I like to recommend the S series or the FK series from Zowie. There are obviously many other claw style mice but since you replied to a Zowie review I thought I’d stick to that.
How to switch HZ on EC2-a ?
Just looked up the manual for you.
‘Adjusting USB report rate
To adjust USB report rate, press the button(s) described below while plugging the mouse into the USB port of your computer.
Button 5 : 500 Hz
Button 4 : 1000 Hz
Button 4 + 5 : 125 Hz’
Button 5 = the ‘mouse 5’ side button (the one furthest towards the back) while button 4 is the other one.
Which is better for a 19.5cm by 11cm palm footprint? My impression of use is that EC2-B makes having a greater hand contact with the mousepad.
I’m not sure what you’re asking here. If you’re wondering about the size then the EC1 is the bigger mouse (though I’d say both could work for palm grip with your hand size, but obviously the 1 is better if you like a more filling feeling).
I Have 18.5 x 10 cm handsize and i am using claw grip. I want to know if this is the right mouse for me or maybe some other suggestions. Thank you a lot <3
The size should fit you nicely, but maybe it’s a good idea to go with the EC2-B in either the regular version or the Divina version, since those have upgraded sensors. Aside from that I can’t really tell you a lot without knowing your preferences etc., but the EC is definitely a great mouse!
I have 17 X 8 cm and i use palm grip
Is this mouse good for me ????
Should be good yeah, if you like the specs and shape.
Hi there, I’m having a hard time choosing between EC1 and EC2.
I used to have the Microsoft Intellimouse 3.0 when I first started my gaming career and I really liked it since day 1 although it felt slightly large sometimes.
Now I have the Logitech G603 and it just feels heavy and the coating makes it quite slippery although the size feels right.
I have 19 X 9.5 cm and I use claw grip.
I would go with the EC2-A in that case, that’ll probably feel best if you don’t like larger feeling mice.
Hello prosettings can you help me to picking up mouse please? back in 2016 I was using steelseries sensei raw until mid 2018 I had to change it because right click of the mouse kinda broken and sometimes usb disconnect itself. I like the shape of it and comfortable using it both online and LAN.
then I’m switching to zowie ec1-a and hit the biggest slump of my life like not qualified to any local lan with my team + right now I’m teamless 🙁
could you help me to choose the mouse? right now I don’t know if I should pick ec2/fk2/fk1. which one of those three have similiar shape+size with steelseries sensei raw?
why don’t I just buy another steelseries raw? because I don’t want to install steelseries engine again.
The FK line is definitely closer to the shape of the Sensei, much more so than the EC line, so I’d look at that. If you really like that shape I’d certainly recommend a look at the Dream Machines DM1 FPS as well.
I’ve heard people complaining about their ec2-as getting broken fast, I’m planning to buy it with with my only shot at getting an expensive mouse so I am wondering how often these issues happen and what is the average lifespan of zowie ec2-as?
(Also can you recommend me other mice that are not so expensive, long lasting, and with good performance)
Handsize: 19×9.5cm
Claw grip
I actually haven’t read an outrageous amount of comments on the durability of the EC2-A. I obviously use a lot of different mice throughout the year (since I have to review them) but some friends of mine have had theirs for years now and haven’t noted any issues.
What’s worth noting is that people online are far more likely to comment when something has gone wrong with their product or order as opposed to when everything’s fine. You don’t see many people posting online to say that their products are absolutely fine and still in working order after X amount of time, for example.
The average lifespan of the EC2-A isn’t something I can rightfully comment on, as it depends on several factors. If you take care of your mouse (by which I mean you don’t bash it around or pick it up by the cable etc.) it will last you for years. Factory defects are always possible, but that’s when you use your guarantee.
As far as price is concerned: a good gaming mouse (with a good sensor) is always going to be costing more than your average office mouse. Getting the best gaming gear isn’t necessarily cheap (especially not once you delve into gaming monitors and PC internals) so there’s always going to be a price hump that you have to get over if you want to buy the best stuff.
Hello. My hand size is 16 – 16.5 cm / 9 – 9.5 cm. I am always playing between claw and fingertip grip. Should I buy this mouse or Do you recommend another mouses for FPS games ? Thank you.
For that grip style and hand size I’d say the mouse is probably going to be a slight tad too large for you. The FK2 or ZA13 might be a good shout for you, or if you like ergonomic mice you could try out the Roccat Kone Pure Owl Eye. Of course if you can find somewhere to test the EC2-A out in person and it suits you fine then that’s great as well. Each person is different and these size guides etc. are obviously just guidelines.
my handsize is 18×10.5, i use hybrid grips and rather small than bigger shapes, but i like the ec2a/deathadder kind of shape
should I be good with this ec2a/b or should I go for another mouse?
The Zowie EC2-A should fit your handsize really well and considering you like the shape it should be a good pickup for you.
For the moment I’m using the Death adder elite Which one should i get to match the deathadder elite’s Size? Thanks a lot
You should get the EC1-A in that case, the dimensions are almost the same as the DA Elite.
Have a hand about 18×9.5
Right now I’m using razer deathadder,looking for a lighter mouse
I’m a claw grip guy
Fk2 kinda got my attention also za 12 as well
Any suggestion on which zowie mouse should I get?
Much love to you
If you’re a claw gripper I’d go for the FK2. The ZA12 has a more pronounced hump towards the back which isn’t really useful for claw grippers, whereas the FK2 has a lower profile which will more easily allow you to claw the mouse.
if i have 18.5 cm hands i can play with ec2a with the normal grip ?
The EC2-A should suit your hand size just fine I think. It’s a safe shape so it works with most grip sizes if your hand fits the mouse, which should be the case for you.