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Introduction
The ZOWIE FK line of mice is one of their most beloved product lines. Ever since the release of ZOWIE’s first wireless mice, we’ve seen countless requests for the FK to go wireless, so when we first started listing pro players using wireless FK models fans were understandably excited. With a 3950 sensor, a weight of 65 grams, and a flawless wireless connection, this should be everything that loyal fans have been dreaming of. In our full ZOWIE FK2-DW review, you’ll find out whether or not it lives up to the hype.
At A Glance
ZOWIE FK2-DW
Used by 9 players ()-
Snax
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Wicadia
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Calyx
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GeT_RiGhT
A lot of people have been waiting a long time for the ZOWIE FK2-DW, and if you’re a fan of the ZOWIE experience then this mouse will absolutely not disappoint.
Pros
- Great, safe shape
- Great build quality
- Lots of extras in the box
- Comes with a charging dock, which is handy for high polling rate mice
- Coating performs well
Cons
- Battery life is subpar (though this is offset by the charging dock)
- Lack of optical switches might be a dealbreaker to some
- Side buttons can feel difficult to tell apart at times
Specs
| Sensor | PAW3950 |
|---|---|
| DPI | 400, 800, 1600, 3200 |
| Polling Rate | 125 / 250 / 500 / 1000 / 2000 / 4000 Hz |
| Button Switches | Huano |
| Button Force | 82.5g |
| Connection | Wireless |
| Length | 12.5cm |
| Height | 3.6cm |
| Weight | 65g |
| Width | 6.5cm |
First Impressions
Packaging
ZOWIE mice always have a ton of extras in the packaging, and that hasn’t changed. The box includes:
- The mouse itself
- A quickstart guide
- The enhanced receiver (which doubles as a charging dock)
- A set of replacement mouse skates
- A set of alternative control skates
- A regular 1000Hz dongle, along with a dongle extender
- User documentation
- USB-C to USB-A cable for charging
If you read my reviews semi-regularly, you’ll know that I am excited by this. Not only is there a set of replacement feet in the box, but ZOWIE also includes an alternative set of feet that offer a more controlling experience.
To top it off, there are also two receivers in the box. This means that you can, for example, use the enhanced receiver at your gaming PC and plug the regular 1000Hz receiver into your work laptop.
ZOWIE’s mice are priced at the top end of the spectrum (the MSRP is $149.99) but you do get a lot in return.
The Mouse
If you’ve seen a ZOWIE mouse in your life, you’ll know what to expect. These are not mice that try to draw any attention. The FK2-DW is a regular black mouse with a small and subtle ZOWIE logo at the back hump and a blacked out (and barely visible) BenQ Logo on the back of the left side panel. This mouse will fit into any setup without problems.
Experienced ZOWIE users might notice a change when inspecting the bottom. ZOWIE’s traditional black feet have made way for their white speed skates, which is something that has been commonly requested for some time now. People who loved their black skates needn’t worry, as a set of the trusty old ZOWIE feet is included in the packaging.
All in all, ZOWIE have stayed true to their original design, and that’s a good thing if you ask me. Seeing a ZOWIE mouse with holes in its shell, for example, would feel wrong to me—and I doubt I’m alone.
Important to note is that -at the time of writing- only the FK2 is available as a wireless model. The larger FK1 and FK1+ versions have not gone wireless yet.
Shape, Coating, and Mouse Feet
For reference: my hands are 18×10.5 cm and I use a regular claw grip.
Shape
The ZOWIE FK is one of the most copied shapes in the gaming mouse scene, and for good reason. This is a flat, very neutral ambidextrous mouse that feels good no matter how you hold it.
Like most ambi mice, the FK2-DW gets smaller towards the middle and expands at the back. The difference in width between the middle and front sections isn’t significant (though noticeable), so there’s plenty of room for minor grip adjustments. The back gets a little bit wider, which helps with locking the mouse down.
At the front, there’s an overhang to aid with picking the mouse up, and we also see some very subtle comfort grooves in the main buttons.
We then move on to the hump, and this is almost non-existent. It’s centered, but very gradual, and that combined with the low overall height of the mouse makes for a product that feels very flat.
This flatness is partially what gives the FK2-DW such a versatile shape. Depending on your grip style, you can place it further back (allowing the back flare to come into contact with your hand) or you can move it forward, which practically eliminates any palm-to-mouse contact. This also means it’s great for people who like to switch it up when gaming, as the mouse doesn’t lock your fingers into a certain position.
These days, the FK2 definitely isn’t the only mouse offering this type of shape (as mentioned, many have cloned the FK) but it’s still one of the best if you ask me. There’s an intuitive, natural feel to ZOWIE’s design that’s hard to articulate. The shape isn’t for me (it’s too flat for my liking) but I can definitely see why this is such a revered mouse.
Shape vs Other ZOWIE Mice
ZOWIE aims to offer a variety of different shapes that all have the same specs. That way, people can simply pick what suits them best without having to worry about which one is ‘better’.
In ZOWIE’s lineup, the FK2-DW is the flat ambidextrous mouse. There is also the S (with a higher hump), the U (with a higher hump and thinner grip) and the ZA (with a high hump that’s situated at the back).
Coating
ZOWIE’s coating isn’t the best at handling fingerprints and other smudges, but that’s my only complaint. The grip and overall performance is very good across a variety of conditions. I’ve used a ZOWIE EC3-DW as my (unexpected) main for months and that coating never failed me, so I’m quite happy that they haven’t made any big changes on this front.
If I got to choose myself, I’d go for a slightly grainier coating that stays looking clean for a little longer, but performance-wise, recent ZOWIE coatings are top of the bill.
Mouse Feet
ZOWIE’s DW mice come with their speed skates installed. These are a bit faster than the traditional black skates that the brand has historically used, but I wouldn’t necessarily call these super speedy or anything. The difference between the black set and the white set also isn’t massive. The white ones are a little bit slicker, but that’s it.
Both sets are smooth and glide well right out of the box, so for me these are fine.
Recommended Grip Types
In my eyes, the ZOWIE FK2-DW is a good choice for fingertip and claw grippers. Due to the very flat nature of the shell, it’s not a suitable mouse for people who use a palm-dominant grip.
Buttons and Scroll Wheel
Buttons
Underneath the main buttons, ZOWIE uses its trusted HUANO switches. These are mechanical mouse switches that are known for being on the heavier side.
Despite the fact that my preference leans more towards optical switches these days, I really like ZOWIE’s HUANO switches. They’re not a slog to press, but they are quite a bit more substantial than many modern alternatives. I personally like the reassuring heft of clicks like these over featherweight clicks (I have issues with accidental clicks on mice with light triggers) so these are right up my alley.
More importantly, the clicks are also implemented well. There’s perhaps a bit too much post-click travel on my unit, but that’s a very nitpicky complaint. And aside from that, there’s nothing to remark. Pre travel is fine, and there is no switch grinding or side movement.
Do note that I’ve used the fast response time setting for my testing. With the click response time set to normal, the clicks can sometimes feel slightly delayed. I had no issues with faulty clicks using fast response, so that’s what I’d recommend you use should you get this mouse.
Scroll Wheel
The wheel on the ZOWIE FK2-DW is on the louder side, but it feels good. The tension between individual steps is rather high, but not to the point where it becomes annoying to use for occasional actions such as jumping. I mostly play tactical shooters (where you’re not constantly hopping around) though, so if you do use your wheel all the time you might want to go for something a bit smoother.
Lastly, the wheel is also easy to press without accidentally scrolling. I had no problems with accidental scrolls or mouse wheel clicks during my testing.
Side Buttons
The gap between the side buttons is rather small and there are no rounded edges on the buttons. This means that, if you’re not familiar with the mouse, they might be difficult to tell apart at first if you’re someone who rolls their thumb on the side buttons.
Aside from that, there’s nothing to say. The buttons actuate with a tangible click and there’s no post- or pre travel. This is a great set of side buttons.
Build Quality
Build Quality
The build quality on my unit is perfect. Tapping, shaking, and squeezing the mouse does not reveal any abnormalities. The FK2-DW stays completely silent and doesn’t budge. Furthermore, there are no spots on the mouse that feel weaker or as if corners have been cut. This really feels like a mouse that’ll last for a long time.
Weight
With a weight of 65 grams, the FK2-DW finds itself on the upper end of the spectrum for modern mice. Whether you feel like this is too heavy or not is completely down to personal preference of course, but in my opinion a mouse like this could stand to lose a couple of grams.
I don’t feel limited by the weight at all, but it’s an ambidextrous mouse with little in-hand presence, and for me those are ideal vessels for lighter weights. I’m not saying they should be chasing the sub-40 grams point (that would make it lose its ZOWIE DNA) but I would love to see the weight be reduced to something between 55 and 60 grams on this mouse.
Sensor and Everyday Performance
Sensor
The 3950 sensor (which is the best sensor that’s available today) is what’s powering the FK2-DW. This is implemented exactly as it should be and I found no evidence of sensor malfunction, nor did I notice any other irregularities.
As is expected from modern gaming mice, the FK2-DW can also reach higher polling rates. That’s a feature that has been requested for ZOWIE wireless mice for some time now, so it’s good to see it included here. With that said: you shouldn’t expect the world from this technology. The differences in gameplay are very small, and you need a very beefy PC setup in order to even notice the differences.
It’s good that ZOWIE has gone for higher polling rates though. Brands like these (which are mostly tailored towards hardcore competitive players) need to keep up with market standards, so it would’ve been a shame if the DW series of mice couldn’t go past 1KHz.
Configuring The Mouse
All ZOWIE mice are plug-and-play, meaning that you cannot download any software in order to configure the mouse. Everything that you can change (DPI, LOD, click response time, polling rate, …) has to be done by pressing (a combination of) buttons on the mouse itself. Basic operations (like changing the mouse DPI and polling rate) have a dedicated button on the bottom, others require you to press a combination.
As someone who plays at 1600 DPI and doesn’t use any macros, I don’t mind the simplicity. I even welcome it, since driver programs can sometimes cause more issues than they solve. Still, I wouldn’t be against ZOWIE releasing a simple browser-based configuration tool for their wireless mice, even if it’s just to make the mice accessible to players who use uncommon DPI values.
Battery Life
In a vacuum, the FK2-DW’s battery life isn’t amazing. At 4000Hz, you get around 24 hours of in-game time before needing a recharge. However, every ZOWIE DW mouse comes with their enhanced receiver. This is meant to eliminate any interference from other wireless devices (this is mostly handy for pros or people who often go to LANs though) and it doubles as a charging dock.
Given the fact that 99% of people who buy this mouse will mostly be using it with the enhanced receiver, the battery life of the ZOWIE FK2-DW is practically unlimited. When you’re done with a match and getting a snack, for example, you simply place the mouse on the dock and it charges. Done for the day? Place it down and get a fully charged mouse the next day.
In a time where high polling rate mice (and thus drastically lowered battery lives) are becoming the standard, this charging dock feature is extremely handy. I mained the ZOWIE EC3-CW for a couple of months, and I loved this feature, so I’m very happy to see that ZOWIE hasn’t dropped it. I wish more manufacturers would try to come up with docking-style solutions for their high polling rate mice.
Alternatives
The ZOWIE FK2-DW is one of the most copied mice out there, so there are plenty of alternatives to consider. Of course, none of these are 1:1 copies, and given how a couple of millimeters can make a big difference in how a mouse feels, there’s no guarantee that these will feel the exact same in your hands.
ZOWIE FK2-DW vs Razer Viper V2 Pro
The Razer Viper V2 Pro is a mouse that sits somewhat in between the FK2 and the larger FK1. As such, it’ll feel a bit larger in your hand. Aside from that, it offers a very similar experience thanks to its flat shape.
In terms of specs, the Viper V2 Pro is mostly equal to the ZOWIE FK2-DW. The Viper V2 pro weighs a bit less and has optical switches though, so if those things are important to you, you could always consider the Viper V2 Pro.
Read our Razer Viper V2 Pro review
ZOWIE FK2-DW vs VAXEE XE Wireless
The VAXEE XE wireless looks very similar to the ZOWIE FK2-DW when viewed from the top. However, its hump is quite a bit higher. Depending on your grip style, this can lead to a drastically different feeling in your hand.
Both mice offer polling rates up to 4000Hz and come with mechanical switches, though the XE Wireless is around 10 grams heavier than the FK2-DW.
Read our VAXEE XE Wireless Review
ZOWIE FK2-DW vs Glorious Model O
The Glorious Model O is another popular alternative to the ZOWIE FK2-DW, but the Glorious is higher across the board. This makes it feel larger in your hands, and more akin to a ZOWIE FK1 rather than a ZOWIE FK2. The Model O Mini, on the other hand, is a lot smaller than the FK2.
I should note that it’s been years since I reviewed a Glorious mouse, so I have no experience with the O 2 line.
Read our Glorious Model O Wireless review
Conclusion
A lot of people have been waiting a long time for the ZOWIE FK2-DW, and if you’re a fan of the ZOWIE experience then this mouse will absolutely not disappoint. It’s very much a modern day interpretation of that classic ZOWIE style that so many people love, so ZOWIE has really hit the mark here if you ask me.
If you’re someone who is looking for a mouse that’s on the cutting edge of technology and weight then this won’t be it, but it’s a fantastic option for people who want a reliable, extremely well-built ambidextrous mouse. On top of that, it’s one of the most legendary shapes to ever hit the market, so it’s well worth trying out for that alone.
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.
