Zowie EC1 & EC2 Mouse Review – The best medium sized ergonomic mouse

The Zowie EC series might just be the best mouse for people with medium hands that prefer an ergonomic shape. 

For whatever reason, there haven’t been many medium sized mice that have ergonomic shapes, but because of that reason, the Zowie EC series has an offering that few other mice can offer.

The mouse has a supremely comfortable shape with a soft rubber cable, a flawless sensor and a reasonable weight, all of this adds up to a mouse that performs really really well. 

If you’re a medium to small handed gamer that really wants to comfortably palm a mouse, then you should consider this over some of the flatter, smoother shapes of the G305 and G Pro Wireless. If you’re a claw grip, then the aforementioned mice should be contenders in your list.

Tech Specs

Shape & Design

The Zowie EC shape has been popular since its release in 2012 with the EC Evo. In 2019, the EC1 and EC2 shapes still fill a niche that few other mice do well, the EC versions occupy, and kind of dominates, the medium-ish ergonomic shape space with the only other mouse in this range being the Rival 310 (read review)

Because of its unique shape and size the EC series is uniquely positioned to fit large hands that want to palm and any size down that wants to claw or fingertip. It’s easy to see why the EC shape has stood the test of time.

The mouse buttons and sides of the mouse have deep grooves for an easy grip and comfort. The hump in the mouse is essentially in the middle of the mouse, its quite comfortable to palm and I would argue that the palm grip is the best grip for this mouse, though I had no issues claw gripping it as well. 

The slope to the front of the mouse is gradual which is what allows for a decent claw grip, the back of the mouse is wider than its midsection which is what fills in that palm grip so well, the wide base might cause some issues with finger tippers however.

This shape belongs in the hall of fame of comfortable shapes alongside the likes of the DeathAdders and FK’s of the world, it’s that good. 

Pretty much all Zowie mice are known for their discrete and understated design and the EC series is no different. The mouse has minimal flourishes with just a red logo in the palm section of the mouse. There are a couple of colour and design variants on the EC series that are a little more recognizable, keep in mind different versions have slighly different coatings. 

The bottom of the mouse on the EC-A series features two large feet (pictured), while the revised EC-B series has 4 small feet. There isn’t an appreciable difference between either versions, though the S series has gone back to the two large feet.

Build Quality & Materials

The coating on the EC series is okay, it’s not exactly glossy or matte. The materials on the EC is better suited for a dryer hand since the shape and coating helps grip very well but as a sweaty palmed gamer I do notice some build up on the mouse, not as severely as the glossier S2, but enough for me to have to clean the mouse regularly.

After a fair amount of gameplay and general usage (and clamminess), I’ve yet to see signs of shininess or scuffing yet.

This mouse is built like a tank, no rattles when shaken, no flex or creaks when squeezed. The EC series feels very solid in hand. At 93 or 97 grams the mouse is a reasonable weight for its size. 

Buttons & Scroll Wheel

The EC mice exercises the Zowie philosophies to the T as a no frill gaming mouse with its buttons. The EC series features the 5 core buttons:

• Primary left and right click
• Middle click
• Side buttons (left-side)

The buttons on the EC mice are a single piece connected to the shell of the mouse, a very comfortable feel on the fingers. 

The EC series mice come with Huano switches that are generally stiffer and louder than what you’ll find with most other mice packing Omron switches. The clicks are stiff and loud, not my particular cup of tea but some people really like them for FPS games. Despite the stiff clicks I’ve had some issues with accidentally right clicking when working, maybe due to the shape, it seems like it happens for other people as well but not a huge issue.

The middle click is nice and tactile, its definitely a good ping mouse for Apex and any other game that uses the middle click often. The scroll wheel is a 16-step scroll and it has the signature ridiculously loud sound, probably my least favourite part of this mouse, the newer S2 hasn’t really addressed the sound so I’m assuming its an intentional choice, don’t get this mouse if you like your mouse to be quiet. 

The side buttons are a little recessed for my liking making it harder to locate in the middle of a firefight. The click itself is a little mushy and feel light, the contrast is especially stark since the primary buttons are so stiff and loud.

Sensor & Performance

The EC A and B versions have two different sensor. The A series comes with an Avago ADNS 3310, it’s a perfectly serviceable sensor but isn’t flawless in the sense that it has the potential to spin out when lifting off your mouse, otherwise it tracks perfectly.

The EC B series has the ubiquitous PMW Pixart 3360, a flawless sensor that has been proven in a ton of mice. The EC-B implementation is no different, flawless tracking, no issues with spinning out along with no smoothing, jitter or acceleration.

Zowie mice come preprogrammed with default DPI and polling rate steps. DPI on the EC series come with the following steps (corresponding colour on the mouse in brackets):

• 400 (red)
• 800 (purple)
• 1600 (blue)
• 3200 (green)

The polling rate steps on the EC-B series are: 

• 125 Hz
• 500 Hz
• 1000 Hz

The EC-B version of this mouse has a dedicated button on the bottom of the mouse to choose your polling rate.

The EC-A version is doesn’t include a dedicated button button, here are the instruction to change polling rate on the EC-A mice:

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).

There’s no real reason to not to use the 1000 Hz mode on the EC mice, you might as well have the mouse reporting as often as possible. 

The cable on the mouse is coated with rubber and is plenty soft, the cable stays out of the way during gameplay. The EC series weighs either 93 or 97 grams depending on size which is about average for its size. The mouse is definitely a performer, the amazing shape in combination with a soft cable and an average weight makes for a very good aiming experience. 

Zowie EC compared

Zowie EC vs FK

The FK is a smaller feeling mouse in general due to its low profile. If you like palm gripping, then the EC series is going to suit you much better than the FK. The FK isn’t a slouch at palm but its better suited for claw/finger tip type grips.

Zowie EC vs S

The S2 is a bit of a jack of all trades trying to satisfy all grips, I’d say if you are a heavy palmer and need your hand filled, go with the EC. If you’re not sure if you want to commit to a complete palm grip, the S series mice will be compatible enough to whatever you end up doing.

The S series also has a better cable system and buttons. 

All photos are EC2, S2 and FK2.

The Zowie EC2 is the tallest mouse out of the 3 core Zowie mice and is quite a different a shape from the two ambidextrous shapes. 

The EC series is a little shorter than the FK, about the same length as the S series, the FK series is definitely the most narrow of the group.

The EC’s front doesn’t slope as much as the Zowie cousins with the FK being the lowest sloping.

In terms of buttons the EC buttons are very similar to the FK with its stiff clicks. The S2 has the lightest clicks out of the three. All Zowie mice pretty much have the same 16 step loud af scroll wheel. 

Zowie EC1 & EC 2 vs G Pro Wireless

The G Pro Wireless is definitely the better overall mouse but its a much more expensive mouse so it’s not a no-brainer.

The only thing up for consideration, other than price, is the shape. The EC2 is very close in size to the GPW and its ergonomic shape is pretty comfortable. I could see a lot of gamers preferring that shape over the smooth egg that is the G Pro Wireless shape.

Outside of the shape, the GPW does everything better, better buttons, better scroll wheel, lighter and wireless.

If you don’t have shape preferences and have the budget, go with the G Pro Wireless.

Zowie EC1 & EC 2 vs DeathAdder Elite

The EC1 and DeathAdder both serve the larger hand sizes, both do that job very well.

Shape wise, both mice are very strong, I’d give the edge to the EC1 with a shape and size that’ll suit more grip styles than the DeathAdder.

The EC1 buttons are a little stiff, but I’d take that over the mushier DeathAdder clicks.

Both mice have perfect sensors.

In general this is a very close call, if you can try both mice I’d recommend doing that, if you just can’t wait to do that, I’d go for the EC1.

Zowie EC1 & EC 2 vs Rival 600

Both mice are large ergonomic mice with very similar sized, the Rival 600 is a little longer while the EC1 is a little wider, both have the same height with the hump in about the same part of the mouse.

They both have flawless sensors, both will track pretty much perfectly.

The Rival 600 separates itself with its buttons, they’re much better than the EC1’s, a little softer with a good travel and response. Its cable is also softer than the EC1’s.

This one is hard to call, it depends on which shape you prefer, if you don’t strongly prefer either, I think getting used to the Rival 600 is going to give you a better overall experience.

Zowie EC1 & EC 2 vs Rival 310

The Rival 310 basically sits between the EC1 and EC2 in size. So if you find the EC2 too small or the EC1 too big the Rival 310 is there to fill your ergonomic mouse needs.

The Rival 310 is slightly narrower than the EC1 which makes me believe the Rival 310 is going to be a little bit better for claw, and the EC1 better for palm. The shapes are safe though, so either mice will work for the majority of grips.

Sensors are a wash, both mice have perfect tracking sensors with no issues.

The buttons on the Rival 310 are much better than the EC1 buttons, much lighter of a click with better response. The cable on the Rival 310 is lighter, the weight on the mouse is 9 grams lighter. The Rival 310 will likely handle better than the EC1.

No call here, you’re going to need to try both mice to really determine a preference, if you don’t have the time for that, go for the cheaper one, the Rival 310, I don’t think you can really go wrong with it.

Zowie EC1 & EC 2 vs G703

These are both big ergonomic mice. Shapewise, the G703 has its peak height further back on the mouse and has a more dramatic curve towards the front. This shape makes the G703 a little bit more suited to a palm grip than the EC1. That being said, both shapes are fantastic and will serve any large hands well. A pick here is a matter of preference.

Sensors are also a draw, both mice have flawless sensors.

With buttons I’d give the edge to the G703, just generally more responsive buttons with chunkier more detectable side buttons.

One big advantage the G703 has over the EC1 is the wireless connectivity, because these are large mice the G703 feels a lot freer to use since it isn’t tethered by a cable.

In general I’d recommend the G703 over the EC1.

Warranty & Reliability

Zowie doesn’t specifically display length of warranty. They promise that the mouse should be free form defects under normal use. Here’s the language:

BenQ Corp. (“BenQ”) warrants the BenQ ZOWIE Product, you have purchased from BenQ or from a BenQ Authorized Reseller to be free from defects in materials or workmanship under normal use.

This Limited Warranty is only valid in the country where originally purchased. This warranty extends only to you, the original Purchaser. It is not transferable to anyone who subsequently purchases, leases or otherwise obtains the BenQ ZOWIE Product from you. It excludes expendable parts. For any Limited Warranty claim, a valid Proof of Purchase is required. During the warranty period, BenQ will repair or replace defective hardware with factory refurbished parts and products. All exchanged parts and BenQ ZOWIE Product replaced under this warranty will become the property of BenQ.

source: https://zowie.benq.com/en/support/warranty/gear.html

Conclusion & Value

Mid-range price, mid-range size, top-end performance. The EC series should be a huge consideration if you find the G703′, G502s and DeathAdders of the ergonomic world too large for your hand. If you’re a palm grip that like medium mice, this is an essential consideration along with the Rival 310. If you don’t need to palm grip then there are a lot great ambidextrous mice that you should consider such as the Zowie S2, G Pro Wireless and Logitech G305.

The Zowie shapes have been proven to be a defensible advantage and until someone else comes out with a great mid-range ergonomic shape the EC series will remain a contender in this category. Zowie can further defend this category if they could only improve on the buttons and scroll wheel (please?).