As it stands right now, the BenQ ZOWIE U2 Wireless Gaming Mouse is in a league of its own. If you’re looking for this shape and experience, it’s your only option in the market. ZOWIE has really nailed it with the U2’s build and design. It is, however, incredibly expensive at ₹19,990. You can decide whether the benefits outweigh the premium.
Earlier this year, BenQ ZOWIE dropped their ZOWIE U2 wireless gaming mouse, and at first glance, it looked identical to their ambidextrous ZOWIE S2. However, once you actually hold the mouse in your hand, it’s an unexpectedly different feeling – in a good way. The next thing you’ll notice is the weight. ZOWIE hasn’t historically been on top of the lightweight or superlight gaming mouse game, but this time around the ZOWIE U2 comes in at just 60 grams. There’s certainly a lot to look forward to with the BenQ ZOWIE U2, so let’s dive into the review!
On the outside, the U2 sticks to ZOWIE’s classic minimalistic black design – sleek and subtle. It doesn’t scream gamer, which we know a lot of people appreciate when looking for a mouse. ZOWIE’s entry into the lightweight market comes with no holes or honeycomb design, just a solid 60 grams.
The ZOWIE U2 features an ambidextrous design with a noticeable thumb curve in the middle, flaring out to a wider back. The rear of the mouse is also steep, making it sit snugly in your palm.
It’s a known issue with smaller mice; while they offer a higher degree of precision, they sacrifice on palm support. Your only option for support would be larger mice, but those can feel clunky, especially if you’re looking for precision. The U2 finds a great balance between size and support, making it ideal for those who are looking for a superlight gaming mouse but don’t want to sacrifice on the grip and palm support. Plus, ZOWIE’s classic design touches – like the front overhang for easy pickup and subtle comfort grooves on the main buttons – are all here.
As is usually the case with ZOWIE, build quality is top-notch. The U2 is solid and can withstand the stresses of hardcore gaming no problem. The sides do not flex at all, unless under extreme pressure, and the bottom plate is sturdy.
ZOWIE’s grip coating is great for performance but might not be your best friend if your hands get sweaty. Unfortunately, it’s a magnet for oil stains and fingerprints, which makes keeping it clean challenging. If you’ve never had issues with ZOWIE’s coatings before, you’ll have no issues here too.
ZOWIE mice are usually known for firm and loud clicks, but the U2 seems to have gone in the other direction. The Transparent Blue Shell Pink Dot HUANO switches offer easier, quieter clicks. It’s a subtle change overall, but if you’ve been using ZOWIE mice in the past then you will notice the difference. The overall quality is great, and the feel is subjective so that’s up to you in the end. The clicks are well-implemented with minimal side travel and no internal grinding. The scroll wheel is classic ZOWIE – tactile and rigid, but less noisy than usual. The rubberized texture is grippy, and the click tensioning is spot on. No accidental scrolls or clicks here. The side buttons are easy to reach, with a satisfying click.
The U2 packs the industry-standard 3395 sensor. This is a solid step up for ZOWIE which has historically always been great in the build quality department but behind in the sensor department. The 3395 is a tried and tested mouse sensor as far as accuracy goes. We tested close to 100 percent tracking accuracy. We saw very little deviation in CPI as well.
Under the mouse, you have two buttons and a toggle. The toggle allows you to switch between the dongle and the enhanced receiver. Meaning you could potentially have the mouse connected to two devices – just not actively at the same time. The buttons allow you to manually control the polling rate and DPI. There are 6 preset DPI settings to choose from – 400, 800, 1000, 1200, 1600, and 3200. Since there’s no software support, you can’t manually adjust the DPI steps. That said, the steps that are offered should still be more than enough for most users, and we would say it’s a reasonable trade-off for the ZOWIE U2’s plug-and-play convenience. As for the polling rate, you can switch between 125 Hz, 500 Hz and 1000 Hz.
While the U2 maxes out at 1000Hz polling rate – which is more than enough for most gamers – higher polling rates would have been a nice addition, especially considering the price of this mouse, but the current setup is reliable.
ZOWIE’s enhanced receiver ensures a stable signal and doubles as a charging dock which is incredibly convenient. However, if you need to carry the mouse around or simply don’t want to deal with the enhanced receiver, ZOWIE has included a regular 2.4 Ghz USB dongle and a USB-A to USB-C adapter as well.
ZOWIE’s plug-and-play approach is great. No software needed – all settings are on the mouse itself. This means that no matter where you plug this mouse in, the settings will be exactly the same as you last left them. No need to deal with the hassle of re-downloading software and setting up every time you move systems. Which is surprisingly frequent in my case. The battery life is around 70 hours, but with the enhanced receiver/charging dock, it feels limitless. Just set it down to charge when you get up and you’ve got unlimited powerrrrr!
As it stands right now, the BenQ ZOWIE U2 Wireless Gaming Mouse is in a league of its own. If you’re looking for this shape and experience, it’s your only option in the market. ZOWIE has really nailed it with the U2’s build and design. It is, however, incredibly expensive at an MRP of ₹19,990 (currently selling for ₹14,990). You can decide whether the benefits outweigh the premium.
