ZOWIE U2 ― 262 days with one of the world's most successful mice

I. Introduction

In November 2023, I had the opportunity to take an active part in the arrival of a new mouse in ZOWIE's current line-up, the U2, a new mouse to join its smaller and larger sisters in the EC, S, FK and ZA series.

And when ZOWIE prepares a new product, the brand doesn't do it without putting all its talent to work. ZOWIE has been present on the peripherals market for years, establishing itself as one of the biggest names in the competitive scene of our favorite FPS games, whether Counter-Strike 2, VALORANT, Overwatch 2, Rainbox Six Siege or others.

It's after more than 262 days as I write this review (in reality, the length is even greater, as this review has been in progress for months, but I love this ZOWIE U2 so much, that I've had to edit and rewrite my review at great length to tell you all about it as best I can) that I give you my honest and sincere feedback on what a near-perfect mouse this ZOWIE U2 is.

II. A unique shape

ZOWIE is a great master in the design and research of shapes for its various mice, and what I really like about them is all the documentation and accessible presentation that is shared with us. To find out how this shape was created, I sincerely invite you to discover how ZOWIE imagined and designed this mouse on this video or even directly on the ZOWIE website.

The first thing you notice when you pick up the U2 is the curved sides, which run into the interior of the mouse, creating a pronounced indentation. This indentation is very natural when you first pick it up, and increases the grip considerably.

The way these sides have been designed means that your thumb is much more relaxed on the mouse and doesn't create that “right-angle” effect on your thumb, something that quickly becomes unpleasant after a while on other mice, for example.

Reducing the tension on the thumb angle also considerably reduces the pressure exerted on the index finger, as it rests much more naturally and relaxed on the mouse's main click. This means less “tiredness” or “pain” after a certain amount of use, but above all stabilization of the index finger, which I find makes us a little more reactive and stable in our reaction time to the click.

The overall grip quickly makes the claw grip much more comfortable and especially stable on this U2, whether in relax-claw or aggressive-claw, and I'll even admit to enjoying using this mouse in finger-tip at times.

This shape clearly stands out from what we're seeing on the current mouse market (even 6 months after its release.)

III. A 3395 sensor: finally

Indeed, you're not dreaming, although the 3395 is already being “replaced” by the 3950 (in fact, this doesn't make it obsolete) ZOWIE has finally taken the plunge and agreed to integrate a Pixart 3395 sensor into this new mouse, but what does this change in reality?

This 3395, now famous and present on most of the latest generation of mice, will potentially enable ZOWIE to do several things, or at least that's what I hope to see from the brand in the future.

This sensor, the 3395, is undoubtedly the most widely used on the market in recent times, and its implementation means that the brand is no longer reproached for the fact that, like its previous wireless mice, it was equipped with an obsolete sensor at a rather high price. With this ZOWIE U2, this is no longer the case, as it is available at a price of $ 129.99.

The implementation of this 3395 also suggests that, technically, the U2 is capable of higher polling rates (in excess of 1000 Hz)! Now, is this in Zowie's plans and projects? It's hard to say today.

Is it a major concern? For me, no, it's not. ZOWIE's default polling rate of 1000 Hz is still well under control, the mouse behaves wonderfully and doesn't give a bad feeling of “slow sensor” or “not smooth"

That said, it would be nice if ZOWIE could offer a firmware update for its U2 and enhanced receiver to enable players to achieve higher polling rates.

Let's talk about this famous enhanced receiver, which enables players to achieve stable, high-quality performance when competing at home or in an arena.

The combination of enhanced receiver and enhanced antenna at the front end of the mouse reduces the risk of unexpected transmission interference and avoids performance problems.

Does it work? For me, it's a big YES! In my case, for example, I often have my phone, an audio interface and a router/repeater on my desk, which creates certain unwanted frequencies. This receiver greatly corrects this problem and significantly improves my gaming experience.

To put it simply, in my opinion, the feeling of the sensor in motion is similar to that of a 3395 with an polling rate of 4000 Hz. This is my feeling, of course, but I feel it greatly, taking into account the fact that I have a 240/360 Hz screen and a Windows that's fairly optimized for sensor latency/feeling.

This receiver is also extremely well designed, so that you can charge it simply by dropping your mouse on the dock. Compared with other wireless docks, this one is really superbly designed.

IV. Coating and skates

ZOWIE's coating is as excellent as ever, clearly fulfilling all the requirements for a grippy, non-slip coating.

There's no doubt that ZOWIE's much-appreciated mouse coating will be just as popular on this model, for both regular users and the uninitiated. Nevertheless, I quickly noticed that this coating, although adherent, quickly marks fingerprints and even handprints (due to perspiration or the slightly oily aspect that some hands can cause).

It's not problematic in reality, but it's a minor aesthetic flaw, which might displease some, but let's not forget that this mouse is designed for pure performance and doesn't necessarily need to look clean, and that performance remains the priority.

But when you like it, you adapt it, and that's why I had my ZOWIE U2 painted in a grippy, textured black matte (like a grainy 3D print), because this mouse has become one of my main mice to date.

The skates themselves have been redesigned in terms of size, and are now much wider, which creates a much smoother feel that's much appreciated when gliding overall. As for ZOWIE's original skates, they're obviously still correct and will suit a large number of people, whatever the type of cloth mousepad surface, but I wouldn't recommend them for a glasspad experience.

V. Daily use (configuration, battery, weight)

ZOWIE maintains its plug-n-play approach - something I personally don't mind, as all configuration is done on the mouse itself. There are dedicated buttons on the underside of the mouse for modifying DPI (ranging from 400 / 800 / 1000 / 1200 / 1600 / 3200) as well as polling rate (ranging from 125 / 500 / 1000 Hz), and by combining several buttons you can also modify the LOD of your mouse's sensor.

The box contains a manual that clearly explains the button combinations to be used, which you can also easily find online if you haven't kept it.

As far as the battery is concerned, this is where ZOWIE has come up trumps with its enhanced receiver, because the brand claims a battery life of around 70 hours in use, but since this enhanced receiver has a charging station, at the end of each session or even during a break you get into the habit of simply placing your mouse on the charging station, so you never run out of battery. In my case, I never even reached the -25% battery threshold the whole time I was using this U2.

This ZOWIE U2 is the first in the wireless line to join the “lightweight” movement, while retaining the ideology that ZOWIE stands for. Instead of offering us an extremely light mouse full of holes, they opted for a reasonable weight and remained focused on the build quality and unmistakable rigidity that are ZOWIE products, for indeed, this mouse weighs only around 60 grams.

It's obvious that this weight, in today's market, won't suit everyone, but today it makes sense in terms of preferences. Nevertheless, it's respectable to see that ZOWIE has adapted to what seems to be the industry standard, without going too far in reducing weight and maintaining the mouse's rigidity.

VI. Build quality, clicks

It's also clear that the overall build quality of this mouse is EXCELLENT and flawless, something that Zowie has maintained for many years now, and something that we all know that investing in a Zowie mouse is a guarantee of quality and durability over time.

I'm also very pleased with the overall feel of every button on this mouse, and I personally think that Zowie has the best click feel to date.

The scroll wheel has also been improved, and is much smoother and less clicky, while keeping each step clearly defined.

VII. Conclusion

So, here's my final conclusion,

ZOWIE follows a guiding line that I respect and love, providing what brand enthusiasts expect; that is, if you're looking for the typical ZOWIE experience in a wireless package with an innovative and meticulously thought-out form factor, this is the one for you.

ZOWIE is not a brand that strays from its ideals to follow the latest fashion, but ZOWIE has made an effort with the arrival of this U2, which is a perfect example.

You get an extremely well-built mouse, with solid, robust clicks, focused on control and stability, a rather unique shape but one that's thoughtfully and meticulously created with research, science, statistics and experimentation (no one's been mistreated.)

The price, $129.99 may seem a little high indeed, we've all noticed a marked increase in the mouse market in recent months but I think it's still right, especially as ZOWIE mice are designed for a very specific audience who like and appreciate the fact that the brand continues to follow its own path, a path that works and still works today.

IMPORTANT: Today, six months after the release of this ZOWIE U2, we find it quite often at a good price on Amazon, so if you find a good offer, go for it and don't hesitate!

For me, this ZOWIE U2 is what ZOWIE fans have been asking for, and the product meets all expectations in this respect. It offers what the brand has done best, while retaining Zowie's own characteristics - reliability, durability, solid design... - now with a technical upgrade.

So this is a mouse that belongs in my TOP 3 mouse rotation (currently), and also earns its place as TOP 1 if I were to classify mice by comfort and form.