Custom PC - UK (2019-12)

LABS TEST / LIGHTWEIGHT GAMING MICE

B

enQ’s Zowie brand specialises in

stripped-back gaming tools. By

doing away with the frivolous

extras and concentrating on what matters

for better performance, it has created some

great peripherals. It would seem only

natural, then, that the company has a model

that fits comfortably into this category of

lightweight,basicmice.

However, while the S2 is the company’s

lightest mouse, it’s actually relatively heavy

by the standards of this group test, topping

the charts at 82g.

That said, with dimensions of 122 x 64 x

38mm, it’s one of the smallest mice on test,

making it inherently versatile for a number

of grip types and hand sizes. It’s easy for

medium to large hands to use the S2 for

fingertip grip, although it’s a little small for a

claw or palm grip. Its shape also has the main

hump of the mouse towards the back, which

is normally conducive to claw and palm grip

styles, but it only works here if you have

smaller hands.

This style of shape can sometimes

interfere with fingertip grip, as the higher

back end fills the space inside your palm

within which you move the mouse around.

However, because the S2’s back doesn’t

widen all that much or go all that high, it

works well for fingertip grips in medium to

small hands too.

The sides of the mouse lean inwards

slightly towards the bottom, but the slope

isn’t too aggressive, so it doesn’t feel like your

fingers are sliding under the mouse, making

for a secure grip. The whole surface of the

mouse also has a slightly soft-touch finish to

it that provides good purchase.

As for styling, the S2 is very plain, with no

RGB lighting and very little in the way of flare.

It’s just a drab blob of black (although, in

fairness, it’s also available in pink and pale

blue). Likewise, its button layout offers just

the basics, with left, right and scroll wheel

buttons up front, and two thumb buttons on

the left side. The shape is ambidextrous, but

not the thumb button arrangement.

BenQ doesn’t provide software, so the

only settings you can change are the DPI

(400, 800, 1,600 and 3,200) and report rate

(125, 500 and 1,000Hz), which can be

changed using the buttons on the underside

of the mouse. This can feel a little limiting, but

it’s sufficient for most uses and you can

always tweak the speed of the mouse with

in-game settings.

You also miss out on a lightweight cable,

with BenQ opting for a conventional rubber-

coated cable with no braiding. It is, however,

reasonably flexible compared with some

cables, so it’s not too encumbering.

As for tracking performance, the S2 uses

the Pixart 3360 optical sensor, so like the

other mice here with this sensor, we couldn’t

fault its ability to keep up with fast-paced

action or slower, precise movements. As ever

with optical sensors, though, you’ll need a

proper mouse mat to ensure consistent

tracking performance.

Conclusion

The Zowie S2 is an excellent gaming mouse

that’s ideally suited for fingertip grip users

with medium-sized hands or palm and claw-

grip users with small hands. It’s comfortable,

relatively light and tracks well. However,

considering its very basic feature set, its price

is a touch high.

BENQZOWIE S2 BLACK /£65inc VAT

SUPPLIER amazon.co.uk

VERDICT

A great mouse for those with smaller hands,

but it’s too costly for its basic feature set.

DESIGN

18 / 20

PERFORMANCE

24 / 30

FEATURES

14 / 20

VALUE

20 / 30

OVERALLSCORE

76

SPEC

Weight

82g

Dimensions (mm)

122 x 64 x 38

Sensor

Pixart PWM3360 (16,000dpi optical)

Buttons

Five (left, right, scroll wheel, back, forward)

Cable

2m, conventional rubber

Extras

DPI and report rate buttons on base

WOWIE

+ Comfortable and

versatile shape

+ Excellent performance

+ Large side buttons

OWIE

• Too small for
  larger hands


• Very basic for the price


• Not that light for its size