These days, it can be pretty hard for esports enthusiasts to not only settle on a mouse but stick with one.
From the swanky Superlights to the space alloy Swiss cheeses to the killer shapes, side buttons and scroll wheels to the fact that you get paracorded cables and aftermarket-grade skates straight out of the box, the mouse market has pretty much gone nuclear.
Despite being slow to adapt, Zowie’s utterly sublime designs have allowed them to remain as GOATed as the day they began to revolutionize the gaming mouse industry nearly fifteen years ago. Zowies are and forever will be S-tier.
Or... will they? Are other brands simply catching up, or are they eating Zowie’s lunch?
Written & Hosted by: Dimitri Pascaluta (@DPascaluta)
Edited & Hosted by: Colten Gowan (@TheOnlyZoltan)
Produced by: Keith Capstick (@KeithCapstick) & Niall McCrossan (@niallmccrossan)
Thumbnail by: William O'Keefe (insta: magoo_o)
All footage courtesy: pastebin.com/bss5shbH
Music used under license from Associated Production Music LLC (”APM”).
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Mouse users: Arguing about wires Trackpad users: “I know no such weakness”
there are usb trackpads
@@dolevlevy7936 wooooosh
@@dolevlevy7936 still doesn't matter.
they still run a wire under the hood :)
@@dolevlevy7936 you don't need the wire to move it'll always stay still unlike mouse where you'll make wire move when you make mouse movements.
Not creating a Wireless Mouse has really hindered Zowie’s growth over the years
no
yes
Maybe
Pros cs players dont care about wires, why would the casuals
@@peti4016 thats why a large amount of pro players plays with the g pro ultralight. makes sense.
Honestly i think in the past few years it's been overtaken by so many different mice. Sure it may have been the golden mouse pre-2019 , but its glory days are over
Only because brands use zowie shape
The shape is why it's great. Also Zowie gets the basis right. Logitech has double-click issues, creaky mouse wheels. Razor has major quality control issues. And cult like fans who are more into the looks of things than quality and actual real life use.
Zowie c series tho
@@Gaga4Parma never really had quality issues with Razer mice I've have 2 and both still work great.
@UCEH4flun_j8eBurDtXN4BqA are you smoking crack?
I love the running Joke of Colton always having a VTuber stream in the background, this time he shows his allegiance as a fellow Zomrade
Ollie a true queen o7
@@TheOnlyZoltan TRUEEEE =)))))))
Yea its to get attention from weebs who doesnt realize theyre just trying to get ppl to comment abt it for extra comments
mouse is personal, as an old gamer I feel weird that, always used steelseries rival 300 and ec1a and now I feel in perfect and comfortable shape with ninjusto origin one x, but tried every modern mice, and just with this origin one x, I feel like if my csgo spray is good enough like rival and ec1a
ratio + my gpx owns u
I currently have a c1 since 2 years & my hands feel tired now after playing a bit. Ordered a gpx todAy with a third party charging station
@@kevin.durant This is not twitter
@@kevin.durant oof that was lame
@@suchti9049 thats what she said + you fell off
before watching the video, I'm gonna say that Zowie has potential to be king if they made a wireless model.
nah
they already confirmed wireless release this year
@@413fps source?
@@KRULE666 a response from a zowie rep to a comment in reddit. I did not save the link to the reply tho ofc expect it to be in Q3 coming from zowie. They are as slow as valve
Welp this aged like fine milk.
Been using EC2-A for years and recently, I just mod it change the stock mouse switches from Huano to Kailh GM 8.0 also the rubber cable to paracord cable.
Fun Facts : Some of zowie mouse design/shape helped by some CS legends and used their name to their mouse . EC = Emil "HeatoN" Christensen FK = Filip "NEO" Kubski AM (change name to ZA) = Abdisamad "SpawN" Mohamed
Why was AM changed to ZA?
I literally used my Zowie EC-2-B to the point of mechanical failure. I loved my time with it but the lack of innovation (wireless and switch choice) made me switch from the ec series to the model d- (same shape but model d- has definitely more features and is not a ton more expensive than the zowie). I really do hope the make a wireless and lighter mouse tho
i think they said something about wireless in the future on twitter, either way the new C series have really nice wires and are fairly lightweight so its a step in the right direction at least
is model d exactly like zowie? I’ve never used a zowie or model d, I have a model O and feeling i may have to go ergonomic
@@Pokepunk it's pretty much identical to EC shape, not sure about size tho
@@moosh7078 The Model D is somewhere between the EC1 and EC2, while the D- is between the EC2 and EC3
I just got the d- wireless and it’s literally built like a tank. Great Khalil 8.0 switches as well
Colton having his day would be hilarious. You guys have been setting it up!
I’ve bought about 20 gaming mice and i have found out that you should choose your gaming mouse by shape over weight
Id like to put it out there that the zowie C series have a bad tendency to creak. And it might be a horror to RMA it. Tons of issues happened like this to people already.
If Zowie makes a wireless mouse, I'll go and buy it to try in a heartbeat. I've always wanted to try a Zowie mouse but my Superlight has made me unable to go back to a wired mouse anymore.
Is wireless mouse good? Im always afraid of the response time etc?
@@mathiasolastuen2931 no worries. My superlight is superb. Wireless tech has gotten really good now so just go for it to save yourself from potential cable drag and bungee shenanigans
@@scarletvan4749 Thanks for fast reply. Yeah its frustrating when the cable fucks up your play! I will try it out!
@@mathiasolastuen2931 it’s a good mouse and a pretty decent and safe shape that should work for most people depending on their hand size and how they grip their mouse. I don’t like mine cause my hands are kinda small and I mostly claw grip my mice, but it’s all preference :)
@@mathiasolastuen2931 Yes as long as you get it from a well known brand. Logitech would be my go to, but Razer and Steelseries are also great options. Half the pro scene have already converted to wireless mice, so if the pros can perform with it, so can the average consumer.
I'm still using a G402 Hyperfury but what got me more was Ollie in the background of Coltens segment
recently switched from an fk1 to a superlight. Hated the mouse wheel so much, but if they ever made a wireless version i'd switch back in a heartbeat
why did you hate the mouse wheel?
@@zahitemremetin606 Very stiff, heavy and loud. It’s great when it works right because of the activation force required and tactile feedback. However when used excessively it starts to skip inputs or will double scroll. If you use scroll wheel to jump like I do in fps it’s only a matter of time before it starts randomly jumping on you when you press m1/m2 hard. If you’re thinking about trying a zowie mouse, don’t let it deter you. They’re a classic for a reason.
I'd be interested in Colten's own episode of Cracked. He seems to be cultured and a man of the people.
Imagine waiting 3+ years for zowie to paracord their mice when you can just do it your self xD
I have had my EC2-A Zowie since launch, no issues. I bought a new mouse, tried to play with it for 3 months. Then i randomly tested my zowie for 1 game of valorant, and never went back to the new mouse
Ive owned the ZA and EC. I use my EC everyday and like it alot. My only complaint is that the left clicker isn't as stiff and robust as it should be. It occasionally results in double firing. I have both the EC1-C and EC2-C so its not an issue of my hands size. If they improved that it would be flawless.
Not gonna lie the bit where the dude said the EC is like a "blank canvas almost" made me really think about it and.. I spent a bunch of hours playing with different iterations of the EC1/2, Evo, etc etc. and.. it wasn't at all like that. My natural grip just didn't work with it at all, compared to with the FK/FK1 where it was a lot more like a blank canvas because it's ambidextrous and doesn't force your hand into almost any specific position.
Been using the deathadder v2 for a while now It has a nice shape and size, the buttons r pretty nice and the grip tapes that came with it r the best I've ever had
asuna mouse go brrrr
BUT I WISH THEY MOLDED THE GRIP ON THE MOUSE INSTEAD OF GLUEING IT!!!
i used to be on the elite but moving to a finalmouse which was half the weight improved my aim drastically. also a good mousepad
Same
I just got a deathadder v2 a few months ago, best mouse I personally have ever used
I love how there are lil bits of Hardware youtubers featured, nice to see a community together
I love how Zowie makes amazing shapes and barely change anything else. Don’t fix something that’s not broken. Honestly yes cable and sensor needed to be improved upon but who cares if they don’t make noises that are like the competitors. Everyone goes out and buys the next new mouse and then just repeats that process when the next one comes out. Zowie is amazing at their shapes and I’m glad they take they time to upgrade any of their mouses
Used the ZA13 and tried some others but any of them felt that good even the scrollwheel on the zowie is garbish, until the m42 came and its lighter better sensor paracorded and you can change the shape (if you have a reason to) so the update came to late for me, but i also think its to late for the most users, cause vaxee (ex zowie employees) already delivered what zowie had to deliver.
Zowie is my dream mouse for years now and still expensive for me in my budget... since I am really short on budget I bought Logitech G102 and switching from generic mouse to G102 is night and day...
idk if you'd like it but the razer viper mini is really good as a budget mouse
ive been waiting for the za-13 to be in stock for 2 months
It’s funny as to hear you talk about the EC this entire time and it’s “original” design without mentioning the Intellimouse!
I personally love zowie but ive been using the superlight and ive been thinking if zowie went wireless they would be so much better
Came back after finally FINALLY getting the ec1-cw that has been constantly out of stock for me. Yeah it's heavier than I'm accustom to now with the DA v3 pro etc. I have a bunch of mice and boy have I missed the ec1 build quality, coating and quality. The charging dock is a big bonus for me since it's wireless. It's not a make or break but it's so nice to have. Honestly for all the tech the slapped into this mouse to make it software less and only changeable via the mouse itself, 79 grams is super, super impressive. The price is very well worth it considering, you're getting the enhance receiver charging dock combo with the same zowie quality you'd expect. This thing is just as solid as ever and it's been great using it.
I really need that back hump palm support on my mouse (coming from the Razer Viper Mini) with a relaxed claw grip so I've considered the ZA but since the Zowie ZA series is basically impossible to get in my country, I've been using the Endgame Gear XM1R. It's a different shape but at least there's the hump.
If Zowie made a wireless EC mouse, I would definitely buy it.
waiting for a wireless Za13 or Xm1 wireless
Pulsar xlite is an ec2 clone
Still feel that way?
they already did now
i want a review from u after buying it rn.
I use an ec2-b for quite some years now, I just paracorded it with the cable of another mouse that I bought to test the new lightweight mice
G502 crew represent! Go fully loaded on it so that if you can’t aim punch em, you can actually punch them irl.
G502 is great, it practices me on how to box people with a hard hit.
The mouse meant for close quarters combat
I have a g502 but I don’t know what you guys mean by boxing them
@@stolensentience It's so heavy that it's a substitute for the weights at the gym.
@@dulcitria3700 it do be pretty heavy. I’m literally buying the superlight today
I’ve been collecting mice over the last two years and have tried about 20 mice, I always end up going back to my za11 or fk1 divina
I really liked the razer deathadder but the lack of improvement on the side rubber grips is soo annoying that i switch to Logitech/logicool G703H it took me a long time to adjust but everything is so much better now
FinalMouse SL12, Zaunkoenig M2K, and G Pro Superlight are the best for sure.
Coming down to personal choice, I choose Logitech G Pro, my movements prefers minimizing my wrist movement with high dpi, only moving mouse with non-clicking fingers. My brother in the other hand with Razer Basilisk V3, he does big movements without the mouse lifting part, he finds that more comforting. Zowie is still ok, but really not for us both bcz it feels like ur hand is glued on the mouse, not really flexing it.
zowie will always remain my favorite, it just feels like quality and has the best damn shape and feel among any mouse i have ever used
I own an Ultralight 2, a GPX Superlight, a Viper Mini, an Xtrfy MZ1, and an Endgame Gear XM1r. They've been collecting dust ever since I got my EC-3c
For me the the hump of the ec series on the right sight is just too much. After trying ambi EC is just annoying af.
damn. Been on the EC2 for a while now. Didn't know it was that GOAT'd but it is a damn good clicker.
i used to use a ZA11, it was too heavy for me, so i took it apart and drilled a few holes on the back of the shell and on the sides. attached glass skates. used grip tape and got a hard speed mouse pad. currently weighs at 79 ish grams, glides like a fucked king. and i taped the wire to my monitor so it would always stay elevated. and it literally feels like a wireless mouse. give these customizations a shot ig. edit: now i switched to a Viper Ultimate, i dont regret it
I use a G305 with a 3D printed zowie shape rear I designed and I LOVE it
I need that asap bro
I loved my zowie (za13) but the switch to the g-pro was sooooo worth it. I won't ever be able to go back to a wired mouse.
I did the opposite. From g pro superlight wireless x to ZA13-C. ZA13-C’s shape is A LOT BETTER for AGRESSIVE claw grip
@@razir923 me too i went from wireless to wired no real difference honestly
It was weird to not talk about how all the original zowie people left to create Vaxee. That's the major reason we haven't seen any movement on zowie's mice for a long time.
I just bought zowie EC2-C, perfect video for that occasion.
Please more videos with this guy!
12:15 that Ollie's stream at the background tho
Haven't used Zowies, altho I have Pulsar Xlite Wireless, SS Prime Mini Wireless, & Ninjutsuo Origin One X Wireless; with the first one as daily driver (the rest as collection or whenever I feel like switching). I use glass skates on hard pads (superglides on Air or Helios). I have also tried Model D- wireless with G-floats ceramics, but too much speed & less control. On the other hand, mice is just personal preference, what fits best on your gameplay will be it. Altho as a new buyer, I think Boardzy's opinion always counts.
11:57 are we not going to talk about what he is watching on his left monitor?
Try Endgame XM1. Seems to be similar to za series of mice. Backhump, lighter and a paracord cable
Not the same at all, xm1 has a much wider top and even more agressive tapering from top to bottom.
The xm1 is like an ss sensei or Zowie fk.
Logitech G502 Lightspeed is the best mouse ever made. Wireless without any noticeable performance loss, incredibly ergonomic, and enough weight that you actually have to move it but light enough to be responsive, high max dpi and high polling rate, and so many programmable buttons that you can have any binds you want on your mouse. (worth mentioning that my hand is very large and I find a fingertip grip works perfectly)
ollie in the background lol nice taste colten
Have you tried the CoolerMaster MM730? It's basically the same shape but hump near the back - and only 49g! insanely lightweight. It's become my main over so many mice.
absolutely love my za13b, ive had no problems with that mouse for so long and i have the best grip with that mouse
G502 is my go to, and now i have the wireless one with the power pad .
EC1-A is still imo the greatest mouse ive ever felt or used. Only problem with it was it had a cord, so i eventually made the switch to Logitech G703
you can buy a paracord and switch it bro , u dont have to change mouses for that wtf , i have my ec1 and ec2 paracorded , really nice
@@N0WARE I think he meant that it was wired?
@@stolensentience oh yea mb , didn't read properly But hey , paracord still makes a similar experience to wireless Not exactly but still it's gud enuf imo D: Ever experienced a quality paracord ?
Props to HeatoN, but the EC was just a re-imaging of the Intellimouse 3.0, which was his preferred mouse in the early days of counter-strike
Man I remember that mouse. Great mouse. And I remember dl’ ing heaton vids from Kazaa and limewire lolol
That Letterkenny clip caught me entirely off guard.
Shape-wise, the absolute GOAT for me is the Logitech G703 (wireless). It is however quite heavy ... what Zowie mouse comes closest to the size of it ?
ec2-c
Honestly, for the type of grip the G703 encourages, I would go with the S1/S2 or try out some of the Vaxee shapes. Or just upgrade to the GPX. For me, I just miss the hump when I use the EC2 or I try to fingertip the mouse to get better aim. It's a very planted feeling mouse and unless you full palm or fingertip with huge hands, there are more specialized shapes. Imho, you can't get much better than the g703 once you've gotten used to it. If you like the shape, just stick with it. It's an endless rabbit hole trying to find "the perfect mouse".
I have the EC2-A but I stopped using it when one of the cheap side buttons failed on me. I bought a zowie S1 Black as a replacement and this mouse is perfect: improved side buttons that don't feel mushy, ambidextrous shape that's an improved FK shape, it feels just right for my fingertip/claw grip.
is it good to use a fingertip grip on an ergo mouse?
@@hxctgaming8915 To clarify, I was using palm grip on my EC2-A. I had to change my grip style when I got the S1.
@@IbervilleMusic ohh I see, I'm a fingertip grip user for now I'm using a razer viper mini mouse, but I feel the mouse is too small and not comfortable for me, I've never tried an ergo mouse and want to try zowie EC series, should I try EC series or zowie s2?
@@hxctgaming8915 EC series has the perfect shape for palm grip if you want to try this style. EC1 if you really want something that fills up your palm if you have big hands, EC2 if you want a more reasonable size. Only gripe I have with it is the mushy side buttons. But if you're already a fingertip grip user going for a zowie S1/S2 would make more sense. My s1 feels very comfortable. You can still palm those but they're more suited for fingertip in my experience. Keep in mind that all these mice are heavier than your current mouse, though.
@@IbervilleMusic thx for your opinion
I never really understood the hype behind wireless or paracord. Till I realised the sens and dpi that many pros and by extension, the general population (or rather, the tryhards) use
i have tried many mice but at the moment im using the ec3-c and im loving it!
i have been using zowie mouse EC2-A for over 5 years. I got caught up with the hype mouse and ended up having another zowie which is the latest EC3-C.
I love the beef between Dimitri and Colten lmao
Oh man, the ZOWIE Hammer headset was the shit 10-15 years ago! I wish I bought 10 of them (2:38)
Both my zowie mice have taken a back seat to my Steelseries mice.
Literally the only issue I ever end up having with Zowie mice is the scroll wheel. After a few months the scroll wheel starts to go, doesn't register or doesn't work all together. If Zowie made a wireless version it would out perform majority of mice on the market today. Imo. Bought the EC2-A years ago and the clicks haven't changed from out of box.
After many years sticking with the Razer Deathadder, I grow tired of having to buy a new one cause of the double clicking issue. The last Deathadder that I owned had this rubber sides that started to peel off, I was done with Razer completely. The Zowie was the mouse that fit all my needs, 2 big side button, similar shape as the deathadder and a big mouse that fit my hands. After owning the Zowie mouse for over a year now I am glad I made the change, I regret not making this decision many years sooner.
Last night my EC2-A passed away after 3 years of being by my side, the Mouse 5 button has been physically damaged and is no longer functional. I knew this way would come eventually. They no longer manufacture ECs, what is the best alternative for me?
Gigachad Colton watching Ollie's stream in the background.
I recently got really interested in Zowie's ZA13-C the shape is great for claw grip aiming and now it's finally got a paracord cable.Unfortunately it isn't even available anywhere :/
Claw grip, id rather go for the the fk2.
hey.. my hands are the same size as Dimitry's, will the za11 comfortable for me? cause before i've watched this video, i was wondering the FK series XL or L size since it looks long enough for my hands.
Endgame Gear XM1R has a pretty similar shape to the ZA series
Personally I've been using Razer Deathadder for 10 years now. And I only changed v1 to v2 recently. Good mouse
Too big and strange shape on the top right side
@@sirgeorgioalastrata4104 maybe for you lol.
Also been using the deathadder, much love
@@faiyazmalik7386 its not even that it's too big its just heavy and a bad shape
@@sirgeorgioalastrata4104 Again, for you maybe. Im fine with the DA shape.
I’m china there are some third party shops that are picking up some traction. They basically have stolen the shape of the Zowie mice 1 to 1 but have modified it in the sensors, switches, made it wireless, added holes for reducing weight, etc.
Been switching mice a lot over the past few years, and finally ended up with a FinalMouse Starlight 12 Phantom which is fantastic for me. Love the lightness and the feel, as well as the design and colours ^-^
I have been switching between so many mice these past 2 years, I'm addicted
Everytime i have tried another mouse than my ec2 I always come back
I have had the EC1 for years. It is best for people with longer hands and fingers. I’m not changing any time soon. Thanks Zowie!!
Yeah I'm not sure why people are so pressed over Zowie lack of developing their mouse's. Their mice are classic and my go to for over 10 years. I've tried changing mice and still end up going back to Zowie EC2.
@@Gaga4Parma is the cable that bad?
If you don't mind me asking, what's the size of your hand? Im 19x10, used an EC2 for... Well, forever. Literally 2 days ago I got an EC1C (my EC2 is still perfectly fine...) I just wanted to 1) Try the paracord and "lighter weight" and 2) Try a "bigger" mouse cause I always felt the EC2 was a little bit (and I do mean A LITTLE bit) too small for me. Now I'm kinda regretting it because even though the EC1 fits my hand like a GLOVE I'm finding it hard-er to hit some really easy shots. I'm kinda "stuck at the wrist"... Should I go back to the EC2 or give the EC1 some time? I know it's all preference but I'm trying to convince myself that I made a good purchase 😁. Especially since my OG mouse is still perfectly functional...
Ive been using ec2-a since 2016, I had 3 of them already. I just ordered gpx superlight last week and hope its gonna be good haha
hey.. how is it going? you have tested Gpx, right? is it better than zowie mice?
@ 7:25 you mention that the FK, ZA, and S line were made when Zowie partnered with BenQ, but Zowie had the FK series out for a while. I'm pretty sure the ZA series was made for people who wanted that FK front end but a bigger booty for the back of the palm.
Ive been using the sensei310 for like 6 years now and for a normal guy playing some games for fun its very ok for me
i mean u can buy the C series which they rework on weight and change with paracord cable,thats nc,personally now i use roccat burst pro.
I'm sure most people who use wireless mice would say that while its not impossible to go back, it would be super inconvenient and a noticable downside to go to anything with a wire.
I'm honestly convinced it's one guy working at zowie at this point
My gaming setup requires a wireless mouse (I game on a tv with two lil tables kinda far away for my mouse and keyboard). So I want this but it’s not practical so I’m looking at Logitech superlight. But how do you guys know what mouse and shape and feel, etc you like best without buying thousands of dollars worth of mice to try each one out?
6:48 lmao after all that talk he just drops it like that
I really want a 90/10 Colton/Dimitri episode of cracked
I have an ec1c and it is mostly very good but I hate how slippery it is. The plastic texture is really bad for me and I often loose grip. Other than that it has been good even though now I'm searching for a replacement because it is disconnecting for a split second every 5 minutes and it is always leading me to loose confrontations.
I see Colten is a man of culture with that Ina poster in the background.
Dimitri u should probably try to the XMR mices from endgame gear its basically a better sensei plus the hump is at the back
I never used a zowie but I feel the same way about the mionix castor the shape of the mouse is almost perfect for my hand i've genuinely never held a mouse that feels like it was made to be held by my hand the way the castor does, the only complaint i've ever had about it is that it is slightly too short for my hand and after switching to a g703 I can't go back to wired mice I wish I could have a slightly larger wireless castor I would never even hold another mouse
i'm curious to know if the castor is based on one of zowie's shapes
Forman out there looking like a model for Glorious PC gaming race with that beard
I still have an old Logitech G9x. One of the best mice ever made
lmao that fucking brick slaps. im so sad they dont make them anymore
The wat...?
Why is nobody mentioning the accidental jump issue it causes for players who have jump binded to mouse wheel up and down? I have an EC2-A and I love everything about it but it drives me up the wall when I jump involuntarily in the middle of spraying or after an awp shot. I know it's not just my mouse because I've seen it happening to many pros during matches and the casters talked it about it as well.
just so people are aware the ec(x)-c series has stock paracord cables
Sheesh Ollie tho, that Ina poster too lmao 👀
My queens ;)
Still using Zowie eca-2 for regular use bought 4 years ago :)
I bet if Zowie put out a wireless version of ZA11, Dimitri would be over the moon for it.
Zowie for life. I put new skates on my za11 paired with a new steel pad and it was like new