Zowie ZA13/S2/FK2-DW Review

The ZA13-DW measures 121.7 × 62.8 × 40.2 mm, making it a small mouse. It features a very aggressive, tall backward hump, making it highly suited for claw grip. While many mice feature back-humps, few are as aggressive as this one, which makes the ZA lineup from Zowie highly sought after by certain users. It can also be used as a fingertip mouse if you have larger hands or as a palm-grip mouse if you have medium or smaller hands. If claw grip isn’t your preferred style, the S2 or FK2 shapes might be better options.

The sides have an inward curvature that improves grip and a slight outward flare at the front. The button height is quite low.

Zowie S2-DW

The Zowie S2 measures 120 × 64.2 × 38.1 mm, making it a small mouse. Like the ZA13, the S2 has a pronounced back-hump, but it is less aggressive and more low-profile. This makes it very suitable for claw-grip users while also being safer for other grip styles.

Similar to the ZA, the S2 has an inward side curvature and a slight outward front flare. The primary difference, apart from the hump, lies in the button height: the ZA13 has very low buttons, while the S2’s buttons are positioned higher.

Zowie FK2-DW

The Zowie FK2-DW measures 125.1 × 64.9 × 36.4 mm, making it a medium-sized mouse and the longest of the three. Despite its length, it remains shorter in height, giving it a comparable overall size to the ZA13 and S2 in terms of total volume.

The FK2 has a low, flat, centered hump that sets it apart from the ZA13 and S2. The sides and front flare are similar, but the FK2 feels more tailored for fingertip grip. Claw and palm grips are also possible for users with smaller hands.

Coating

Zowie’s coatings are known to be among the best on the market. They are extremely grippy but tend to accumulate sweat and grime more than other mice. Fortunately, this is easily cleaned with a damp cloth, restoring the coating to its original feel in seconds. During my use, I experienced no issues with grip, even under changes in humidity or temperature.

The mice do not come with grip tape, which I don’t consider a significant downside, as the coating is already sufficiently grippy.

Build Quality

Zowie is also known for the build quality of its products. All three mice felt solid, with no flexing or creaking even under significant pressure. Additionally, there were no rattling noises when shaking the mice.

Weight & Feet/Skates

All three mice weigh 65 grams. While this doesn’t compete with newer mice featuring sub-50-gram or even sub-40-gram weights, the mice don’t feel heavy. Compared to Zowie’s previous offerings, this is still a lightweight improvement. Since Zowie focuses on professional players, reducing the weight too much might compromise their usability for this audience. Instead, Zowie seems to prioritize shape, coating, quality, and performance.

The skates are large, covering most of the top and bottom undersides, with a cutout for the charging dock. They are very smooth and don’t require a break-in period like many other mice.

Buttons & Scroll Wheel

The buttons on the DW series are excellent. While there is minimal pre- and post-travel, they feel very tactile and are easy to spam-click, which is essential for competitive FPS games.

The scroll wheel requires very little force to scroll. The steps aren’t very tactile, which I miss, but they aren’t so smooth that stopping at a specific step becomes difficult. Clicking the scroll wheel requires moderate force.

Conclusion

The Zowie ZA13-DW, S2-DW, and FK2-DW each offer something unique in shape, catering to a variety of grip styles and preferences. While their weight of 65 grams may not compete with the ultra-lightweight trend of modern mice, these models excel in build quality, performance, and button feel, making them a great choice for both professional players and enthusiasts.

At a price of $149.99, these mice are a premium option, especially considering the amount of more affordable options featuring equal technical specifications, but the combination of their unique shapes, exceptional coating, and durability makes them well worth considering if you value consistent performance and reliability, which Zowie has been known to provide.