The BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B is a very good wired gaming mouse. It has a solid plastic body that feels well-built, low click latency, and a low profile shape that's well suited for palm and claw grips, though only those with larger hands will likely find it comfortable with a fingertip grip. Unfortunately, its cable is very rigid, and there's no companion software for customization, so you're stuck with four CPI settings and three polling rate presets that you have to adjust with buttons on the bottom of the mouse.
Our Verdict
The BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B mouse is only acceptable for office use. It feels sturdy and has a low profile shape that's very well suited for most hand sizes using a palm or claw grip. However, its wired design may be cumbersome for office use, there isn't any companion software for customization, and the mouse wheel can't be unlocked for free-scrolling and doesn't have L/R tilt buttons.
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Solid-feeling build quality.
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Mouse wheel lacks L/R tilts for horizontal scrolling and can't be unlocked for free scrolling.
The BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B mouse is very good for gaming with a solid plastic body that feels well-built and a low-profile shape well-suited for palm and claw grip, though only those with larger hands will likely find a fingertip grip comfortable. Unfortunately, the cable is very rigid, and since there's no companion software for customization, you're stuck with only four available CPI settings that you have to adjust with buttons on the bottom of the mouse.
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Solid-feeling build quality.
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Low click latency.
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Comfortable low profile shape.
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Fairly heavy.
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No companion software for customization and only four CPI presets.
The BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B is only mediocre as an MMO mouse. While it has a solid-feeling build, low click latency, and a comfortable shape, it only has two side buttons, which aren't nearly as many as dedicated MMO mice. There's also no companion software for customization, and the cable is very rigid. That said, it's well suited to palm and claw grip for nearly all hand sizes and suitable for a fingertip grip for those with larger hands.
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Solid-feeling build quality.
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Comfortable low profile shape.
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Not nearly as many side buttons as a dedicated MMO mouse.
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No companion software for customization and only four CPI presets.
The BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B mouse is very good for ultra-light gaming, but it's much heavier than most dedicated ultralight mice and has a very stiff cable. That said, it has low click latency and excellent mouse feet that glide smoothly on mousepads and desks.
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Solid-feeling build quality.
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Low click latency.
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Comfortable low profile shape.
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Fairly heavy.
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No companion software for customization and only four CPI presets.
The BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B is designed as a stay-at-home gaming mouse and isn't well suited for travel due to its bulky design and lack of wireless connectivity options.
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Solid-feeling build quality.
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Wired-only.
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May not fit in most laptop bags.
- 6.0 Office/Multimedia
- 7.7 Video Games (FPS)
- 6.1 Video Games (MMO)
- 8.0 Ultra-Light Gaming
- 5.0 Travel
- Updated Apr 29, 2021: Fixed a calculation error with the CPI Variation.
- Updated Apr 19, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Apr 13, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Apr 06, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Apr 06, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Mar 30, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B is one of many BenQ Zowie mice that are very similar but have different sizes and shapes. The series that the FK1-B is a part of has three different sizes. These mice are a direct update of the original FK series and have an updated sensor, but they lack an additional pair of side buttons on the right which the previous versions had. The FK-1B is the mid-sized option between the larger BenQ ZOWIE FK+-B and the smaller BenQ ZOWIE FK2-B. The unit we tested is glossy white, but it's also available in matte black. You can see the label for our unit here.
Compared To Other Mice
The BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B is an FK series mouse and a direct update of the BenQ ZOWIE FK1. It's marketed towards the esports community and FPS players in particular. While it has an improved sensor, the FK-B has the same symmetrical, low-profile shape that made its predecessor so popular. Although many mice manufacturers have focused on making their mice as light as possible in recent years, Zowie has ignored this trend with the FK lineup, and the FK1-B is quite heavy for a high-end competitive FPS mouse.
For other options, see our recommendations for the best mouse, the best wired mouse, the best gaming mouse, and the best fps mouse.
The Logitech G Pro Wireless is a better gaming mouse than the BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B. The Logitech is much lighter, although you can connect it wirelessly with its USB receiver. It also has two additional side buttons, better mouse feet, a significantly wider CPI range, more finely adjustable CPI settings, lower-lift off distance, and customization software that's compatible with Windows and macOS. It's also very well-suited to all grip types and nearly all hand sizes. On the other hand, the BenQ ZOWIE only has two side buttons and lacks companion software. However, it's well-suited to all grip types and most hand sizes, but those with small or medium hands likely won't be able to reach both side buttons using a fingertip grip.
The Razer Viper Ultimate is a better gaming mouse than the BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B. The Razer is substantially lighter, despite being able to connect wirelessly with its USB receiver. It also has two additional side buttons, RGB lighting, better mouse feet, a wider CPI range, and a more finely adjustable CPI. The companion software is only compatible with Windows, but it has onboard memory that you can use to carry settings to computers without the software. It's well-suited to all grip types, depending on hand size. On the other hand, the BenQ doesn't have companion software for customization and only has two side buttons. That said, it's very well-suited to all grip types and nearly all hand sizes, but those with smaller hands may not be able to reach all buttons using a claw or fingertip grip.
The BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B and BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B are very similar wired gaming mice with nearly identical performance but different shapes. The S2 is shorter and has a symmetrical shape that's well suited for all grip types but isn't suitable for small hands. That said, the FK1-B has a low profile and a symmetrical shape that's great for palm or claw grip, but only larger hands will likely find a fingertip grip comfortable. It also has a lower click latency, but it's unlikely to be a noticeable difference for most people.
The BenQ ZOWIE EC2 and the BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B are very similar wired gaming mice with comparable performance but different shapes. The ZOWIE EC2 has a right-slanted ergonomic shape and a more flexible cable. On the other hand, the FK1-B has a low-profile, symmetrical shape, a sturdier-feeling build, and mouse feet with rounded edges. Both mice are very well suited for palm and claw grips, but only those with large hands will likely find a fingertip grip comfortable.
The BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B and the BenQ ZOWIE ZA11-B are both ambidextrous mice with two buttons on their left side. They're very similar in looks and performance, and they use the same sensor which has a very narrow CPI range. Unfortunately, since they don't have customization software, you can't remap any of the buttons, precisely adjust the CPI, or set macros. However, the FK1-B is a better choice for gaming since it has a much lower click latency.
The BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B and the BenQ ZOWIE FK1+-B are nearly identical mice but with different sizes. The FK1-B is the medium-sized mouse in the BenQ ZOWIE FK series. On the other hand, the BenQ ZOWIE FK1+-B is the largest mouse in the FK series and feels slightly sturdier.
The BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B and the BenQ ZOWIE FK2-B are nearly identical mice in different sizes. The FK1-B is the medium-sized mouse in BenQ Zowie's FK series. It's well-suited for a palm grip for all hand sizes and suitable for those with larger hands for claw and fingertip grip. On the other hand, the FK2-B is the smallest mouse in the FK series. It's well-suited for palm and claw grip regardless of hand size and suitable for a fingertip grip for those with large and extra-large hands.
The SteelSeries Sensei Ten and the BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B are gaming mice with very similar shapes. The SteelSeries has two additional side buttons, RGB lighting, and software for customization compatible with Windows and macOS. It's also marginally lighter, has a wider CPI range, and a more precisely adjustable CPI. It's well-suited for a claw grip, regardless of hand size, but those with smaller hands may not be able to reach all the buttons using a palm or fingertip grip. On the other hand, the BenQ ZOWIE has significantly better click latency, but it only has two side buttons and lacks companion software for customization. That said, it's ideal for a palm grip for all hand sizes, but those with smaller hands may not be able to reach all buttons using a claw or fingertip grip.
The GLORIOUS Model D is a better gaming mouse than the BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B. The GLORIOUS is a significantly lighter mouse with a right-slanted design. It has a much more flexible cable, mouse feet that glide better on mousepads and tables, RGB lighting, a wider CPI range, more finely adjustable CPI settings, and companion software for customization. It's well-suited for all grip types, but those with smaller hands may want to check out the GLORIOUS Model D- instead. On the other hand, the BenQ ZOWIE has an ambidextrous shape and a slightly lower click latency but only has four default CPI presets and no companion software for customization. That said, it's well-suited to all grip types depending on hand size.
The BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B and the BenQ ZOWIE S1 are wired gaming mice with comparable performance but different shapes and sizes. The FK1-B has significantly lower latency and a symmetrical low-profile design. On the other hand, the S1 has a symmetrical shape with a slightly higher profile and a hump closer to the center. Both mice are well-suited to all hand sizes using a palm grip, but those with smaller hands may not reach all the buttons using a claw or fingertip grip.
The SteelSeries Sensei RAW and the BenQ ZOWIE FK1-B are very good wired gaming mice with similar shapes. The SteelSeries has two additional side buttons on the right, a more flexible cable, a more consistent sensor, a lower lift-off distance, a wider CPI range, and a more adjustable set CPI. It also has companion software for customization. Comparatively, the BenQ has a significantly lower click latency and only four default CPI presets. Both mice are well-suited for a claw or palm grip for almost all hand sizes and a fingertip grip for larger hands.
Test Results
If you're interested in a symmetrical ZOWIE mouse with similar performance but a slightly shorter length, check out the BenQ ZOWIE S1.
Update 04/29/2021: We fixed an error with the CPI Variation. We initially calculated -6%, but the correct value is -13%. We updated the review accordingly.
The sensor is very accurate for tracking slow cursor movements, but it undershoots by nearly 13% when the cursor is moved quickly. The preset CPI settings are 400, 800, 1600, and 3200. For a similar mouse with a lower lift-off distance, consider the Vaxee ZYGEN NP-01S.
