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.
- Solid-feeling build quality.
- 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.
- Solid-feeling build quality.
- Low click latency.
- Comfortable low profile shape.
- Fairly heavy.
- 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.
- Solid-feeling build quality.
- Comfortable low profile shape.
- Not nearly as many side buttons as a dedicated MMO mouse.
- 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.
- Solid-feeling build quality.
- Low click latency.
- Comfortable low profile shape.
- Fairly heavy.
- 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.
- Solid-feeling build quality.
- Wired-only.
- May not fit in most laptop bags.
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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.
Popular Mouse Comparisons
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 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 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 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.
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.
