The BenQ ZOWIE S1 is a good wired gaming mouse. It feels well-built and has a symmetrical design that's a bit shorter than most BenQ ZOWIE mice. It also has good click latency, but some may find it too high for competitive gaming. Unfortunately, it has a fairly stiff cable and lacks companion software for customization, so there are only four default CPI settings that you can cycle through with a button on the underside. That said, it's well-suited to larger hands for claw and fingertip grips, but all hand sizes should be comfortable using a palm grip. For those with smaller hands, the BenQ ZOWIE S2 is a small version of this mouse.
Our Verdict
The BenQ ZOWIE S1 is mediocre for office use. It has a sturdy-feeling construction and a comfortable shape suitable for all hand sizes using a palm grip. Unfortunately, you can't use it wirelessly, it doesn't have companion software for customization, the wheel can't unlock for free scrolling, and it lacks L/R tilt buttons.
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Feels well-built.
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Comfortable ambidextrous design.
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Wired-only.
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Mouse wheel doesn't unlock for free scrolling and lacks L/R tilt.
The BenQ ZOWIE S1 is good for FPS gaming. It feels well-built and has a comfortable design that's well-suited for all hand sizes using a palm grip. However, those with smaller hands may have difficulty reaching all buttons using a claw or fingertip grip. It also has good click latency, though some gamers may prefer a more responsive-feeling option. Unfortunately, its cable isn't very flexible, and since there's no companion software for customization, there are only four default CPI presets.
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Good click latency.
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Feels well-built.
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Comfortable ambidextrous design.
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PTFE feet glide well on mousepads.
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No software for customization; only four default CPI presets.
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Fairly heavy.
The BenQ ZOWIE S1 is mediocre for MMO gaming. It doesn't have as many buttons as dedicated MMO mice, it lacks companion software for customization, and its cable isn't very flexible. On the bright side, it feels well-built, has good latency, and is well-suited for palm grip for all hand sizes and claw or fingertip grip for those with larger hands.
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Good click latency.
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Feels well-built.
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Comfortable ambidextrous design.
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No software for customization; only four default CPI presets.
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Doesn't have as many buttons as a dedicated MMO mouse.
The BenQ ZOWIE S1 is good for fans of ultra-light gaming mice, but it's significantly heavier than a dedicated ultra-light mouse, and its cable isn't very flexible. That said, it has a comfortable shape that's well-suited for all hand sizes using a palm grip and larger hands using a claw or fingertip grip. It has great feet that glide well on mousepads, but they make a scratching sound on desks. It also has good click latency, though it may not feel responsive enough for everyone.
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Good click latency.
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Feels well-built.
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Comfortable ambidextrous design.
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PTFE feet glide well on mousepads.
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No software for customization; only four default CPI presets.
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Fairly heavy.
The BenQ ZOWIE S1 is inadequate for travel. It can't be used wirelessly and may not fit into most laptop cases due to its somewhat bulky design.
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Feels well-built.
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Wired-only.
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May not fit into most laptop cases.
- 6.0 Office/Multimedia
- 7.5 Video Games (FPS)
- 6.0 Video Games (MMO)
- 7.7 Ultra-Light Gaming
- 5.0 Travel
- Updated May 10, 2021: Review published.
- Updated Apr 28, 2021: Early access published.
- Updated Apr 14, 2021: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Apr 09, 2021: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Apr 01, 2021: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The BenQ ZOWIE S1 is one of many ZOWIE mice that are very similar but have different sizes and shapes, and it's the largest of the two BenQ ZOWIE S series mice. The smaller version is the BenQ ZOWIE S2. The unit we tested is the matte black variant, but it's also available in glossy white, DIVINA glossy blue, and DIVINA glossy pink. You can see the label for our unit here.
Compared To Other Mice
The BenQ ZOWIE S1 is the largest of the two BenQ ZOWIE S series mice; these have symmetrical designs shorter than most other ZOWIE mice. The raised hump on the back of the mouse is also closer to the center, creating more space between the palm and the back. It's a good choice if you're looking for a shorter ambidextrous design and prefer a mouse without features like RGB lighting and companion software for customization.
For other options, check out our recommendations for the best wired mouse, the best gaming mouse, and the best FPS mouse.
The BenQ ZOWIE S1 and the BenQ ZOWIE S2 are the two mice that make up BenQ ZOWIE's S series. Both have nearly identical performance and symmetrical designs with shorter bodies, but they're different sizes. The S1 is larger and well-suited for larger hands using any grip type; however, any hand size should feel comfortable using it with a palm grip. The S2 is smaller, significantly lighter, and has a slightly better click latency. It's well-suited to larger hands and all grip types. Although it's smaller, it isn't suitable for those with small hands.
The Logitech G Pro Wireless is a better gaming mouse than the BenQ ZOWIE S1. The Logitech is lighter, feels better-built, has two side buttons on either side, connects wirelessly with a USB receiver, and has a rechargeable battery. It also has a lower click latency, a lower lift-off distance, and it's almost universally suitable for all grip types and hand sizes. Comparatively, the BenQ is a wired mouse well-suited for all hand sizes with a palm grip and larger hands with a claw or fingertip grip.
The BenQ S1 and the BenQ ZOWIE FK2-B are wired gaming mice with nearly identical performance but different shapes and sizes. The S1 is larger and well-suited to all grip types for larger hands and palm grip, regardless of hand size. On the other hand, the FK2-B is smaller and significantly lighter. It's well-suited to all hand sizes using a palm or claw grip, but those with small or medium-sized hands might not be able to comfortably use the scroll wheel or the front side button using a fingertip grip.
The GLORIOUS Model O is a better wired gaming mouse than the BenQ ZOWIE S1. The GLORIOUS is significantly lighter, has a much more flexible cable, and better mouse feet. It also has somewhat lower click latency, a lower lift-off distance, and companion software for customization compatible with Windows. It's well-suited for all grip types, mostly for medium to large-sized hands. The BenQ is well-suited for palm grip for all hand sizes and a claw or fingertip grip for larger 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 GLORIOUS Model D is a better wired gaming mouse than the BenQ ZOWIE S1. The GLORIOUS is significantly lighter, has much lower click latency, a more flexible cable, better mouse feet, a wider CPI range, and a CPI you can adjust by increments of 100. It also has companion software, though it's only compatible with Windows. It's well-suited for nearly all hand sizes and grip types. Comparatively, the BenQ has an ambidextrous shape and feels better-built. It's well-suited for palm grip for all hand sizes and claw and fingertip grip for larger hands.
The BenQ ZOWIE ZA12-B and the BenQ ZOWIE S1 are wired gaming mice with very similar performance but different shapes and sizes. The S1 is larger and well-suited for larger hands using any grip type; however, any hand size should feel comfortable using it with a palm grip. On the other hand, the ZA12-B is smaller and significantly lighter. It's well-suited to all hand sizes using a palm or claw grip, but those with small or medium-sized hands may have trouble reaching the scroll wheel and both side buttons using a fingertip grip. The S1 has a better click latency, but it may be too small of a difference for most people to notice.
The BenQ ZOWIE S1 and the Dream Machines DM1 FPS are wired gaming mice with comparable performance. The BenQ feels sturdier and has better quality mouse feet. On the other hand, The Dream Machines is somewhat lighter and has a more flexible cable. It also has a wider CPI range and has customization software, which the BenQ lacks.
Test Results
Note: Our 3D scanner picked up residue from the adhesive we use to position mice for scanning. This residue appears as a lighter patch on the bottom of the mouse in the scan but isn't visible in reality.
If you're interested in a wired gaming mouse with a more ergonomic, right-handed shape, check out the Microsoft Pro IntelliMouse or the Redragon COBRA M711-FPS.
If you're interested in a similarly-sized mouse that you can use wirelessly, check out the ROCCAT Kain 200 AIMO.
The BenQ ZOWIE S1 has four CPI settings: 400, 800, 1600, and 3200. The polling rates are 125Hz, 500Hz, and 1000Hz.
