Gaming Mice

Zowie EC2-A Review

ZOWIE EC2-A
BenQ ZOWIE EC2-A Review
Zowie EC2-A
The Good
  • Top quality build
  • Excellent sensor
  • Feels natural to grip
The Bad
  • DPI switch is located at the bottom
10/10
Excellent
BenQ ZOWIE EC2-A
BenQ ZOWIE EC2-A
  • 3310 optical gaming sensor with 400/800/1600/3200 DPI to ensure ultra-accurate movements and responsiveness, giving you the advantage on the battlefield
  • Ergonomic design with multiple shapes and sizes to maximize performance and provide a comfortable gaming experience for competitive eSports players
  • Consistent tactile feedback eliminating double switch presses, ensuring efficient functionality, and sleek design
  • Adjustable report rate 125/500/1000Hz for different levels of responsiveness
  • No drivers required, allowing players to plug and play
Buy on Amazon

Zowie Gear released their EC-A series many years ago, but as it still remains one of the best gaming mice out there we decided to give you a more detailed look into it.

"ZOWIE GEAR HAS NO AMBITION TO BECOME THE BIGGEST MANUFACTURER OF COMPETITIVE GAMING GEAR. WE JUST WANT TO BE THE BEST. IF WE CAN DEVELOP PRODUCTS THAT WILL INCREASE A GAMERS PERFORMANCE BY JUST 1%, WE WILL DO IT. THIS IS OUR MENTALITY."
BenQ ZOWIE

 

If you are not Scandinavian or an eSports follower you might not have even heard of Zowie Gear. Zowie sprung into the radar of Counter-Strike and eSports people in 2009 when Swedish Counter-Strike legend Emil “HeatoN” Christensen teamed up with Abdisamad “SpawN” Mohamed, a legend alike, to take part in product development with Zowie. The result came out in 2010 in the form of Zowie EC series, named after the initials of the legend himself. The mouse was loved by Counter-Strike players and in 2015 it was made even better – the EC-A series.

In 2015 BenQ announced that all of it’s future eSports related merchandise will be released under the name of Zowie. If you know BenQ and its status within professional gamers this might give you a little hint of what we are talking about here in terms of quality – the best.

EC-A series

As said, Zowie EC-A series is basically the old EC series updated. So if you are wondering whether it will fit your hand as nicely as the old one the answer is yes. EC1-A and EC2-A are technically identical, the only difference between them is size: EC2-A is the smaller one.

zowie EC1-A EC2-a size comparison top
Photo: BenQ ZOWIE
zowie EC1-A EC2-A size comparison side
Photo: BenQ ZOWIE

Also see the following images for a size comparison between Zowie EC2-A and one of the most known gaming mouses, SteelSeries Rival.

zowie ec2a palm grip 2
zowie ec2a claw grip 2
steelseries rival palm grip
steelseries rival claw grip
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Specifications

  • SENSOR: AVAGO 3310
  • DPI: 400 (RED) / 800 (PURPLE) / 1600 (BLUE) / 3200 (GREEN)
  • USB: USB 2.0 / 3.0 PLUG & PLAY
  • BUTTONS: 5
  • CABLE: 2M / 6,6 FT
  • LIFT OFF DISTANCE: 1.5 – 1.8 MM
  • POLLING RATE: 125 / 500 / 1000 HZ

The Feel

Zowie EC-A series are designed for right hand users only and if you compare the feel with some of the hip n cool new gimmicky mice like Razer Ouroboros or pretty much any mouse by Mad Catz, it feels almost like it melts together with your hand.

The only complaint I have with the design is the DPI button which is located in the bottom of the mouse. For normal people this is not that big of a deal though, but for an old dog like me it is a pet peeve. I have always played CS with 400 DPI and when I switch back to desktop I turn it up to 800. There’s no real reason why I couldn’t half my in-game sensitivity and use the same DPI for CS and desktop but once you get good doing something over and over again with the same settings you get sort of superstitious. Otherwise the switches and scroll wheel are just perfect, no complaints whatsoever.

Suitability For Competitive Gaming

BenQ ZOWIE is in fact the most used mouse manufacturer in the professional scene of CS:GO. We think this tells enough.

CSGO pro mouse statistics - infographic about which gaming mouse CSGO pros use the most

Still not sure? Have a look at our CS:GO mouse buying guide.

Zowie EC2-A Review

Superb gaming mouse for CS:GO and other FPS games as well.

Product Brand: BenQ ZOWIE

Editor's Rating:
5

SteelSeries Comes Out With the StatTrak Mouse – Rival 700

SteelSeries Rival 700

SteelSeries Rival 700 Introduced

SteelSeries came out with the dankest meme of the year so far: SteelSeries Rival 700 which immediately got labeled “the StatTrak mouse” in the Counter-Strike community. The nickname is quite telling – Rival 700 is equipped with a fully customizable OLED display which can be used for accessing on-the-fly sensitivity settings, in-game statistics, button mapping, and personalizing. It also has a vibrating engine for various purposes.

 

SteelSeries Rival 700
SteelSeries Rival 700

 

 

 

 

 

Twitter reactions:

 

Only time will tell whether Rival 700 will actually be good or will it remain as a meme.

SteelSeries Rival 700 Specs

DESIGN

  • Material: Matte Top Cover
  • Ergonomic, Right-Handed
  • Grip Style: Palm, Claw, and Fingertip
  • Number of Buttons: 7
  • SteelSeries Switches: Rated for 30 Million Clicks
  • Reinforced Left and Right Clicks
  • Weight: 159g, 0.35lbs
  • Height: 124.85mm, 4.92in
  • Width: 68.46mm, 2.70 in
  • Depth: 41.97mm, 1.65in
  • Short cable length (non-braided): 1m, 3.28 ft
  • Long cable length (braided): 2m, 6.5 ft

SENSOR

  • Sensor Name: PixArt PMW3360
  • Sensor Type: Optical
  • CPI: 100 to 16,000
  • IPS: 300
  • Acceleration: 50g
  • Polling Rate: 1 ms (1000 Hz)
  • Zero Hardware Acceleration
  • Tracking Accuracy: 1:1

CUSTOMIZATION OPTIONS

  • Gamesense Support
  • OLED Display Customization
  • Tactile Alert Customization
  • SteelSeries Engine Support: SSE3
  • Multiple CPI Options
  • Programmable Buttons
  • Onboard Profile Storage
  • Acceleration Customization
  • Deceleration Customization
  • Color Options: 16.8 Million
  • Printable 3-D Nameplate
Source: SteelSeries

 

Best Mouse For CS:GO [2020 Updated]

Best mouse for CS:GO
Best mouse for CS:GO
Best Mouse For CS:GO 2020

This gaming mouse list is based upon our research of professional CS:GO players and our own tests.

  • BenQ ZOWIE EC1-B & EC2-B
  • ENDGAME GEAR XM1
  • SteelSeries Rival 310
  • Razer DeathAdder Elite
  • Logitech G703
  • Logitech G Pro
  • BenQ ZOWIE FK1 & FK2 & FK1+
  • SteelSeries Sensei 310
  • SteelSeries Rival 110
  • Nixeus REVEL
What's the most used gaming mouse by CSGO pros?

BenQ ZOWIE EC2. According to our data, the most used mice by CSGO pros are:

  1. BenQ ZOWIE EC2 (30.4%)
  2. BenQ ZOWIE S2 (10.9%)
  3. Logitech G Pro Wireless (9.4%)
  4. BenQ ZOWIE EC1 (8%)
  5. Logitech MX518 (4.3%)

Our CSGO pro mouse data consists of the best 30 teams in the world (thus: top 150 players).

What's the most used mouse manufacturer by CS:GO pros?

BenQ ZOWIE.

According to our data, the most used mouse manufacturers by CS:GO pros are:

  1. BenQ ZOWIE (61.6%)
  2. Logitech (21.7%)
  3. Razer (5.3%)
  4. SteelSeries (3.6%)
  5. Other (7.2%)

The data was gathered in January 2020 from multiple sources, always picking the most recently updated information.

Welcome to our ultimate guide about choosing the best mouse for CS:GO! Mouse is the single most important piece of equipment of any CS player, so you’re doing yourself a huge favor by reading our guide.

In addition to our picks and advice you will find statistics about the gaming mice used by the best professional CS:GO players in the world.

If you’re here to just check out our picks, here they are:

 MouseDetailsBuy on Amazon
BenQ ZOWIE EC1-BBenQ Zowie EC1-BButtons: 5
Length: 5.04″
Width: 2.72″
Height: 1.70″
Weight: 3.32 oz		See details
BenQ ZOWIE EC2-BBenQ ZOWIE EC2-BButtons: 5
Length: 4.72″
Width: 2.52″
Height: 1.57″
Weight: 3.17 oz		See details
Endgame Gear XM1ENDGAME GEAR XM1Buttons: 5
Length: 4.8″
Width: 2.6″
Height: 1.5″
Weight: 2.47 oz		See details
SteelSeries Rival 310SteelSeries Rival 310Buttons: 6
Length: 5.02″
Width: 2.76″
Height: 1.65″
Weight: 3.11 oz		See details
Razer DeathAdder EliteRazer DeathAdder EliteButtons: 7
Length: 5″
Width: 2.76″
Height: 1.73″
Weight: 3.68 oz		See details
Logitech G703Logitech G703Buttons: 6
Length: 4.88″
Width: 2.68″
Height: 1.69″
Weight: 3.77 oz		See details
Logitech G ProLogitech G ProButtons: 6
Length: 4.6″
Width: 2.5″
Height: 1.5″
Weight: 3.0 oz		See details
ZOWIE FK1BenQ ZOWIE FK1Buttons: 5
Length: 5.04″
Width: 2.64″
Height: 1.46″
Weight: 3.17 oz		See details
ZOWIE FK2BenQ ZOWIE FK2Buttons: 5
Length: 4.88″
Width: 2.52″
Height: 1.42″
Weight: 3.00 oz		See details
SteelSeries Sensei 310SteelSeries Sensei 310Buttons: 8
Length: 4.93″
Width: 2.77″
Height: 1.53″
Weight: 3.25 oz		See details
SteelSeries Rival 110SteelSeries Rival 110Buttons: 6
Length: 4.75″
Width: 2.68″
Height: 1.50″
Weight: 3.09 oz		See details
Nixeus RevelNixeus REVELButtons: 5
Length: 4.92″
Width: 2.68″
Height: 1.54″
Weight: 3.0 oz		See details

Best Mouse For CS:GO 2020

This gaming mouse list is based upon our research of professional CS:GO players and our own tests.

BenQ ZOWIE EC1-B & EC2-B

BenQ ZOWIE EC1-B
Rating:
5/5
  • EC1-B: 5.04 x 2.72 x 1.7 in / 3.32 oz
  • EC2-B: 4.72 x 2.52 x 1.57 in / 3.17 oz
  • Sensor: 3360
  • 5 buttons

BenQ Zowie EC1-B Ergonomic Gaming Mouse for Esports (Large)
BenQ Zowie EC1-B Ergonomic Gaming Mouse for Esports (Large)
  • 3360 optical gaming sensor with 400/800/1600/3200 DPI to ensure ultra-accurate movements and responsiveness, giving you the advantage on the battlefield
  • Ergonomic design with multiple shapes and sizes to maximize performance and provide a comfortable gaming experience for competitive eSports players
  • Consistent tactile feedback eliminating double switch presses, ensuring efficient functionality, and sleek design
  • Adjustable report rate 125/500/1000Hz for different levels of responsiveness
  • No drivers required, allowing players to plug and play
Buy on Amazon

BenQ Zowie EC2-B Ergonomic Gaming Mouse for Esports (Medium)
BenQ Zowie EC2-B Ergonomic Gaming Mouse for Esports (Medium)
  • 3360 optical gaming sensor with 400/800/1600/3200 DPI to ensure ultra-accurate movements and responsiveness, giving you the advantage on the battlefield.
  • Ergonomic design with multiple shapes and sizes to maximize performance and provide a comfortable gaming experience for competitive eSports players.
  • Consistent tactile feedback eliminating double switch presses, ensuring efficient functionality, and sleek design.
  • Adjustable report rate 125/500/1000Hz for different levels of responsiveness.
  • No drivers required, allowing players to plug and play.
Buy on Amazon

EC-B series is the latest edition of the original Zowie masterpiece and a successor to the largely appreciated EC-A (read our Zowie EC2-A review). It’s been the go-to CS:GO mouse you could recommend to anybody looking to get good.

The most notable difference is the upgraded sensor. Without going too much into the nitty-gritty the 3360 has twice the tracking power of the old 3310. Because the 3310 sensor already was excellent you probably won’t notice too much of a difference, but 3360 certainly deals better with rapid spinning movements.

In other news the LED light on the scroll wheel is now gone, the side buttons are slightly more “clicky” and the bottom has four small feet instead of the previous two large ones at both ends. BenQ ZOWIE also added a button for changing the polling rate at the bottom – you no longer need to use button combinations to change it.

The BenQ ZOWIE flagship model comes in two sizes: EC1-B is bigger and heavier than the EC2-B. Generally speaking if you have a big hand go for the EC1-B and if you have a small hand go for the EC2-B. but this, once again, is a matter of preference. I myself have found over the years that even though my hand is relatively small I get the best grip with bigger mice.

Read more from Zowie

ENDGAME GEAR XM1

Endgame Gear XM1
Rating:
5/5
  • Size: 4.8 x 2.6 x 1.5 in / 2.47 oz
  • Sensor: Pixart PMW3389
  • 5 buttons

ENDGAME GEAR XM1 Gaming Mouse - Optical PWM3389 Sensor - Up to 16,000 DPI - 5 Buttons - Omron Switches - Black
ENDGAME GEAR XM1 Gaming Mouse – Optical PWM3389 Sensor – Up to 16,000 DPI – 5 Buttons – Omron Switches – Black
  • STATE OF THE ART: The XM1 by Endgamegear is a high-quality gaming mouse for all grip styles. It is equipped with first-class Omron switches and modern technology.
  • MODERN SENSOR: Pixart precision optical PMW3389 sensor with up to 16,000 DPI. Conveniently adjustable in four steps, the exact values can be adjusted in the software.
  • ERGONOMICS & BUTTONS: The XM1 has a symmetrical design and is equipped with two main buttons, two thumb buttons and the mouse wheel itself. At just 70 grams, the mouse is also very light.
  • CUSTOMIZABLE: On the bottom of the mouse, the DPI number and the polling rate can be gradually adjusted. With the ARM STM32 microcontroller, the internal signal processing latency stays below one millisecond.
  • HIGH COMFORT: The surface has an anti-sweat coating, is slightly roughened and thus provides a firm grip under all circumstances. The large Teflon feet, however, ensure undisturbed sliding of the mouse.
Buy on Amazon

German Endgame Gear caught us off guard with their XM1 gaming mouse. It’s their first product and they’ve nailed it perfectly. 

It’s the lightest mouse on our list so it’s safe to say the switch from my beloved old Rival 300 was quite a change. This was the mouse that finally changed my mind from “I need a bit of weight to feel precise” to “any extra weight limits my crispness”.

The test shall continue, but after a few months I still haven’t had a single accident of a scroll wheel malfunction, which is a common occurence in any of the old giants.

Read more from Endgame.

SteelSeries Rival 310

SteelSeries Rival 310
Rating:
5/5
  • Size: 5.02 x 2.76 x 1.65 in / 3.11 oz
  • Sensor: TrueMove3 (3360 variant)
  • 6 buttons

Sale
SteelSeries Rival 310 Gaming Mouse - 12,000 CPI TrueMove3 Optical Sensor - Split-Trigger Buttons - RGB Lighting
SteelSeries Rival 310 Gaming Mouse – 12,000 CPI TrueMove3 Optical Sensor – Split-Trigger Buttons – RGB Lighting
  • Custom TrueMove3 12,000 CPI, 350 IPS optical 1 to 1 tracking esports sensor
  • Ergonomically designed for extreme comfort and performance
  • Exclusive split trigger left/right buttons deliver guaranteed 50 million click durability
  • 2 zone, multi color Prism RGB illumination for customizable lighting;Save all your performance and lighting settings directly to the Rival 310
  • Length:5 inches
$49.99 −$14.82 $35.17
Buy on Amazon

If you game you must have heard of the SteelSeries Rival. Rival 310 is the upgraded version of Rival 300 which was the original Rival revamped. Rival 300 came with a better sensor and most importantly fixed the horrible side grips of the original Rival. What’s new in the 310 then?

Sensor has been updated to SteelSeries’ own 3360 variant called TrueMove3, which was made in collaboration with Pixart. SteelSeries also managed to trim 8 grams of the weight which is quite a lot as far as gaming mice are concerned. The previous version of Rival was one of the heaviest mice around, whereas 310 is now about average. We also felt that the shape has gotten even better but this is a matter of preference.

Read more from SteelSeries.

Razer DeathAdder Elite

Razer DeathAdder Elite
Rating:
5/5
  • Size: 5 x 2.76 x 1.73 in / 3.68 oz
  • Sensor: PMW3389
  • 7 buttons

Sale
Razer DeathAdder Elite Gaming Mouse: 16,000 DPI Optical Sensor - Chroma RGB Lighting - 7 Programmable Buttons - Mechanical Switches - Rubber Side Grips - Matte Black
Razer DeathAdder Elite Gaming Mouse: 16,000 DPI Optical Sensor – Chroma RGB Lighting – 7 Programmable Buttons – Mechanical Switches – Rubber Side Grips – Matte Black
  • The #1 Best-Selling Gaming Mouse in the US Under $50: Source – The NPD Group, Inc., U.S. Retail Tracking Service, Mice, Gaming Designed, Based on Dollar Sales, ASP under $30 (Jan.- Dec. 2019)
  • High-Precision 16,000 DPI Optical Sensor: Offers on-the-fly sensitivity adjustment through dedicated DPI buttons (reprogrammable) for gaming and creative work
  • Immersive, Customizable Chroma RGB Lighting: Includes 16.8 million colors w/ included preset profiles; syncs with gameplay and Razer Chroma-enabled peripherals and Philips Hue products
  • 7 Programmable Buttons: Allows for button remapping and assignment of complex macro functions through Razer Synapse
  • Ridged, Rubberized Scroll Wheel for Maximum Accuracy: Small, tactile bumps increases grip and allows for more controlled scrolling in high-stakes gaming situations
$69.99 −$25.81 $44.18
Buy on Amazon

The DeathAdder, a true classic in the history of gaming mice. Yes, Razer might be branded for the 13-year-old hyperactive energy drink addicts but the original DeathAdder, DeathAdder 2013, DeathAdder Chroma and finally the latest edition, DeathAdder Elite are undeniably excellent mice. If you’ve used any of the previous versions the Elite will feel like coming to a freshly renovated home.

Read more from Razer.

Logitech G703

Logitech G703
Rating:
5/5
  • Size: 4.88 x 2.68 x 1.69 / 3.77 oz
  • Sensor: PMW3366
  • 6 buttons

Logitech G703 Lightspeed Gaming Mouse with POWERPLAY Wireless Charging Compatibility, Black
Logitech G703 Lightspeed Gaming Mouse with POWERPLAY Wireless Charging Compatibility, Black
  • LIGHTSPEED Wireless Technology: In high pressure moments, latency can be the difference between winning it all or losing. With millions on the line, esports professionals around the world depend on LIGHTSPEED wireless technology
  • PMW3366 Gaming Optical Sensor: Widely regarded by esports professionals and gaming enthusiasts as the best gaming mouse sensor on the market, PMW3366 has zero smoothing, filtering, or acceleration across the entire DPI range (200 12,000DPI)
  • Ergonomically Designed Body: With a lightweight (107g), ergonomically designed body, G703 was made to mold to your hand for long lasting comfort during gameplay. Rubber grips on the left and right sides give you added control
  • Works with POWERPLAY Wireless Charging System: Add POWERPLAY, the world’s first and only wireless gaming mouse charging system, to keep G703 (and G903) charged while at play and at rest
  • Advanced Button Tensioning: Advanced button tensioning uses metal springs to help keep the left and right mouse buttons primed to click, reducing the force needed to click and delivering exceptional click feel, response, and consistency
$118.10
Buy on Amazon

Logitech G703 is our mandatory wireless option. Logitech’s LIGHTSPEED technology actually delivers faster response time than regular wired mice and the PMW3366 sensor enables that smooth tracking of heads. Battery life of 24 hours with the LED lights enabled is plenty in itself but you can boost it up to 32 hours by disabling the lights. Even though G903 is the flagship wireless at the moment we felt G703 was overall a better fit.

Read more from Logitech.

Logitech G Pro

Logitech G703
Rating:
5/5
  • Size: 4.6 x 2.5 x 1.5 / 3.0 oz
  • Sensor: PMW3366
  • 6 buttons

Sale
Logitech G Pro Gaming FPS Mouse with Advanced Gaming Sensor for Competitive Play
Logitech G Pro Gaming FPS Mouse with Advanced Gaming Sensor for Competitive Play
  • Pro gaming mouse is created by Logitech G and top competitive eSports professionals for performance play. Weight is 3 ounce
  • Advanced PMW3366 optical gaming sensor delivers exceptional tracking accuracy at any hand speed for pixel precise targeting and high speed maneuvers across the entire 200 to 12,000 DPI range
  • Metal Spring Button Tensioning System designed for ultra-consistent and reliable click performance at the highest level of competition. 6 Programmable Buttons
  • Customizable with up to 16.8 million RGB lighting colors to match your style, team colors and setup plus synchronize with other Logitech G gaming gear
  • Six programmable buttons and onboard memory make it easy to setup and store one-trigger custom commands for your favorite games Physical specifications-Height: 116.6 mm Width: 62.15 mm Depth: 38.2 mm
$97.50 −$57.51 $39.99
Buy on Amazon

Logitech is actually the second most used mouse manufacturer within the CS:GO professional scene. When this article was originally written we complained about the gimmicky UFO designs that most of Logitech’s gaming mice had back then. Luckily things have changed for the better since and most Logitech’s new gaming mice are actually real palm pleasers with no extra gimmicks.

If you want a small and light gaming mouse G Pro is your choice.

Read more from Logitech.

BenQ ZOWIE FK1 & FK2 & FK1+

BenQ ZOWIE FK1
Rating:
4.5/5
  • FK1: 5.04 x 2.64 x 1.46 in / 3.17 oz
  • FK2: 4.88 x 2.52 x 1.42 / 3.0 oz
  • Sensor: Avago 3310
  • 5 buttons

BenQ ZOWIE FK1 Ambidextrous Gaming Mouse for Esports (Large)
BenQ ZOWIE FK1 Ambidextrous Gaming Mouse for Esports (Large)
  • 3310 optical sensor with 400/800/1600/3200 DPI to give you a unique tracking experience.
  • Ambidextrous design with multiple shapes and sizes to maximize performance and provide a comfortable gaming experience for competitive esports players
  • Consistent tactile feedback to avoid double switch presses, ensuring efficient functionality, and sleek design
  • Adjustable report rate 125/500/1000Hz for different levels of responsiveness
  • Plug and Play (No drivers required)
$59.99
Buy on Amazon

BenQ Zowie FK2 Ambidextrous Gaming Mouse for Esports (Medium)
BenQ Zowie FK2 Ambidextrous Gaming Mouse for Esports (Medium)
  • 3310 optical sensor with 400/800/1600/3200 DPI to give you a unique tracking experience.
  • Ambidextrous design with multiple shapes and sizes to maximize performance and provide a comfortable gaming experience for competitive esports players
  • Consistent tactile feedback to avoid double switch presses, ensuring efficient functionality, and sleek design
  • Adjustable report rate 125/500/1000Hz for different levels of responsiveness
  • Plug and Play (No drivers required)
$59.99
Buy on Amazon

BenQ Zowie FK1+ Ambidextrous Gaming Mouse for Esports (Extra Large)
BenQ Zowie FK1+ Ambidextrous Gaming Mouse for Esports (Extra Large)
  • 3310 optical sensor with 400/800/1600/3200 DPI to give you a unique tracking experience.
  • Ambidextrous design developed for palm/claw grip usage to maximize performance and provide a comfortable gaming experience for competitive esports players.
  • Consistent tactile feedback to avoid double switch presses, ensuring efficient functionality, and sleek design
  • Adjustable report rate 125/500/1000Hz for different levels of responsiveness
  • Plug and Play (No drivers required)
$59.99
Buy on Amazon

BenQ ZOWIE FK1 and FK2 follow the same logic as the EC-A series: 1 is bigger. They are built with the same sensor as the EC-A models so the only difference is in the design: the FK models are flatter than the EC-A. This is because they are designed to be ambidextrous, meaning that they can be used with both left and right hand. So if you are a leftie, this is your mouse.

For the right handed people I find the “fatter” design of the EC-B models a better fit, but this does not diminish the technical merits of the mouse.

BenQ ZOWIE has added an even bigger (they’ve labeled it “XL”) version to their catalog: FK1+.

Read more from Zowie.

SteelSeries Sensei 310

SteelSeries Sensei 310
Rating:
4.5/5
  • Size: 4.93 x 2.77 x 1.53 in / 3.25 oz
  • Sensor: TrueMove3 (3360 variant)
  • 8 buttons

Sale
SteelSeries Sensei 310 Gaming Mouse - 12,000 CPI TrueMove3 Optical Sensor - Ambidextrous Design - Split-Trigger Buttons - RGB Lighting, Black
SteelSeries Sensei 310 Gaming Mouse – 12,000 CPI TrueMove3 Optical Sensor – Ambidextrous Design – Split-Trigger Buttons – RGB Lighting, Black
  • Custom TrueMove3 12,000 CPI, 350 IPS optical 1 to 1 tracking esports sensor
  • Legendary SteelSeries Sensei ambidextrous design for claw and palm grip styles
  • Exclusive split trigger left/right buttons deliver guaranteed 50 million click durability
  • 2 zone, multi color Prism RGB illumination for customizable lighting; Save all your performance and lighting settings directly to the Sensei 310
  • Compatible operating system is windows, mac, and linux; Usb port required; Software is steelseries engine 3.10.12 plus, for windows 7 or newer and mac osx 10.8 or newer
$49.99 −$21.01 $28.98
Buy on Amazon

The relationship between SteelSeries Rival 310 and Sensei 310 is comparable to the one between Zowie EC-A and FK. They have pretty much the same design but Sensei 310 is flatter as it is ambidextrous as well. The older version, Sensei RAW, was the only gaming mouse on our original list that had a laser sensor but the revamped Sensei 310 comes with the same TrueMove3 optical sensor as Rival 310.

Sensei 310 also comes with the same silicone side grips as the Rival 310 while the Sensei RAW was completely naked from the sides.

Read more from SteelSeries.

SteelSeries Rival 110

SteelSeries Rival 110
Rating:
4/5
  • Size: 4.75 x 2.68 x 1.50 / 3.09 oz
  • Sensor: TrueMove1
  • 6 buttons

SteelSeries Rival 110 Gaming Mouse - 7,200 CPI TrueMove1 Optical Sensor - Lightweight Design - RGB Lighting (Renewed)
SteelSeries Rival 110 Gaming Mouse – 7,200 CPI TrueMove1 Optical Sensor – Lightweight Design – RGB Lighting (Renewed)
  • This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing process includes functionality testing, basic cleaning, inspection, and repackaging. The product ships with all relevant accessories, a minimum 90-day warranty, and may arrive in a generic box. Only select sellers who maintain a high performance bar may offer Certified Refurbished products on Amazon.com
  • Custom TrueMove1, 7,200 CPI, 240 IPS, 30g optical sensor
  • Ergonomic 6-button universal design for all grip styles
  • Guaranteed 30 million Left/Right click durability
  • Lightweight 90g durable design
$29.99
Buy on Amazon

SteelSeries Rival 110 is the budget version of the Rival 310. It has some compromises in terms of quality, the most important one being the sensor – 110 has the TrueMove1 which could be described as the little brother of the TrueMove3. Rival 110 is still a good mouse overall so if you like the Rival design but don’t have the money, go for the 110.

Read more from SteelSeries.

Nixeus REVEL

Nixeus REVEL
Rating:
4/5
  • Size: 4.92 x 2.68 x 1.54 / 3.0 oz
  • Sensor: PMW3360
  • 5 buttons

Nixeus Revel Gaming Mouse PMW 3360 for Windows & Mac OS, Rubberized Black
Nixeus Revel Gaming Mouse PMW 3360 for Windows & Mac OS, Rubberized Black
  • Optical Sensor: PixArt PMW3360
  • DPI Settings: 400/800/1200/1600/2000/3200/5000/12000
  • Programmable Buttons: 5
  • Operating System: Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10 & Mac OS
  • Warranty: 1 Year Limited Warranty by Nixeus. No mouse pad required
$42.84
Buy on Amazon

Nixeus REVEL is the dark horse of our list. While the brand is certainly nowhere as famous as others on our list the REVEL is an excellent budget gaming mouse. It has the 3360 sensor, build quality is great and the shape is very similar to the original Sensei. This thing really gives Rival 110 a good run for it’s money.

Read more from Nixeus.

CSGO Pro Mouse - 2020 Statistics

CSGO pro mouse statistics - infographic about which gaming mouse CSGO pros use the most

What’s the most used gaming mouse by CSGO pros? BenQ ZOWIE EC2.

According to our data, the most used mice by CSGO pros are:

  1. BenQ ZOWIE EC2  (30.4%)
  2. BenQ ZOWIE S2  (10.9%)
  3. Logitech G Pro Wireless  (9.4%)
  4. BenQ ZOWIE EC1  (8%)
  5. Logitech MX518  (4.3%)

Our CSGO pro mouse data consists of the best 30 teams in the world (thus: top 150 players).

Most Used Gaming Mice Manufacturers

What’s the most used mouse manufacturer by CS:GO pros? BenQ ZOWIE.

According to our data, the most used mouse manufacturers by CS:GO pros are:

  1. BenQ ZOWIE (61.6%)
  2. Logitech (21.7%)
  3. Razer (5.3%)
  4. SteelSeries (3.6%)
  5. Other (7.2%)

The data was gathered in January 2020 from multiple sources, always picking the most recently updated information. For all players in the top 30 teams gaming mouse information was not available, hence the total number of entries is 138 instead of 150 (30*5).

If you are interested in more data have a look at our guides about CS:GO keyboards, monitors, headsets, mouse pads and mouse bungees.

Before You Jump Into Conclusions

Disclaimer: buying any of these mice will not make you a better player. You won’t get Niko’s aim and you won’t turn into a spraygod overnight. However, if you want to train your set of skills and get anywhere near being half decent in the game, you do need quality equipment.

Even if you are not aspiring to get to the very top let me tell you this universal rule that applies to a lot of hobbies – guitars, bicycling… you name it. If you start out with bad gear the chances are you will lose your interest sooner rather than later.

Learning to play the guitar with a guitar that sounds bad and doesn’t stay in tune, riding a bike that drops the chains every once in a while… it’s just not fun. The same rule applies to gaming as well: you play with a terrible mouse, you play terribly and the chances are you won’t touch the game ever again. Having quality gear will make the experience much more fun.

Ok then, but why would I buy any of these mice when I can get a ”gaming mouse” from Walmart for 15 bucks?

Once again: quality, quality and quality. If these mice are good enough for people who play CS at the highest level for 6 to 12 hours a day and make their living out of it, they sure are good enough for me and you.

These mice are top notch, the créme de la créme, the best money can buy and yet they still remain affordable for almost every gamer. Buying the best gaming mouse is not like buying a Lamborghini in terms of money.

…and buying a quality gaming mouse you will use for years to come will eventually get cheaper than buying a poorly built 15 dollar mouse once every three months.

Why Trust Us?

First of all, we have the unofficial Seal of Approval by Mr. FACEIT, James Bardolph:

Secondly, if you found your way here by googling advice, the chances are you checked out some other articles as well.

Having done that you probably ask to yourself: “why should I trust this guy instead of this other guy?”

We hate to break an illusion but the truth is the creators of those lists most likely have never a) used those mice b) played video games enough to understand the merits of a good mouse.

As a matter of fact, they probably don’t even understand that you can actually be good or bad at playing video games!

Don't Get Fooled By Phonies

These are actual quotes from these “review” sites. Some of these claims are just so plain stupid that I will address these shortly. If you would say stuff like this (except the last one, it requires some knowledge about pro CS) to anyone who has ever played games anywhere beyond casual they would laugh you off.

  1. No. Aiming and shooting are skills you develop. This is like saying “this knife will improve your cooking skills”.
  2. Literally no one better than god-awful at any game has ever done this. The “on-the-fly” DPI switches are there purely because of changing mouse DPI with a button is easier than going through software.
  3. This sentence does not actually make that much of a sense.
  4. Sure it does. See number 1.
  5. Yeah, because someone else can tell what is ergonomic for your hand. Not.
  6. “Professional golfers using this chastity belt: Tiger Woods”. Emilio is banned for life from competing in CSGO.

How We Selected

The gaming mice on our list have been selected by thorough 1) testing of the mice and 2) researching the technical details, opinions of relevant people, CS:GO forums, tech forums and most importantly the professional Counter-Strike scene.

If you don’t have a clue what’s Counter-Strike or how it is relevant to this guide see our article about setting up like a pro. In short, these mice are being used by the very best (as in professional) players of the most technically challenging game there is at the moment.

Every mouse on our list matches the following standards:

  1. Great build quality
  2. Great sensor
  3. Quality acknowledged by either us or pro CS:GO players, preferably both

So no, this is not your average “which mouse has the highest DPI number and most LED colors” (both of which are totally irrelevant in terms of in-game performance) type of guide.

That’s all there is to know about choosing the best mouse for CS:GO. What’s your pick?