The U2-DW is Zowie's latest update to their claw-grip U2 shape. It has a few small changes since the original release, but nothing too dramatic. Adding the latest Pixart sensor and boosting the polling rate levels the playing field with other premium mice on the market.

(Other mice in the picture gallery are U2-DW vs original U2 side view, and mutliple views comparing the U2-DW to the Logitech G Pro X Superlight 2 and Endgame Gear XM2w4k in dark frost. The red skates are X-Raypad Obsidians.)

*Disclaimer:* *Zowie was kind enough to send this unit out for review, but all opinions are my own. Big thanks to them for supporting the* r/MouseReview *community!* 



**U2-DW Specs** (compiled from BenQ site and Amazon listings)

* 123.3mm x 64.3 mm x 38.1 mm (original U2 is listed as 124mm x 65mm x 38mm implying some slight changes, but not really noticeable)
* 60g weight, checks out on my scale (U2 is slightly higher)
* Pixart 3950 sensor (upgrade from the 3395 on the U2)
* Huano BPSD mechanicals switches
* Wired/Wireless 2.4ghz connectivity
* 1khz polling (wired or with small receiver) / 4khz polling (enhanced receiver)

  
**U2 to U2-DW**

The original Zowie U2, the company’s latest claw-grip-focused shape, was released early last year in January 2024. It generally received positive feedback but did face some criticisms. A recurring complaint was its polling rate of 1 kHz, at a time when most of the industry was transitioning to 4 kHz or even 8 kHz polling. Additionally, some users encountered issues with the positioning of the side buttons, expressing concerns that it interfered with their grip. While these details didn’t bother me personally, they were valid issues that the company aimed to address.  
  
Fast forward eight months later to September 2024, Zowie released wireless versions of their previously missing shapes, including the FK-DW, S2-DW, and ZA-13-DW. They also introduced an updated 4K Enhanced Receiver. Not long after, in November, the U2-DW was launched, featuring an upgraded Pixart 3950 sensor, 4K support, and minor shape adjustments. To honor original U2 owners, a firmware upgrade and a $20 purchase of the new Enhanced Receiver enabled them to enjoy 4K polling as well. 

One is shape adjustment Zowie made to the U2-DW is that it has a slightly beveled underside instead of being flush with the mouse pad like in the original U2. Apparently, there was a potential issue where a user’s palm could get caught between the mouse and the pad. I never encountered the issue, but it seems like a good change. They also raised the side buttons on the U2-DW and made them smaller to give your thumb more room. The old placement wasn’t a problem for me, I kind of liked the overlap, but I could see where people might be bothered. So, another good change. 



**Shape, Size, Weight**

The U2-DW is a medium-sized, mostly symmetrical mouse, specifically engineered and tested for claw grip. It might be seen as the evolution of the classic S2, as it shares a lot of similarities in shape.  The most notable difference from the S2 lies in its more aggressive thumb groove, a more pronounced rear hump drop-off, and slightly longer length. 

While the listed width of 64mm may seem average, the side walls taper in significantly, reaching a minimum of approximately \~54mm at their narrowest points. Compared to something like the GPX 2’s fairly flat side walls (64mm to \~58.5mm) or even the aggressive XM2w4K (66mm to \~56mm) it grip feels quite thin, veering into "mini" territory. This does tend to restrict the space for your pinky, but I usually trail mine so it doesn’t bother me at all. 

Weight-wise, it’s listed weight of 60g, which lined up with what I saw on my scale. To me this is an ideal weight. Not too heavy, not too light, and lends to the controlled feel of the mouse. It fits right in with other mid-weights like G Pro Superlight 2 (60g) and XM2w4k (62g). 

For my relaxed claw grip, the U2-DW feels very natural to me, providing a secure feel while still allowing for maneuverability when needed. I’ll also use it with a more aggressive claw grip or even nearly palm it. The original U2, now the U2-DW, has consistently been one of my favorite shapes for the past year and rarely leaves my desk. 

Here's a few shape comparisons in [Eloshapes for reference.](https://www.eloshapes.com/mouse/compare?p=zowie-u2-dw-vs.-endgame-gear-xm2w-4k-vs.-logitech-g-pro-x-superlight-2-vs.-zowie-s2-dw)



**Clicks and Scroll**

The main buttons on the U2-DW feel great. It uses the tried and true Huano Transparent Blue Shell Pink Dots, providing a light and crisp click feel with minimal pre-and post travel. There is no side wiggle at all on the covers due to the design of the single piece upper shell. Even after a year of use, my original U2 clicks feel the same as the new mouse, so that's a nice testament to the durability. 

For those seeking the fastest click latency numbers, this is where Zowie falls a little short. Since they are using mechanical switches, they require debounce settings, the lowest of which is \~2ms. On paper, optical switches are faster, but in practice it’s not noticeable and the trade off for click feel is a personal preference. Personally, I will take mechanicals over opticals any day. 

The side buttons are also nice and crispy, with very little pre or post travel, so no complaints on feel. Even though they reduced the size of them a bit with the U2-DW update, they are still pretty fat, which I like. My thumb does still overlap some, however I never had any misclicks or grip issues with the U2 or the U2-DW.

As for the scroll wheel, its the standard 24-step optical encoder Zowie uses across their lineup. Scrolling steps feel very tactical and rigid, but maybe not as loud as I typically expect with Zowie mice. I used to hate their encoders, but they’ve grown on me over time. If you’re expecting more of a smooth feel like you get with the standard TTC Gold everyone uses, or even a Pulsar Blue, this isn’t it. But it’s reliable and gets the job done. The middle click requires more force than the main buttons, which is good to prevent accidental clicks. 



**Shell, Sensor and the Rest**

Zowie is renowned for its exceptional build quality, and this mouse is no exception. The shell very has a solid feel, with no creaks or rattles (same with my year-old U2). The coating is also top-notch, one of my favorites. It provides a quick grip without feeling overly tacky, but isn’t slippery when cold. Its stock mouse skates are what I’d call adequate — they aren’t a hinderance, but I wouldn’t run out and buy them. My U2-DW came with the Zowie white “speed” skates by default, along with an extra set of white and black skates in the box. I eventually swapped them out for X-Raypad Obsidians.

I have no complaints about the sensor implementation. It feels very responsive and free of any hiccups. At 1600 cpi and 4k polling, it saturated well, as confirmed by Razer’s Polling Rate tester. While I usually disable motion sync, it felt fine keeping it on at 4k. My original U2 also performed the same after upgrading it to the 4k Enhanced Receiver, so if you have the original version it’s worth buying. 

For those unfamiliar, Zowie doesn’t rely on software to setup their mice. All settings are managed through the buttons on the mouse’s underside. While this approach eliminates the need for installation and works well for “set-it-and-forget-it”, it can be challenging to remember the specific button combinations for each setting. It’s advisable to keep a reference manual handy if you want to affect some of the more hidden settings.

The 4k Enhanced Receiver is a nice value-add. It’s supposed to be for interference-heavy environments like competitive gaming tourneys, but it’s great just sitting on the desk to charge your mouse when you’re done playing. They do still include the 1khz USB dongle too, which can be convenient in multi-computer scenarios. You can swap between either receiver via the mouses power button. I’m not aware of any other mouse companies that allow multi-receiver use, although Vaxee used to.

One minor change with the U2-DW update is the removal of the lightweight cable. Instead, it now includes only the thick cable for the receiver. This isn’t a significant issue, as most users will be using the mouse wirelessly anyway.

Currently they only offer the U2-DW in a medium size, it’d interesting see what they’d do with small or large sizes.



**Summary**

A premium mouse with a premium price, the U2-DW is a well-engineered offering from a reputable company with a long history in gaming. It has the latest and greatest sensor, fan-favorite mechanical switches, reliable optical encoder, and a cool 4k receiver/dock. Get this if you want to lock in with your claw grip, mine never leaves my desk. 



**Pros**

* Engineered and tested for claw-grip
* Great build quality
* Huano BSPD switches
* Optical encoder
* 4k Enhanced Receiver (charging dock)
* Best coating



**Cons**

* Premium pricing
* More click latency 
* Somewhat noisy encoder
* Only in medium size
* I hope you like black

  
*Thanks for getting this far down the page! If you have any questions about anything, just ask, this one is going to stay on my desk. I’m happy to answer anything I’m able to!*

Zowie U2-DW review