When comparing Zowie EC1-A vs Razer DeathAdder 3.5G, the Slant community recommends Zowie EC1-A for most people. In the question“What is the best gaming mouse?” Zowie EC1-A is ranked 20th while Razer DeathAdder 3.5G is ranked 52nd. The most important reason people chose Zowie EC1-A is:
The Avago 3310 sensor used by this mouse is exceptional. It delivers a true portrayal of mouse movement with no jitter, acceleration or prediction. The available DPI choices of 400/800/1600/3200 are all native and should ensure an equally good performance, regardless of which one is chosen.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Sensor and DPI options ensure fluid and optimal gaming performance
The Avago 3310 sensor used by this mouse is exceptional. It delivers a true portrayal of mouse movement with no jitter, acceleration or prediction. The available DPI choices of 400/800/1600/3200 are all native and should ensure an equally good performance, regardless of which one is chosen.
Pro Ergonomic, accommodating shape, especially for those with big hands
Though it may look tame, the mouse’s shape is quite ergonomic. Its subtle curves help your fingers position themselves while also allowing various grip types. For the same reason, the bulge of the mouse is located strictly in the middle, making it accommodating for the most amount of people, and even more for gamers that have big hands. Nevertheless, it may be more suited for palm grips because of the subtle curve at the right side which provides support for the ring and pinky fingers.
Pro Flawless movement, essential for gaming
The EC1-A delivers accurate mouse cursor movement that is essential to any gaming mouse. Virtually flawless, it has none of the precision-altering flaws that are apparent in other mice.
Pro Button switches click easily
Although the buttons have Huano switches, which are more stiff, the shell of the mouse somehow negates this and makes them click easily, just like typical Omron switches.
Pro Smooth mousepad movement
The mouse comes with two mouse feet that are larger than normal and ensure smooth movement over the mousepad.
Pro Includes a set of thumb buttons
The EC1-A includes a set of thumb buttons which are standard for most mice.
Pro Built to last
The switches don’t randomly break down, no component excessively rattles and the scroll wheel doesn’t degrade easily. Although the mouse has a rubber cable which is quite vulnerable to bending and damage, the mouse as a whole is well built and can be expected to last.
Pro Coating ensures a good grip
The mouse has a smooth plastic coating that doesn’t feel slippery. You can easily hold the mouse with a comfortable grip even without the rubber sides.
Pro Some customization options
The EC1-A has only a few customization options, all of which are sensor related. It is possible to change the lift off distance, polling rate and the DPI settings (400/800/1600/3200).
Pro Suitable for lefties
This mouse is well-known for its ergonomic shape well-suited for lefties. Its sizable groove on the right side guides the left thumb to a comfortable spot. The left side has a slightly angled surface that gives freedom for the rest of the fingers to position themselves as they please.
Pro Large thumb buttons don't get in the way of the grip
The DeathAdder has two thumb buttons that are quite large and easy to press without getting in the way of the grip.
Pro Fits the hand naturally with a palm grip
Due to its curves, it feels natural to hold the mouse with a palm grip. It has a defined thumb groove on one side and an open side for your ring and pinky fingers on the other. The general contour of the mouse is curved so it feels like it is specifically molded for you hand. The mouse relies more on its shape rather than textured finishes to maintain your hand’s grip.
Pro Comes with a companion software for customised profile creation
Although it’s an older mouse, its Synapse 2.0 software is still updated (as of Spring 2017) and allows you to change DPI, polling rate, create macros and reassign buttons. All of the options are tied to profiles. Keep in mind that certain modifications will not work unless the software is running in the background. The software also has optional stats and heatmaps that track your mouse usage. The software is PC and Mac compatible.
Pro Decent sensor, with several DPI options
This mouse comes with the Avago S3888 sensor, which is decent, but doesn’t offer perfect performance. Some of its original issues can be fixed with a firmware update. Originally, it has four DPI stages of 450/900/1800/3500. However, its 1800 DPI option is native and is regarded as the most accurate one with the highest perfect control speed. If you use the updated Synapse 2.0 software, these options increase to include every value between 100 and 3500, with steps of 100.
Pro Surface allows for easy sweat evaporation
The top of the mouse has a hard rubberized finish, which allow sweat to evaporate easily.
Cons
Con Customization options are limited due to the lack of companion software
There is no companion software to this mouse, which means you cannot do thorough customizations, such as button remapping or custom lighting.
Con DPI colors annoying and can't be customized
The scroll wheel has an LED that changes color depending on your DPI setting, but the corresponding color cannot be customized.
Con Side buttons don't register easily
The side buttons require you to press deeply before it registers an action.
Con DPI switch can't be accessed during use
The DPI switch is a button that can’t be accessed while in use because it's located under the mouse.
Con The customization process is inconvenient
All Zowie mice are built to be straightforward and simple to use. However, its settings cannot be changed easily during normal use: you have to unplug the mouse and use a combination of different button presses while plugging the mouse in, which is unintuitive and a hassle to learn.
Con Not manufactured anymore
The Zowie EC-1 is no longer manufactured by Zowie but it still can be found on eBay and Amazon from third party sellers.
Con DPI switch is located under the mouse, so it can't be used on-the-fly
A DPI switch is available but it's located under the mouse. It cannot be bound to a different function.
Con Old legacy drivers may need to be used to solve acceleration issues
If you encounter some acceleration issues, you may need to replace the Synapse software with the old legacy drivers to eliminate this issue.
Con Mouse feet are too thin and will wear out over time
The mouse feet are really thin and will wear out over time. To avoid this, another set of mouse feet can be placed on top of the old ones to increase their height.
Con To decrease the lift off distance, a work-around needs to be used
Although the lift off distance is quite high at 3.5mm, there is a possible work-around for that (the mouse lacks the ability of changing its value). If you partly cover the sensor with a non transparent tape the lift off distance gets lowered but at the cost of losing a little bit of perfect control speed. You may want to experiment first to achieve your desired performance.
Con Sensor firmware update is essential
In order to make the most out of the S3888 sensor, it’s crucial to have its firmware updated. This eliminates the jitter that’s present without the update. Other than this, it performs quite well.
Con Side surfces feel like they are of inferior quality
The sides are a glossy plastic that feels inferior in quality to the top side.