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Uni-ball ZENTO Flow 0.5 mm Review: Is It Worth It?

Writer: Riku Morihata
Riku Morihata
6 days ago
2 min read

The Uni-ball ZENTO Flow is a retractable 0.5 mm pen built around a water-based ink that Uni designed for a smooth, low-friction feel. It pairs that ink with an anodized aluminum grip and a movable clip. If you are deciding whether it deserves a place in your pen cup, here is a clear look at what it offers.

Uni-ball ZENTO Flow 0.5 mm: specs

  • Model: UBN-ZF-05

  • Point: 0.5 mm, retractable

  • Ink: black ZENTO water-based ink, designed for low friction and reduced feathering

  • Grip: anodized aluminum

  • Clip: movable and color-matched

  • Refill: Uni UBR-Z-05

  • Colors: Jade or Hematite barrel

The ink: water-based, not ballpoint

Many everyday pens use oil-based ballpoint ink. ZENTO is a water-based ink, which Uni describes as giving a smooth, low-friction writing feel with reduced feathering. That makes the ZENTO Flow a natural option for people who like the glide of a gel pen but want a retractable body with no cap to lose. As always, ink behavior depends on paper, so try it on the notebook you actually use.

Grip, clip and colors

The anodized aluminum grip gives the pen a metal feel where your fingers rest, and the clip can be moved and is color-matched to the barrel. The two colors are Jade, a green, and Hematite, a dark grey. Both are shown below.

Is the ZENTO Flow worth it?

It is a good fit if you want a smooth-writing 0.5 mm pen with a metal grip and a refillable, retractable design for notes, journaling and planning. It is less suited to anyone who needs a pen that works on glossy or coated surfaces, since water-based ink generally prefers regular paper. If you prefer a lighter pen or a ballpoint feel, compare it with the Uni Jetstream Lite Touch, covered in our Jetstream Lite Touch review.

FAQ

What refill does the ZENTO Flow take? The Uni UBR-Z-05 refill.

What colors are available? Jade and Hematite barrels, both with black ink.

Is it retractable? Yes, it is a retractable pen, so there is no cap.

Shop the Uni-ball ZENTO Flow 0.5 mm Pen at https://www.marukaku.com/product-page/uni-ball-zento-flow-05-mm-pen

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