BenQ Zowie XL2546 Gaming Monitor Review: Is a 240Hz display refresh rate worth it?

BenQ, under its Zowie branding, launched the XL2546 gaming monitor back in 2017. It is a 24.5-inch gaming monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate display with a 1ms response time. Key features of this monitor include a Black eQualizer and DyAc technology. This specific model is focused on First Person Shooting (FPS) games and here is how the monitor performed during our review process.

Zowie XL2546 Review: Design

The Zowie XL2546 monitor looks quite basic from the front, while it does give a bit of an aggressive vibe with red accents running through the back and the stand. One of the best things about its design is that the monitor has minimal bezels and no RGB lighting, to disturb gamers and helps them in focusing on the game. Speaking of distractions, Zowie XL2546 also comes with privacy panels, which can be attached on each side to reduce any third-party distractions.

Zowie XL2546 Review: Features

Zowie ZL2546 comes with a couple of features including DyAc, which stands for Dynamic Accuracy. This according to the company, provides a much smoother gaming experience compared to other gaming monitors and at the same time helps in accurate aiming.

It also comes with a Black eQualizer, which basically brightens up dark areas on the display without over-exposing the other areas. This also gives a competitive advantage in maps like Cobblestone and Nuke in CS:GO, where enemies become quite difficult to spot due to them being hidden in dark areas.

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The monitor display features Flicker-Free technology, which reduces eye strain and eliminates any type of background flickering. Users can also adjust Colour Vibrance, which comes handy while playing games like PUBG. However, we did wish that the monitor came with Nvidia Gsync or AMD Free Sync technologie for an even better gaming experience.

As far as the ports are concerned, Zowie XL2546 comes with two USB 3.0 ports, headphone jack, microphone jack, a display port, two HDMI ports and a DVI port for display input. However, you will have to use only the display port in order to achieve the claimed 240Hz refresh rate.

Zowie XL2546 Review: Performance

Zowie XL2546 is capable of taking your gaming experience to a whole new level. However, in return, your PC should be capable of pushing out such high frames per second (FPS). We recommend using a system with at least a Nvidia GTX 1060 or higher for the best experience. Also, you will need to tweak some of your in-game settings in order to assure a consistent frame rate. Once you have capable hardware, the smoothness of a 240Hz display will surely enhance your gaming experience.

If you are upgrading from a 144Hz monitor, the difference might not be that evident. However, coming from a 60Hz monitor will make a huge difference for you. The smooth frame rates will also give a competitive advantage over other people you are playing games with. During the time I had the monitor for testing, I mainly played CS:GO and the game felt a lot better. Also, the monitor gives you a lot of options so that you can tweak it the way you want your games to look.

However, when playing titles like Battlefield V, PUBG and Fortnite made me miss higher resolutions like 1440p or 4k as this monitor sports a resolution of 1920x1080 pixels.

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BenQ has also thrown in an S-Switch, which allows you to switch between different display profiles in a click of a button. It is handy for those who like to use different display settings for different games. Interestingly, the S-Switch comes with its own memory which means you can take it around and install it on any compatible Zowie monitor and get your settings up and running in just one tap.

Zowie XL2546 Review: Verdict

Zowie XL2546 is available at a retail price of Rs. 45,990, which feels very expensive when you look at it as a monitor. However, when you are aiming towards getting into competitive gaming or you are a part of the scene already, the price tag will not pinch you. It offers a lot of advantages in FPS games and takes your gaming experience to a new level. If you are looking for a monitor for casual use or playing non-FPS games, you might wanna consider other options.