BenQ Zowie XL2540
One aimed at esports gamers.
To be upfront, the BenQ XL2540 is not for everyday gamers. It’s not even for most hardcore gamers. Instead, it totally aimed at competitive gamers, or those who want to push their high-speed gaming experience as far as possible. The monitor is packed with features not seen elsewhere, including the monster 240Hz refresh rate. The screen itself is a 24.5-inch TN panel, sporting a not-so-exciting 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. But combined with the 1ms response time and FreeSync support, the BenQ gives a unique experience.
As far as TN panels go, the BenQ performs pretty well, with vibrant colours, not terrible viewing angles and even backlighting. While the monitor supports FreeSync, the idea is that you will always be running at +240fps when using it. BenQ even warn users on the website — the XL2540 is a screen that needs a powerful gaming PC to push it to its limits. Of course, in use, screens with a lower refresh rate can’t compare, and we are still going through withdrawal symptoms. The monitor offers a decent array of inputs, including two HDMI ports, DVI, DisplayPort and USB.
The BenQ has been tweaked to suit pro gamers, with features such as a black equaliser to help show enemies in dark locations, fold out blinders, to block unwanted distractions, a pop-out holder for your headset and a fully adjustable stand.
The XL2540 also comes with the S-Switch — a little dongle that makes it quick to swap between inputs or saved configurations.
Verdict
A monitor without compare for pro gamers, but overkill for almost everyone else.