BenQ XL2546

Www.benq.com $550

These monitors are all powerhouses, but the XL2546 pushes things further. As well as its 240Hz refresh rate, this is the only display to offer a motion blur-reducing backlight strobing mode that also runs at 240Hz.

The result is the pinnacle of gaming performance. You simply can’t get a more responsive, clearerlooking image than with this display. The returns in terms of real-world results are diminishing, but if you simply have to have the best, this is it.

What’s more, you get a few other extras, too. There are side wings that help block out any other distractions, and there’s a wired remote that lets you switch monitor modes at the touch of a button.

A fully articulated stand, ample selection of connectivity—including side USB and headphone ports—and even a pop-out headphone stand further sweeten the deal.

Unfortunately, there are two key downsides. One is the high price—especially considering this display doesn’t have G-Sync—and the other is image quality. Out of the box, it’s downright awful, with inaccurate colors and very low contrast. Switch to the standard picture mode and it does improve, but still isn’t as good as some of the other displays here. 85%