BenQ is taking on Asus with the launch of its much-vaunted Zowie XL2586X video gaming monitor. It’s said to feature a “Fast-TN” panel with DyAc 2 technology, and is only the second commercially available monitor to offer a refresh rate in excess of 500Hz, after the Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP.
The 24-inch Zowie XL2586X is said to offer a breathtaking 540Hz with its Fast TN panel, although it should be noted that resolution is capped at 1920x1080p. The company argues that visual fidelity takes a back seat compared to raw speed in competitive esports gaming scenarios, where blazing fast, super-smooth graphics are highly prized. By sticking with HD resolution, it also means that the display has a better chance of living up to its speed potential, compared to trying to hit triple-digit frame rates at a much more demanding 4K resolution.
As for the DyAc 2 technology, BenQ said this is supposed to aid in reducing motion blur and screen shaking on the LCD panel, improving recoil control in highly competitive games such as CS:GO. “Perhaps the difference is minimal and varies from person to person but the difference in the arena is often that 1%,” the company said.
Other features include a dual backlight design that aids in clear motion and precision gaming, a new Auto Game Mode by XL Setting to Share, a height adjustment feature that’s powered by industrial-grade bearing design, Black eQualizer technology, Color Vibrance, S Switch and Shielding Hood.
“The all-new design for the 240Hz XL2546X and 540Hz XL2586X also provides a higher level of comfortable ergonomic adjustability; the updated XL setting to share makes convenient automatic in-game color mode selection possible,” BenQ added.
In terms of connectivity, the BenQ Zowie XL2586X has three HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4 input, plus a 3.5mm headphone jack. BenQ didn’t talk about any built-in speakers or a USB hub, but we can’t be sure if that means they aren’t present. The company also declined to talk about support for HDR or its coverage of the colour gamut. It only stated that the display offers “vivid colour film” that “improves colour performance by 35%”.
The announcement is really just a teaser so there’s clearly more to come, though the company said it is making the Zowie XL2586X available to preorder now for those who deem the super-fast 540Hz refresh rate to be worth its weight in gold, regardless of the other specifications.
BenQ’s only rival thus far is Asus and its ROG Swift Pro PG248QP, which was launched earlier this year. At the time, it was billed as the fastest esports gaming monitor in the world, designed for professional first-person shooter gamers. Like BenQ’s display, the Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP is a 24-inch display featuring an Esports-TB panel with a refresh rate of 540Hz. It also comes with a built-in Nvidia G-SYNC processor.
It remains to be seen which model will be cheaper. While the Asus ROG Swift Pro PG248QP can be found for $899 online, BenQ is yet to say how much it’s asking for the Zowie XL2586X.
