BenQ ZOWIE XL2546K Review

Key Features and Specs

Back in the day, gaming competitions were held in computer labs, and the rewards were often magazine subscriptions or special parking spots at universities. Fast forward to now, eSports has exploded into a huge spectator sport, boasting millions of dedicated fans and pro players making a living in virtual battles. As the skill levels have skyrocketed, so has the demand for improved gear, which is where top-notch gaming monitors play a crucial role.

In the past, a 144 Hz refresh rate was the gold standard for eSports monitors, but now 240 Hz is taking over as the new norm for gaming displays, making it more common. However, you’ll still need to spend a bit more for that speed, like with the BenQ Zowie XL2546K. This monitor is priced around $500, which is typical for this range.

At this price, you’re getting a 25-inch (24.5-inch viewable) TN panel with 1080p resolution and AMD FreeSync Premium. While the initial image quality might not be perfect, the BenQ Zowie XL2546K delivers a solid gaming experience with low input lag and excellent blur reduction, making it a great choice for CS2 players.

BenQ Zowie XL2546K Features

Although both of them are priced over $700, they show that you don’t have to stick with TN to achieve high speed.

BenQ presents the XL2546K as a straightforward gaming monitor, skipping HDR and advanced color features. While these extras aren't essential for competitive gaming, they can enhance the experience for casual players. Although most monitors in this range don't focus on DCI-P3 color gamuts, our time with the AW2521H showed that it's possible to achieve great HDR performance with a fast display.

AMD FreeSync Premium is the standout Adaptive-Sync technology here. Unlike standard FreeSync, it offers low framerate compensation (LFC). While the XL2546K isn't officially certified by Nvidia, we managed to get it working with Nvidia G-Sync as well. Check out our guide on running G-Sync on a FreeSync monitor for step-by-step instructions.

Assembly and Features of the BenQ Zowie XL2546K

Once you attach the upright to the base, the XL2546K monitor panel clicks securely into position. If you prefer to use a monitor arm, it comes with a 100mm VESA pattern and large-head bolts already set up for you.

Once you put it together, the stand is rock solid. The rigid shades snap into place on the sides, but there’s no light-blocking part for the top. The controller for the on-screen display (OSD) comes in its own box and plugs into a Mini-USB port. You also get a DisplayPort cable and an IEC power cord. Everything is packed neatly, just like a high-end product should be.

Game Overview

BenQ delivers its trademark durability and performance with the XL2546K. It features a wired OSD controller and light-blocking shades on the sides of the screen. With a sturdy stand, this monitor is perfect for competitive play and also caters to casual gamers who crave high-speed action.

The XL2546K is the first monitor we've seen lately that has no logos or graphics on the front. The stand and post also have a clean look, but on the back, there's a red Zowie logo. You'll also find this logo on the hinged light shutters. A red trim outlines a big opening in the post for easy cable management.

The OSD puck controller, known as the S Switch by BenQ, features five buttons and a scroll wheel for fast and easy menu navigation. The bezels are noticeable but not overly thick, measuring 13mm on the top and sides and 17mm at the bottom.

If you need to transport your setup, the XL2546K comes with a sturdy metal handle that makes moving it easy. On the side, there's a handy flip-out hook for your headphones, and at the bottom, you'll find the OSD controls, which include a joystick and two buttons. There's also a power toggle as the third button.

On the side, you'll notice there are no USB ports available. The input panel below is also devoid of them. The stand features a small red arrow that you can slide to your desired position for easy height adjustment. You’ll find a similar marking on the base that shows swivel angles. You can tweak the height by up to 6 inches, swivel it 45 degrees to either side, tilt it between -5 to 23 degrees, and even switch to portrait mode. All these adjustments feel smooth and give off a premium display vibe.

The input panel comes with three HDMI 2.0 ports and one DisplayPort 1.2. You can plug in your headphones or external audio devices using the 3.5mm jack. While there are no built-in speakers, you can control the volume through the on-screen display. The HDMI ports support a 120 Hz refresh rate, perfect for gaming on the new Xbox Series X and PS5 consoles.

OSD Features of BenQ Zowie XL2546K Monitor

Pressing any key on the BenQ Zowie XL2546K’s panel or the S Switch puck controller brings up a quick menu. The S Switch is super useful because you can customize four of its functions. This allows you to adjust settings fast and easily without needing to navigate the entire OSD menu.

When you dive into the OSD, you'll discover a range of options to customize your visuals and performance. There are eight display modes, each one adjustable to your liking. Settings are saved for each mode and input separately, creating countless combinations. The default mode is FPS1, which makes some questionable adjustments to color and gamma. We'll demonstrate its impact in our image tests. For a more accurate experience, Standard mode is the way to go, as it nearly hits the mark without needing calibration.

To adjust the Zowie XL2546K’s display, BenQ offers three color temperature settings along with a customizable user mode featuring RGB sliders. These options perform excellently and produce highly accurate colors within the sRGB range. Additionally, there are five gamma settings, a black equalizer to improve shadow details, color vibrance to enhance overall saturation, low blue light mode for comfortable reading, and a color weakness tool for players with red or green color blindness.

The Picture menu includes sliders for brightness and contrast, plus DyAc+, which is BenQ's feature for reducing blur with backlight strobing. DyAc+ offers two modes that adjust the LED pulse width. The first mode, known as High, effectively eliminates noticeable blur.

BenQ includes an overdrive feature known as AMA. It's recommended to keep this option off, as it caused noticeable ringing during our CS2 sessions with Adaptive-Sync. While the issue is less apparent with DyAc+, it doesn't enhance the picture quality either.

BenQ Zowie XL2546K Setup Tips for CS2

Make sure to switch your BenQ Zowie XL2546K to Standard mode. The default FPS1 setting changes color and gamma in a way that isn’t visually appealing. Stick with accurate color for the best gameplay experience.

Calibrating the Standard mode isn't mandatory, but some tweaks made a noticeable difference. We enhanced the grayscale by tweaking the RGB sliders. The perceived contrast has improved by switching from gamma 3 to gamma 4, and we lowered the contrast control by 18 steps to resolve a color clipping problem, which also boosted color saturation. More details on this will be discussed on page three.

Check out our suggested settings for the BenQ Zowie XL2546K below.

Playing Counter-Strike 2 and Testing the BenQ Zowie XL2546K

The BenQ Zowie XL2546K surprised us when we dove into some Counter-Strike 2 action. After fine-tuning our settings (check our recommended adjustments above), we were curious about our seemingly high contrast setting. The results were impressive. While the panel doesn’t have the best native contrast, adjusting the gamma from 3 to 4 and lowering the contrast slider significantly improved color vibrancy and shadow detail. These adjustments made the BenQ perform on par with some of the top IPS monitors we've tested.

The bigger surprise came from the XL2546K’s blur reduction feature, known as DyAc+. Typically, when you reduce blur, it also dims the screen, but BenQ found a smart way around that. We tested both DyAc+ modes (High and Premium) while keeping the brightness at the same level, and the light output stayed consistent. This is a first for us.

This is the first monitor we've tested where the backlight strobe outperformed Adaptive-Sync in terms of motion clarity and video quality. Both FreeSync and G-Sync worked flawlessly on two setups: one featuring a GeForce RTX 3090 and the other a Radeon RX 5700 XT. We hit the maximum frame rate of 240 frames per second (fps) in all the games we played, so we didn't experience any screen tearing, even with Adaptive-Sync turned off. Since there's no brightness drop, we now suggest using DyAc+ over Adaptive-Sync, which is something we never expected to recommend.

Regardless of the situation, input lag was not a concern at all. Some players choose backlight strobes over Adaptive-Sync, thinking it reduces input lag. While we can't verify this through tests, at 240 Hz, a difference of 1ms or 2ms is hardly noticeable. When it comes to control input, the BenQ Zowie XL2546K delivers an impressive response. It's definitely quick and responsive for competitive play. Plus, DyAc+ offers the best backlight strobe experience we've encountered so far.

The color and contrast in Counter-Strike 2 are top-notch for an immersive gaming experience. The primary colors pop with added saturation, making the game’s environments feel lively and three-dimensional. There’s more than enough brightness to balance the darker tones we've opted for, creating a visual experience that surpasses the test results. This is somewhat rare in our experience, but it’s clear that the BenQ Zowie XL2546K delivers fantastic performance and looks stunning while playing.

This monitor also shines when handling everyday tasks. While some gamers may want a higher pixel density, its 25-inch size provides 89 pixels per square inch, which is adequate for reading small text and seeing fine details. Though it's not the best for photo editing, it offers decent color accuracy for most gaming needs. The XL2546K is a reliable choice for players looking for an all-around display.

Playing and Experiencing the BenQ Zowie XL2546K

The BenQ Zowie XL2546K makes you think, “what do I really need for competitive CS2?” If speed, quick response, and smooth motion are your priorities, the XL2546K stands out in the 240 Hz category. However, if you’re looking for vibrant colors, a wide color range, and HDR, this model might not meet those needs. It's a tricky situation, but in the end, its worth depends on what you value most in your gaming setup.

On the bright side, this setup features the best backlight-strobe we've encountered in gaming. DyAc+ delivers a smooth image without dimming, which is a first for us. It enhances the gaming experience even more than FreeSync or G-Sync, and that's another first. The overdrive performance is lacking, which is surprising, but if you're playing above 200 fps, it's not a big deal. Just switch off AMA and you won't even notice. After testing all video settings, the most immersive gameplay was achieved with DyAc+ on Premium and both AMA and Adaptive-Sync disabled.

One drawback is that BenQ opted for a less effective default picture mode, which limits the XL2546K's potential. While HDR and extended color aren't crucial for competitive play, they do make a monitor more attractive to a wider audience. Not every player is a pro aiming for the next big tournament. At this price, those enhancements should be included. Despite some missing features, the BenQ Zowie XL2546K can still shine as an excellent gaming monitor with a few tweaks. Its quick response time and minimal input lag will benefit gamers of all skill levels. It's not the cheapest option, but the 240 Hz refresh rate is a standout feature. Gamers seeking a fast display should definitely check it out.