This is the power condensed into the flagship model!What is the appeal of BenQ ZOWIE's 240Hz / 0.5ms response speed gaming monitor "XL2546K" from the perspective of a former competition player?

BenQ ZOWIE's flagship model "XL2546K" is a gaming monitor with TN panel 24.5 inches, 240Hz, response speed of GtG 0.5ms, and specifications suitable for reigning as the flagship.

It is a model for professionals that incorporates many needs of FPS professional players and stands from the gamer's point of view in various parts.

Nowadays, due to the influence of coronavirus, it is difficult to hold offline tournaments, and many tournaments have changed to online tournament format, but even in such a situation, I would like to have a slight advantage with just one piece of equipment. A top player. XL2546K gives us the same environment as the players who are at the forefront of such a scene. Let's introduce its charm immediately.

What kind of monitor is required for e-Sports?

In e-Sports, the gaming monitor required by players is very different from general products. I was also a competition player long before the first year of e-Sports, when professional gaming teams became crowded, when I was wondering whether to use a CRT (cathode ray tube) display or a 60Hz LCD. I was still looking for "a little faster response speed" and "fast refresh rate", and in addition, I wanted "easy to see the screen". As long as we get information mainly from sight and hearing, we want to use products with as high performance as possible.

Touch the high-spec XL2546K

This product is BenQ's flagship model, and all aspects are organized at a high level. With a screen size of 24.5 inches with a resolution of 1920x1080 and features specialized for gaming such as a high-speed refresh rate of 240Hz, the stand is even smaller.

Input terminal is HDMI 2.0 x3, DisplayPort 1.2 x1, headphone jack. The USB mini port is used for applications such as the device "S.Switch" that facilitates monitor settings.

It is designed to be closer to the screen when the keyboard and mouse are placed in front of the display, and to allow more space for the mouse pad when placed diagonally. This makes it easier to use a large mouse pad even in a small space, and makes it easier to get close to the screen when concentrating.

And one of the major features is the height adjustment and free tilt that are wider than the conventional products. The tilt has been extended to 23 degrees, and the height adjustment is also graduated on the stand. This allows you to adjust to the same height at any time, which is sure to be useful for players who are measuring distance and height with a major and making fine adjustments. It also comes with an eye shield (blades attached to the left and right) that is familiar to high-end models, so users who are concerned about light sources such as direct sunlight during the day can rest assured.

BenQ ZOWIE features to help gameplay

This monitor has several game modes. Among them, three types of FPS modes are prepared, and it is possible to use them properly according to the title.

"Black eQualizer" is a function that brightens dark areas and improves visibility. Unlike when the brightness is increased, it brightens only the dark areas, so it does not change the overall impression of the game screen.

It is also equipped with "Color Vibrance" that implements a function to raise the digital vibrance of the screen on the setting side of the graphic board, which is often found in professional players, so that you can easily adjust the saturation of the screen. As for this function, the optimum value differs depending on each title and player, so it is also a point to prepare the optimum scene for each game by combining FPS modes 1 to 3.

Experience 240Hz with actual gameplay!

I always think that "high refresh rate is different from the movement of the mouse on the desktop", but it is the same at 240Hz ... On the contrary, "XL2546K" is overwhelmingly slimy! I remember being impressed even at 60Hz → 144Hz, but this is no longer a surprise. With such feelings in mind, this time we will check the usability with the PC version of "Apex Legends".

In order to make a thorough review from the perspective of a former player, I would like to take a longer play time and check each part in more detail for evaluation.

As you know, the PC version of "Apex Legends" is not a light title. Even in my environment, I can't play at 240fps, and depending on the scene, it drops to about 100fps. I think that some people may think that the high-speed refresh rate of 240Hz cannot be utilized, but I think that the evaluation is made based on what happens with a more realistic fps value instead of the ideal theory. I would appreciate it if you could.

This time I'm playing in a variety of situations, including casual Storm Point and Kings Canyon, ranked Olympus, and even control mode.

The overall impression is that the refresh rate is higher than the BenQ ZOWIE 144Hz monitor I'm using, which makes the screen feel smoother. The fps is about 120 to 180 and 240Hz is not fully utilized, but it is clear that recoil control and tracking aim are easy to do, and it is easier to hit the enemy, probably because of the response speed of 0.5ms.

On the other hand, when searching for an enemy, "DyAc +" and "Black eQualizer" make it very crisp and easy to see around, and there is also a technology "AMA (Advanced Motion Accelerator)" that reduces the afterimage, so even if you move the mouse big and quickly, it will be smooth. Even if you move it a little, you don't mind the afterimage of the screen. You can see that the visibility is clearly improved compared to the lower model. Although it is an existing function, the visibility of the entire screen is overwhelmingly different depending on whether "Black eQualizer" is ON or OFF, and I feel that AMA is also an indispensable function.

This product is equipped with various functions inherited from existing products, but if you summarize the good points, it will be limited to the fact that the screen is drawn so smoothly that it feels good. If you are a user who feels value here, it makes sense to consider introducing it. Even during the period when I actually borrowed it for review and tried it, my feelings have already been shaken.

Distribute the original setting data of Gem Spa!Can be shared with friends

First of all, I would like to introduce the software "XL Setting to Share" for sharing the settings of this product. With this software, you can play with the same screen settings by reading the setting file released by professional players and players you like. You can also export to let other players use your settings. Currently, the official website of BenQ ZOWIE has released a setting file optimized for the standard title by Team ZOWIE.

This time, I have prepared a setting file that is easy to use for any game by the author. Please download and use it.

If you want to incorporate the best gaming environment, you should consider

This product was actually released on October 9, 2020, and it's been a while since it was released, but when I actually used it this time, I felt that even the author who pulled it from the competition player, this is someday. It's so high spec that I want to introduce it. I realized that the difference in refresh rate was bigger than I had imagined.

Since I was originally a user before becoming BenQ ZOWIE, it is difficult to talk a lot in comparison, but to put it bluntly, the reason why BenQ ZOWIE products are the top brands of gaming monitors, that is, products I can say it myself because I feel that the quality and stability are summarized at a high level.

According to BenQ, there are many inquiries from various competitions asking for the "XL2546K" to be used as official equipment. Many professional players will recognize that this monitor has great potential and will bring out the best performance.

The "XL2546K", a purveyor to such professionals, is on sale at a list price of 64,800 yen (tax included).