The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X is a 25-inch 240Hz 1080p gaming monitor. Part of BenQ's ZOWIE lineup of gaming monitors, it sits below the BenQ ZOWIE XL2586X. It uses a TN panel for enhanced motion handling and is an updated version of the BenQ ZOWIE XL2546K. It has VRR support and is one of the only monitors on the market that offers a customizable overdrive setting, meaning you can fine-tune the gaming experience to your preferences. It also supports backlight strobing, called DyAc 2, and its XL Setting to Share feature allows you to easily share monitor settings with others. Finally, it comes with a unique S-Switch wired remote that makes it easy to navigate the settings menu and has side panels to help keep you focused on your game.
Our Verdict
The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X is passable for PC gaming. It's mainly designed for esports gamers as it has a 240Hz refresh rate, low input lag, and great motion handling across its VRR range, so motion looks sharp no matter the refresh rate you're gaming at. It supports FreeSync and is G-SYNC compatible, though there's a moderate amount of VRR flicker with changing frame rates. Unfortunately, it's disappointing if you care about having good picture quality while gaming, as it has a low contrast ratio and doesn't support HDR at all.
- Impressive motion handling with very little motion blur.
- Superb low input lag at higher refresh rates.
- Backlight strobing.
- High input lag at 60Hz.
- Mediocre contrast ratio.
- No HDR support.
The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X is poor for console gaming. It has limited compatibility with both the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S as it doesn't even support HDR, but its picture quality is limited regardless. It has a 1080p resolution, so it can't deliver detailed images while gaming. It also has high input lag at 60Hz, so fast-moving games don't feel responsive at this refresh rate. That said, it has a fast response time for sharp motion.
- Impressive motion handling with very little motion blur.
- Superb low input lag at higher refresh rates.
- High input lag at 60Hz.
- Mediocre contrast ratio.
- No HDR support.
- Limited console compatibility.
The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X is unremarkable for office use. It has decent peak brightness in SDR and good reflection handling, so it overcomes all but the brightest glare, like bright light shining on the monitor through a window. It also has fantastic ergonomics, so you can easily place it in an ideal viewing position. On the other hand, it has a relatively low pixel density, so text clarity is just decent, and the image rapidly degrades when viewed at an angle, so anyone looking at your screen beside you will see a worse image.
- Fantastic ergonomics.
- Decent brightness in SDR.
- Sub-par viewing angles.
- Low pixel density.
The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X is disappointing for media creation. It has impressive ergonomics, so you can easily place it in an ideal viewing position. It also has decent accuracy before calibration and displays a wide range of colors in SDR, but it doesn't support HDR at all. Unfortunately, it has a low contrast ratio, so it performs poorly in a dark room. It also has narrow viewing angles, so the image looks washed out from the sides.
- Fantastic ergonomics.
- Decent accuracy before calibration.
- Decent brightness in SDR.
- Mediocre contrast ratio.
- Sub-par viewing angles.
- Low pixel density.
- No HDR support.
The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X has decent brightness in SDR, enough to fight all but the brightest glare, but it doesn't support HDR at all.
- Decent brightness in SDR.
- No HDR support.
The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X has an impressive response time. It maintains a fast response time across its VRR range, leading to sharp motion. It also has excellent refresh rate compliance, meaning its response time is fast enough to take full advantage of 120 fps and 60 fps sources.
- Maintains fast response time across VRR range.
- Excellent refresh rate compliance.
The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X doesn't support HDR.
The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X has okay SDR picture quality. Its main weakness is its low contrast ratio, so blacks look gray next to bright highlights, and blooming is also present around bright objects.
- Decent accuracy before calibration.
- Mediocre contrast ratio.
The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X has satisfactory color accuracy. It doesn't have a dedicated sRGB color mode, and SDR colors are slightly oversaturated. However, after calibration, it has superb accuracy. Unfortunately, it fails to maintain these accurate colors across the entire screen as it has uniformity issues.
- Decent accuracy before calibration.
- Uniformity issues.
Performance Usages
Changelog
- Updated Feb 21, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 2.0.1. This includes a new test result for DisplayPort 2.1 Transmission Bandwidth.
- Updated Jun 17, 2024: Added in the Intro that this monitor is a lower-end model than the BenQ ZOWIE XL2586X.
- Updated May 15, 2024: Review published.
- Updated May 09, 2024: Early access published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the 24.5-inch BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X, which is part of BenQ's XL series of gaming monitors, some of which are listed below. Most of these monitors are similar, but there are some differences. You can see the differences between the monitors below. The results in this review are only valid for the model we tested.
| Model Code | Size | Resolution | Max Refresh Rate | DyAc Version |
| XL2546X | 24.5" | 1080p | 240Hz | DyAc 2 |
| XL2566K | 24.5" | 1080p | 360Hz | DyAc+ |
| XL2586X | 24.1" | 1080p | 540Hz | DyAc 2 |
| XL2546K | 24.5" | 1080p | 240Hz | DyAc+ |
Our unit was manufactured in December 2023; you can see the label here.
Popular Monitor Comparisons
The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X is an okay PC gaming monitor. It's designed for esports gamers and is primarily focused on ensuring that fast-moving objects remain sharp and detailed while gaming, and it's excellent at this. However, it has lackluster image quality, with no HDR support. Colors don't look vivid, highlights don't pop, and it struggles to overcome very bright glare. There are similar monitors available that cost less and deliver better performance, like the Dell Alienware AW2523HF. It has very similar motion handling to the BenQ but a higher 360Hz refresh rate. It also gets much brighter and has HDR support, so colors look more vivid.
Also, see our recommendations for the best budget and cheap gaming monitors, the best 1080p monitors, and the best gaming monitors.
BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X is a newer version of the BenQ ZOWIE XL2546K, and both monitors are extremely similar. Fast-moving objects look sharp on both monitors, and they're well-suited to esports gamers. However, the XL2546X is the better monitor, as it has an updated version of BenQ's backlight strobing technology. That said, the image quality on both monitors isn't very good, and you should consider other monitors we recommend in our best gaming monitors article if you care about a good image.
The Dell Alienware AW2523HF and the BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X are both designed for esports gamers. However, the Dell is the better monitor. It has a higher refresh rate for a smoother feel, is better at overcoming glare, and supports HDR for a more vivid image. Like the BenQ, fast-moving objects look crisp on the Dell.
The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X and the BenQ ZOWIE XL2566K are very similar 25-inch monitors. They're well-suited to esports gamers who only care about good motion handling. However, the XL2566K is the better choice, as fast-moving objects look slightly sharper on its display, and it's far more responsive at 60Hz. That said, the image quality on both monitors isn't very good, and you should consider other monitors we recommend in our best gaming monitors article if you care about a good image.
The BenQ ZOWIE XL2586X is a higher-end model than the BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X, with one key difference. The XL2586X has a higher refresh rate, and it also has HDMI 2.1 bandwidth so you can reach its max refresh rate with an HDMI 2.1 graphics card. Besides that, choosing one over the other really comes down to your budget and if you want the higher refresh rate or not.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, all of which we purchase ourselves, without cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized, custom tools to measure various aspects and deliver objective, data-driven results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance compared to the competition, and whether it's easy to find.
Test Results
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