Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
We've recently released Test Bench 2.0 for Monitors! Read our new VRR Flicker R&D Article and Pursuit Photo R&D Article to learn more.

Prime Big Deal Days Deal: The Samsung Odyssey OLED G8/G80SD S32DG80 has dropped by $352 on Amazon.com. See all Monitor Prime Big Deal Days deals.

BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v2.0
Reviewed May 15, 2024 at 12:28 pm
Latest change: Writing modified Jun 17, 2024 at 01:34 pm
BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X Picture
6.7
PC Gaming
4.3
Console Gaming
7.2
Office
6.1
Editing
3.0
Brightness
8.3
Response Time
2.6
HDR Picture
7.2
SDR Picture
7.4
Color Accuracy

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

6.7 PC Gaming

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.

Pros
  • Impressive motion handling with very little motion blur.
  • Superb low input lag at higher refresh rates.
  • Backlight strobing.
Cons
  • High input lag at 60Hz.
  • Mediocre contrast ratio.
  • No HDR support.
4.3 Console Gaming

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.

Pros
  • Impressive motion handling with very little motion blur.
  • Superb low input lag at higher refresh rates.
Cons
  • High input lag at 60Hz.
  • Mediocre contrast ratio.
  • No HDR support.
  • Limited console compatibility.
7.2 Office

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.

Pros
  • Fantastic ergonomics.
  • Decent brightness in SDR.
Cons
  • Sub-par viewing angles.
  • Low pixel density.
6.1 Editing

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.

Pros
  • Fantastic ergonomics.
  • Decent accuracy before calibration.
  • Decent brightness in SDR.
Cons
  • Mediocre contrast ratio.
  • Sub-par viewing angles.
  • Low pixel density.
  • No HDR support.
3.0 Brightness

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.

Pros
  • Decent brightness in SDR.
Cons
  • No HDR support.
8.3 Response Time

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.

Pros
  • Maintains fast response time across VRR range.
  • Excellent refresh rate compliance.
Cons
2.6 HDR Picture

The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X doesn't support HDR.

7.2 SDR Picture

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.

Pros
  • Decent accuracy before calibration.
Cons
  • Mediocre contrast ratio.
7.4 Color Accuracy

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.

Pros
  • Decent accuracy before calibration.
Cons
  • Uniformity issues.
  • 6.7 PC Gaming
  • 4.3 Console Gaming
  • 7.2 Office
  • 6.1 Editing

Performance Usages

  • 3.0 Brightness
  • 8.3 Response Time
  • 2.6 HDR Picture
  • 7.2 SDR Picture
  • 7.4 Color Accuracy
  1. Updated Jun 17, 2024: Added in the Intro that this monitor is a lower-end model than the BenQ ZOWIE XL2586X.
  2. Updated May 15, 2024: Review published.
  3. Updated May 09, 2024: Early access published.
  4. Updated May 03, 2024: Our testers have started testing this product.
  5. Updated Apr 26, 2024: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  6. Updated Apr 17, 2024: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

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.

Compared To Other Monitors

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 XL2546K

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.

BenQ ZOWIE XL2566K

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.

Dell Alienware AW2523HF

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.

BenQ ZOWIE XL2586X

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.

AOC Q27G3XMN

The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X and the AOC Q27G3XMN are very different gaming monitors. The AOC is the better monitor for nearly all gamers, as it has more vibrant colors, displays a more detailed image, and has highlights that pop next to a dark background. The BenQ is better for esports gamers who only care about motion handling, as fast-moving objects look slightly crisper than on the AOC.

+ Show more

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved
No
Curve Radius
Not Curved

The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X has a simple design with a definite gamer aesthetic. The bezels are roughly the same thickness on all four sides, but they're thicker and deeper than more premium models. There are two removable, adjustable shields on either side of the monitor to help keep you focused on your game. It has a few nice convenience features, including a built-in headphone hook to keep your desk organized when you're not gaming.

7.0
Design
Build Quality

The build quality is decent. The monitor's plastic panels don't flex, and its all-plastic construction is solid. However, height and swivel adjustments require some force.

8.4
Design
Ergonomics
Min Height To Top Of Panel
14.2" (36.0 cm)
Height Adjustment
6.3" (15.9 cm)
Tilt Range
-30° to 5°
Rotate Portrait/Landscape
No
Swivel Range
-45° to 45°
Wall Mount
VESA 100x100

The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X has impressive ergonomics, so you can easily adjust it to an ideal viewing position. The height adjustment even has a ruler, so you can quickly adjust it to the perfect height depending on your needs. Next to the ruler there's a loop for cable management.

Design
Stand
Base Width
9.3" (23.5 cm)
Base Depth
7.9" (20.0 cm)
Thickness (With Display)
6.7" (17.0 cm)
Weight (With Display)
13.3 lbs (6.0 kg)

The monitor's stand ensures there's minimal wobble if you tap the monitor on the edge. Despite the stand being on an angle, the thickness of the display remains the same at any height. You see how the display looks when the shading hoods are fully opened.

Design
Display
Size
25"
Housing Width
22.7" (57.7 cm)
Housing Height
13.2" (33.6 cm)
Thickness (Without Stand)
2.8" (7.2 cm)
Weight (Without Stand)
8.6 lbs (3.9 kg)
Borders Size (Bezels)
0.7" (1.7 cm)
Design
Controls

There's a joystick on the back of the monitor for navigating the monitor's on-screen display, as well as a power and input button. There's also an external S Switch controller that makes it even easier to navigate the menus and change settings on the fly.

Design
In The Box
Power Supply
Internal

  • HDMI cable
  • DisplayPort cable
  • S Switch (remote)
  • Shading hoods (installed on monitor)
  • Plugs for shading hood holes
  • Power cable
  • User documentation and guides

Picture Quality
6.5
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
1,316 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
N/A

The contrast is adequate, but deep blacks appear gray in a dark room. There's also no local dimming feature to improve the contrast between bright and dark areas of the screen.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge

Unfortunately, this monitor doesn't have a local dimming feature. However, we still filmed this video on it so you can compare the backlight performance to another monitor with local dimming.

7.4
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene
283 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
292 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
292 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
292 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
293 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
293 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
291 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
292 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
292 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
292 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
293 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000
Minimum Brightness
48 cd/m²

The SDR brightness is decent. It's bright enough to overcome all but the brightest glare, like a large bright window, and there's very little variation in brightness with different content. These measurements are taken after calibration, in the 'Standard' Mode, with the Brightness at max.

Without calibration, the monitor's maximum brightness is around 350 cd/m² across all peak and sustained windows, and the real scene brightness is 300 cd/m². If you don't need an accurate image and want to overcome bright glare, you may prefer to leave your monitor uncalibrated, as it's brighter before calibration.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
VESA DisplayHDR Certification
No Certification
Real Scene
N/A
Peak 2% Window
N/A
Peak 10% Window
N/A
Peak 25% Window
N/A
Peak 50% Window
N/A
Peak 100% Window
N/A
Sustained 2% Window
N/A
Sustained 10% Window
N/A
Sustained 25% Window
N/A
Sustained 50% Window
N/A
Sustained 100% Window
N/A
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
N/A

This monitor doesn't support HDR.

5.9
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
23°
Color Washout From Right
27°
Color Shift From Left
34°
Color Shift From Right
37°
Brightness Loss From Left
30°
Brightness Loss From Right
34°
Black Level Raise From Left
25°
Black Level Raise From Right
29°
Gamma Shift From Left
24°
Gamma Shift From Right
29°

Unfortunately, the horizontal viewing angle is disappointing. Colors shift rapidly as you move off-center and appear noticeably washed out at a moderate angle, so it's not ideal for sharing your screen with someone sitting beside you.

4.8
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
12°
Color Washout From Above
40°
Color Shift From Below
18°
Color Shift From Above
70°
Brightness Loss From Below
28°
Brightness Loss From Above
32°
Black Level Raise From Below
17°
Black Level Raise From Above
20°
Gamma Shift From Below
Gamma Shift From Above

Unfortunately, like all monitors with a TN panel, the vertical viewing angle is sub-par. If you're standing up and looking down at the monitor the image fades and appears washed out, but if you're looking at it from below, the image is completely inverted and looks bad.

6.2
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
7.778%
50% DSE
0.180%

The gray uniformity is mediocre. The edges of the screen are significantly darker than the center. While there's some dirty screen effect in the center, it's not nearly as bad as the decrease in brightness at the edges.

6.8
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
1.439%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

The black uniformity is alright. The screen is a bit cloudy throughout due to the low contrast ratio, and there's no local dimming feature to improve this.

7.2
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Pre-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Standard
sRGB Gamut Area xy
107.8%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
4.66
Color Temperature (Avg.)
7,515 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.30
Color dE (Avg.)
3.64
Contrast Setting
50
RGB Settings
100-100-100
Gamma Setting
Gamma 3
Brightness Setting
98
Measured Brightness
339 cd/m²
Brightness Locked
No

The accuracy before calibration is decent. It doesn't have a dedicated sRGB mode, and colors are oversaturated. Additionally, the white balance is mediocre, and the color temperature is far too cool, so the image has a blue tint. Finally, the gamma doesn't follow the sRGB curve very well, as darker and brighter scenes are too dark.

9.8
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Post-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Standard
sRGB Gamut Area xy
100.1%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.45
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,512 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.18
Color dE (Avg.)
0.52
Contrast Setting
48
RGB Settings
98-90-86
Gamma Setting
Gamma 3
Brightness Setting
18
Measured Brightness
102 cd/m²
ICC Profile
Download

The accuracy after calibration is fantastic, and you won't notice any inaccuracies.

9.2
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB Coverage xy
99.1%
sRGB Picture Mode
Standard
Adobe RGB Coverage xy
78.2%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Standard

The SDR color gamut is fantastic, and the monitor has incredible coverage of the sRGB color space. However, it has more limited coverage of the Adobe RGB color space used in photo editing, and it doesn't display several colors accurately in that color space.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
N/A
DCI-P3 Coverage xy
N/A
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
Rec. 2020 Coverage xy
N/A
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR

This monitor doesn't support HDR.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
1,000 cd/m² DCI-P3 Coverage ICtCp
N/A
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
10,000 cd/m² Rec. 2020 Coverage ICtCp
N/A
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR

This monitor doesn't support HDR.

7.0
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
TN
Subpixel Layout
RGB

The text clarity is decent. With ClearType on (top photo), diagonal lines appear bolder. These photos are in Windows 10, and you can also see them in Windows 11 with ClearType on and with ClearType off.

8.2
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
4.7%
Indirect Reflections
4.0%
Calculated Direct Reflections
0.7%

The reflection handling is great. You can see the monitor in most environments, as its matte coating effectively overcomes glare.

8.2
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
8 Bit

The gradient handling is great. There's noticeable 8-bit banding since this monitor can't display 10-bit gradients.

Motion
8.0
Motion
Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP @ 10-bit
N/A
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI @ 10-Bit
N/A
Motion
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
FreeSync
Compatible (Tested)
G-SYNC
Compatible (Tested)
VRR Maximum
240 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors
DisplayPort, HDMI

NVIDIAVRR MinVRR Max
DisplayPort<20Hz240Hz
HDMIN/AN/A

AMDVRR MinVRR Max
DisplayPort<20Hz240Hz
HDMI<20Hz240Hz

8.3
Motion
VRR Motion Performance
Recommended VRR OD Setting
Custom11
Variable Overdrive Advertised
No
Avg. CAD
133
Best CAD
117
Worst CAD
160

Refresh RateCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
239HeatmapChartPhoto
165HeatmapChartPhoto
144HeatmapChartPhoto
120HeatmapChartPhoto
100HeatmapChartPhoto
80HeatmapChartPhoto
60HeatmapChartPhoto

The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X has impressive motion handling across its entire refresh rate range with VRR enabled. It has a few different overdrive settings, which are called AMA, including a 'Custom' setting that has a slider. Setting it to '11' results in the most consistent performance across the entire refresh rate range, but 'High' is a good choice if your games maintain high frame rates.

8.5
Motion
Refresh Rate Compliance
Compliance @ Max Hz
58%
Compliance @ 120 FPS
76%
Compliance @ 60 FPS
85%

The refresh rate compliance is excellent. The 'Custom 11' and 'High' overdrive settings perform similarly. However, the response time isn't fast enough to take full advantage of the monitor's high refresh rate. That said, it's much better at lower refresh rates.

8.5
Motion
CAD @ Max Refresh Rate
OD Transition Max Refresh Rate
Recommended Overdrive Setting
High
Avg. CAD
111
Best 10% CAD
32
Worst 10% CAD
195

Overdrive ModeCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
OffHeatmapChartPhoto
Custom 11HeatmapChartPhoto
HighHeatmapChartPhoto
PremiumHeatmapChartPhoto

The CAD at the max refresh rate of 240Hz is excellent, and fast-moving objects look crisp. While both 'High' and 'Premium' overdrive settings have a similar CAD, 'High' has less overshoot.

Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Recommended Overdrive Setting
High
First Response Time
4.4 ms
Total Response Time
4.7 ms
RGB Overshoot
0 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
11.4 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
11.4 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
5 RGB

Overdrive ModeFirst Response HeatmapTotal Response HeatmapRGB Overshoot Heatmap
OffHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
Custom 11HeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
HighHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
PremiumHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap

8.0
Motion
CAD @ 120Hz
OD Transition 120Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Custom11
Avg. CAD
129
Best 10% CAD
31
Worst 10% CAD
277

Overdrive ModeCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
OffHeatmapChartPhoto
Custom 11HeatmapChartPhoto
HighHeatmapChartPhoto
PremiumHeatmapChartPhoto

The CAD at 120Hz is great, and fast-moving objects look quite crisp. The 'Custom 11' overdrive setting has the best CAD if you set your monitor's refresh rate to 120Hz, with the fastest total response time and almost no overshoot.

Motion
Response Time @ 120Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Custom11
First Response Time
5.3 ms
Total Response Time
6.9 ms
RGB Overshoot
2 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
12.8 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
15.5 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
11 RGB

Overdrive ModeFirst Response HeatmapTotal Response HeatmapRGB Overshoot Heatmap
OffHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
Custom 11HeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
HighHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
PremiumHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap

7.4
Motion
CAD @ 60Hz
OD Transition 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Premium
Avg. CAD
162
Best 10% CAD
32
Worst 10% CAD
373

Overdrive ModeCAD HeatmapRT ChartPursuit Photo
OffHeatmapChartPhoto
Custom 11HeatmapChartPhoto
HighHeatmapChartPhoto
PremiumHeatmapChartPhoto

The CAD at 60Hz is decent, and fast-moving objects look fairly crisp. The 'Premium' overdrive setting has the best CAD if you set your monitor's refresh rate to 60Hz, as it has slightly less overshoot than 'Custom 11'. However, if you set the refresh rate to 240Hz and use VRR to go down to 60Hz, as seen in VRR Motion Performance, then 'Premium' performs considerably worse, and 'Custom 11' has the best CAD.

Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Premium
First Response Time
10.8 ms
Total Response Time
11.6 ms
RGB Overshoot
0 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
24.9 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
25.7 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
3 RGB

Overdrive ModeFirst Response HeatmapTotal Response HeatmapRGB Overshoot Heatmap
OffHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
Custom 11HeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
HighHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap
PremiumHeatmapHeatmapHeatmap

Motion
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
Yes
Maximum Frequency
240 Hz
Minimum Frequency
120 Hz
Longest Pulse Width Brightness
280 cd/m²
Shortest Pulse Width Brightness
280 cd/m²
Pulse Width Control
No
Pulse Phase Control
No
Pulse Amplitude Control
Yes
VRR At The Same Time
No

Refresh RateBFI SettingMotion Blur Photo
240HzHighPhoto
PremiumPhoto
120HzHighPhoto
PremiumPhoto
60HzHighPhoto
PremiumPhoto

The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X has a versatile backlight strobing feature, which BenQ calls DyAC 2, to improve the appearance of motion. It's available across a wide range of refresh rates, but it doesn't work at the same time as VRR. However, it causes image duplication. Additionally, turning BFI on resets the color settings, and the monitor uses a different preset brightness level.

6.0
Motion
VRR Flicker
Dark Gray Flicker
1.6 RGB
Middle Gray Flicker
3.3 RGB
Light Gray Flicker
3.1 RGB

The BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X has noticeable VRR flicker with changing frame rates. Dark scenes look slightly more distracting in person than in the video, but it isn't too significant. However, flicker is more noticeable in brighter areas. This can get bothersome, especially if you're sensitive to it, though it isn't a problem if your PC can maintain a consistent frame rate.

10
Motion
Image Flicker
Flicker-Free
Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz

The backlight remains flicker-free at all brightness levels, which helps reduce eye strain if you're sensitive to flicker.

Inputs
8.9
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution @ Max Hz
3.0 ms
Native Resolution @ 120Hz
4.6 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
20.9 ms
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
4.5 ms

While there's almost no input lag at the monitor's maximum refresh rate of 240Hz and at 120Hz, there's considerable input lag at 60Hz, so games at this refresh rate don't feel as responsive. The input lag with backlight strobing on is the same with the 'Premium' and 'High' DyAc2 settings.

5.6
Inputs
Resolution
Native Resolution
1920 x 1080
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Megapixels
2.1 MP
Pixel Density
90 PPI
1.3
Inputs
PS5 Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
No
1440p @ 120Hz
No
1440p @ 60Hz
No
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
3.2
Inputs
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
No
1440p @ 120Hz
No
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes

The monitor only supports VRR with 1080p signals, as you need to use the console's HDMI override to get 1440p @ 60Hz, which disables VRR.

Inputs
Inputs Photos
Inputs
Video And Audio Ports
DisplayPort
1 (DP 1.2)
Mini DisplayPort
No
HDMI
3 (HDMI 2.0)
HDMI 2.1 Rated Speed
No HDMI 2.1
DVI
No
VGA
No
Daisy Chaining
No
3.5mm Audio Out
1
3.5mm Audio In
No
HDR10
No
3.5mm Microphone In
No
Inputs
USB
USB-A Ports
0
USB-A Rated Speed
No USB-A Ports
USB-B Upstream Port
No
USB-C Ports
0
USB-C Upstream
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Rated Speed
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Power Delivery
No USB-C Ports
USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode
No USB-C Ports
Thunderbolt
No

There's a mini-USB port on the back of the monitor, but it's only for the S Switch remote.

Inputs
macOS Compatibility

ConnectionHDMI 2.0USB-C to DisplayPort
Max Refresh Rate240Hz120Hz
VRR RangeN/A48-120Hz
HDRNoNo

This monitor works well with macOS. When using a MacBook, windows return to their original position when you wake the laptop up from sleep.

Features
Features
Additional Features
Speakers
No
RGB Illumination
No
Multiple Input Display
No
KVM Switch
No

This monitor has a few additional features, including:

  • Black eQualizer: Adjusts the gamma to make it easier to spot dark details.
  • S Switch: A remote attached to the monitor to help navigate the on-screen display or switch between preset modes.
  • XL Setting to Share: Allows you to easily share monitor settings with others.
  • Low Blue Light: Decreases the light emitted from the monitor to reduce blue light exposure.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)