Products
Dell Alienware AW2523HF
BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X
Tested using Methodology v2.0.1
Updated Mar 10, 2025 02:20 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Tested using Methodology v2.0.1
Updated Feb 19, 2025 04:50 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Max Refresh Rate
360 Hz
Size
25"
Pixel Type
IPS
Native Resolution
1920 x 1080
Max Refresh Rate
240 Hz
Size
25"
Pixel Type
TN
Native Resolution
1920 x 1080
Our Verdict
Dell Alienware AW2523HF
BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X
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.
Variants
- AW2523HF (25")
- ZOWIE XL2546X (25")
Check Price
25"
AW2523HF
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
25"
ZOWIE XL2546X
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
25"
AW2523HF
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
25"
ZOWIE XL2546X
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
25"
AW2523HF
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
25"
ZOWIE XL2546X
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
25"
AW2523HF
SEARCH
B&H
25"
ZOWIE XL2546X
SEARCH
B&H
Main Differences for
PC Gaming
PC Gaming
Threshold
PC Gaming
7.2
6.7
10,000 cd/m² Rec. 2020 Coverage ICtCp
22.1%
N/A
1,000 cd/m² DCI-P3 Coverage ICtCp
51.5%
N/A
Full Comparison
Design
Style
Design Picture
Curved
No
No
Curve Radius
Not Curved
Not Curved
Accelerated Longevity Test
Uniformity Pictures
Longevity Graph
Build Quality
8.5
7.0
Build Quality Picture
Ergonomics
8.8
8.4
Ergonomics Picture
Back Picture
Height Adjustment
4.3" (10.8 cm)
6.3" (15.9 cm)
Min Height To Top Of Panel
15.2" (38.5 cm)
14.2" (36.0 cm)
Tilt Range
-20° to 5°
-30° to 5°
Rotate Portrait/Landscape
Yes, Both Ways
No
Swivel Range
-20° to 20°
-45° to 45°
Wall Mount
VESA 100x100
VESA 100x100
Stand
Stand Picture
Thickness Picture
Base Width
9.3" (23.5 cm)
9.3" (23.5 cm)
Base Depth
8.8" (22.3 cm)
7.9" (20.0 cm)
Thickness (With Display)
7.4" (18.9 cm)
6.7" (17.0 cm)
Weight (With Display)
11.7 lbs (5.3 kg)
13.3 lbs (6.0 kg)
Display
Display Picture
Size
25"
25"
Housing Width
22.0" (56.0 cm)
22.7" (57.7 cm)
Housing Height
12.9" (32.7 cm)
13.2" (33.6 cm)
Thickness (Without Stand)
2.6" (6.7 cm)
2.8" (7.2 cm)
Weight (Without Stand)
7.4 lbs (3.3 kg)
8.6 lbs (3.9 kg)
Borders Size (Bezels)
0.2" (0.6 cm)
0.7" (1.7 cm)
Controls
Controls Picture
In The Box
In The Box Picture
Power Supply
Internal
Internal
Picture Quality
Contrast
6.2
6.5
Checkerboard Picture
Native Contrast
1,112 : 1
1,316 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
N/A
N/A
Local Dimming
0.0
0.0
Local Dimming Video
Local Dimming
No
No
Backlight
Edge
Edge
SDR Brightness
8.2
7.4
Real Scene
401 cd/m²
283 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
378 cd/m²
292 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
382 cd/m²
292 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
383 cd/m²
292 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
384 cd/m²
293 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
384 cd/m²
293 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
378 cd/m²
291 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
382 cd/m²
292 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
383 cd/m²
292 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
383 cd/m²
292 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
384 cd/m²
293 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.001
0.000
Minimum Brightness
38 cd/m²
48 cd/m²
HDR Brightness
7.0
0.0
EOTF
VESA DisplayHDR Certification
No Certification
No Certification
Real Scene
442 cd/m²
N/A
Peak 2% Window
448 cd/m²
N/A
Peak 10% Window
449 cd/m²
N/A
Peak 25% Window
450 cd/m²
N/A
Peak 50% Window
449 cd/m²
N/A
Peak 100% Window
450 cd/m²
N/A
Sustained 2% Window
447 cd/m²
N/A
Sustained 10% Window
448 cd/m²
N/A
Sustained 25% Window
449 cd/m²
N/A
Sustained 50% Window
449 cd/m²
N/A
Sustained 100% Window
449 cd/m²
N/A
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000
N/A
Horizontal Viewing Angle
8.1
5.9
Horizontal Viewing Angle Video
Horizontal Chroma Graph
Color Washout From Left
37°
23°
Color Washout From Right
34°
27°
Horizontal Hue Graph
Color Shift From Left
59°
34°
Color Shift From Right
56°
37°
Horizontal Lightness Graph
Brightness Loss From Left
40°
30°
Brightness Loss From Right
38°
34°
Black Level Raise From Left
70°
25°
Black Level Raise From Right
70°
29°
Gamma Shift From Left
59°
24°
Gamma Shift From Right
55°
29°
Vertical Viewing Angle
6.6
4.8
Vertical Viewing Angle Video
Vertical Chroma Graph
Color Washout From Below
28°
12°
Color Washout From Above
29°
40°
Vertical Hue Graph
Color Shift From Below
37°
18°
Color Shift From Above
39°
70°
Vertical Lightness Graph
Brightness Loss From Below
33°
28°
Brightness Loss From Above
33°
32°
Black Level Raise From Below
44°
17°
Black Level Raise From Above
70°
20°
Gamma Shift From Below
28°
3°
Gamma Shift From Above
29°
3°
Gray Uniformity
8.2
6.2
50% Uniformity Picture
50% Std. Dev.
3.332%
7.778%
50% DSE
0.124%
0.180%
Black Uniformity
5.0
6.8
Native Black Uniformity Picture
Native Std. Dev.
2.653%
1.439%
Black Uniformity Picture With Local Dimming
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A
N/A
Color Accuracy (Pre-Calibration)
7.6
7.2
Pre Calibration Picture
Pre Gamma Curve Picture
Pre Color Picture
Picture Mode
Custom Color
Standard
sRGB Gamut Area xy
110.4%
107.8%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
2.46
4.66
Color Temperature (Avg.)
7,059 K
7,515 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.17
2.30
Color dE (Avg.)
2.85
3.64
Contrast Setting
75
50
RGB Settings
100-100-100
100-100-100
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Gamma 3
Brightness Setting
75
98
Measured Brightness
147 cd/m²
339 cd/m²
Brightness Locked
No
No
Color Accuracy (Post-Calibration)
9.8
9.8
Post Calibration Picture
Post Gamma Curve Picture
Post Color Picture
Picture Mode
Custom Color
Standard
sRGB Gamut Area xy
99.3%
100.1%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.46
0.45
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,468 K
6,512 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.17
2.18
Color dE (Avg.)
0.37
0.52
Contrast Setting
75
48
RGB Settings
100-98-95
98-90-86
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Gamma 3
Brightness Setting
46
18
Measured Brightness
100 cd/m²
102 cd/m²
SDR Color Gamut
9.1
9.2
sRGB Color Gamut Picture
sRGB Coverage xy
98.9%
99.1%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom Color
Standard
Adobe RGB Color Gamut Picture
Adobe RGB Coverage xy
77.4%
78.2%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom Color
Standard
HDR Color Gamut
6.6
0.0
Wide Color Gamut
No
N/A
DCI-P3 Color Gamut Picture
DCI-P3 Coverage xy
79.7%
N/A
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
Desktop
No HDR
Rec. 2020 Color Gamut Picture
Rec. 2020 Coverage xy
57.3%
N/A
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
Desktop
No HDR
HDR Color Volume
6.4
0.0
DCI-P3 Color Volume ITP Picture
1,000 cd/m² DCI-P3 Coverage ICtCp
51.5%
N/A
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
Desktop
No HDR
Rec. 2020 Color Volume ITP Picture
10,000 cd/m² Rec. 2020 Coverage ICtCp
22.1%
N/A
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
Desktop
No HDR
Text Clarity
7.0
7.0
ClearType On
ClearType Off
Pixel Type
IPS
TN
Pixels
Subpixel Layout
RGB
RGB
Reflections
8.1
8.2
Average Room
Average Room Off Picture
Bright Room Off Picture
Screen Finish
Matte
Matte
Total Reflections
4.8%
4.7%
Indirect Reflections
3.9%
4.0%
Calculated Direct Reflections
0.9%
0.7%
Gradient
9.3
8.2
Gradient Picture
Color Depth
10 Bit
8 Bit
Motion
Refresh Rate
8.4
8.0
Native Refresh Rate
360 Hz
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
360 Hz
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP
360 Hz
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI
255 Hz
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP @ 10-bit
300 Hz
N/A
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI @ 10-Bit
165 Hz
N/A
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Yes
FreeSync
Yes
Compatible (Tested)
G-SYNC
Compatible (Tested)
Compatible (Tested)
VRR Maximum
360 Hz
240 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors
DisplayPort, HDMI
DisplayPort, HDMI
VRR Motion Performance
8.0
8.3
Pursuit Photo VRR
OD Mode CAD Comparison
Recommended VRR OD Setting
Super Fast
Custom11
Variable Overdrive Advertised
No
No
Avg. CAD
164
133
Best CAD
157
117
Worst CAD
175
160
Refresh Rate Compliance
7.6
8.5
Fast GTG Sequence
VRR Compliance
Compliance @ Max Hz
18%
58%
Compliance @ 120 FPS
60%
76%
Compliance @ 60 FPS
79%
85%
CAD @ Max Refresh Rate
7.6
8.5
Pursuit Photo At Max Refresh
CAD Heatmap At Max Refresh
OD Transition Max Refresh Rate
OD extreme
0 to 31
OD custom11
0 to 31
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Extreme
High
Avg. CAD
168
111
Best 10% CAD
88
32
Worst 10% CAD
267
195
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
First Response Time
7.8 ms
4.4 ms
Total Response Time
7.8 ms
4.7 ms
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Extreme
High
RGB Overshoot
0 RGB
0 RGB
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
0 RGB
5 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
12.2 ms
11.4 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
12.2 ms
11.4 ms
Heatmap First Response
Heatmap Total Response
Heatmap RGB Overshoot
CAD @ 120Hz
7.7
8.0
Pursuit Photo 120Hz
CAD Heatmap 120Hz
OD Transition 120Hz
OD extreme
0 to 31
OD custom11
0 to 31
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Super Fast
Custom11
Avg. CAD
158
129
Best 10% CAD
89
31
Worst 10% CAD
255
277
Response Time @ 120Hz
Worst 10% First Response Time
8.0 ms
12.8 ms
RGB Overshoot
2 RGB
2 RGB
Total Response Time
6.6 ms
6.9 ms
First Response Time
5.5 ms
5.3 ms
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Super Fast
Custom11
Worst 10% Total Response Time
11.2 ms
15.5 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
9 RGB
11 RGB
120Hz First Response Heatmap
120Hz Total Response Heatmap
120Hz Heatmap RGB Overshoot
CAD @ 60Hz
7.3
7.4
Pursuit Photo 60Hz
CAD Heatmap 60Hz
OD Transition 60Hz
OD extreme
0 to 31
OD custom11
0 to 31
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Premium
Avg. CAD
183
162
Best 10% CAD
95
32
Worst 10% CAD
320
373
Response Time @ 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Premium
First Response Time
6.5 ms
10.8 ms
Total Response Time
9.4 ms
11.6 ms
RGB Overshoot
3 RGB
0 RGB
Worst 10% Total Response Time
21.3 ms
25.7 ms
Worst 10% First Response Time
8.7 ms
24.9 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
17 RGB
3 RGB
60Hz First Response Heatmap
60Hz Total Response Heatmap
60Hz RGB Overshoot Heatmap
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
Backlight Strobing Picture
Backlight Strobing Frequency Picture
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
No BFI
Yes
Maximum Frequency
N/A
240 Hz
Minimum Frequency
N/A
120 Hz
Longest Pulse Width Brightness
N/A
280 cd/m²
Shortest Pulse Width Brightness
N/A
280 cd/m²
Pulse Width Control
No BFI
No
Pulse Phase Control
No BFI
No
Pulse Amplitude Control
No BFI
Yes
VRR At The Same Time
No BFI
No
VRR Flicker
9.0
6.0
VRR Flicker Video
VRR Flicker Graph
Dark Gray Flicker
0.7 RGB
1.6 RGB
Middle Gray Flicker
1.2 RGB
3.3 RGB
Light Gray Flicker
1.0 RGB
3.1 RGB
Image Flicker
10
10
Backlight Picture
Flicker-Free
Yes
Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz
0 Hz
Inputs
Input Lag
9.3
8.9
Native Resolution @ Max Hz
1.8 ms
3.0 ms
Native Resolution @ 120Hz
5.1 ms
4.6 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
8.4 ms
20.9 ms
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
N/A
4.5 ms
Resolution
5.6
5.6
Native Resolution
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
Aspect Ratio
16:9
16:9
Megapixels
2.1 MP
2.1 MP
Pixel Density
90 PPI
90 PPI
PS5 Compatibility
3.3
1.3
PS5 Compatibility Photo
PS5 Compatibility Table
4k @ 120Hz
No
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
No
1440p @ 120Hz
No
No
1440p @ 60Hz
No
No
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
Yes
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
4.6
3.2
XSX Compatibility Photo
XSX Compatibility Table
4k @ 120Hz
No
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
No
1440p @ 120Hz
No
No
1440p @ 60Hz
No
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
Yes
Inputs Photos
Inputs 1
Inputs 2
Video And Audio Ports
DisplayPort
1 (DP 1.4)
1 (DP 1.2)
DisplayPort Transmission Bandwidth
No DisplayPort 2.1
No DisplayPort 2.1
Mini DisplayPort
No
No
HDMI
2 (HDMI 2.0)
3 (HDMI 2.0)
HDMI 2.1 Bandwidth
No HDMI 2.1
No HDMI 2.1
DVI
No
No
VGA
No
No
Daisy Chaining
No
No
3.5mm Audio Out
2
1
3.5mm Audio In
No
No
3.5mm Microphone In
No
No
USB
USB-A Ports
4
0
USB-A Rated Speed
5Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
No USB-A Ports
USB-B Upstream Port
Yes
No
USB-C Ports
0
0
USB-C Upstream
No USB-C Ports
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Rated Speed
No USB-C Ports
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Power Delivery
No USB-C Ports
No USB-C Ports
USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode
No USB-C Ports
No USB-C Ports
Thunderbolt
No
No
macOS Compatibility
macOS Screenshot
Features
Additional Features
HDR10
Yes
No
Speakers
No
No
RGB Illumination
No
No
Multiple Input Display
No
No
KVM Switch
No
No
On-Screen Display (OSD)
OSD Picture
Check Price
25"
AW2523HF
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
25"
ZOWIE XL2546X
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
25"
AW2523HF
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
25"
ZOWIE XL2546X
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
25"
AW2523HF
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
25"
ZOWIE XL2546X
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
25"
AW2523HF
SEARCH
B&H
25"
ZOWIE XL2546X
SEARCH
B&H
Dell Alienware AW2523HF
BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X
Comments
Dell Alienware AW2523HF vs BenQ ZOWIE XL2546X: Main Discussion
What do you think of these products? Let us know below.
Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.