BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ 24.1" Black 2024

The BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ delivers the best motion clarity we've tested, with a 400Hz refresh rate and DyAc 2 blur reduction that make fast-paced shooters feel incredible. But it's a 1080p TN panel with no speakers and mediocre colors, so it's a terrible choice for anything outside competitive gaming. If you're an esports player, grab it at the $500 open-box price. Everyone else should look elsewhere.

The 400Hz refresh rate over DisplayPort is the headline, and it delivers. Combined with DyAc 2's dual backlight strobe, motion blur essentially disappears. Tracking moving targets feels effortless, and the reduced overshoot from the new Fast TN panel means less ghosting than previous Zowie models. Color performance is better than old TN panels, but it's still a TN. The 320-nit brightness and 16.7 million colors put it right around average for gaming monitors, and the display quality itself lands in the bottom 10% of our database. That's the trade-off. You're buying speed, not picture quality.

Against the ASUS ROG Strix XG27UCDMG or the MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED, the XL2566X+ loses badly on resolution, color, and contrast. Those are 1440p or 4K OLED panels with stunning picture quality. But none of them hit 400Hz, and none have DyAc 2's blur reduction. The Alienware AW3425DW and Samsung Odyssey G60SD are ultrawide or OLED options that look gorgeous but can't match this monitor's raw motion clarity. The LG UltraGear 32GX850A-B is a 4K panel that's better for everything except competitive shooters. If you're a pro or aspiring pro FPS player, the Zowie wins. If you're anyone else, those competitors are better buys.

Pricing is all over the place. US listings range from $500 to $1,297, and Canadian listings swing from CAD 900 to CAD 2,079. The best US deal we found is the open-box listing on Newegg at $500, which is actually reasonable for a 400Hz esports monitor. But at the high end of that range, you're paying OLED money for a TN panel. If you can snag it near the low end, it's a fair deal for competitive players. If you're paying over $900, you should seriously consider whether a 1440p 240Hz OLED would serve you better.

The BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ is a 24.1-inch, 1080p TN panel built for one thing: competitive FPS gaming. It runs at 400Hz with DyAc 2 blur reduction, and the motion clarity is genuinely the best we've seen on a TN panel. If you play Valorant, CS2, or Overwatch at a high level, this monitor is aimed directly at you.

But it's a specialist tool, not a daily driver. The 1080p resolution, TN viewing angles, and 320-nit brightness mean it's mediocre for movies, work, or anything outside fast-paced shooters. BenQ knows exactly who this is for, and they didn't waste a dollar trying to please anyone else.

Skip this if you do any kind of content creation, photo editing, or even casual movie watching. The TN panel's colors and viewing angles are a real letdown for those tasks. Also skip it if you don't play competitive shooters at high frame rates. You'd be paying a premium for 400Hz you'll never use, and a 1440p 144Hz IPS monitor would look better and cost less.

Buy this if you play competitive FPS games seriously and you have a GPU that can push 400 frames per second. The motion clarity is unmatched, and the 400Hz refresh rate gives you a real competitive edge. But if you split your time between gaming, work, and media, this monitor will frustrate you. The 1080p resolution and TN panel are too compromised for everyday use. This is a tournament monitor, not a lifestyle monitor.