BenQ Zowie XL2540X+ 24.1" Black 2025

280Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time make this a top-tier esports monitor, ranking in the 90th percentile for performance. But display quality sits at the 8th percentile and customers rate it 2.1 out of 5. Buy it only if competitive gaming is your entire world and you find it cheap.

280Hz through DisplayPort is the headline, and it's legit. That's a top-tier refresh rate in our database, landing this monitor in the 90th percentile for performance. The 1ms response time is exactly what you want for fast-twitch shooters. Combined with Adaptive-Sync, you get smooth frames without tearing, assuming your GPU can actually push 280 frames at 1080p. The TN panel is the trade-off. You get speed, but the 8-bit color depth and 320 nits brightness mean this thing won't win any beauty contests.

Connectivity is actually a bright spot at the 93rd percentile. Three HDMI ports, one DisplayPort, and even Thunderbolt give you plenty of ways to plug in. The Auto Game Mode and included S Switch let you swap settings profiles quickly, which is handy if you bounce between games. Just don't expect the display itself to impress anyone who's seen a modern IPS or OLED panel.

Stacked against the ASUS ROG Strix XG27UCDMG or the MSI MAG 271QPX QD-OLED E2, the XL2540X+ looks like a one-trick pony. Those competitors bring OLED panels with far better color and contrast, though they cost more and don't hit 280Hz. The LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B and Samsung Odyssey G60SD also offer better overall image quality. Where the BenQ wins is raw speed per dollar at the low end of its price range. If you're a competitive FPS player who turns every setting to low anyway, the TN panel's weaknesses don't matter as much. For everyone else, those competitors are more well-rounded.

Pricing is all over the place. US listings range from $300 to $522, a $222 spread depending on where you shop. At $300, this monitor makes a decent case for itself if you only care about refresh rate. At $522, you're getting into territory where better all-around displays exist. The CAD listing at $495 is a single data point, so hard to judge the Canadian market. The refurbished options on Newegg might be the sweet spot if you can find one at the low end of that range. Just know that the 2.1 out of 5 customer rating suggests some buyers feel burned even at the lower price.

The BenQ Zowie XL2540X+ is a 24.1 inch 1080p TN panel pushing 280Hz, and that refresh rate is the whole story here. Our database puts its performance at the 90th percentile, which means it's one of the best on the market for pure speed. The 1ms response time and Adaptive-Sync support back that up. But you're paying for speed with everything else. Color sits at the 50th percentile, display quality lands at the 8th percentile, and the customer rating is a rough 2.1 out of 5 across 10 reviews.

This is an esports monitor in the most literal sense. BenQ built it for Counter-Strike players, Valorant grinders, and anyone who thinks 60Hz feels like a slideshow. The TN panel gives you that fast response but costs you viewing angles and color richness. At 320 nits brightness and 1000:1 contrast, it's fine for a dimly lit gaming room and not much else.

Skip this if you do anything besides competitive gaming. The 8th percentile display quality means movies, photo editing, and even casual browsing will look mediocre. The 50th percentile color performance is just average, and the 2.1 out of 5 customer rating suggests real-world satisfaction is low. If you want a monitor that does gaming and everything else well, look at the MSI MAG 271QPX QD-OLED E2 or the LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B instead. You'll trade some refresh rate for a dramatically better picture.

The XL2540X+ does exactly one thing extremely well: go fast. 280Hz at 1080p with a 1ms response time is a legitimate esports setup. But the 8th percentile display quality and 2.1 out of 5 customer rating tell the rest of the story. This is a specialist tool, not a daily driver. If you play competitive shooters and nothing else, and you find it at the $300 end of the price range, it's worth a look. If you want a monitor for mixed use, keep scrolling.