The BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ is the big boy toy for PRO gamers or enthusiasts making their move into PRO gaming. Or if you are looking to upgrade you are a die hard amateur competitive gamer that wants the best clarity and speed.
The 400Hz refresh rate on BenQ their new TN Panels make a true visual difference and offer a sharpness we never thought possible for 1080p resolution. Furthermore BenQ offers their DyAc 2 Technology and an Auto Game Mode that automatically changes the settings of the screen for the game you play.
The BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ feels tailormade for PRO gamers and gamers that aspire to become a PRO gamer. The focus of this monitor is speed and clarity, not depth of color or beautiful tints like Q Led monitors. No, the BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ goes fast and clearly shows your foe’s head for you to click on.
BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ Unboxing, Building and the Photo Shoot
The BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ comes in a big package that keeps your new PRO monitor snug and safe. When it comes to building monitors the technology hasn’t changed much. Your stand clicks into your screen and after some cable management that takes longer than setting up the screen; you can enjoy your new purchase.
But what constantly changes with monitors is the inside, just like us humans we constantly develop ourselves into better versions, we grow internally and sometimes externally. For the BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ the new panel, ball bearing stand for smooth adjusting and software is the newest evolution for super fast PRO monitors.
Crack Open the Door to 400Hz
When you open the BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ the top of the box is filled with your separate pieces for the monitor stand, power cable and Display Port cable. There is a cardboard fold covering the box of the monitor shields and the handy remote.
The BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ clearly states to use a Display Port cable compatible up to 400Hz, but no worries the cable that comes with the BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ supports just that. No running to the store to get a compatible cable. Good job BenQ, love it.
Deeper down into the box we have the monitor itself in its protective bag and wedged between supportive cardboard for protection. Yes the box seems insanely huge for the size of the actual monitor but it helps protect it during transportation. With everything unpacked we are ready to build.
A puzzle for toddlers – building the monitor
Like we said, putting together a monitor is easy peasy lemon squeezy. But let’s assume this is your first ever monitor and you instantly went for a competitive model that offers 400Hz because you are Sonic the Hedgehog and everything has to go fast. Building up this monitor is as fast as its refresh rate and you will be loading into your first CS:GO 2 match before you know it.
First things first, the monitor arm needs to be attached to the monitor base. The BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ has guidance for the 4 screws on the arm that easily locks into place. The two tightening screws come with little handles that make building the BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ tool-free. Now we have the monitor stand awaiting its powerhouse of a screen.
After inserting the long guidance pins into the back of the screen and clicking the lower guidance pins into place the BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ is ready to roll!
The attachment holes in the side of the monitor are covered by small rubber rigid pieces that hide them pretty well. Remove all four pieces and you can insert shields on both sides. The BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ now looks like it has wings and is ready for a speedy take-off.
After inserting the power and display port cables, you can turn your PC on and start playing. The remote is fully optional but offers some real nice functionality and we do recommend attaching it. Especially if you play multiple games or want to switch between gaming and watching YouTube. More on these remote features below.
Features, Testing and Comparison for the BenQ Zowie XL2566X+
The short version of this section is: blown away about the clarity and sharpness for a 1080p monitor for fast games. Not for your deep narrative slow games that rely on colour like Cyberpunk 2077. And this mostly comes down to the choice of panel inside the BenQ Zowie XL2566X+.
BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ Features
The main selling point of the BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ is the super fast TN panel combined with their DyAc technology. The combination offers improved sharpness on moving objects (aka foe’s in competitive shooters) allowing the player to spot and react faster.
The Fast TN panel reduces ghosting and afterimages by enhancing the electrical conductivity design which greatly enhances responsiveness of the panel. And the new panel gives more vibrant colors for better clarity.
The DyAc technology is built to be as compatible as possible with these new Fast TN panels. This new version of Motion Blur reduction technology is tailor made for the BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ and takes full advantage.
On to the remote we mentioned a few times. The small remote acts as an extension of the buttons at the back of the monitor. Making it easy to adjust settings to your liking and save some presets. You can further enhance this by grabbing the XL Setting to Share software that automatically loads in your or other users their colour profiles when starting a game or app.
And last but not least is the monitor arm with ball bearing height adjustment system that makes it smooth to adjust and allows precise adjustments for your personal preference. Combined with the shield on the side of the monitor to block light bouncing off the panel you can set it up to perfection.
It’s All About Opinions and Taste
When it came down to the looks, features and how the BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ felt to game with. Well that’s all based on your own opinion. Some people like frames, clarity and sharpness to get the most advantage over an opponent. And others like a more atmospheric look, focus on color and fidelity going for those picture perfect views in 4K.
The BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ is a monitor made for competitive fps gamers, not for gamers who want to play and insanely atmospheric game like Cyberpunk where the colors and world set the mode in the slow paced first person cut-scenes; nor for the Stardew Valley gamer that likes a slow paced cozy game.
We also did not like the thick frame surrounding the panel, thin almost invisible frames are way more aesthetic than a thick frame. Other than that we had absolutely no complaints.
Tried and Tested Fast-Paced Games
Taking a photo of a screen is never an accurate representation of what our human eyes see. So much is lost through the lens of a camera. The same goes for our following pictures, taking up close pictures distorts the colors and light a bit but we hope you see what we saw with our own eyes.
For the testing of the BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ we played some CS:GO 2, The finals, Rainbow Six Siege and the excellent not so competitive but still a very fast shooter Hell Divers 2 (Our release review is found here). Setting up the camera in front of the screen to get some motion shots was impossible as the camera blocked our own view. So enjoy some close up shots.
Our main setup uses a QHD-screen and it was hard to believe the BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ offered such sharp results when we started testing. For our testing we used optimized settings for frames and settings for quality. In quality mode we did notice some minor distortions but with the optimized settings to get the 400 frames per second to match the 400Hz refresh rate it was a smooth experience.
The BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ Conclusion
This monitor is for the competitive, the driven, the hardcore or professional gamer that want an extra edge over their opponent. You won’t quickly be tempted to invest into the BenQ Zowie XL2566X+ as it comes with a pretty high price of €654,4. But if you are that hardcore competitive gamer the chances are you will invest into this amazing monitor tailor-made for what you want to achieve in game, the best.
Thank you BenQ for letting us test this monitor focused for pro-gamers and pro-gamer enthusiasts! Check out their Zowie series for competitive gamers on their website.