- Soon Kai Hong
BenQ Attains 360Hz With The Zowie XL2566K Gaming Monitor
BenQ is no stranger when it comes to the ultimate gaming experience especially when it comes to the eSports scene. For over a decade, they've been the go to choice for many professional FPS players thanks to its superior response time and dedicated features to suit every individual professional's needs. This time, they've reached a new peak with the new Zowie XL2566K, the world's first TN 360Hz gaming monitor with DyAc+.
The design of the Zowie XL2566K wouldn't come as a surprise to most, still featuring the iconic design language that Zowie is known for with a primarily all black chassis alongside red accents in certain areas for a little bit of pop. It will also still come with the S Switch to allow quick access to the different saved profiles as well as the Shielding Hood for add privacy and reduction in reflections and glares. The stand also allows for the full array of adjustments with pivot, swivel, tilt and height adjustment. With all that said, there is one major difference in design and that comes in the form of the base. It now takes up much less space and allows for a little more versatility to cater to a more unique setup. While it might just be a small touch, we definitely do appreciate it. However design might probably be secondary here as the main focus is still definitely the panel itself.
We're looking at a 24.5" TN panel in a standard 16:9 aspect ratio with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 at 360Hz. The panel will also sport a typical brightness of about 320nits and a contrast ratio of 1000:1. Unsurprisingly, the specifications for colour coverage isn't listed on any official source but based on the brief experience we had with it, just do not expect 100% sRGB coverage. Which means we do have to address the elephant in the room.
Why would anyone choose TN over IPS in this day and age, especially so when IPS 360Hz capable gaming monitors have already been out in the market for awhile now? A few key reasons and they only hold true simply because this is from BenQ and not anyone else.
The first is the exclusive DyAC+ technology by BenQ themselves, which help to make vigorous in-game actions such as flicks and spraying much clearer. The added clarity helps the professional eSports player position their aim and track fast-moving targets with higher precision especially during intense gameplay. In addition, it reduces motion blur and achieves basically zero black smearing partly in thanks to the nature of TN, provided a clearer and sharper overall image in motion as compared to IPS 360Hz offerings. This feature in conjunction with other well-loved features such as Black eQualizer, Color Vibrance and more elevates the Zowie XL2566K to be just that bit better.
While the advantage might not appeal to the wider general audience such as ourselves, it can make a huge difference for the professionals who are constantly competing. Just do make sure that to us DisplayPort 1.4 in order to enjoy the full 360Hz at 1080p with a compatible graphics card. Though the monitor does also support two HDMI 2.0 ports where you can plug in your favourite console such as the PS5 or Xbox Series X and enjoy 120Hz at 1080p. Additionally, it does also support a built-in power supply which will help reduce cable clutter.
The Zowie XL2566K will be available in Singapore come December and will retail for a price of S$1,069. But before you confirm your purchase, you might want to check it out for yourself down over at Dreamcore's showroom. Dreamcore can test out most, if not all of BenQ's offerings including the Zowie XL2566K, the MOBIUZ EX270M, EX270QM and even the massive EX480UZ. This will all be powered with the the latest hardware in desktop PCs with the AMD Ryzen 7000 series processors and up to NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090.
BenQ introduces the new Zowie XL2566K 360Hz TN Gaming Monitor with DyAc+, promising better response time and enhanced clarity for images in motion, ideal for FPS competitive play.
It also has a newly redesigned base that allows for more flexibility to suit a user's needs, granting more freedom of movement.
Additionally, there are also new launches which include the MOBIUZ lineup of monitors, up to a staggering 48" with the EX480UZ featuring OLED, perfect for sitting back and getting some couch gaming done.
The Zowie XL2566K will be available sometime in December in Singapore.