BenQ’s gaming subsidiary Zowie has launched the much-awaited XL2735, a gaming monitor which is an updated version of XL2730Z. BenQ is known for offering excellent quality products in the field of gaming at a much affordable price. What is new in this monitor and is it worthy enough to be called as the Gaming Monitor? Let us check in our detailed review of BenQ Zowie XL2735.
Design & Ports
Just a single look on the XL2735 and you will notice the change in design. BenQ has introduced side wings which they are calling as Shield. It is an optional accessory which is attached on the side of the monitor and as per BenQ, the shield is for concentration and for protecting the privacy. It is a perfect tool for gamers who don’t want other players to peek into their monitor. It also eliminates other distraction like lights glare and is a very handy tool if used properly.
It is a 27” monitor with matte TN panel which is covered with a thick bezel frame. The monitor is made using rough matte black plastic and there is a small patch of glossy plastic on the rear. The good part about the design is the neck of the monitor which can be swapped out to install a VESA mount.The stand also helps in adjusting height, rotation, tilt, and pivot. It also comes with markers on the base so that you can mark the perfect rotation or height.
There are two USB 3.0 Ports and a 3.5 mm headphone & mic jack on the left side of the monitor. It also offers a retractable hanger on the left side for resting headphones. This is an excellent inclusion as most of the time headphone are kept on the table thus reducing the free space. Other ports include a DVI port, one HDMI 2.0 port, one display port and one USB 3.0 port.
Overall, the monitor has a good design for a gaming product and ample of ports for all kind of gaming needs.
Performance
It is a 27” Quad HD TN panel with a pixel resolution of 2560×1440 pixels and 1ms response time. It offers a refresh rate of 144Hz. The one downside of the monitor is that it doesn’t support AMD Freesync and NVIDIA’s Gsync.
It is a known fact that TN panels are not the best for viewing angles but still, XL2735 offers decent viewing angles. Additionally, the monitor is usually viewed from a fixed position so viewing angles should not be a problem.
The monitor comes with a basic setting out of the box and it takes quite some time to get to the perfect color and brightness settings. Though there is an adjustment tool (S Switch) to make these changes and with a tiny scroll wheel, you will enjoy making these changes.
Once you have set the monitor to your desired settings, you will realize that it is decent gaming monitor. The settings were not great when you fired it up for the first time and you might get disappointed with the image quality. But, if calibrated properly, it is a very capable display and keeps up with a lightning fast movement which is an added advantage for gamers. There is almost no input lag and contrast is just perfect for gaming.
Final Verdict
Priced at Rs. 60000, XL2735 is a decent gaming monitor and offers a good resolution and adjustment setting. The side wings and adjustment tools are a nice inclusion but we feel that the price is a bit on the higher side. Apart from this, it is a nice gaming monitor and if you are looking for a monitor which offers excellent adjustment settings and decent image quality, you can go for BenQ Zowie XL2735.
