- Overall
The BenQ GL2580HM is made to help home, and office users enjoy their computer experience with its reliability and affordable price. This model comes equipped with a high-quality TN panel suitable for casual games and work, so you can’t go wrong with this choosing device. The BenQ GL2580HM comes with only a few compromises, but it delivers essential capabilities at a wallet-friendly price point.
BenQ GL2580HM Specifications
- Screen Size: 24 Inches
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080p FHD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 60Hz
- Response Time: 2ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 250 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 1 Watt)
- Stand: Height – No
- Stand: Tilt – Yes (-5°/+30°)
- Stand: Swivel – No
- Stand: Pivot – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes 100 x 100
- Connectivity: HDMI x 1, DVI x 1, VGA x 1, Audio Jack
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 21.95” x 16.79” x 6.89”
- Weight: 9.7lbs
Design and Features
The BenQ GL2580HM employs a simplistic, but a modernized design that fits most home and office settings. The matte black plastic chassis and metal frame construction of this device give it that robust feel without flexing or creaking when moved around. The face is bezel-free which is a huge plus in this price bracket, although there are panel borders visible.
However, this part does not present a distraction from the view, while the thicker bottom bezel adds a nice, subtle touch with the BenQ logo. The BenQ GL2580HM’s presence does not impose since it only takes up modest amounts of space on your desk. The package will eat up less than seven inches of depth, making it suitable for users who need the extra space for a keyboard with a palm rest.
The rear of the chassis has a slightly curving bulge that should still fit well with wall mounting options or any aftermarket device. The 100 x 100 VESA holes are readily exposed, so you only have to snap the included stand which only provides Tilt for attaching this device. We always advise against monitors with tilt-only uprights, but if you intend to go with the BenQ GL2580HM, know that the mechanism provides a lot of stability and there is little to no wobble.
The BenQ GL2580HM’s connectivity features are pretty necessary as well, only including the essential connectors for 1080p 60Hz operation. The layout includes HDMI, VGA, and DVI for video inputs plus a pair of 1-Watt speakers and a 3.5mm jack. Other options like the Dell P2417H are better-equipped, but we think this panel is sufficient even if you want to add a gaming console into the mix.
Display and Performance
The BenQ GL2580HM sports a TN panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and a 2ms response time which are all typical for a TN panel. Upon using this device for the first time, the glaring difference you will immediately notice is the bad viewing angles and the less vibrant screen. We say these descriptions when comparing with an IPS-equipped variant, but when put next to an upmarket TN gaming monitor, we can say that the qualities are more or less the same.
The BenQ GL2580HM’s numbers reveal a fantastic performance rating despite the handicaps of the panel tech used. Our colorimeter reveals 97% sRGB coverage and 1100:1 contrast ratio which are excellent scores for a TN screen. Gamma is also within reasonable limits, closing the gap to 2.2 at 50%, but at lower settings, it somehow falls to 1.9 which in turn washes out some colors.
These scores aren’t impressive for color-critical work, but the BenQ GL2580HM does have some gaming potential in its capabilities. Input lag averages only 10ms when playing video games at 1080p 60Hz, so we did not notice any delays in commands during our Destiny 2 test. There was no ghosting save for when the action calls for a higher refresh rate, or when scrolling past black text on white backgrounds.
Another aspect of the BenQ GL2580HM that can excite thrifty gamers is it can overclock to 75Hz to extend its display capacity for games. Users can achieve this by selecting the AMA Premium setting in the OSD and creating a custom resolution in Nvidia Control Panel or with Catalyst Control Center. However, be warned that overclocking a 60Hz monitor isn’t guaranteed and can induce some issues such as blackouts or fuzziness, advanced ghosting when AMA is too high, or even damage your device.
Even if rarely needed, the BenQ GL2580HM would have benefited from the addition of FreeSync to help out with smoother graphics. This monitor doesn’t need a meaty GPU to max out most games, but budget systems which are usually paired with this device could struggle in some titles.
Thoughts on the BenQ GL2580HM
The BenQ GL2580HM is an excellent choice if you are looking for a cheap monitor for casual gaming or basic office tasks. The product’s color performance falls short for basic photo editing, but still offers plenty of vibrancy and contrast for gaming and movies. The ability to overclock to 75Hz adds terrific value to what this model provides, but as always, this aspect isn’t a sure thing.
Despite its budget-oriented nature, the brand did not leave out its signature durability and material quality for the BenQ GL2580HM. The monitor, despite its disadvantageous tilt-only stand, doesn’t wobble and there were no creaking or unwanted flexing. If you want to extend the value of your cash in the monitor market to satisfy your computing needs, this model will not disappoint.
Leave a Reply