- Overall
The BenQ GW2406Z is another excellent addition to the brand’s affordable, but superb 1080p monitors designed to enhance viewing experiences at home and the office. This newer model is one of BenQ’s attempts to grab a slice of the budget IPS segment which previously dominated by brands like AOC. This arena has a ton of cheap options available, and yet it is interesting how the BenQ GW2406Z stacks up to its established competitors with its generous package and price.
BenQ GW2406Z 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: 5ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 250 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: No
- Stand: Height – No
- Stand: Tilt – Yes (-5°/+20°)
- Stand: Swivel – No
- VESA Compatibility: Yes 100 x 100
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 1.4 x 1, VGA x 1, 3.5mm Audio Jack
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 20.75” x 11.67” x 6.85”
- Weight: 7.39 lbs
Design and Features
The BenQ GW2406Z is pretty straightforward with its matte black chassis and straight, but clean edges. What’s great about the products looks is its modern, bezel-free face which we all prefer for unobstructed viewing. Although, once you turn on the screen, the black borders become visible, and yet still do not distract users from the 24-inches of view space.
The cabinet is also positively thin at 1.6 inches, making it compact and lightweight. The whole product including the base and stand will only consume 6.85 inches of your desk’s surface, making the BenQ GW2406Z ideal for tight spaces. But one downside to the svelte figure is the cumbersome external power brick which usually doesn’t find a place on that neat desktop build with excellent cable management you are creating.
The BenQ GW2406Z has sufficient connectivity features for a budget-oriented monitor. The down-firing I/O layout includes a DisplayPort 1.2, HDMI 1.4 slot, and a VGA port for legacy connections. Although there are no speakers and USB receptacles, it should be a minor issue considering the price. The limited panel sits nice and tight under the compact bulge at the rear, which also has an exposed 100 x 100 VESA bolt pattern for mounting.
The included stand can only offer tilt as expected from an affordable display, but it can easily be removed since it can slide on or off. The conventional mechanism is limited in flexibility, but it provides a lot of stability with excellent built quality. The plastics feel durable to the touch, and we did not notice any creaking or unwanted flexing on any part.
Finally, our biggest complaint about the BenQ GW2406Z is the OSD button design, which ‘s hard to access and master. The labeling is almost invisible, and it is easy to mistake the power switch for another. We wish the designers placed this layout on the sides, but it could increase the bezel size.
Display and Performance
The BenQ GW2406Z features a 24-inch IPS panel with a 1080p resolution, 5ms response time, and a 60Hz refresh rate. Viewing angles are excellent thanks to the technology, and colors are rich and vibrant. This screen can display 98% of the sRGB gamut with a Delta E of 1.90 which is fantastic for a budget-oriented display. Although these scores do not mean that you can use this product for professional editing, it is a step ahead against TN panels.
Contrast levels are acceptable at 750:1, so some dark scenes and objects have a slight grayish tint. If you play a lot of grotesque games like Resident Evil or Dark Souls which require lesser lighting to convey a terrifying or sinister story, you might be disappointed. The good thing is, the contrast ratio remains constant no matter how high or low your brightness setting is.
But the absolute aspect we love about the BenQ GW2406Z is that all of the results stated above are too close to it’s out of the box display output, so users won’t need to bother with a calibrator or to adjust the settings via the troublesome OSD buttons. Swapping through the different presets does not provide any immediate improvements, so unless you prefer one thing over the other, leaving this monitor in its standard mode is ideal.
The IPS panel in the BenQ GW2406Z can only go up to 5ms so that it could affect fast-paced gaming. We tested this product with quick play sessions in Overwatch, and while the cartoony rendering of the title did pop out thanks to the excellent color output, there were noticeable interlacing and ghosting between swipes. BenQ included their AMA (Advanced Motion Accelerator) overdrive feature, and setting it to its middle setting did relieve some of the blurs. Setting it to its max will only result to reverse ghosting, so leave if off if there are no flaws or use the middle option.
We would love to see FreeSync on this model, but it is simply a monitor meant for home or office work which entails browsing, watching movies, or processing documents. But don’t fret, the BenQ GW2406Z is highly recommended if you need a decent monitor with clarity and vibrancy for your media, or if you want a secondary display for your gaming setup with a cutting edge monitor.
Thoughts
The BenQ GW2406Z doesn’t excel at specific aspects such as gaming performance or color accuracy, but it is an excellent all-rounder. For its intended use, images are superb and way better than what similar price-bracketed TN monitors can offer. This product is suitable for beginners and primary users because once you pop it out of its box, you won’t need to tinker with it to get the best it has to offer.
For such a small price, you get a fantastic entry-level product from a prestigious monitor brand. Although there are limitations, it would be difficult to find a product which can beat what the BenQ GW2406Z offers for what it commands. But as always, buyers should manage expectations because, in everything related to technology, you get what you pay for.
Ramy says
Thank you Paolo, which is better this monitor or the Dell P2419H
Paolo Reva says
Hi, Ramy! We have not yet reviewed the Dell P2419H, but it is a class above the BenQ GW2406Z since it comes from Dell’s P line. With that being said, the latter will be more expensive which will also result in blurring the line of comparison between the two.