BenQ Zowie XL2735 Review
- MonitorNerds
- Newegg Customers
The eSports industry is one of the fastest-growing markets of gaming, particularly on the PC. Since partnering up with Zowie, BenQ has been investing even more heavily in the industry and the latest BenQ Zowie XL2735 gaming monitor is a prime example of the direction that the company is taking. The question, however, is whether the monitor is competent enough to appeal to hardcore gamers, or not.
Design and physical features
The first thing that anyone will notice on the XL2735 is the so-called Shield, the gigantic ‘ears’ that protrude from either side of the monitor. Though they are completely optional, BenQ maintains that the Shield is “the way to be concentrated in games.” They are supposed to keep your focus on the screen, eliminating any distractions that might affect your attention in competitive matches or hardcore gaming. Getting used to them takes a while, but users should give them a try; after all, they are an entirely optional accessory.
Other than that, the monitor basically looks the same as the XL2730 that came before it. It even has the same stand which is unassuming and quite sturdy. The S-Switch also makes a comeback in very good form. The little box allows you to easily control the OSD and switching between profiles is extremely easy. Furthermore, it has its memory which means that you can program up to three different profiles. You could even take the S-Switch with you to use in another monitor though not many users will take advantage of such a feature.
The monitor has several ports including HDMI 1.4, HDMI 2.0, DP 1.2a, microphone and headphone 3.5mm jacks, two USB 3.0 ports, and Dual-Link DVI. Finally, the stand can be easily removed with the push of a button, and the 1000 x 100mm VESA holes can be used to install a stand of your choice.
Review of BenQ Zowie XL2735: Display – Features and Modes
As I mentioned before, navigating the OSD is extremely easy. All the presets you have come to expect are there, including Standard, Gamer, and FPS. Adjusting the Standard preset to reduce brightness seems to be the way to go here because all of the other presets are simply not adequate. In fact, the display certainly suffers in this regard.
If you are a serious competitive gamer, however, the monitor does have some advantages. First and foremost, BenQ’s Dynamic Accuracy technology ensures that blurring will never be an issue. Everything is remarkably clear even in frantic shooters. Zowie’s video, which has been embedded below, shows the difference between the XL2735 and the XL2730.
BenQ Zowie XL2735 Video
Moreover, the Black eQualizer technology is also here. It makes sure that dark areas are more visible while bright areas are not overexposed. Combined with Dynamic Accuracy, it offers a compelling argument on why serious gamers might want to consider using the monitor.
Performance of Benq XL2735
The XL2735 stands at 27 inches and supports a maximum resolution of 2560 x 1440 at 144Hz. Though TN panels are usually fine, the XL2735 could be a lot better at this price. Image quality is not all that great though you will mainly notice that outside of games. While browsing the web, for instance, you might notice a trailing effect. The colors often appeared washed out outside of gaming which basically means that you will have an expensive monitor on your hands that performs subpar on virtually every other task except gaming.
Compared to the image quality that the monitor offers, in general, it is stunning to see how smooth gaming sessions are, especially in video games where accuracy and fast reactions are of the utmost importance. Even so, there are several monitors on cheaper price points that deliver similar performance with far better panels, so it is quite hard to justify the price on this one. The usual problems with TN panels are also far too obvious on the XL2735, and the size does not help at all.
Conclusion
Justifying the very existence of the BenQ Zowie XL2735 is a tough sell. The only audience that the monitor might appeal to are the very serious competitive gamers who wish to take advantage of anything that might enhance their own skills. However, there are definitely other monitors out there that can do more, especially at this price point. The image quality is just too weak to ignore, and most users want to use their monitors for other things aside from gaming, even if that takes up most of their time.
The Dynamic Accuracy and Black eQualizer features are certainly attractive, and everything about the monitor screams competitive gaming. The in-game performance of the XL2735 is undeniably great, and the gaming experience is fantastically smooth. Besides that, however, the XL2735 is lacking in essential areas that make it harder to recommend than similar monitors of its price range.
Saman says
which is better XL2730 vs XL2735
Paolo Reva says
Hello, Saman! The difference between the two is that the BenQ XL2730 is a FreeSync-equipped version while the XL2735 relies on BenQ’s DyAc technology. Both models are almost perfectly identical, so budget and pricing are the only big factors to consider when shopping for one or the other. Cheers!
Saman says
Thx for reply , i realized FreeSync is not a big deal when you get a high end graphic card , so i just got xl2735 and i have to say its good monitor , the only bug i findout its when u put it on 144hz built-in speaker stop working
Paolo Reva says
We’re glad that you are enjoying your XL2735, Saman! However, for the speaker issue, you might want to turn in your unit for a possible replacement or RMA.
Jack says
I like how this reviews biggest pain point is the price, but doesn’t ever once mention how much it costs at the time this review was written. Why does every review i read do this…
Paolo Reva says
Hello Jack, we and our fellow reviewers avoid writing specific prices simply because they fluctuate every day depending on numerous factors. If at the time of the review the price we wrote is higher or lower than the market’s normal value, our assessment of a product would appear inaccurate to our readers one way or the other.
Fda says
“the XL2735 is lacking in essential areas that make it harder to recommend than similar monitors of its price range”
What if the drop the price of, say, 20%? that’s why it’s important to specificate what price you’re talking about. It’s in fact an added value to the review, let’s us make the math
Paolo Reva says
Hello, Fda. When we reviewed the XL2735, it was at its full price of around $700. That kind of money buys you a similar monitor but with G-Sync included. Of course, at a discount of 20%, it becomes a better deal. But to keep the review consistent, we base our conclusion on value, price, and performance at the time of publishing the article.