BenQ ZOWIE BenQ ZOWIE XL2586X+ 24.1" 600 Hz Esports Gaming Review
The BenQ ZOWIE XL2586X+ offers a 600Hz refresh rate for esports pros, but its terrible picture quality makes it a hard sell for anyone else. This is a tool, not an entertainment display.
The 30-Second Version
The BenQ ZOWIE XL2586X+ is the Formula 1 car of gaming monitors: blindingly fast in a straight line, brutally uncomfortable everywhere else. Buy it only if you're getting paid to play.
Overview
The BenQ ZOWIE XL2586X+ is a monitor with a singular, obsessive purpose: to be the fastest screen for competitive esports. Forget about 4K resolution, forget about vibrant colors, forget about watching movies. This 24.1-inch, 1080p TN panel exists for one thing—to give you a 600Hz refresh rate and every possible edge in games like CS2 and Valorant. If you're not a pro or aspiring pro, this is a wildly expensive one-trick pony. But if you are, it's the trick you want.
Performance
The 600Hz refresh rate is the headline, and in our database, its motion clarity performance lands in the 90th percentile. That's no surprise. What did surprise us was how good the ergonomics are, ranking in the 88th percentile. The stand is incredibly solid and adjustable, which matters more than you'd think when you're locked in for hours. The trade-off is brutal, though: the display quality itself sits in the 10th percentile. Colors look washed out, the 320-nit brightness is just okay, and that 1080p resolution on a 24-inch screen feels dated.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The 600Hz refresh rate is the real deal for esports pros. 88th
- DyAc 2 motion technology makes fast-moving targets incredibly clear. 88th
- The stand is rock-solid and offers superb height, tilt, and swivel adjustments. 81th
- Input lag is virtually nonexistent—it feels like an extension of your mouse. 76th
Cons
- The TN panel has awful viewing angles and washed-out colors. 9th
- 1080p resolution at this price point is a tough sell for anything but gaming. 31th
- It's a massive, heavy monitor that's the opposite of portable.
- The feature set is barebones outside of gaming tech, ranking in the 31st percentile.
The Word on the Street
Specifications
Full Specifications
Display
| Size | 24.1" |
| Resolution | 1920 (Full HD) |
| Panel Type | TN |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Curved | No |
Performance
| Refresh Rate | 600 Hz |
| Response Time | 5 |
Color & HDR
| Brightness | 320 nits |
| Color Gamut | 16.7 Million Colors |
Connectivity
| Thunderbolt | N/A |
| Speakers | No |
| Headphone Jack | Yes |
Ergonomics
| Height Adjustable | Yes |
| Tilt | Yes |
| Swivel | Yes |
| Pivot | No |
| VESA Mount | 100x100 |
Features
| Touchscreen | No |
| Power | 65 |
| Weight | 5.9 kg / 13.0 lbs |
Value & Pricing
This monitor is not about value. It's about performance at any cost. Prices swing from $830 to $1000 across vendors, so shop around. Is it worth it? Only if your livelihood or extreme competitive ranking depends on shaving milliseconds off your reaction time. For everyone else, it's a terrible value.
vs Competition
This monitor doesn't compete with the Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 or ASUS ROG Swift OLED on your list—those are for immersive, beautiful gaming. Its real rivals are other esports-focused monitors like the 360Hz Alienware AW2524H or even BenQ's own 360Hz models. The trade-off is simple: the XL2586X+ gives you the absolute highest refresh rate (600Hz vs. 360Hz) but demands you accept much worse picture quality and stick to 1080p. The others offer a better balance of speed and visual fidelity.
| Spec | BenQ ZOWIE BenQ ZOWIE XL2586X+ 24.1" 600 Hz Esports Gaming | Samsung Odyssey Samsung - 57" Odyssey Neo G9 Dual 4K UHD Quantum | LG UltraGear LG UltraGear 45" WUHD DUAL MODE 4K 165Hz FHD 330Hz | ASUS ROG Swift ASUS Republic of Gamers Swift OLED PG27UCDM 26.5" | MSI MPG MSI 27 inch WQHD 2K 1440P 360Hz with AMD FreeSync | Dell UltraSharp Dell UltraSharp 27" 4K HDR 120 Hz Monitor (2-Pack) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Size | 24.100000381469727 | 57 | 45 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
| Resolution | 1920 x 1080 | 7680 x 2160 | 5120 x 2160 | 3840 x 2160 | 2560 x 1440 | 3840 x 2160 |
| Panel Type | TN | VA | OLED | OLED | OLED | IPS |
| Refresh Rate | 600 | 240 | 165 | 240 | 360 | 120 |
| Response Time Ms | 5 | 1 | - | - | 0 | 5 |
| Adaptive Sync | - | FreeSync Premium Pro | G-Sync Compatible | G-Sync Compatible | FreeSync Premium Pro | - |
| Hdr | - | HDR10+ | HDR10 | HDR400 | HDR400 | HDR |
Common Questions
Q: Is the jump from 360Hz to 600Hz actually noticeable?
For most people, no. The difference is incredibly subtle. You need pro-level reflexes and training to consistently perceive the advantage. If you have to ask, you probably don't need it.
Q: Can you use this for work or watching movies?
You can, but you'll hate it. The TN panel has terrible viewing angles and washed-out colors. It's a miserable experience for anything but fast-paced gaming.
Q: How good is the stand?
It's fantastic. You get full height, tilt, and swivel adjustment on a very stable base. It's one of the best ergonomic stands we've tested.
Who Should Skip This
If you play single-player games, care about story, or want a monitor for work and play, skip this immediately. Go get a 240Hz or 360Hz IPS panel from ASUS or Alienware instead. You'll get 95% of the speed and 1000% better image quality.
Verdict
We can only recommend the BenQ ZOWIE XL2586X+ to a very specific person: a competitive esports player who needs every possible hardware advantage and doesn't care about anything else. For that person, it's the best tool for the job. For any other gamer—even a serious one—a high-quality 240Hz or 360Hz IPS or OLED panel will provide a vastly better all-around experience for the same money or less. This is a hyper-specialized instrument, not a daily driver.