BenQ XL2420G Review

David checks out a 24″ monitor that promises high-end gaming visuals

The BenQ XL range of monitors has never ceased to amaze us in terms of quality, features, specifications and design.

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The higher end of the range, the XL2730Z, is one of our favourite gaming monitors of all time; however, today we have the next model down from that, the XL2420G.

The XL2420G is a 24″ TN panel with a 1ms response time, 12,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio and a 144Hz refresh rate, complete with BenQ’s Eye-Care capabilities and Nvidia G-Sync gaming enhancements.

The 1920 x 1080 screen has an anti-glare and non-reflective coating and features BenQ’s Ultra Low Motion Blur (ULMB) technology, while also improving the on-screen colours in-game with a 20-level Colour Vibrance setting.

Connectivity is nicely covered, with a pair of HDMI ports, DisplayPort and DVI.

You’ll also find a USB 3.0 two- port hub to the side, along with the push/pull-out headphone stand and audio/mic ports.

In terms of ergonomics, the XL2420G can swivel left and right 35°, tilt from -5° to 20° and pivot 90°.

You can also adjust the height to a maximum of 130mm and drop the screen down so that it’s perfectly flat with the base of the monitor.

The BenQ XL2420G is a stunning monitor, with an excellent screen

Furthermore the central stand also incorporates a large cable tidy hole toward the bottom, and at the top there’s a carry handle.

The package comes with BenQ’s XL-exclusive S Switch remote.

This wedge- shaped extra, which can dock with the side of the base, has three mode buttons to select different gaming profiles and a wheel for tuning and selecting the input.

The S Switch remote plugs into a micro-USB port underneath the monitor, thankfully not taking up one of the built-in USB ports on the monitor’s hub.

The software side of the monitor isn’t lacking in details either.

Aside from the colour setting scales, there are preset gaming modes designed to output the best display when playing FPS, RTS and MOBA types games.

Together with fine tuning brightness levels and a Black eQualiser Dynamic Engine, and the fact that you can customise the display to the nth-degree, the XL2420G certainly keeps the XL family name in gamers’ good books.

There’s a lot to take in, with regards to the hardware and features of the XL2420G, and while all very good, the proof of this particular pudding is in how well it actually performs with all these features in the real world.

Thankfully, BenQ has managed to squeeze in a very good screen among that wonderful specification list.

The G-Sync feature, to begin with, eliminates screen tearing and produces a much smoother image, particularly in gaming.

The other elements, such as the low blue light and anti-blur technology, all combine to

There’s plenty of connectivity, but it is quite expensive. The wired remote is handy, once you get to grips with it

make the XL2420G’s screen output exceptionally clear, crisp and vibrant. Colour accuracy too is splendid, as well as greyscale reproduction.

The BenQ XL2420G, depending on where you shop.

It may seem a little steep for a 24″ monitor, but this is a high- end product and, we think, worth the expense.

mm David Hayward

Verdict

BenQ XL2420G DETAILS

• Manufacturer: BenQ

• Requirements: Compatible Nvidia G-Sync card for best results