Has there ever been a PC monitor more
packed with gaming-friendly features than the new BenQ XL2720Z? If so, we’d
really like to know what it is, because the spec list on this thing is almost
ridiculous.
Built for competitive FPS game play, the
XL2720Z takes
the explosive thrills of fast-paced gaming to a 27” screen.
From the top, those features include
Motion Blur Reduction, Black eQualiser, Low Blue Light, Game Mode – pause for
breath – Smart Scaling, FPS and RTS modes, flicker-free tech, pixel overdrive,
dynamic contrast, Nvidia 3D Vision support and 144Hz refresh.
Those are just the highlights. Drill down
into the specs and the features just keep coming. In our experience, however,
there’s no substitute for a good LCD panel. If that’s not part of the package,
no amount of fancy image processing will salvage the situation.
By that metric, the BenQ XL2720Z is
perhaps inevitably a mixed bag. It’s immediately obvious that you’re looking at
a TN rather than an IPS or VA panel, that’s for sure. That’s partly thanks to
poor vertical viewing angles. Whenever a single colour spans the whole panel,
as with the Windows 8 welcome screens, there’s some very obvious colour shift
going on, top-to-bottom.
The Black eQualizer color engine
technology is designed
to offer an unprecedented level of control and visibility.
The backlight is a little dull too, which,
combined with TN technology’s tendency to leak light, makes for slightly dirty
looking whites. Then there’s the fact that you’ve got 1,920 x 1,080 pixels
stretched across a 27-inch surface. The pixel is consequently pretty coarse.
We don’t want to overemphasize these
niggles – for a TN, the static image quality is good – but you won’t mistake it
for a premium panel. As for all those gaming features, well, as a rule of thumb
we’re not fans of kludges like dynamic contrast and aggressive pixel overdrive.
Much better to just have a damn fine panel.
Hz so good
However, there are exceptions. For
instance, we love the slickness and smoothness you get with 144Hz refresh. Once
you’ve gone 120Hz-plus, you won’t want to go back. Then there are technologies
that split opinion. For some, any stereoscopic 3D tech that uses glasses is a
non-starter, but if that kind of thing is your bag, Nvidia 3D Vision is as good
as it gets. Ditto anti-flicker tech. Most people aren’t bothered by backlight
flicker, but if you are, anti-flicker support will obviously be welcome.
What you’ll really want to know is which
camp the BenQ XL2720Z’s new goodies fall into. Motion Blur Reduction is likely
to be divisive. It does lessen blur, but it also reduces contrast, making the
image look more dull. As for the Low Blue Light feature, it’s meant to reduce
eyestrain, but we’re not convinced. The idea is that you can have bright images
without straining your eyes by dialling down the backlight.
BenQ’s new Motion Blur Reduction
technology further enhances an ultra-smooth, free-of-blur gaming experience,
particularly for action-packed FPS games where every millisecond count.
All that said, this is a super gaming
monitor. The pixel response and chassis design are great, and the OSD is our
favourite of any monitor. The mouse-like S-Switch allows you to program three
image modes and jump between them in a flash, which makes all that image
processing much more usable and accessible.
It’s not a great all-rounder of course,
but it’s not meant to be. It’s an out-and-out gaming screen, and in that role
it’s one of the best.
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Specifications:
·
Screen size: 27”
·
Aspect Ratio: 16:9
·
Resolution (max.): 1920 x 1080
·
Native Contrast: 1000:1
·
Display Colors: 16.7million
·
Input Connector: D-sub + DVI-DL + HDMIx2 +
DP1.2/headphone
jack
·
Special Features: Low Blue Light, Motion Blur
Reduction,
Senseye 3, Windows®
8 Compatible, AMA, HDCP
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