Gaming and everyday usage
Inevitably the BenQ XR3501 will attract some criticism for the mid-range 2,560x1,080 resolution, with many gamers wondering why a 3,440x1,440 panel wasn't used instead. However, such a criticism is verging on baseless in that a 3,440x1,440 panel with a 144Hz refresh rate is yet to exist, and the current highest refresh rate for the UWQHD resolution is 75Hz. BenQ has therefore made the decision to sacrifice resolution for fluidity which seems smart enough for the gaming audience it targets.
That fluidity comes in the form of higher refresh rates, which bring a notable improvement over standard 60Hz displays, but also in the form of high average frame rates. 2,560x1,080 is a fairly easy resolution to drive with frame rates over 100. The perceived fluidity increase from 75Hz isn't as dramatic as from 60Hz so some gamers may be hedging their bets on Acer's XR341CK Predator display with an 75Hz, 3,440x,1,440 IPS panel. However, for those who demand the utmost fluidity, the 144Hz is hugely beneficial to the gaming experience, particularly in fast-paced racing games.
Ghosting exhibited using AMD's Windmill demo
Ghosting on the BenQ XR3501 isn't the best we've seen but it's by no means problematic either, as the above image demonstrates. BenQ provides overdrive under the banner of Advanced Motion Acceleration (AMA) though ghosting still persists on the highest level. Another potential bone of contention with the XR3501 comes with the omission of FreeSync and G-Sync, presumably because a compatible scalar for this panel type is yet to be produced.
Either way it would have been preferential for some form of adaptive V-Sync to be included since the BenQ XR3501 isn't exactly cheap at MSRP $999, and an additional gamer-centric feature like FreeSync could sway more prospective buyers into closing the deal.
Gaming aside, the BenQ XR3501 is a useful monitor for productivity, despite the relatively low 2,560x1,080 resolution. With some basic application management it is fairly easy to divide the screen into two segments for effective multi-tasking though any further sub-division, into three or four segments, is hindered by that lack of resolution. Productivity-centric users may be better off considering 3,440x1,440 equivalents with more pixel real-estate. Media consumption on the XR3501 is a delightful experience thanks to the powerful brightness, strong viewing angles and miniscule amounts of glow and backlight bleed.
