BenQ GW2490E 24 Inch Gaming Monitor Review: The Ultimate Budget Hybrid for Work and Play?

For years, my desk has been a battleground of compromises. I’d have a monitor that was great for editing documents, with crisp text and comfortable viewing angles, but the moment I launched a casual game, it would feel sluggish and washed out. Then, I’d try a “gaming” monitor, only to find the colours were over-saturated and the aggressive styling looked out of place in my home office. The search for a single screen that could seamlessly transition from a 9-to-5 workday to an evening of light gaming and streaming felt like a quest for a mythical beast. This is a common struggle: finding a display that offers modern performance features like a high refresh rate, but doesn’t sacrifice the colour accuracy and eye comfort needed for hours of productivity. Neglecting this balance leads to frustration, eye strain, and the feeling that you’ve overpaid for a one-trick pony.

What to Consider Before Buying a Monitor in 2024

A monitor is more than just a screen; it’s the primary window through which we interact with our digital lives. It’s a key solution for enhancing productivity, improving gaming immersion, and reducing physical strain. A quality monitor can transform a cluttered laptop setup into an ergonomic powerhouse, making multitasking feel fluid and natural. For gamers, it’s the difference between seeing an opponent and being seen. For professionals, it’s the canvas for creativity and the key to comfortable, extended work sessions. The main benefits are clear: more screen real estate, better visual quality, and features designed to protect your most valuable asset—your eyesight.

The ideal customer for a versatile monitor like this is someone who wears multiple hats: the home office worker who enjoys casual gaming after hours, the student who needs a screen for research papers and streaming shows, or the content creator on a budget who needs reliable colour without investing in a professional-grade panel. It might not be suitable for those who are esports professionals demanding 240Hz+ refresh rates and near-instantaneous response times, or for graphic designers who require absolute colour perfection and 4K resolution. For those users, a more specialized, and significantly more expensive, display would be a better investment.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: A 24-inch monitor is often considered the sweet spot for 1080p resolution, offering a sharp image without taking up excessive desk space. Before buying, measure your desk to ensure a comfortable fit, leaving room for your keyboard, mouse, and other peripherals. Also, consider the stand’s footprint and whether you might want to use a VESA mount in the future to save space or improve ergonomics, an option this monitor supports.
• Capacity/Performance: This is where the specifications truly matter. Refresh rate, measured in Hertz (Hz), dictates how smoothly motion appears; 100Hz is a significant step up from the standard 60Hz for both gaming and general use. Response time (in milliseconds) affects motion blur, and panel type (IPS, VA, TN) determines colour accuracy and viewing angles. An IPS panel, like the one in this BenQ, is renowned for its superior colours and wide viewing angles.
• Materials & Durability: Most monitors in this price bracket are constructed from durable plastic. Pay attention to the finish—a matte, anti-glare screen is essential for reducing distracting reflections in well-lit rooms. The stand’s build quality is also important; while a basic stand might only offer tilt, a more robust one could include height, swivel, and pivot adjustments.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Connectivity is key. Ensure the monitor has the ports you need, such as HDMI and DisplayPort, for your computer, laptop, or gaming console. Features like on-screen display (OSD) controls should be intuitive. For long-term care, a simple wipe with a microfiber cloth is usually all that’s needed to keep the matte screen clean and clear.

Keeping these factors in mind, the BenQ GW2490E 24 Inch Gaming Monitor stands out in several areas, particularly its balance of performance and eye-care features. You can explore its detailed specifications here.

While the BenQ GW2490E 24 Inch Gaming Monitor is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Sleek, Simple, and Surprisingly Capable

Unboxing the BenQ GW2490E 24 Inch Gaming Monitor revealed a product that understands its purpose: to deliver function over flash. The packaging was secure, and assembly was refreshingly simple. As one user noted, it was a “5 mins total” job, and our experience mirrored this. The stand clicks into the base, and then the arm slots securely into the back of the monitor—no tools required. The monitor itself is sleek and modern, with thin bezels on three sides that make it a great candidate for a dual-monitor setup. The black plastic chassis feels sturdy enough, and the matte finish does an excellent job of resisting fingerprints. The stand, while stable, is admittedly basic, offering only tilt adjustment. This was a point of contention for some users who found it “really short,” but at this price point, it’s a common and understandable compromise. Powering it on for the first time, we were greeted with a vibrant and surprisingly uniform IPS panel, ready to tackle any task we threw at it.

Performance Deep Dive: A Jack of All Trades, Master of Value

After spending several weeks testing the BenQ GW2490E 24 Inch Gaming Monitor across a spectrum of tasks—from writing and coding to video streaming and casual gaming—it’s clear that this monitor isn’t just a collection of specs on a page. It’s a thoughtfully designed tool that punches well above its weight class, delivering a user experience that feels more premium than its price tag suggests. We delved into its core features to see where it truly shines and where the necessary compromises were made.

Visual Performance: The IPS and 100Hz Advantage

The heart of any monitor is its panel, and the 23.8-inch Full HD (1920×1080) IPS display on the GW2490E is its greatest strength. Out of the box, the colours are vibrant and accurate, covering 99% of the sRGB gamut. This was immediately noticeable when editing photos and watching colourful films; reds were rich, blues were deep, and skin tones looked natural without the oversaturation often found on cheaper panels. As one user aptly put it, the picture quality is “sharp and clear, with bright, accurate colours and good viewing angles.” The 178-degree viewing angles are no exaggeration; the image remains consistent and clear even when viewed from extreme angles, which is fantastic for sharing your screen with a colleague or family member. Text is rendered with excellent clarity, making it a joy to use for long reading or coding sessions.

The 100Hz refresh rate is, without a doubt, a game-changer in this price segment. The leap from a standard 60Hz or 75Hz display is immediately palpable. Simply moving the cursor or scrolling through a long document feels significantly smoother and more responsive. This fluidity translates directly to a better gaming experience. In fast-paced titles like Valorant and Apex Legends, the higher refresh rate provided a subtle but clear competitive edge, making it easier to track targets and react quickly. Paired with FreeSync, which synchronizes the monitor’s refresh rate with the GPU’s output, we experienced no screen tearing, resulting in a smooth, immersive gameplay session. While it’s not the 144Hz+ that hardcore gamers seek, it’s a massive upgrade for anyone coming from a standard office monitor, perfectly balancing performance for both work and play.

BenQ’s Ace in the Hole: A Deep Dive into Eye-Care Technology

Where BenQ truly distinguishes itself from the competition is its unwavering commitment to eye health. The BenQ GW2490E 24 Inch Gaming Monitor is packed with a suite of Eye-Care technologies that genuinely make a difference during long hours in front of the screen. The headliner is Low Blue Light Plus. Unlike older low blue light modes that simply apply a heavy, distracting yellow filter, BenQ’s technology is more sophisticated. It filters out the more harmful, shorter-wavelength blue-violet light while allowing the beneficial blue-turquoise light to pass through, preserving vivid colour quality. We found we could work for hours with this mode engaged without the usual eye fatigue, and without feeling like we were looking at a compromised image.

Adding to this is the Brightness Intelligence Technology (B.I. Tech). A small sensor below the bezel detects ambient light in your room and automatically adjusts the screen’s brightness and colour temperature. In our testing, this worked remarkably well, subtly dimming the screen in the evening and brightening it during the day to maintain optimal viewing comfort. It also analyses the on-screen content, dimming bright areas to prevent overexposure while enhancing details in darker scenes. While one user noted occasional fluctuations in brightness, we found the transitions to be mostly smooth and beneficial. The monitor also includes specialized viewing modes that users loved. The ePaper mode, which turns the screen monochrome, was hailed as “good for use at night or for reading,” and we found it dramatically reduced eye strain when reviewing long text documents. The Coding Mode enhances the clarity and contrast of text, making lines of code pop against a dark background, a feature developers will surely appreciate.

Design, Connectivity, and Practical Realities

While the panel and features are top-notch for the price, the physical design is where some compromises become apparent. The monitor’s aesthetic is minimalist and professional, but the stand is its Achilles’ heel. It’s sturdy, but its functionality is limited to a narrow range of tilt. There is no height adjustment, swivel, or pivot. As one user bluntly stated, the “monitor stand is really short.” We had to place it on a monitor riser to achieve an ergonomic viewing height. Thankfully, BenQ included a standard 100x100mm VESA mount, so pairing it with a flexible monitor arm is a highly recommended and affordable upgrade that completely solves this issue.

On the connectivity front, the BenQ GW2490E 24 Inch Gaming Monitor is exceptionally well-equipped. With two HDMI 1.4 ports and one DisplayPort 1.2, you can easily connect a desktop PC, a laptop, and a gaming console simultaneously. The inclusion of an Input Hotkey function allows for single-click switching between these sources, which is a fantastic quality-of-life feature. The built-in speakers are, as expected, quite poor. Users correctly identified them as “low quality” and “of no use.” They are functional for system sounds or a quick news clip, but for any serious media consumption or gaming, a pair of headphones or external speakers is a necessity. This is standard practice for virtually all monitors in this budget category, so we don’t consider it a major flaw, but rather an expectation to be aware of.

What Other Users Are Saying

After synthesizing dozens of user experiences, a clear picture of the BenQ GW2490E 24 Inch Gaming Monitor emerges. The overwhelming majority of feedback is positive, with users frequently calling it the “best monitor within budget” and praising its “exceptional quality, especially considering its price point.” One happy customer noted it was a “solid upgrade” for their home office, highlighting the “sharp and clear” picture and how the 100Hz refresh rate gives “everything a noticeably smoother feel.” Another user specifically praised the versatile image options, particularly the “E-paper which is in black & white… good for use at night or for reading.”

However, the feedback isn’t universally glowing. A recurring negative point revolves around quality control and shipping issues. A handful of users reported receiving units that were dead on arrival, had warped pixels, or were even missing crucial components like the piece that connects the monitor to the stand. One user expressed frustration with a dim panel, stating it was “incredibly dim to the point where even at night it’s not easy to see the really dark things in games.” While our test unit did not exhibit these brightness issues in a typical room, it confirms that its 250-nit peak brightness may not be sufficient for rooms with significant sunlight. These negative experiences, while in the minority, highlight the importance of purchasing from a reputable source with a solid return policy.

How Does the BenQ GW2490E Compare to the Alternatives?

The BenQ GW2490E 24 Inch Gaming Monitor operates in a fiercely competitive market. To understand its true value, it’s essential to see how it stacks up against other popular choices, each catering to a slightly different user need.

1. COOLHOOD Portable Monitor 15.6” 1080P FHD USB-C HDR

The COOLHOOD Portable Monitor isn’t a direct competitor but rather a solution for a different problem: screen real estate on the go. Its primary advantage is its portability, powered and connected via a single USB-C cable. It’s an excellent choice for frequent travelers, students who work in different locations, or anyone needing a second screen for their laptop away from their desk. However, compared to the BenQ, it offers a much smaller 15.6-inch screen, a standard 60Hz refresh rate, and lacks the advanced Eye-Care features. If your primary need is a static monitor for a home office or gaming setup, the BenQ’s larger size, 100Hz fluidity, and ergonomic benefits make it the far superior choice.

2. KOORUI G2421V 24 Inch 180Hz QHD Gaming Monitor

The KOORUI G2421V represents the next step up for dedicated gamers. It sacrifices some of the BenQ’s creature comforts for raw performance. Its key advantages are a blistering 180Hz refresh rate and a higher QHD (1440p) resolution, which provides a sharper, more detailed image and an even smoother gaming experience. If your priority is competitive gaming and you have a graphics card powerful enough to drive the higher resolution at high frame rates, the KOORUI is a compelling option. However, for a mixed-use scenario, the BenQ holds its ground with superior Eye-Care technology, which is more beneficial for long work sessions, and its 1080p resolution is less demanding on your hardware, making it a more balanced and accessible choice for most users.

3. Philips 271V8AW 27 Inch FHD Monitor

The Philips 271V8AW is tailored more towards general office use, prioritizing screen size over speed. Its main draw is the larger 27-inch display, which provides more expansive screen real estate for multitasking. It also comes in a stylish white finish. However, it uses a VA panel, which offers higher contrast but typically slower response times than the BenQ’s IPS panel. Furthermore, its refresh rate is capped at 75Hz, making it feel less fluid than the BenQ’s 100Hz. If you absolutely need a larger screen for productivity and don’t engage in much gaming or fast-paced video content, the Philips is a viable alternative. But for a more versatile and responsive experience, the BenQ GW2490E 24 Inch Gaming Monitor provides a better overall package.

Final Verdict: An Unbeatable Value for the Modern Hybrid User

After extensive testing, it’s clear that the BenQ GW2490E 24 Inch Gaming Monitor is a resounding success. It expertly navigates the fine line between a productivity workhorse and a capable casual gaming display. Its greatest strengths are the buttery-smooth 100Hz IPS panel and BenQ’s industry-leading Eye-Care technology, which together create a viewing experience that is both beautiful and comfortable for extended periods. The generous port selection adds to its versatility, allowing it to become the central hub of a multi-device setup.

The compromises, namely the basic, non-adjustable stand and brightness that may fall short in sun-drenched rooms, are understandable and forgivable at this accessible price point, especially since the VESA mount provides an easy path to a more ergonomic setup. This monitor is highly recommended for students, home office professionals, and budget-conscious gamers who need one screen to do it all, and do it well. It delivers premium features where they matter most, creating exceptional value.

If you’ve decided the BenQ GW2490E 24 Inch Gaming Monitor is the right fit, you can check its current price and availability here.