Computer displays have gone through a lot of transformations since their inception, so much so, that if you were to assemble a performance machine at home, you would have to make a separate budget to accommodate a higher quality display. Take professional gamers for example. Not only do they require a top of the line CPU configuration, they also require the best possible display to get the immersive experience they so heartily desire. There are cases wherein they use multiple displays in cascade to get the desired outcome, but such a configuration can get tedious at times, as looking across multiple displays simultaneously can be very very stressful. But all that is about to change now, thanks to BenQ and their new offering to the display market, the XR3501 gaming display. So, without further ado, lets dive right in –
To begin with, the XR3501 features a stunning aspect ratio of 21:9 , which , though new to the block, will decimate any display setup you put up against it. For those who are new to the world of displays, the first recognizable aspect ratio we had was 4:3, which was replaced by the more capable 16:9 aspect ratio. Even today, most of the displays available in the market feature this aspect ratio. The folks at BenQ however decided to go one up on the world, and brought out the XR3501 with the next best aspect ratio of 21:9, which they believe will negate the effort of cascading multiple displays together, and produce the same effect with just the one display. Moreover, the XR3501 display is not just a planar display, its got a bit of a curve going on for it as well. Add to that a 35 inch display size and a refresh rate of a staggering 144 Hz, and you are looking at a display meant to rule the market.
Build wise, the XR3501 is very sturdy, and has a bit of a hefty look to it thanks to the somewhat massive display size. Whats impressive though is that BenQ has designed the stand to the display keeping all these form factors in mind, so don’t worry about the display tipping over anytime. Computer displays usually don’t have much of a scope to show off in the looks department, but BenQ has tried their very best all the same with a nice subtle metallic finish to the XR3501, which complements the screen very nicely, giving it a rather pleasing appearance. I thought that the lack of height adjustment would be a matter of concern, but its not really that bad, as you can still tilt the display to eye level, which is more than enough for me. It’s a display after all and not a driver’s seat in a car. Another point worth noting here is that while a 16:9 aspect ratio is considered optimal for curved displays, the bumped up 21:9 feels like it was made for the same. Once the display is plugged in and is at work, it gives you this sense of envelopment which is very hard to ignore. What I am trying to say, is that while 16:9 is the preferred choice, 21:9 is the best choice for curved displays today.
