BenQ GW2491 vs Acer EK251Q P6

Both of these are entry-level Full HD IPS monitors for a study table or a home office, both are black, both carry a three-year warranty, and both have a tilt-only stand and a modest 250 nits of brightness. The choice is really about one question: do you want a smoother screen for games and scrolling, or a better-connected, more eye-care-focused screen for long hours of work?

Is 144 Hz worth chasing at this price?

The Acer EK251Q P6 runs at 144 Hz with AMD FreeSync, while the BenQ GW2491 runs at 100 Hz. Both are well above the 60 Hz of an ordinary office screen, so scrolling, dragging windows and moving the cursor already feel smoother on either one. The gap between 100 Hz and 144 Hz matters mainly in fast games such as shooters and racing titles, where the Acer gives a visibly more fluid picture and FreeSync helps reduce screen tearing on a compatible graphics card. If you mostly browse, study and watch videos, you are unlikely to feel the difference.

One caution on the numbers. The Acer lists a 1 ms response time, but that is a Visual Response Boost figure, a motion-blur reduction mode that is a brand claim and not a promise for every setting. The BenQ also lists 1 ms, so the response-time line should not decide anything. Remember too that many computers default to 60 Hz when a new monitor is connected, so the Acer needs 144 Hz to be switched on in the display settings before it shows its advantage.

Long hours in front of the screen

Both monitors are flicker-free and have a low blue light mode, so neither is a poor choice for long sessions. The BenQ goes further on paper: its Flicker-Free and Low Blue Light functions carry TÜV Rheinland certification, it lists Eyesafe 2.0, and it adds an ePaper Mode that turns the screen into a calmer, black-and-white layout for reading long documents. The Acer lists BlueLightShield, ComfyView and Low Dimming under its own VisionCare label, but no outside certification is stated in its data. A certification is not a guarantee against eye strain, yet it is a stronger assurance than a brand label alone. For students and office workers who sit for eight hours, this is the BenQ's clearest edge.

Will you be able to plug your laptop in?

This is the difference that can actually stop a purchase. The BenQ has one HDMI 1.4 input, one DisplayPort 1.2 input and a headphone jack. The Acer has one HDMI 1.4 input and one VGA input, with no DisplayPort. VGA is an old analogue connection that is rarely found on current laptops, so in practice the Acer gives you a single useful input. If you want to switch between a laptop and a desktop or a console, the BenQ is the more flexible monitor. Neither has USB-C or a USB hub, and neither lists built-in speakers, so a laptop with only USB-C ports needs an adapter on both, and you will need headphones or external speakers for sound. The BenQ at least has a headphone jack on the monitor itself; none is stated for the Acer.

Screen size and sharpness

The Acer has a 24.5-inch panel and the BenQ a 23.8-inch one, but both are 1920 × 1080. Stretching the same number of pixels over a slightly larger screen makes the Acer a little less sharp, although the difference is small at normal desk distance and will not bother most users. The Acer's ZeroFrame Pro design has slim borders on three sides, while the BenQ has thin bezels on all four sides, which looks neater if you plan to place two monitors side by side. Colour coverage is claimed at 99% sRGB on both, so everyday colours and light photo editing should look similar. Neither is meant for colour-critical work.

What you get for the money

The Acer currently costs slightly less than the BenQ, and the reviews rate both as strong value for an IPS panel with a three-year warranty. The price gap is small, so it should not decide the purchase on its own. What it buys you is the Acer's higher refresh rate and larger screen. What the extra money buys with the BenQ is DisplayPort, a headphone jack and certified eye care. Both include an HDMI cable in the box, and the BenQ also lists a quick start guide and warranty card. Prices change by shop and variant, so check the product pages before you buy.

Which one should you buy?

Choose the Acer EK251Q P6 if you want a smoother screen for casual gaming and your computer has an HDMI port. It is the better pick for a budget gamer or a first-time PC builder, and it costs slightly less.

Choose the BenQ GW2491 if you will use the monitor for study or office work, want certified eye-care features, or need DisplayPort or a headphone jack. It is the safer pick for a laptop-based home office.

The BenQ's small premium is justified only if you use those connections or value the eye-care certification. If you only need a basic second screen over HDMI and do not game, the differences are too small to matter. For gaming on a tight budget, the Acer is the better value; for everyday work, the BenQ is. Prices change often, so check the product pages for current prices.

Read the full pages: BenQ GW2491 review and specifications; Acer EK251Q P6 review and specifications. See every specification side by side on the live comparison page.