The best Gaming Monitor

Acer Predator XB271HU 27″ WQHD (2560×1440) NVIDIA G-SYNC IPS Display

The Acer Predator XB271HU high-end gaming monitor is the perfect monitor for entrepreneurs who need the best of both worlds (gaming and work).  The screen provides crystal clear and comes pre-packaged with everything the gamer in you desire.

• 27 Inches Screen
• 16:9 Aspect Ratio
• WQHD: 2560:1440 Resolution
• IPS Panel
• 144Hz Refresh Rate (can be overclocked to 165Hz)
• 4ms Response Time
• Ports: DisplayPort, HDMI 1.4
• 2 Built-in Speakers (2w each)
• 4 USB 3.0 Ports
• Nvidia G-Sync

The Acer Predator XB271HU simply doesn’t compromise. It comes out of the box with a high refresh rate AND great image quality typical of an IPS panel. The Acer Predator comes built-in with Nvidia’s G-Sync technology for eliminating image tear and stutter. It also comes equipped with a high-end fully adjustable stand.

The Pros

One look at the Acer Predator XB271HU and you’ll know who they engineered it for – gamers. The not-so-subtle splashes, a conspicuously placed logo carved on top of red underlay, and sturdy adjustable stand were engineered to be noticed on your desk. The metal feet have Acer Predator’s signature red painted on, which is a bit weird for us and took a while to get used to. Our office liked the red because it matches Owner’s Magazine’s red, other than that, the unit definitely draws attention where ever it is placed.

The Acer Predator XB271HU has one of the best build qualities we’ve ever tested on a high-end gaming monitor. While maneuvering and adjusting the monitor, you never get the feeling that you’re “man-handling” it too much.  It feels solid in your hand and sturdy enough to withstand a bit of handling (not that it’s normal to man-handle your monitor…who does that?) The ergonomic adjustments are fluid to the touch and can typically be adjusted with one hand.

The Predator comes with an industry-standard rotating joint between the stand and the base, not the usual cheap/gimmicky plastic connectors you’d find in cheaper models.

It’s also lighter on the electric bill than other comparable monitors. The Predator is able to reduce consumption by 68% thanks to its mercury-free construction. The monitor is surprisingly thin even given the 27″ size. To further immerse gamers, Acer has a feature to allow the power button’s LED light to be dimmed or completely shut off.

It also comes with built-in speakers and USB ports ready to go. IPS Panel delivers high-end color accuracy and depth, which enable objects and terrain in your games to appear sharp without blurring or tearing. During our test, we didn’t encounter any issues with colors or contrasts while viewing at different angles.

Some gaming monitors allow up to 1ms response. When we tested with Nvidia G-Sync the monitor didn’t show any noticeable lag from the input. Instead, the monitor eliminated possible tearings and outputted stunning images with vivid colors. If your gaming rig is using an Nvidia graphics card (check this article for the best GTX 1080 Ti), you’re in for a real treat.

The Cons

IPS Glow

There were certain things that could’ve been better, such as the IPS glow. If you’re viewing in the dark, whether watching a movie or playing a game, and you’re on a dark scene, chances are you’ll see a silver flow on the edge of your screen. It’ll be an annoyance, especially in gameplay.

Unresponsive Power Button

The power button can be unresponsive at times and you may need to press it several times for the input to register. This is more than likely a design flaw rather than an electrical flaw.

Our Verdict

For this particular monitor, the Pros far outweigh the cons. We didn’t list the price (listed at $700+) as a Con because it’s not unusual for high-end monitors to reach this price. There are more expensive monitors that offer fewer features and build quality as the Acer Predator XB271HU. So for the price, it’s actually an incredible value.

Obviously this isn’t your typical monitor and Acer had a very specific audience in mind when they designed it. We don’t recommend this monitor for the casual user or someone looking for a “high quality” display, you can get a lot of high-quality monitors that offer 4K for much less. This monitor is for the gamer that needs the extra edge and absolutely must have the very best.

Interested in buying Acer Predator XB271HU? Check it out on Amazon for $799.