Acer Predator X34 OLED Curved gaming monitor review: Extreme curve and performance

The Acer Predator X34 OLED is a 34-inch 21:9 display with 240 Hz, WQHD 3440x1440 resolution, HDR400 and 800R curvature.

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Acer X34 OLED
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

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Despite their premium pricing, OLED monitors are quickly becoming a hot category. Given the plethora of new models crossing my test bench, it’s now difficult to look in any direction without seeing one. And it’s really no surprise. They really are that good. Image quality is beyond anything an LCD, even Mini LED, can produce and game performance is next level. There is no motion blur, especially from the latest 240 Hz models, and input lag is among the lowest of any technology. And have I mentioned color gamut volume and accuracy? OLEDs do those things better too.

(Image credit: Acer)

The Acer Predator X34 OLED is a worthy addition to the genre. It’s mostly the same as other 34-inch 21:9 WQHD 240 Hz OLEDs I’ve reviewed, but it has higher HDR brightness than all but the Asus PG34WCDM, and it has lower input lag than all but the Corsair 34WQHD240-C. For gaming, it is addictive and fun, especially when you factor in the 800R curve. That’s something few other monitors have.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

I noted some issues in HDR mode where shadow detail was difficult to render. This was fixed in game by using menu tweaks to bring everything back into focus. And with no HDR calibration controls, the slight green tint I observed might be a factor if you play games with a lot of white areas. In SDR mode, the same green tint was seen out of the box, but a simple calibration took color to professional level accuracy. I also wished for a usable sRGB mode, but that was not included here.

The Acer Predator X34 OLED is a superlative gaming monitor with a very immersive quality from its 800R curved screen and stunning image. It leaves out Quantum Dots, but you save a few bucks in the process. It’s a little less expensive than the competition and it renders brighter HDR. And it’s really fast for gaming. With few flaws, it’s a great choice for those wanting a curved ultra-wide OLED monitor.

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Christian Eberle
Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.

3 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Makaveli
    This monitor looks nice.

    The Acer Predator X34 X5 coming out in Q4 will be the same thing but 1800R.
    Reply
  • helper800
    800R curve means its DOA for the vast majority of people. 1500R+ or its e-waste even at 400 dollars.
    Reply
  • A Stoner
    800R looks like it would be the absolute perfect curve for a 3 monitor setup. A 34 inch like this with 2 27 inch ones side by side would perfectly fit my 62 inch wide by 32 inch deep deskspace. It is actually 72 inches wide, but the far right side is where I keep my workstation. I would not want it to be a singular screen, I like to delineate where I keep different programs by monitor. Games and active content in the 21:9 central region. Other things to either side. It would cover 142 degrees of side to side vision and at that distance a 34 inch monitor covers about 33% of my up/down vision range, but covers 100% of my focusable area.
    Reply