Acer Predator XB273U NVbmiiprzx Review: Speedster With Accurate Colors

A 170 Hz, 1440p VA panel that pops

Acer Predator XB273U
(Image: © Acer)

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There are so many fast, 27-inch 1440p gaming monitors available today, and many bring solid gaming performance, accurate and saturated color and good contrast. A smaller number set themselves apart by rendering good HDR. The Acer Predator XB273U NVbmiiprzx is clearly in that category.

(Image credit: Acer)

Acer’s XB273U promises a smooth gaming experience with flawless Adaptive-Sync, 170 Hz and a top-notch overdrive feature. It has very saturated color with over 88% coverage of DCI-P3, according to our benchmarks. That’s a little above average for the category, and only a few displays have more color. The screen’s also very accurate. Calibration is not necessary, thanks to a factory adjustment, but with a few tweaks it matches numbers with any professional screen. And it’s one of the few examples to offer an accurate and usable sRGB mode.

The XB273U NVbmiiprzx is priced near the premium level ($550 as of writing), so you’ll have to decide if you want to go for its superb color and solid performance versus a faster screen. It’s possible to find 240 Hz for the same money, but you’ll likely have to accept 1080p resolution and a 25-inch size. There are a few 240 Hz 27-inchers out there, like the Porsche Design AOC Agon PD27, but the price of admission is higher ($800 as of writing).

The 27-inch QHD category represents the price-to-performance sweet spot, and the Acer Predator XB273U NVbmiiprzx is a great example. If you’re in the upper-middle price point for the segment, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better display.

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.

  • Roland Of Gilead
    Jeez. And I thought Intel had a messed up naming convention. This NVbmiiprzx , GSbmiiprzx and GXbmiipruzx as model differentiators!! Wow! Where do they get their marketing teams from!! :ROFLMAO:

    Okay, I get NV/GS/GX, but the rest!
    Reply
  • brandonjclark
    If you're looking for a great {near}top-tier monitor check out the Dell 3220DGF!

    It's 165hz, 32" VA Panel with amazing blacks, gsync compatible, and comes with the amazing Dell Display Manager software. I'm loving it!
    Reply
  • Spielwurfel
    keith12 said:
    Jeez. And I thought Intel had a messed up naming convention. This NVbmiiprzx , GSbmiiprzx and GXbmiipruzx as model differentiators!! Wow! Where do they get their marketing teams from!! :ROFLMAO:

    Okay, I get NV/GS/GX, but the rest!

    The joke is real

    funny/comments/j5pezfView: https://www.reddit.com/r/funny/comments/j5pezf/computer_monitors/
    Reply
  • dugt
    Admin said:
    The Acer Predator XB273U NVbmiiprzx gaming monitor delivers 170 Hz and G-Sync in a 1440p IPS panel. It’s highly accurate and worth considering for any high-performance gaming system.

    Acer Predator XB273U NVbmiiprzx Review: Speedster With Accurate Colors : Read more
    According to the review it seems this monitor should have gotten a score higher than 4 stars. The Asus ROG Strix XG27AQ got 4.5 stars and it is $50 cheaper. Maybe that is why it got 4.5 stars. On the other hand, the XG27AQ has, "...Superb image with one of the best dynamic contrast features we’ve seen. "

    But this Acer has "VisionCare and a TUV Rheinland Eyesafe certification. This takes the form of a low blue light mode and a room light sensor, which can vary brightness and color temperature to better match ambient room light and reduce user eye fatigue. ...The NV is also a 10-bit panel." The Asus is 8-bit. This is a tough decision for me. The Acer doesn't seem to have a manual and the Acer does. That is significant.
    Reply
  • Adamsan11
    Admin said:
    The Acer Predator XB273U NVbmiiprzx gaming monitor delivers 170 Hz and G-Sync in a 1440p IPS panel. It’s highly accurate and worth considering for any high-performance gaming system.

    Acer Predator XB273U NVbmiiprzx Review: Speedster With Accurate Colors : Read more


    Subtitle of article says "VA Panel that pops" -- might want to amend that.

    FYI,
    A
    Reply