The Acer Predator X27 has a 4K 3840 x 2160 resolution and NVIDIA G-SYNC technology. It’s virtually tear-free gaming when paired with a compatible graphics card and a Advanced Hyper Viewing Angle (AHVA) panel. The built-in USB hub makes it easy to connect USB compatible peripherals directly to your monitor.
27” Acer Predator X27 Specifications
| Panel Type & Backlight | IPS / White LED, 384-zone array backlight |
| Screen Size & Aspect Ratio | 27-inch / 16:9 |
| Max Resolution & Refresh | 3840 x 2160 @ 120Hz, 144Hz with overclockG-Sync: 24-144HzDensity – 163ppi |
| Native Color Depth & Gamut | 10-bit (8-bit+FRC) / Adobe RGBHDR10 |
| Response Time (GTG) | 5ms |
| Brightness | SDR – 600 nitsHDR – 1,000 nits |
| Contrast | 1,000:1 |
| Speakers | 2x 7w |
| Video Inputs | 1x DisplayPort 1.41x HDMI 2.0 |
| Audio | 3.5mm headphone output |
| USB | v3.0 – 1x up, 4x down |
| Power Consumption | 60w, brightness @ 200 nits |
| Panel DimensionsWxHxD w/base | 24.8 x 17.5-22.5 x 14.8 inches630 x 445-551 x 376mm |
| Panel Thickness | 3.4 inches / 86mm |
| Bezel Width | Top/sides – .4 inches / 11mmBottom – .8 inches / 21mm |
| Weight | 20.5lbs / 9.3kg |
| Warranty | Three years |
There will always be users who want more, no matter how many technologies a company packs into a gaming monitor. The most desired feature is probably resolution, followed by refresh rate.
But what if you could have everything?
We’re talking about a true reference-level, cutting-edge display that packs everything a gamer could want into a single chassis. If you’re thinking, “You must be referring to the Asus ROG Swift PG27UQ,” you’re mistaken.
No, today we’re looking at Acer’s Predator X27, a 27-inch IPS (in-plane switching) screen with 384-zone backlighting, 1,000 nits peak brightness, HDR, and Adobe RGB color.
Gamers will appreciate the Ultra HD (3840 x 2160) resolution, 144Hz refresh rate with overclocking, and G-Sync. At the time of writing, you can get it all for around $2,000 USD.
While $2,000 is more than the price of many 65-inch televisions, the amount of technology that goes into a monitor like this must be appreciated.
For starters, a 384-zone backlight is only found in premium reference displays. We first saw one in Dell’s UP2718Q and didn’t see another until we reviewed Asus’ PG27UQ a few weeks ago. What is the significance of this? Because it is the only way to fully realize HDR’s potential.
Read: 24.5″ Acer XF250Q Cbmiiprx Gaming Monitor Review: Love It?
Display Specs
| Display | |
| Size | 27″ |
| Panel Type | VA LCD |
| Touchscreen | No |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160 |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Pixels Per Inch (ppi) | 163 ppi |
| Finish | Matte |
| Maximum Brightness | 600 cd/m2 |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 |
| Refresh Rate | 120 Hz |
| Variable Refresh Technology | G-Sync |
| Bit Depth / Color Support | 8-Bit+FRC (1.07 Billion Colors) |
| HDR Compatibility | HDR10 |
| Response Time | 4 ms (GtG) |
| Viewing Angle | Horizontal: 178°Vertical: 178° |
A full-array local dimming (FALD) backlight allows power to be allocated to only a portion of the screen, allowing for a peak brightness of 1,000 nits. 1,000 nits should be considered a minimum brightness to achieve the contrast promised by HDR.
Because an LCD screen will never achieve the deep blacks of an OLED or plasma panel, the only way to achieve a truly wide dynamic range is to increase the brightness level.
Only the X27 is the third monitor we’ve reviewed that can accomplish this feat.
Inputs / Outputs Specs
| Inputs / Outputs | |
| Inputs/Outputs | 1 x HDMI 2.01 x DisplayPort 1.41 x 3.5 mm1 x USB Type-B (USB 3.1 / USB 3.2 Gen 1) Input4 x USB Type-A (USB 3.1 / USB 3.2 Gen 1) Output |
| Built-In Speakers | Yes, 2 x 4 W |
Physical Specs
| Physical | |
| Height Adjustment | 5.12″ / 130.05 mm |
| Rotation Adjustment | None |
| Swivel Adjustment | 40° (-20 to 20°) |
| Tilt Adjustment | -5 to 25° |
| Mounting-Hole Pattern | 100 x 100 mm |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 24.8 x 22.6 x 14.8″ / 63.0 x 57.4 x 37.6 cm (with Stand)24.8 x 14.8 x 3.4″ / 63.0 x 37.6 x 8.6 cm (without Stand) |
| Weight | 27.1 lb / 12.29 kg (with Stand)10.5 lb / 4.76 kg (without Stand) |
The hood of the X27 is quite substantial, constructed of thick, rigid plastic lined with light-absorbing fabric.
The sides bolt onto the panel (a Phillips-head screwdriver is required), and the top snaps into place. It significantly improves image quality in all but the darkest rooms once installed.
To be honest, this is something that users should think about adding to any monitor. It significantly increases perceived contrast. The bezel is 11 mm wide on top and sides and 21 mm wide on the bottom, sitting higher than the anti-glare layer. We’ve seen pictures of the X27 with a Tobii Eye Tracking device installed on the bottom edge, but our sample didn’t have one.
Controls for the on-screen display (OSD) are located in the lower-right corner and consist of three buttons and a well-designed joystick. Two of the buttons can be assigned to different functions, such as brightness or input selection.
The stick displays a comprehensive OSD that includes features for both HDR and SDR gaming. The stand is made of cast aluminum and is finished in medium gray.
Read: 27″ Acer Predator XB273K; Best Monitor Of All Time?
The swivel point is a large stack of discs that adds heft to the package, which weighs slightly more than 20 pounds. Adjustments include a 5-inch height adjustment, a 20-degree swivel in each direction, and a 25-degree forward and 5-degree backward tilt. Portrait mode does not exist. As one would expect at this price, movements are firm and solid.
The sturdy handle on the stand makes it simple to move the heavy display. At nearly 3.5 inches thick, the X27 is slightly thicker than many LCD monitors. Two USB 3.0 ports are located on the left side, with the upstream and two more downstream connectors located in the back.
There are two video inputs: one HDMI 2.0 and one DisplayPort 1.4. You’ll need to use the latter for G-Sync. A 3.5mm headphone jack and two 7-watt internal speakers provide audio support.
The speakers can be heard quite loudly without much distortion and have a nice mid-range without too much high-end harshness. They outperform most built-in monitor speakers we’ve heard.
Packaging, Unpacking & Accessories
The X27 comes ready to use and does not require any assembly.
The inclusion of a light hood surprised us, as this is typically found only in high-end professional monitors. USB 3.0, HDMI, and DisplayPort cables are included.
The external power supply is in the form of a brick. A cover and a cable clip for the upright tidy up the input panel.
There is also a factory calibration data sheet for the sRGB mode, but none for the Adobe RGB or HDR modes.
Key Features
- Advanced Hyper Viewing Angle Panel
- HDMI | DisplayPort Inputs
- 3840 x 2160 4K Resolution
- 1000:1 Static Contrast Ratio
