FOR PROOF THAT the gaming monitor
market is in total overdrive, look no
further than the new Acer Predator XB3.
It looks like a high-end precision panel for
content product pros, with its sober suit
and three-sided glare-reduction hood.
But no, this is a full-on gaming panel, and
just one of three such monitors Acer now
sells in the 4K 27-inch segment.
The XB3 represents the tweener in the
trio, above the Nitro XV3 and below the
Predator X27. All three offer ostensibly
the same proposition: a 27-inch 4K IPS
panel with 144Hz refresh and adaptive
sync. But drill down into the details, and
you’ll discover why the XV3 is yours for
$899, the X27 goes for around $1,650, and
this XB3 model lands at $1,299.
Compared to the megabucks X27, the
big downgrade with the XB3 is hinted at
by the HDR400 spec versus the X27’s
HDR1000. The numbers imply a big gap in
outright brightness—400 nits for the XB3
and 1,000 nits for the X27. But arguably the
really significant difference is the XB3’s
lack of full-array local dimming. The X27
has a 384-zone backlight, a feature that’s
complex and expensive. The new XB3 has
a big, dumb, conventional backlight.
In practice, however, local dimming
is overhyped. At least, early iterations
have proved underwhelming. Moreover,
local dimming tech, and HDR support in
general, is only relevant for HDR content.
Granted, there are at least 60-plus PC
games that support HDR, including
everything from Fortnite to Far Cry 5,
Forza, and Final Fantasy XV, but HDR is
far from ubiquitous. For the record, the
XB3’s main advantage over the cheaper
XV3 is full-spec Nvidia G-Sync rather than
AMD FreeSync adaptive refresh tech.
Anywho, fire the XB3 up in SDR mode,
and it’s pretty much a dead ringer for the
X27. So, the immediate impression is of
plenty of pop and highly saturated colors,
plus the tight pixel pitch that comes
with a 3840x2160 native resolution on a
relatively compact 27-inch panel.
The default factory calibration is a
little wonky, with notable compression at
the top end of the white scale, but that’s
easily dialed out, and the OSD menu is
nothing if not comprehensive.
The 144Hz experience is as sweet as
ever, even if you need one heck of a GPU toAcer makes 4K, HDR, and 144Hz
IPS goodness a tiny bit cheaper
Acer Predator XB3
8
VERDICT Acer Predator XB3GAME CHANGER Fabulous
4K IPS panel; superb combo
of speed and precision.
GAME OVER Small for price; not true HDR.
$1,299, http://www.acer.comSPECIFICATIONSPanel Size 27-inch
Native Resolution 3840x2160
Pixel Density 163 ppi
Panel Type IPS
Maximum Refresh 144Hz
Response 4ms
Contrast 1,000:1
Display Inputs DisplayPort, HDMI
Connectivity USB-A hub
VESA Mount 100 x 100mm
Warranty Three yearsmake the most of it. Subjectively, there’s
zero input lag, and the pixel response in
the lower range of the overdrive options
is quick enough, and doesn’t introduce
any inverse ghosting nasties.
It’s a damn fine gaming experience.
If we have reservations, it’s the scale of
the proposition. At this money, you have
a lot of options, many of them bigger
and bolder. Ultimately, it’s a question of
preference. If you like the wraparound
feel of a big, curved ultrawide monitor,
this conventional 27-incher with a flat 16:9
panel could seem dowdy. But go bigger
and wider, and you lose sharpness, detail,
and precision. Until 8K gaming at 120Hz-
plus becomes realistic, you’re going to
have to make a compromise somewhere.
What else? The all-plastic chassis
looks and feels cheap, plasticky, and
anonymous, especially at this price. The
bar of configurable “mood” LEDs along
the bottom of the lower bezel don’t help
much with that. The antiglare hood is a
dubious accessory, too. On the plus side,
it’s easy to fit, but it doesn’t do a great deal
to reduce glare or improve aesthetics.
The lack of USB-C is a downer for laptop-
based gamers, too. –JEREMY LAIRDmaximumpc.com SEP 2019 MAXIMUMPC 81