27″ ACRE Nitro Xv3 Xv273k: Review

Are you looking for a 27-inch 4K 144Hz monitor for gaming? Then things started to get more interesting. Most of the time, these screens cost more than $1,000. But the new 27″ ACRE Nitro Xv3 Xv273k is making a big difference. It’s just one of Acer’s three 27-inch 4K 144Hz models. And it’s by far the cheapest, costing well under $1,000/£1,000.

Even so, it’s still expensive enough that many gamers can’t buy it. But when you think about how much the Acer Predator X27 costs, the ASUS ROG SWIFT PG27UQ costs, and how much the Acer Predator XB3 cost, the new Nitro XV3 seems like a good deal. Of course, you lose some features and functions when you pay less. The question is whether or not you lose so much that the XV3 is a waste of money. It’s time to know.

27″ ACRE Nitro Xv3 Xv273k Specs

PROS

• Affordable compared to competing 4K 144Hz monitors.
• Successful coloring.
• High levels of luminosity.
• The layout is flexible enough to support other keyboard positions.

CONS

• Heavy backlight spill.
• Very low quality audio system.
• For 4K 144Hz mode, you’ll need two DisplayPort cables.

Price and what’s available

Even though it costs $779 in the US, the 27″ ACRE Nitro Xv3 Xv273k is much cheaper than other 27-inch 4K 144Hz gaming monitors. In the UK, it costs about £845; in Australia, it costs AU$1,388, so it’s not as cheap as in the US. However, we expect the price to go down soon so that it’s more in line with US prices. If you live in the US and are a gamer, the Acer Nitro XV3 will seem like a great deal.

Plans and features

At first glance, the new 27″ ACRE Nitro Xv3 Xv273k looks exactly like its older sibling, the Acer Predator XB3. You get the same chassis and stand design, except for small things like the lower bezel saying “Acer” instead of “Predator” and the silver stand feet on the cheaper Nitro model instead of the black ones on the Predator. The Nitro even has the same clip-on hood that comes with the Predator. This hood is meant to cut down on glare. Overall, it seems to be put together pretty well, even though it’s mostly made of black plastic and has a sturdy stand that can be moved in all directions.

Need Of The Gamers

Just by looking at the case, you can tell that the 27″ ACRE Nitro Xv3 Xv273k is made for gaming. You won’t find features that help you get work done, like being able to turn the screen vertically, so programmers, writers, and other creative types who also play games might want to avoid getting it. The display has many of the same design features as Acer’s Predator gaming monitors. There are brushed plastic molding, a curved matte-black case, and an aggressively styled stand that raises the screen to a maximum height of 21 inches from the desk.

The 27″ ACRE Nitro Xv3 Xv273k has glare guards that you can put on with a standard screwdriver to keep the screen from getting too shiny. Even with the guards off, I didn’t find the extra light in our labs too much of a problem. Even though the bezels on this panel are a little small, there’s no room for speakers. The panel does, however, have a set. If they have nothing else to do, gamers can use the two 4-watt speakers built into the monitor and vent out the back. This is the way to go if all your headphones are missing and you are okay with listening to music with only highs and no lows.

Performance

If you turn on the 27″ ACRE Nitro Xv3 Xv273k, it will be hard to tell it apart from its more expensive siblings. Even the much more expensive Acer Predator X27 is the same if you run it in SDR mode instead of HDR mode. Local dimming and a higher peak brightness give the more expensive X27 a clear advantage when showing HDR content. It is both brighter and much, much better at showing contrast. Even though games and videos with HDR content are becoming more common, it still needs to be everywhere.

The Nitro XV3’s color-accurate IPS panel gives SDR content the same excellent image quality. First, this means that the pixels are closer than desktop monitors. It is because the native 4K resolution is packed into a relatively small 27-inch panel. The result is clear images with a lot of detail. The only problem is that, at 27 inches, it’s different from the giant or most cinematic screen you can buy for the same price.

Verdict

The main question about the 27″ ACRE Nitro Xv3 Xv273k is whether or not it gives up too much to save money compared to other 27-inch 4K 144hz panels. Most of the time, we’d say no. This is different than the panel to get if you need the best HDR support possible. But even the most expensive screens in this category—those with local dimming technology—are not the end of the line regarding HDR rendering. HDR support isn’t everywhere in games and videos, either.

Just be aware that 4K has some drawbacks in terms of performance and how it can affect the cost of hardware like graphics cards. Taking all of that into account, if you still want to go through with it, this is the least expensive choice you have right now.