The Acer Predator XB272 provides blistering-fast performance with its 240Hz refresh-rate, ULMB (Ultra Low Motion Blur) mode, and lightning-fast 1ms pixel response lag.
The 27″ monitor comes in with Acer’s signature Predator treatment – a visual representation that gives people an idea of what the product is capable. Mix thin in with modern touches and an aggressive design and Acer has itself another winner here.
Acer has a few monitors with its “XB2” nomenclature, each with different refresh-rates, resolutions, sizes, and other features. Click through to Amazon to see what I’m talking about, as you may be more interested in one of the other models.
From the get-go, Acer Predator XB272 looks to be on the list of many gamers seeking a 240Hz monitor, but how does this product actually stack up against its established competitors?
Acer Predator XB272 Input Lag:
• 1ms at native 240Hz.*
*Only with ULMB (Ultra Low Motion Blur) on, works only with G-Sync off. Expect slightly higher refresh lag with ULMB off and G-Sync on.
Image Quality
The Acer Predator XB272 sports a 27-inch TN panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, a 240Hz refresh frequency, and 1ms pixel responsiveness lag.
The list of specifications is similar to models of competitors such as ASUS PG258Q, because these models have similar panels from AU Optomics.
What distinguishes this model, is that it has a slightly higher brightness and less aggressive athstetics.
Gaming Performance
Gaming performance on the XB272 is excellent. Many gamer’s prefer using TN panels due to their fast refresh rates, and low lag.
While IPS and VA monitors have caught up in recent years.. TN still hold the advantage for those willing to sacrifice color, contrast, and brightness for better gaming performance.
In all aspects, the Acer Predator XB272 is a fantastic 240Hz gaming monitor. To find a monitor with a 1ms pixel lag paired with a blazing fast 240Hz refresh rate is the holy grail for what gamers are looking for.
Pretty soon they will have to start measuring lag in nanoseconds rather than milliseconds to give a better idea of performance >240Hz, and this monitor is a great example of why.
Standout Features / Design
The Acer XB272 inherits its nice design from its predecessor, the Acer XB241H, but it now features an upgraded, more simplistic design.
This XB2, the 272 model, drops the red accents that you either hated or loved, and instead went with a full matte black pattern that looks cleaner to most.
The screen is almost bezel-free in this iteration with 7mm bezels on the sides, and a 21mm bezel at the bottom. Kudos to Acer for producing a slim-bezel TN monitor, because traditionally TN monitors have thicker bezels due to being an older LCD technology.
Something to note about the XB272 is its X-shaped stand base, because it takes up more room than most stands when sitting on your desk. This problem is easily remedied by many since prices on single, double, and multi monitor mounts have come down so much in the past few years. Make no mistake though, the build quality of this monitor is excellent.
In our opinion, the choice to go all black is great, it seems that by them choosing to do this they are intending this monitor be able to be used for casual/work purposes also. If that’s really what they intended – they could have made the base smaller.
What is positive about the stand however, is that it has a metal core that adds sufficient weight and durability to the product. It looks great, plus we didn’t notice any unwanted movements or jiggling when testing out the monitor.
View / Ports
The Acer Predator XB272 has many ports, including: 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x DisplayPort 1.2, and 4x downstream USB 3.0 ports which can be used to connect your keyboard, mouse, or other devices.
Conclusion
The Acer XB272 has few downsides for a gamer looking at a TN-Panel with a 240Hz refresh rate, but for those wanting something with brighter colors you may consider a VA or IPS panel monitor.
As far as TN panel monitors are concerned – this one comes out as one of the best.
Like most monitors, this model still requires some time and effort to adjust or calibrate to get the most out of it, and once you’ve tweaked it to your liking, you will have a winner on your desk.
Specifications (Overview)
| Panel Type, Refresh Rate | TN Panel, 240Hz (native) |
| Color Gamut | – |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 |
| Color Depth (Number of Colors) | 16.7M |
| HDR Support | No |
| Resolution | 1980 x 1080 |
| Adaptive Sync | NVIDIA G-Sync |
| Contrast Ratio | 1,000:1 Static |
| Display Surface Treatment | Anti glare matte |
| Brightness | 400 cd/m² |
| Viewing Angle | 170°(H)/160°(V) |
| Speaker | Dual 2-watt Speakers |
| Product Width | 24.2 inches |
| Product Depth (With Stand) | 10.6 inches |
| Limited Warranty | 2 Year Carry-In |
Pros 👍
- Great colors, great blacks, good uniformity.
- Good viewing angles.
- HDR support.
Cons 👎
- Contrast ratio could be better.
- Wish there was RGB lighting.
- Wish colors were slightly more vibrant.
Acer Predator XB272 – Final Ranking
