Acer Predator X27: The Ultimate Gaming Panel

Put together a wish list—the sky’s the limit—of things you’d want in a 27-inch gaming monitor, and you’d probably come up with something like the Acer Predator X27. 4K UHD resolution, support for Nvidia’s G-Sync adaptive-sync tech, and HDR support—check.

- Tony Hoffman

High luminance and an expanded color gamut—check. Add wicked-fast refresh rates, a plethora of input ports, an ergonomically friendly stand, and gaming-friendly features such as multiple crosshair types, and you have a dream-screen gaming display (with a price to match).

I first saw the X27 in action last summer at a demo hosted by Nvidia, which developed the monitor’s G-Sync adaptive-sync technology. I was awestruck by this monitor’s ability to capture subtle variations in shading and bring out detail in dark areas, as well as to capture brilliance in bright areas without them looking washed out. This panel’s brilliance and dynamic range set it apart as something special, and my initial impressions have been borne out in both our quantitative and experiential testing.

Now, to be sure, at two grand for a 27-inch panel, the Predator X27 is not for everyone. On top of the monitor’s own stratospheric price, for most users, it will require a considerable additional hardware investment in a top-of-the-line graphics card, such as an Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 or the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti. If you can afford it (and if need be, build a gaming system around it), though, the Predator X27 is without peer, and it earns our our Editors’ Choice for high-performance gaming monitor.

AT A GLANCE, DECEPTIVELY PLAIN

From the front, at least, the Predator X27 looks like a typical 27-inch panel housed in a matte-black cabinet. When affixed on its stand, it measures 22.3 by 14.8 by 24.8 inches (HWD) and weighs 27.1 pounds. Its bezels are fairly substantial: 0.6 inches thick on top and on the sides, and 0.9 inches on the bottom.