Acer Predator XB1 (XB271HU) WQHD (2560×1440) 144 Hz G-Sync Monitor Review
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
With the release of the latest NVIDIA GeForce GTX graphics cards, Im sure plenty of gamers are itching to upgrade to something other than their ancient 60Hz panel. 144Hz is the sweet spot for gaming and with the ability to overclock that to 165Hz will sweeten that pot even more. Couple that with G-SYNC technology and I think youll find plenty of gamers in love!
I have to be honest; this panel is absolutely stunning and beautiful. I love how bright, vivid, sharp, and clear this panel is. The general aesthetics of the setup are very nice, with the red accent on the feet. Not only that, but the basically nothing bezel is incredible. Having used monitors with rather large bezels for years, such as my Samsung T240HD, Im stunned with how much smaller this 27-inch display is compared to that 24-inch display no joke!
Those in the market for this display are obviously going to be NVIDIA users, however I am not 100% certain that folks buying a GTX 1060 or 960 will be in the market for this panel, as it does have a pretty hefty price tag of $724.99 shipped on Amazon. Im thinking those with slightly deeper pockets, buying GTX 1070s or GTX 1080s will be looking at this monitor first. Again, there arent very many 1440p 144Hz IPS panels out there.
I did find some minor banding on this particular panel, even after adjusting a couple settings, but I dont know how many people will be bothered by it I know Im not. Aside from that, I think the only other thing that I thought was rough was the On-Screen Display menu system. I found it a little cumbersome having to hit buttons that are not only on top of, flush with each other, and no way to tell what button your fingers were on in a dimly lit room, but the digging into the menus was annoying to say the least. For example if I wanted to turn on the Aim Point, I have to go through a huge series of clicks to get to it, and Ill probably fumble through it in the process. There is room for improvement here, but it is not the end of the world.
Acers XB1 (XB271HU) is currently going for $724.99 shipped on Amazon and is inclusive of Acers 3-year warranty on parts, labor, and the backlight.
Legit Bottom Line: While this price tag is quite hefty for some, the XB1 is still a hit with us! If you are looking for a rock solid 1440p 144Hz IPS G-SYNC panel, that can be overclocked to 165Hz, this one should be at the top of your choices for sure!