The Acer Predator XB273K V3bmiiprx monitor was announced in February 2024 with an official US price of $449.99, though Amazon currently offers it for $370. While it faces plenty of competition in the average price range, it has few rivals from well-known brands at the lower end. Let’s dive into this Acer Predator XB273KV3 review to see if it could be the best HDMI 2.1 gaming monitor for enjoying PlayStation 5 and Xbox gaming.
Acer Predator XB273KV3 Review
Unboxing
The Acer Predator 4K gaming monitor arrives in a large, sturdy box made of unpainted cardboard. The packaging displays two schematic images of the monitor and a complete list of features represented by small icons with captions. Notably, it lacks a plastic carrying handle.
Included in the box:
- Power cable
- DisplayPort cable
- HDMI cable
- Quick start guide
- Warranty information brochure
- Leaflet with EMEA office addresses
- Energy consumption stickers
- Factory calibration report in sRGB mode
Design and Ergonomics
Externally, the monitor resembles many other gaming models from the brand. The main difference lies in its relatively new central column and stand, seemingly inherited from the ultra-wide Predator models of recent years.
The new design features a slightly raised, Y-shaped metal stand and a narrow central plastic column with built-in cable management. This combination is both functional and visually pleasing.
The stand doesn’t take up much space on your desk and, due to the relatively shallow depth of the double legs at the back, allows you to move the monitor further away.
A notable feature is the standard screw mount at the top of the central column, allowing for easy installation of a webcam or larger photo and video equipment.
The central column attaches to the body within seconds. To remove it, slide the plastic locking button upward. This action reveals a 100 x 100 mm VESA-compatible platform, allowing users to attach third-party brackets easily.
The screen allows tilt adjustment from -5° to +25°, height adjustment up to 150 mm, and 25° rotation in both directions.
It also supports portrait mode (Pivot) rotation in either direction. Despite the range of adjustments, it stays centered, needing only minimal horizontal alignment after rotation.
All remaining components, including the fastening mechanisms and the stand base, are metal. The stand has four small rubber feet to improve grip on the work surface.
All main connection ports are located at the rear, facing downward. Connecting cables is convenient, thanks to the ability to rotate the monitor into portrait mode.
The monitor’s built-in audio system consists of two 2W speakers located behind ventilation slots on the lower edge. The sound quality and maximum volume are modest, so this system should not be considered for serious audio use. It’s more of a basic, backup option.
Menu and Control
The Acer Predator XB273KV3 is operated with four physical buttons and a 5-way joystick located on the right side of the monitor’s back.
Pressing or moving the joystick brings up a rectangular menu on the screen with options for activating preset e-Color modes, adjusting brightness, selecting a signal source, and accessing the main menu.
The functions of the top two buttons can be reassigned to a dedicated menu subsection for quick access.
Now, let’s examine the main menu structure, accessible via the designated button.
The first section is the new Game Assistant, featuring two functions: activating the timer and selecting the on-screen crosshair.
Next comes the familiar Gaming. The monitor allows you to adjust the overclocking level (reportedly using Advanced OverDrive), activate either VRB or AMD FreeSync Premium (needed to enable G-Sync Compatibility), and display an FPS counter. VRB can only be activated if AMD FreeSync Premium is disabled, as the two technologies cannot run simultaneously.
A new feature, Black Boost Pro, has been added to the settings. When activated, it significantly brightens dark areas, but there is no option for fine-tuning the effect.
In the Picture section, you can adjust brightness and contrast, enable dynamic contrast (ACM), enhance shadow visibility (Black Boost with smooth adjustment), and adjust color temperature using the Low Blue Light setting, which also modifies preset brightness.
HDR mode and Super Sharpness can be activated, but it’s best to avoid using Super Sharpness. It should be turned off in sRGB mode, where it’s enabled by default.
The Color section allows you to select gamma and color temperature modes, emulate various color spaces included in the capabilities of the installed panel, activate the Grayscale mode, go to preset modes, and perform 6-axis correction for hue and saturation (but we do not recommend doing this – it will only make things worse).
The following two sections allow you to adjust the volume level for the 3.5 mm audio output and customize the menu appearance by selecting a preferred language.
To adjust the dynamic range when connected via HDMI, select the operating mode, specify the input source, and go to the final section. Here, you can also customize the hotkey functions, enable DSC support, and reconfigure the built-in image scaler’s operating mode.
The information block for the monitor’s status is in a dedicated, final section. After making adjustments, you can save changes to the monitor’s memory, specifically to one of the three Game mode presets.
Acer Predator XB273KV3 review test
Color Gamut
The Acer Predator XB273KV3 high refresh rate display features a modern panel with an advanced backlight system, which, according to the manufacturer, covers 95% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. But is this accurate? Let’s find out:
The screenshots indicate that the Fast IPS matrix used here surpasses the sRGB standard in turquoise, green, and notably red tones. However, when compared to DCI-P3, the Acer 4K gaming monitor shows limitations in reproducing pure green and yellow tones.
Consumers who don’t require the most precise color accuracy but prefer natural colors can skip profiling (creating an ICM/ICC profile) and simply use the built-in sRGB emulation mode. This preset offers a moderate level of color accuracy with adjustable brightness.
When using the default Low Blue Light mode (Level 2), the monitor shifts back to a wide color gamut, though the DCI-P3 coverage is slightly lower than in the standard settings.
For manual adjustments and further calibration, we used the factory Standard mode with the full-color gamut set to General. However, even after calibration, the color space stayed near the default level.
Here are the compliance and total color volume figures across different settings:
Standard Settings:
- sRGB: 98.5% | 128.7%
- AdobeRGB: 83.4% | 88.7%
- DCI-P3: 84.6% | 91.2%
sRGB Mode:
- sRGB: 94.4% | 95.4%
- AdobeRGB: 65.6% | 65.7%
- DCI-P3: 67.5% | 67.6%
LBL Mode – Level 2:
- sRGB: 95.3% | 124.3%
- AdobeRGB: 80.2% | 85.7%
- DCI-P3: 80.4% | 88.1%
After Setup and Calibration:
- sRGB: 98.3% | 129.4%
- AdobeRGB: 83.8% | 89.2%
- DCI-P3: 83.6% | 91.7%
All values were obtained using profiling in the Argyll CMS environment, with any colors and shades outside reference values clipped. The results show that this product falls short of the claimed 95% DCI-P3 coverage, reaching only 84-85%. However, if you work primarily in the sRGB space but occasionally need a more saturated image, this Acer Predator XB273KV3 review model is well-suited for these needs.
Brightness, Contrast, and Basic Color Rendering
The Predator XB273K V3bmiiprx offers eight main preset modes, seven of which emulate different color standards (including HDR), along with a black-and-white mode featuring grayscale shades.
The Acer Predator XB273K V3 monitor’s default settings are as follows in Standard mode:
- Brightness: 80
- Contrast: 50
- Color Temperature: Warm
- Gamma: 2.2
- Black Boost: 5
- Low Blue Light: Standard
- Color Space: General
- Advanced Black Boost: Off
To achieve a brightness of 100 nits, a 6500K white point, and other enhancements, the following adjustments were made:
- Brightness: 55
- Contrast: 50
- Color Temperature: User (42/42/41)
- Gamma: 2.2
- Black Boost: 5
- Low Blue Light: Standard
- Color Space: General
- Advanced Black Boost: Off
The primary adjustments included reducing the backlight brightness and modifying the RGB gain values. The monitor does not need to adjust the contrast and Black Boost levels, as well as the gamma – you will only make it worse.
Now let’s look at all the data obtained, presented in the table below:
With standard settings, the monitor brightness is adequate but decreases when switching to sRGB and Low Blue Light (LBL) modes, with LBL set to level two by default. The contrast ratio in both standard and sRGB modes is around 900:1 compared to the specified 1000:1, while it drops to 730:1 in LBL mode.
The white point shifts slightly cooler than the reference, near 7000K, and moves to a warmer 5400K in Low Blue Light mode. In terms of gamma, the monitor delivers reasonable accuracy with standard settings, though accuracy declines noticeably in sRGB emulation mode.
The monitor’s overall color accuracy initially fell below average, with maximum deviations exceeding acceptable standards.
After switching to standard mode and performing manual adjustments and calibration, the monitor achieved 100 nits brightness with a reduced contrast ratio of 780:1. The white point returned to normal, and the contrast slightly exceeded the reference level. Color transmission accuracy showed no issues.
Gamma Curves and Gray Balance
In this Acer Predator XB273KV3 review, I analyzed the display’s performance using the HCFR Colorimeter software along with an X-Rite Display Pro colorimeter. By examining the gamma curves across various modes—both preset and customized—I could evaluate the gray balance and color accuracy of this monitor.
The Acer Predator XB273KV3 demonstrates a stable gray balance at default settings but in the DeltaE<10 area, gamma curves without RGB imbalance, but with some rise of curves in the middle of the range. The contrast is slightly lowered, making deep shadows more visible.
The sRGB emulation mode reduces color saturation to an appropriate level, and brightness decreases, though it can be manually adjusted. Gray balance and corresponding points fall within a DeltaE<10 range. However, the main issue is the incorrect gamma curve setting—the average value is 1.99, rather than the required 2.14-2.15 for the sRGB standard. This can only be corrected through calibration, as gamma settings are locked in this mode.
The manufacturer recommends using Low Blue Light modes to help reduce eye strain. There are four exposure modes, with Level 2 set as the default, which we tested. In this mode, the color gamut aligns with the panel’s original level, and gamma curves are highly accurate. Notably, this setting maintains picture contrast without increasing eye strain. The only change is the adjustment of the white point and the corresponding shift in the space of gray wedge points. The temperature decreases, but a greenish parasitic tint appears.
After setup and calibration, all issues were resolved. The color gamut reached its maximum level, gamma issues were eliminated, and the gray balance became neutral.
Gradients Uniformity
The installed pseudo 10-bit Fast IPS panel displayed high-quality gradients, both at default settings and after manual adjustments.
Full calibration, including adjustments to the graphics card’s LUT, produced 5-7 sharper transitions in the 5-45% range, accompanied by a slight parasitic tint, a common effect.
Color Temperature Stability
Continuing our Acer Predator XB273K V3 review, we now assess color temperature stability in both standard and special image modes.
The table results reflect deviations of gray wedge points along the X-axis, without impacting the vertical axis. Thus, parasitic shades can only be evaluated using the CIE diagram in the “Gamma Curves and Gray Balance” section.
Color temperature stability was high across all tested presets. After calibration, the maximum deviation was slightly higher than expected, though not a significant issue.
Next, we’ll examine the results of the special Color Temp modes, comparing them with one of the Low Blue Light options. It’s worth noting that the manufacturer set the Warm preset as the default.
The results reveal the following:
- The factory Warm mode doesn’t live up to its name, while the User mode with default settings is even less accurate, reaching almost 7600K.
- Normal and Cool modes offer a noticeably cooler tone, ideal for those who prefer a cooler display.
- Color temperature (CT) stability remains high across all tested modes.
- For reducing eye strain, LBL mode at level two is the optimal choice.
Overall, the factory settings are reliable, but you can switch to User mode for custom adjustments, especially if you have the necessary measurement tools.
Contrast Stability and Brightness Range
To assess contrast and brightness stability, Standard mode with the full-color gamut was selected. Brightness was then adjusted in 10% increments from 100% down to 0%. The table below shows the measured values obtained using the HCFR program, which provides a more precise black-level measurement (to three decimal places) and, consequently, a reliable contrast ratio.
With standard settings, the resulting working brightness range was 90-439 nits with an average contrast ratio (CR) of ~900:1. The brightness decreases non-linearly. In the 100-80% range, brightness drops sharply, then decreases very gradually. This behavior is rare among monitors, but the new Acer Predator XB273K V3 exhibits it. Consider this feature when adjusting the brightness.
The maximum brightness reaches nearly 440 nits, surpassing the manufacturer’s stated 400 nits for SDR. This higher brightness level helps work in bright external lighting conditions. The lower limit of 90 nits will not be able to provide a high level of comfort when working at the monitor in a darkened room, but for most working conditions, 90-100 nits is just right.
In HDR mode, the monitor’s capabilities remain unchanged, with brightness fixed at the same level under constant white point temperature. This mode also disables manual brightness adjustment.
Panel Speed
The Acer Predator XB273KV3 uses a high-speed Fast IPS panel with an increased vertical refresh rate of up to 160 Hz. The model’s declared response time is 1 ms (GtG), a standard manufacturers achieved in 2019. For 4K resolution on current hardware, a faster response time is not essential.
To adjust response speed, it uses Advanced Overdrive technology with three action levels, including an Off option, to overclock response time. The monitor also has the technology of inserting a “black frame” (VRB, also known as MPRT in the general sense) of the first generation, without support for simultaneous operation with VRR systems and with the ability to choose between two modes of “depth” of the function. During this Acer Predator XB273KV3 review, we used the second mode – Extreme.
When evaluating the response time using the OSRTT hardware and software complex, taking into account the strict evaluation system, the average response time (actual time – initial time) between different shades of gray was 4.8 ms. Switching to Extreme mode reduces the response time to 3 ms, though it introduces noticeable artifacts. Disabling response time overclocking entirely results in a 7.1 ms response time, which may not be ideal.
This allowed us to measure the monitor’s output delay time (input lag). For the Acer Predator XB273KV3, connected via DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC at a frequency of 160 Hz, the average input lag did not exceed 2.9 ms with G-Sync Compatible activated—an excellent result.
The Acer Predator monitor is officially certified as AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, ensuring full support for open Adaptive-Sync. It also works smoothly with NVIDIA G-Sync in Compatible mode, although an official certificate is still pending, as confirmed in our testing.
The Predator XB273K V3 maintains stable performance without frame drops, even at its maximum refresh rate of 160 Hz, delivering consistent results without skipping.
Viewing Angles
The Acer Predator XB273K V3 monitor is a classic 4K IPS display with an advanced panel that offers reliable viewing angles with minimal issues.
The screen image remains nearly unchanged with a slight shift in the horizontal viewing angle. At 30-45 degrees, contrast decreases slightly, some colors lose saturation, shadows become lighter, and a minor color shift may occur, which is typical. However, changes in the vertical angle lead to a quicker decline in image quality.
Backlight Uniformity and Color Temperature
We checked the monitor’s backlight uniformity and color temperature across 35 points, setting the brightness to 100 nits. All deviation calculations were based on data from the central point. The Acer Predator XB273K V3 monitor does not use a backlight unevenness compensation system.
With the brightness set, the average deviation from the center point was 13.7%, with a maximum deviation of 28%—considerably low for this class of device.
The surface brightness diagram clearly illustrates how the panel distributes brightness. The brightest zone is relatively small with a slight upward shift, and brightness decreases noticeably toward the panel’s edges, particularly in the lower section.
The photo above shows a white field with minimal corrections in a graphics editor to more clearly represent what is happening on the screen in terms of the uniformity of the light field.
The issues become clearer when viewing darker gray fills. While the monitor shows slight darkening around the screen edges, there are no significant issues with color temperature uniformity.
Next, let’s examine the black field to assess its uniformity using two photographs taken at different distances (approximately 70 cm and 150 cm). This approach clearly evaluates the impact of the Glow effect. It provides an accurate view of backlight uniformity, excluding the effect itself.
Now, let’s examine the uniformity of color temperature across the screen.
In this Acer Predator XB273KV3 review, we manually set the color temperature to 6500K and maintained the central white field brightness at 100 nits. The average deviation of 1.3% and a maximum of 4.2% represent above-average performance. The temperature difference between minimum and maximum did not exceed 390K, which is excellent.
Data and observations indicate no significant issues with color temperature uniformity in this model. The only minor irregularity appeared at the lower right edge in a few measured points. While noticeable upon close inspection, it should not disrupt typical use.
Final line
In this Acer Predator XB273KV3 review, we dive into what makes this fast 4K gaming monitor a solid mid-range option. It may not surprise those familiar with monitors over the past five years, nor will it be a standout discovery for newcomers starting their search. It will primarily interest consumers who prefer to buy devices from familiar brands, trusting the chosen approach and counting on a higher quality of the element base.
The Acer monitor is a suitable choice for consumers who don’t need a USB Type-C interface or highly accurate color. It has some quirks with brightness adjustment, and the sRGB emulation mode lacks precise factory calibration—the delivered results and the report in the package vary significantly, beyond typical measurement error, even with different equipment.
If you prioritize screen size, resolution, and panel speed, the Acer Predator XB273K V3 will not disappoint. While many options in this segment offer similar speeds, their prices vary widely—and here, Acer stands out as a strong contender.
The Acer Predator XB273K V3bmiiprx is currently available on Amazon for $369.99. It offers a discount of up to 18% off the listed price of $449.99.
