Review on Acer Predator XB271HU Bmiprz: 2560x1440 WQHD with Built-in Speakers and HD Clarity by Ryan Powell

This monitor is five years old and is still the best high-end gaming monitor out there. Acer is constantly releasing updated versions of this model, which I received was manufactured in the fourth quarter of 2019. ADVANTAGES: - IPS display. Easy to see from every angle. 144Hz refresh rate. This is the *best* option for gaming. (144Hz = 144 frames per second). When you upgrade from a traditional 60Hz monitor, you'll immediately feel the difference. - Compatible with G-SYNC. To get the most out of this monitor, you'll need a fairly modern GPU. I currently have a GeForce RTX 2070 Super which is more than enough to output 144 frames. ** If you have an AMD GPU consider a FreeSync monitor, they are usually cheaper than G-SYNC monitors ** - 4 USB 3.0 ports. Not only does this help with cable management, but it's also a dedicated port for fast charging of mobile devices. Comes with all necessary cables including a DisplayPort 1.2 cable (required to reach 144Hz). The cables are only 1.5 m long, so the monitor must be in close proximity to the PC. 5mm bezel on top and sides. Very smooth yet durable. The factory picture settings are not far from the optimum. Gamma in particular was near perfect from the get-go, which can be a headache when manual adjustments are required. Bright and saturated. Personally, I never go beyond 25% brightness in any situation, but I know some people prefer very bright screens. - Performance in games. Nothing more to say, it does what it was made for very well. CONS: - Poor UI/OSD. There are only 6 unlabeled buttons on the monitor whose functions change when you enter a different menu. It's confusing at first, but it gets easier once you remember which button does what. - Speaker. Smartphones have better speakers than this monitor. Consider using external speakers or a headset, and use the built-in speakers as a last resort. - No HDR support. Hm, it doesn't really bother me. - Difficult to clean. While the base and frame of the monitor are solid, the screen is very delicate. Using anything other than a soft, dry cloth to clean the screen will void your warranty. Very short cables out of the box, although that's an easy fix if that's an issue. Not intended for photo/video processing. Don't get me wrong, it reproduces colors quite well, but it's definitely not something a photo editor will use for work. Also in 2020, this monitor exceeds my expectations in everything I have used it for. I ended up going with it over a 4K monitor as 4K monitors are typically only 100-120Hz. If you thought you needed 4K for gaming, even in 2020, you don't. Seriously, go for 144 Hz.