GoKawiilThe Acer Nitro XV273U F5 delivers the gaming feel and quick response of an OLED in a high-contrast IPS panel. With unique features like a 1,000 Hz mode, it’s sure to appeal to pro and enthusiast gamers in equal measure.
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The number 1,000 is a benchmark goal in many disciplines. You know a car is special when it has 1,000 horsepower. An amplifier reaches a different level when it can output 1,000 watts. In computer monitor parlance, 1,000 Hz or 1 kHz is also a plateau. Remember that TVs and most displays max out at 60 Hz. But the best gaming monitors, in pursuit of higher frame rates and smoother motion, have been getting faster with each new generation.
I’ve reviewed several 500 Hz monitors, mostly LCDs, with a few OLEDs sprinkled in. But currently on my desk is Acer’s Nitro XV273U F5, which has a 1,000 Hz mode. And before I get to the caveat, know that it can refresh its screen at 540 Hz in QHD 2560x1440 resolution, so even without trickery, it’s one of the fastest flat panels you can buy. This 27-inch IPS display also features Adaptive-Sync, HDR 600, and wide gamut color. Let’s take a look.
Acer Nitro XV273U F5 Specs
Swipe to scroll horizontally Panel Type / Backlight IPS / W-LED, edge array Screen Size / Aspect Ratio 27 inches / 16:9 Max Resolution and Refresh Rate 2560x1440 @ 540 Hz Row 3 - Cell 0 1280x720 @ 1,000 Hz Row 4 - Cell 0 FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible Native Color Depth and Gamut 10-bit (8-bit+FRC) / DCI-P3 Response Time (GTG) 1ms Brightness (mfr) 400 nits, 600 nits peak HDR Contrast (mfr) 1,000:1 Speakers 2x 2w Video Inputs 2x DisplayPort 1.4 Row 11 - Cell 0 2x HDMI 2.1 Audio 3.5mm headphone output USB None Power Consumption 36.5w, brightness @ 200 nits Panel Dimensions WxHxD w/base 24.3 x 15.6-21.5 x 8.3 inches (617 x 396-546 x 211mm) Panel Thickness 2.36 inches (60mm) Bezel Width Top/sides: 0.39 inch (10mm) Row 18 - Cell 0 Bottom: 0.55 inch (14mm) Weight 13.57 pounds (6.17kg) Warranty 3 years
So, let’s get the caveat out of the way first. The XV273U F5’s 1,000 Hz mode happens at 1280x720 resolution. That’s HD, not Full HD, which is 1920x1080. The good part is that this is a multiple of QHD’s 2560x1440. The picture becomes softer but not by as much as you’d expect. Additional video processing features include backlight strobe-based blur reduction and very precise overdrive.
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The XV273U F5 also provides excellent image quality from an IPS panel, which has far higher contrast than its claimed 1,000:1 ratio. I measured just over 2,000:1 in testing, which blows away most other IPS panels for dynamic range. The black levels are almost in VA territory, resulting in a very deep, textural image. Acer gets color and gamma right as well, and with a few tweaks that I’ll show you on page four, you can enjoy reference-level accuracy. Gamut coverage is generous, with around 90% coverage of DCI-P3.
The XV273U F5 is fully ready for gaming on PC or console and has all the features to enhance gameplay at any skill level. You get plenty of aiming points and sniper modes, along with a set of timers. The overdrive and backlight strobe are enabled when your system can’t push the frame rates to 540 or 1,000, and they work extremely well, with significant blur reduction and no ghosting or phasing artifacts.
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