Acer’s HDMI 2.1 Gaming Monitor Is the One You’ve Been Waiting For GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Opinion News > Computers

Acer’s HDMI 2.1 Gaming Monitor Is the One You’ve Been Waiting For

Finally, an obtainable HDMI 2.1 monitor!

By Matthew S. Smith Matthew S. Smith Writer Beloit College Matthew S. Smith has been writing about consumer tech since 2007. Formerly the Lead Editor at Digital Trends, he's also written for PC Mag, TechHive, and others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on July 15, 2021 04:31PM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Computers Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming

Key Takeaways

Acer’s XV282K KV can handle 4K/120Hz gaming on the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.Priced at $899, it’s the most affordable HDMI 2.1 monitor yet.Slashing the price doesn’t compromise the monitor’s image quality. Lifewire / Matthew S. Smith Gamers starved for an obtainable, mainstream HDMI 2.1 monitor have a new option to look forward to. Acer’s XV282K KV is a 28-inch gaming display with three magic numbers: 4K resolution, a 144Hz refresh rate, and HDMI 2.1. These combine to make Acer’s latest gaming monitor an ideal candidate for gamers craving one display to rule them all. Yet the monitor’s most important number might be the MSRP, which lands at "just" $899. That’s the lowest yet for an HDMI 2.1 monitor. Some might call it overkill. I call it a monitor for young professionals.

HDMI 2 1 That Fits on Your Desk

You might wonder why 4K, 144Hz, and HDMI 2.1 matter. The answer can be found in modern game consoles like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5. They deliver smooth gameplay at up to 120 frames per second at 4K resolution, but only over HDMI 2.1. Unfortunately, display technology has lagged behind consoles. Precious few monitors have HDMI 2.1 this year and most that have it, like the Asus ROG Strix XG43UQ and Gigabyte Aorus FV43U, are large enough to replace a TV. Acer’s XV282K KV, with its tame 28-inch screen, can easily fit on a desk. What a concept! Its size means owners will likely use this monitor with both a PC and console in a gaming den, home office, or small apartment. Acer wisely leans into this with a focus on sharp, vibrant, yet accurate visuals. Vibrant games like Valorant and Overwatch seem to leap off the screen with exaggerated, highly saturated colors and exquisite details. Players upgrading from 1080p will be surprised by the intricate detail that becomes visible in character geometry and textures. This is true even for older titles like The Witcher 3. You’ll see every chainmail link and embroidered leather stitching in Geralt’s best armor sets. This pairs well with the monitor’s excellent color accuracy and range of well-calibrated gamma presets. These traits may not sound exciting, but they’re a must-have for creative professionals who want to ensure the image they see will look similar on other displays. It’s also helpful in games that rely on a more realistic presentation like Microsoft Flight Simulator. The cockpit of a Cessna Citation, and the scenery outside, has a detailed yet subdued look that feels true to life. Throw in the high refresh rate, which delivers fast response times and smooth gameplay in competitive titles, and you have a monitor that can handle anything you throw at it. Some might call it overkill. I call it a monitor for young professionals.

Still Some Disappointments

Well… almost anything. The Acer Nitro XV282K KV is VESA DisplayHDR400 certified, which means it can accept and display an HDR signal at a peak brightness over 400 nits. That’s great for a monitor and much, much brighter than you’d want for normal use. Yet it’s not bright enough to excel. HDR content will offer a tad more brilliance and more details in bright content, but the difference between HDR and SDR can be hard to notice outside a side-by-side comparison. Lifewire / Matthew S. Smith There’s nothing special about the monitor’s core display technology, either. It’s an IPS panel lit by LEDs along the edges of the display. Monitors have used this combination of panel and backlight, which is notorious for disappointing performance in dark scenes, for over a decade. The XV282K KV doesn’t flip the script. Dark scenes in movies can lack detail as the monitor struggles to show subtle gradations between dark gray and pitch black. You’ll also notice the monitor’s edges are slightly brighter than its center. Such flaws are disappointing in a display priced near $1,000, but hardly unique. Nearly all monitors suffer from these problems. And while far from perfect, Acer’s new monitor has less obvious backlight bleed than many high-end gaming displays. Gamers on a monitor that’s several years old will see an improvement. The number I ultimately return to is the price: $899. That’s great for an HDMI 2.1 monitor and competitive with many current 4K/144Hz monitors that lack it. I worried Acer would have to cut corners to make that price possible, but that’s not the case. The Acer Nitro XV282KV scores well in most areas and absolutely slays in color accuracy, where it ranks among the best of 2021. This monitor’s size, resolution, and image quality will offer rare value when it arrives in stores later this summer. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire The 6 Best Gaming Monitors of 2022 The 8 Best Monitors for MacBook Pros of 2022 The 8 Best 4K Monitors of 2022 How to Choose a Computer Monitor What to Look For in a Gaming Monitor How to Set Up Dual Monitors on a Mac How to Fix It When a Second Monitor Is Not Working HDMI 2.0 vs 2.1: What to Know Before You Buy The 9 Best Computer Monitors, Tested by Lifewire How to Buy a TV in 2022 BenQ Mobiuz EX3415R Review: A Truly Immersive Ultrawide The 4 Best Curved Monitors of 2022 The 8 Best TVs for Gaming in 2022 The 9 Best TVs of 2022 OLED vs. LED: Which TV Display is Better? The 6 Best Monitors for Programming and Coding in 2022 Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies