I just reviewed the Acer Predator XB273K V5 DFR gaming monitor that swaps between 4K @ 160Hz and FHD @ 320Hz— I didn’t expect it to get this heavily discounted for Black Friday

Gamers know that monitors with all the best features usually come with a high price tag.

Occasionally, a truly impressive monitor comes along with a surprisingly affordable price tag, making it easier to build the gaming setup you’ve been dreaming of. The Acer Predator XB273K V5 definitely falls into that category, and that’s what initially caught my attention.

I’ve been really enjoying the Acer Predator XB273K V5 monitor for the past few months, especially when playing demanding games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. I finished writing my review a few days ago, but I just learned it’s currently on sale at Best Buy for Black Friday – only $329.99!

I’ve been enjoying a smooth and convenient gaming experience thanks to features like the dual refresh rate and the included remote. Here’s what I like about it.

Acer provided us with a sample unit for this review. We want to be clear that Acer didn’t influence the review in any way and hadn’t seen it before it was published.

Acer Predator gaming monitor review

Acer’s Predator line is built for serious PC gaming, offering everything from laptops to monitors. I’ve noticed that Predator products often provide excellent performance and a good user experience at a price that’s competitive, and sometimes lower, than similar options from other brands.

The Acer Predator XB273K V5 is a 27-inch gaming monitor with a versatile refresh rate and resolution. It can switch between crisp 4K visuals at 160Hz and a super-fast 1080p at 320Hz, making it great for all kinds of gamers and games.

This monitor is incredibly easy to set up – you don’t need any tools! It has a screw built into the base and the stand simply clicks into the back. Plus, it’s different from most gaming monitors because it has speakers built right in and a remote to adjust the settings.

Even with all its great features, this monitor is surprisingly affordable, with a suggested price of just $379.99. I’ve already found it on sale for $349.99 on Amazon, making it a fantastic gaming monitor and a really good value for the money.

Acer Predator XB273K V5 4K — WHAT’S IN THE BOX?

Inside the box, I found everything needed to set up the monitor: the monitor itself, a stand and base, a remote control with batteries, an HDMI cable, and the power cable. With all these parts, you can easily connect the monitor to your computer and start using it right away.

A sturdy build with an adjustable stand and other conveniences

The XB273K is very stable thanks to its solid stand, and I don’t worry about it shaking at all. My only complaint is that the stand is quite large and takes up a good bit of room on my desk.

I easily found a comfortable viewing angle with this monitor thanks to its adjustable stand, which allows for height changes, tilting, pivoting, and swiveling.

This stand includes a screw mount on top, making it simple to attach accessories to your gaming setup.

This device has two HDMI 2.1 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4, making it simple to connect your gaming monitors. It also includes a headphone jack, but doesn’t offer any USB-A or USB-C connections.

This monitor has built-in speakers, so I didn’t need to plug in separate speakers for game audio. While they work, the sound quality isn’t amazing, so a good gaming headset would provide a much better experience if you’re looking for top-notch sound.

I liked using the Smart Dial remote better because its menu buttons matched the on-screen display more accurately, and I didn’t have to aim it directly at the TV for it to function.

You can navigate this display’s on-screen menu using either the buttons on the back of the display or with the included Smart Dial remote.

I found the Smart Dial easier to use than the back buttons, which didn’t quite match up with the menu on the screen. I also appreciated that the remote worked without needing to be aimed directly at the TV. And, being able to quickly switch settings with the DFR button on the remote was a really nice feature.

Great motion clarity and a respectable color range

I tested the Acer Predator XB273K V5 with many different games, and it consistently delivered a fantastic experience. The picture was sharp, colors were vibrant, and motion looked clear—all without using an OLED screen.

I really appreciated the monitor’s DFR technology. It let me easily switch between resolutions and refresh rates – from a crisp 4K at 160Hz down to 1080p at a super-smooth 320Hz. This meant I could always dial in the perfect settings for whatever game I was playing at the moment.

I was really pleased with the color accuracy when I tested this display! My colorimeter showed it covered 100% of the sRGB color space, which is fantastic, and it did a great job with wider gamuts too, hitting 86% of AdobeRGB and 93% of P3. One small thing – even though it supports HDR-400, I had to enable it manually in the settings. The automatic HDR setting didn’t seem to work as expected, so I just turned it on myself.

The screen’s brightness is around 250 nits in standard mode, but jumps to a much better 450 nits when using HDR.

Acer Predator XB273K V5 4K review: My final thoughts

✅You should buy this if …

You love the idea of swapping between 3840×2160 @ 160Hz and 1920×1080 @ 320Hz.
Your computer has an AMD Radeon Graphics card to take advantage of AMD FreeSync Premium.
You want a monitor with built-in speakers and an adjustable stand.

❌You should not buy this if …

You’d prefer a monitor that offers an OLED display.
You’re looking for a gaming monitor with colorful RGB lighting.
You need a monitor with a smaller base or USB ports.

With so many gaming monitors available, Acer’s XB273K really shines. It’s a display that truly sets itself apart.

This monitor is already appealing thanks to its vibrant colors, HDR compatibility, smooth motion, and ability to switch between refresh rates. It goes even further with features like a customizable stand, easy setup without tools, AMD FreeSync Premium for tear-free gaming, and a user-friendly Smart Dial remote that simplifies switching between settings.

Generally, this monitor has very few drawbacks. Considering all its strengths, the Xbo273K is a great choice for gamers looking for an affordable IPS monitor.

Gaming monitor FAQ

What is AMD FreeSync Premium?

FreeSync Premium is AMD’s mid-range technology designed to create smoother gaming experiences. It works by matching the speed of your monitor to the speed of your graphics card, which helps eliminate distracting visual distortions like screen tearing.

What is DFR in monitors?

As an analyst, I often encounter the term DFR, which stands for Dynamic Frequency & Resolution. Essentially, it’s a technology that lets a monitor rapidly switch between different combinations of refresh rates and resolutions. This allows for a more fluid and optimized visual experience.

What is VRR?

Variable refresh rate technology syncs your monitor’s refresh rate with your computer’s video output, which minimizes or completely removes screen tearing.

For a deeper dive, check out our guide on FreeSync and VRR.

What is refresh rate and why is it important for gaming?

A screen’s refresh rate is how many times per second it updates the image you see, and it’s measured in Hertz (Hz). A higher refresh rate means smoother movement and less delay, which improves your experience, especially when gaming.

For playing competitive or fast-moving video games, a monitor with a refresh rate between 144Hz and 240Hz is best.

What is response time and how does it affect gaming?

Response time describes how quickly a monitor’s pixels can change colors, and it’s measured in milliseconds (ms). A faster response time means the monitor can display smooth motion more accurately, avoiding blurry or ghosting effects that happen when images linger on the screen.

For gaming, a response time of 5ms is usually good enough for casual play, but competitive gamers will want around 1ms for the fastest experience.

2025-11-28 22:11