Right now, the hot category in flat gaming screens is 27-inch, 1440p. The genre has been recently enhanced by so-called Fast IPS panels that can hit 240 Hz without breaking a sweat. A few 1080p resolution monitors even manage 360 Hz, but 170 Hz can deliver a lot of that response and low input lag for far less money.
Acer’s Nitro series of gaming displays has always occupied that coveted space in the market, where you can get performance and features nearly equal to premium screens at a reasonable cost. Every category of PC component has a sweet spot where price and performance create an ideal ratio. Of course, if you have the budget, you’ll never regret buying the very best gaming monitor money can buy. But for most, it pays to dig for the best value.
The Nitro XV272U KVbmiiprzx is a 27-inch IPS panel running at QHD resolution with a max refresh rate of 170 Hz. It includes Adaptive-Sync for fighting screen tears, HDR, extended color, blur reduction and solid out-of-box image accuracy for around $430. Let’s take a look.
Acer Nitro XV272U KVbmiiprzx Specs
| Panel Type / Backlight | IPS / W-LED, edge array |
| Screen Size & Aspect Ratio | 27 inches / 16:9 |
| Max Resolution & Refresh | 2560 x1 440 @ 170 Hz |
| FreeSync Premium: 48-170 Hz | |
| Native Color Depth & Gamut | 10-bit (8-bit+FRC) / DCI-P3 |
| HDR10, DisplayHDR 400 | |
| Response Time (GTG) | 1ms |
| Brightness (mfr) | 400 nits |
| Contrast (mfr) | 1,000:1 |
| Speakers | 2x 2w |
| Video Inputs | 1x DisplayPort 1.2 |
| 2x HDMI 2.0 | |
| Audio | 3.5mm headphone output |
| USB 3.0 | 1x up, 4x down |
| Power Consumption | 23.6w, brightness @ 200 nits |
| Panel Dimensions WxHxD w/base | 24.2 x 16-20.6 x 9.3 inches (615 x 406-523 x 236mm) |
| Panel Thickness | 2.6 inches (66mm) |
| Bezel Width | Top/sides: 0.4 inch (9mm) |
| Bottom: 0.8 inch (20mm) | |
| Weight | Weight |
| Warranty | 3 years |
This is the first Acer XV272U we’ve reviewed, but there are several variants of this monitor available. They’re also known as the Acer Nitro XV2 line. The monitors run at 1080p and 1440p resolutions and differ in refresh rates and Adaptive-Sync certifications. This review covers the XV272U KVbmiiprzxversion, which runs at 170 Hz and carries a AMD FreeSync Premium certification, which adds low framerate compensation to your standard FreeSync. The monitor isn’t G-Sync Compatible-certified, but we got it to run G-Sync by using our instructions for How to Run G-Sync on a FreeSync Monitor. Also see our article on FreeSync vs G-Sync if you're not sure which one to use.
The XV272U KVbmiiprzx employs the latest Fast IPS panel running at 170 Hz without overclock. It’s also specced to cover just over 90% of the DCI-P3 and support HDR10 signals when switched into its HDR400 mode, which means it should hit at least 400 nits brightness. Acer’s monitor also increases HDR contrast with a dynamic feature, which we’ll get into later.
You also get blur reduction, Acer calls it VRB, that activates a backlight strobe to smooth out fast motion. Like most monitors with this feature, it cancels out Adaptive-Sync. The menu also offers aiming points, countdown timers and a frame rate indicator.
Assembly and Accessories of Acer Nitro XV272U KVbmiiprzx
The panel, upright and base assemble without tools to create a solid chassis with a small, but heavy, round base that keeps everything steady. The box includes HDMI, DisplayPort and USB cables, along with an IEC cord for the internal power supply.
Product 360 of Acer Nitro XV272U KVbmiiprzx
The XV272U-KV’s styling is minimal with only a small Acer logo visible on the front trim. The top and sides of the screen are framed by a flush bezel just 9mm thick. It’s thin enough for multi-screen setups with a dividing line that’s barely noticeable. The screen’s anti-glare properties are excellent with a sharp and saturated, grain-free image.
Around the back right is a joystick for controlling the on-screen display (OSD), three control keys, plus a power toggle. You have to be careful not to turn off the monitor by mistake, since all the buttons feel the same. A tiny, blue LED indicates power-on status, while standby mode glows orange.
The Acer XV272U KVbmiiprzx is one of the few monitors that includes side-mounted USB ports. These were more common in the past, and it’s a shame they have become harder to find. The monitor’s side profile is neither too thick nor too thin, and you can see the gentle taper of the back in the photo above.
A large chevron feature dominates the monitor’s back and doubles as the ventilation. Heat was never a problem during our time with the XV272U-KV. The stand snaps onto a cutout in the center, or you can use the 100mm VESA mount for your own hardware, thanks to the included necessary bolts. The stand allows for a 4.6-inch height adjustment, along with -5/20-degree tilts. The base is a two-piece design that lets the entire assembly swivel through 360 degrees. Movement is only limited by cabling.
The input panel includes two HDMI 2.0 and a single DisplayPort 1.2. Two more USB ports, plus an upstream jack are also present. You can plug a headset, perhaps one of the best gaming headsets, or power speakers into the 3.5mm analog input. Otherwise, you have two internal speakers driven by 2-watt op-amps. They deliver reasonably clear sound at polite volumes in the upper midrange frequencies.
OSD Features of Acer Nitro XV272U KVbmiiprzx
The Acer XV272U-KV’s OSD includes a surprisingly large feature set for a monitor at this price point. Everything a gamer could ask for is there, along with complete calibration controls. You can save settings to one of three memory slots for later recall. There are seven total SDR image modes and an additional two presets for HDR content.
The Picture menu has Low Blue Light for reading, dynamic contrast and LightSense. Acer advertises EyeSafe certification on the box and backs it up with a bezel-mounted sensor that can adjust brightness and color temperature based on room lighting. LightSense can also detect the user’s proximity and remind you to take breaks. Also in the Picture menu is a Super Sharpness option, which should be switched off. It showed a bit of edge enhancement in our tests and did not improve picture quality.
The XV272U features two HDR modes that bear closer scrutiny. When applying an HDR signal, you’ll have to manually switch to HDR mode. The best image quality and highest output come from the HDR400 preset rather than Auto. When you return to SDR content, you’ll have to switch back to your preferred SDR mode.
The User picture mode lets you adjust gamma from 1.6-2.6, choose a color temp preset or a user mode with both gain and bias controls, and adjust saturation and hue for each color individually. If you get lost, there is a color reset function. Hint: We only had to adjust the RGB gains for superb accuracy.
The second Color menu has a full array of color gamut choices, including a very accurate sRGB mode fit for SDR content. sRGB mode can’t be calibrated but offers excellent quality as we’ll show you in our tests on page 3. To see the XV272U’s full native gamut, choose the General option.
The Gaming sub-menu has a two-level overdrive. It’s grayed out when Adaptive-Sync is on but appeared to function normally without ghosting during our testing. You can also turn on a framerate counter and aiming point here.
VRB is Acer’s term for blur-reduction, and it has two settings. The less aggressive one only reduces brightness by about 10% and visibly reduces blur. It also caused a little phasing, visible as extra outlines around moving objects. The second setting reduces brightness by 60% and is smoother yet but still exhibits the same phasing artifact. We recommend sticking with Adaptive-Sync. High framerates will take care of blur just fine.
Calibration Settings for Acer Nitro XV272U KVbmiiprzx
You can enjoy the XV272U in its default Standard mode without calibration, but if you adjust anything at all, the monitor automatically switches to User mode. There, you can tweak RGB gain and bias sliders, gamma presets and color management.
We only had to adjust the gains for superb grayscale and color tracking. Gamma is a tad light but perfectly acceptable at its default 2.2 setting.
Below are our recommended calibration settings for the XV272U KVbmiiprzx and SDR.
| Picture Mode | User |
| Brightness 176 nits | 100 |
| Brightness 120 nits | 67 |
| Brightness 100 nits | 51 |
| Brightness 80 nits | 33 |
| Brightness 50 nits | 8 (min. 44 nits) |
| Contrast | 49 |
| Gamma | 2.2 |
| Color Temp User | Gain – Red 52, Green 47, Blue 51 |
| Bias – Red 50, Green 50, Blue 50 |
HDR signals won’t switch the Acer XV272U into HDR mode. You’ll have to do that manually by choosing between Auto and HDR400. Color looks the same for both, but HDR400 is about 5% brighter and offers greater contrast. The XV272U also uses a Dynamic Contrast feature for HDR for a visible improvement.
Gaming and Hands-on with Acer Nitro XV272U KVbmiiprzx
We found the Acer XV272U-KV KVbmiiprzx to be completely capable of handling everything one might do with their computer. Gaming, work, movie-watching and photo editing were all easy to get through, thanks to a sharp and saturated picture. Color-critical apps benefit from the selectable gamuts, which include sRGB, EBU, and even SMPTE-C. But for the most colorful image, General mode uses the monitor’s full native gamut, which our testing will show covers over 90% of DCI-P3.
Though measured contrast, (which we’ll also show you below), is a bit below average, the extra color saturation mostly makes up for this. Black levels didn’t look terribly deep in our time with the display, but bright and midrange areas popped nicely. Even though the XV272U doesn’t quite hit 200 nits in SDR mode, it was plenty bright enough for our sunlit office.
Gaming was certainly the pleasure we’ve come to expect from Acer Nitro monitors. Tomb Raider clearly benefits from the extra color, even though it’s technically an sRGB title. Rich saturation in primary colors made the image pop with texture and detail on the XV272U. Shadow areas were clearly visible at a Black Boost setting of 5. Highlights were nice and bright without becoming harsh or overblown. Color looked very natural and accurate, another factor in the solid image quality we observed.
To try HDR, we switched Windows over, then selected the HDR400 option in the Picture menu. It looked better than the Auto setting, thanks to slightly brighter highlights. HDR was completely usable in Windows, though it might be too bright for darker environments.
HDR gaming with the HDR title Call of Duty: WWII didn’t disappoint either. Though the XV272U doesn’t quite meet the standard set by the best HDR monitors we’ve tested, like the Acer Predator X27, HDR looked better here than on the screens that don’t use any kind of dynamic contrast feature. The lower black levels afforded by this technology make a real difference. For $430, this Acer Nitro delivers very good HDR performance.
Video processing tests showed us a few different things. Though we saw some double-line artifacts when using the VRB backlight strobe in test patterns, we did not see this issue in actual content. There was some stuttering from thin vertical lines if we moved the mouse quickly, but it was otherwise usable. Using the backlight strobe didn’t look any better than using Adaptive-Sync though. The more aggressive VRB setting reduced brightness too much to be practical. We also noticed no negative effects from the overdrive when using Adaptive-Sync. Though the menu selection is grayed out, it seems to be working at a low level.
Framerates remained locked at around 170 frames per second (fps) on our GeForce RTX 3090 graphics card, whether HDR was in play or not. Running FreeSync Premium on our Radeon RX 5700 XT-based machine yielded between 140 and 150 fps with no adaptive refresh problems detected.
Response was super-fast relative to our casual gaming chops, and we expect the XV272U will be perfectly-suited for more-skilled players or even eSports competitors. At this price, it is poised to succeed in both categories.
To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.
Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level
We’ve included a full complement of 27-inch, 1440p monitors to compare against the XV272U. All are IPS-based like our review focus, except the Porsche Design AOC Agon PD27, which uses a VA screen. Also here are the Gigabyte M27Q, Dell S2721DGF, MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD and Pixio PX277 Prime.
The XV272U limits its SDR brightness to 172 nits in Standard mode. No other picture modes are brighter, and our calibration only added a few nits to this number. Though this is enough output for most rooms, it is lower-than-average for the genre. If you tend to game in a very sunny room or next to a window, you may wish for more oomph.
Our review focus landed in last place in the black level test, mainly because of its lower backlight output. Contrast is below average at 883.1:1. We’ve noticed a trend in the latest Fast IPS panels toward slightly weaker contrast due to higher black levels. It’s a minor sacrifice to make for the speed benefits they offer, but if ultimate dynamic range is a priority for you, a VA panel will deliver far more.
After Calibration to 200 nits
The XV272U was unable to achieve 200 nits in SDR mode with calibration (see our recommended settings on page 1). The best we could do was 177 nits, slightly more than the default level. Contrast is slightly higher too at 889.1:1. When intra-image contrast is considered, the playing field is leveled a bit. 861.8:1 is a respectable ANSI score for an IPS monitor but leaves the Acer in fifth place among our comparison group. Again, VA will provide the most dynamic range of any LCD technology.
The XV272U-KV ships set to its Standard picture mode. If you change any setting, even just brightness, it automatically switches to User mode. This won’t change any color-related parameters but will make a large array of calibration controls available, including RGB gain and bias, gamma and full color management with gamut presets.
Grayscale and Gamma Tracking
Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe those our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.
The XV272U-KV’s Standard picture mode has no visible grayscale errors. The chart indicates a tendency towards reddish green but that’s below the 3 Delta E (dE) level of visibility. Gamma tracking is also nearly spot-on with a 2.17 average value.
After our calibration, grayscale tracking is pretty much perfect with all errors below 1dE. Gamma has become a tad lighter at the upper end of the brightness range. This isn’t visible in actual content. The overall visual improvement from calibration is subtle, but some differences in color saturation are visible.
The XV272U is an extended color monitor with multiple gamut modes, including a very accurate sRGB preset. Its grayscale tracking is similar to what we measured in Standard mode with no visible errors. Gamma is a little light in the dark areas of the image but not too much so. This is excellent performance.
Comparisons
With an out-of-box grayscale error of 2.61dE, the XV272U-KV takes second place in the comparison group, eclipsed only by the MSI’s unusually low 0.74dE result. The XV272U does not necessarily need calibration, but if you can make the tweaks, you’ll be rewarded with a superb 0.60dE average grayscale error level.
Gamma runs a tad light with a post-calibration average of 2.13 and a 0.13 range of values. This is decent performance yet is bested by this very good group of monitors. Still, we’d consider the XV272U to have good gamma tracking.
Color Gamut Accuracy
Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.
The XV272U’s color gamut tests show Acer’s attention to detail and its commitment to accuracy. When we measure against the DCI-P3 spec, we see slight undersaturation in green and blue, which is common among extended color monitors. Red is right on target, and the secondary hues are only a little off their marks.
Calibration (second chart above) causes an ideal response, where centering the white point moves the secondary hues and blue saturation into focus. Although green remains slightly under, as expected, the overall color error is below the visible level.
The third chart shows a nearly-perfect sRGB mode, which is a rare thing in this class. Aside from a slight undersaturation in the blue primary, the Acer hits all targets almost dead center. With a tiny average error of 1.37dE, this is one of the best sRGB charts we’ve seen from any extended color display.
Comparisons
The XV272U’s color gamut error is a tiny 2.10dE in Standard mode. Still, you can calibrate it and drop that number to 1.75dE. Visually, the difference is very subtle, but it can be seen as a slight improvement in depth and saturation. The adjustments are certainly worth making.
For DCI-P3 coverage, the XV272U is on the high side of average. We’ve seen a few screens top 95%, with the MSI shown here being one such exception for sure. But the XV272U’s 90.75% coverage is a respectable score. The sRGB score shows the blue undersaturation we demonstrated above but is also solid at 94.04%.
The XV272U-KV accepts HDR10 signals through HDMI and DisplayPort. You’ll have to switch modes in the OSD and there, you can choose between Auto and HDR400. The latter is slightly brighter and offers greater contrast.
Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.
HDR Brightness and Contrast
The XV272U exceeds 400 nits in HDR400 mode only. Auto is slightly dimmer at around 388 nits peak. More importantly, HDR400 makes more aggressive use of dynamic contrast to achieve low black levels and nearly 4,100:1 contrast. That’s one of the best IPS scores we’ve seen and is only bested by the Dell in our comparison group. The XV272U even manages to outpace the AOC’s VA panel. This is one of the better HDR monitors we’ve seen at this price point.
Grayscale, EOTF and Color
When comparing HDR Auto versus HDR400 modes, the color, grayscale and EOTF tracking were almost exactly the same. Only dynamic range seems to differ. Grayscale shows no visible errors. EOTF is nearly perfect but is a little dark at the bottom with a slight bump in brightness at the midpoint. There’s a smooth transition to tone-mapping at 65% brightness as it should be.
HDR color tracking is exemplary with accuracy like what we saw in the SDR tests. Aside from an over-saturated 80% red target, it’s almost perfect. This is excellent performance that beats many of the HDR monitors we’ve tested.
Viewing Angles
The XV272U shows some of the best off-axis image quality we’ve encountered. In the 45-degree view, the light reduction is 10% at most with no real color shift or change in detail. The top view goes a bit red with a 40% brightness drop and a reduction in detail. But from the sides, this screen performs above-average.
Screen Uniformity
To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.
Our XV272U sample showed a slightly elevated brightness on its right side. We could see it with all the room lights turned off but not when any ambient light was present. Though some monitors here measure better, the Acer’s result is by no means a deal breaker. Other samples could be better than ours. When displaying anything but a full black field, we saw no issues.
Pixel Response and Input Lag
Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.
All the 165 and 170 Hz monitors in our comparison group are roughly equal in both response and total input lag. The AOC easily wins the response test with its 240 Hz refresh rate but only beats the others by 2ms when it comes to overall lag.
The XV272U also loses to the GIgabyte by 2ms in absolute input lag. But even the most-skilled gamer will be hard-pressed to see a difference in performance here. Only a 360 Hz screen can offer a significant (barely significant) improvement in perceived speed.
When a monitor strikes the proper balance between price and performance, we are predisposed to like it. Value is easily the most important factor in any buying decision. Though we love to cover premium products, we’re impressed by monitors that deliver nearly the same quality and features at a more attractive and approachable cost.
Acer’s Nitro series embraces that concept fully and the XV272U KVbmiiprzx is the latest worthy addition to the line. It combines the latest Fast IPS technology with 170 Hz, FreeSync Premium, DCI-P3 color solid HDR quality for the price and a reasonable $430 price tag (as of writing).
Our tests proved that it delivers on color accuracy with no real need for calibration. But Acer includes more calibration controls than we usually find in a gaming monitor. Not only do you get gamma presets and RGB gain and bias sliders, but there’s also color management and selectable gamuts. The sRGB mode measured almost perfectly, which is rare among the DCI-P3 displays we’ve tested. And with over 90% coverage of DCI-P3, we never wished for more color. The XV272U-KV’s saturation is impressive.
Contrast came up a little short though The latest IPS panels seem to have slightly higher black levels than their predecessors. Rather than the usual 1,000:1 contrast ratio, this monitor (and others like it) are closer to 900:1. In the XV272U’s case, color accuracy and saturation mostly make up for it.
Thanks to over 400 nits plus dynamic contrast, the XV272U-KV delivers some of the best HDR we’ve seen for the money. And you can enjoy that HDR with Adaptive-Sync.
With a true and reliable 170 Hz refresh rate and ghost-free overdrive, video processing will certainly appeal to gamers of all skill levels. Response and input lag are very quick, and we enjoyed many hours of gaming with nary a hitch in performance.
The Acer Nitro XV272U KVbmiiprzx hits all the marks with a very attractive price/performance ratio. Its feature list is easily the equal of more expensive monitors, and it provides nearly all the performance of a premium screen. And with QHD resolution and plenty of pixel density, it won’t demand a high-end graphics card either. It’s definitely worth checking out.
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