High-end faces midrange head-to-head, with a clear winner on value
When shopping for a gaming monitor, performance matters almost more than anything. Professional gamers are known to use smaller screens whose resolution, viewing angles and color saturation look inferior to a flatscreen TV, because what they really care about are blistering, tear-free refresh rates and response times.
But home gamers don’t need to sacrifice color quality and contrast on the altar of pro performance. The BestReviews Testing Lab has evaluated a number of gaming monitors at several price points, judging them on refresh rate, response time and connectivity as well as resolution and picture quality.
We put the high-end Acer Nitro XV275K up against the mid-tier ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A in a direct comparison. The Acer with its 4K resolution edged out the ASUS when it came to picture quality, but the ASUS held its own on performance. Overall, the Acer Nitro is the better gaming monitor, but the ASUS TUF model is the better value.
Acer vs. ASUS gaming monitor: What they do well
Founded in Taiwan, both Acer and ASUS bring cutting-edge technology to their products.
As gaming monitors, both the Acer Nitro XV275K and ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A exhibited excellent performance, with the Acer showing off a gorgeous display and the ASUS excelling with fast performance. We also appreciated both monitors’ adjustability and ergonomics.
Acer gaming monitor benefits
- Resolution: The Acer Nitro features a 4K screen with 3840 x 2160-pixel resolution.
- Color saturation: Colors seemed accurate to the eye and consistent when compared to other screens. We liked how they “popped” with their contrast, especially in vivid RPG worlds.
- Ergonomics: The Acer’s height could be changed from notably tall to quite short and worked well in the latter mode with our tester’s monitor riser.
- Variety of ports: Our tester loved the fact that the Acer includes DisplayPort as well as a headphone/AUX audio port, along with a USB-C port and two USB 3 ports.
ASUS gaming monitor benefits
- Ease of setup: This monitor took only 15 minutes for our tester to set up, with clear directions and easy-to-adjust connections.
- Adjustability: We noted a wide range of adjustability to this model in height, tilt and swivel. Even over extended gaming sessions, our tester didn’t feel any height issues or neck strain with this monitor.
- Gaming performance: With a high 170-hertz refresh rate, our tester felt the ASUS excelled at fast-paced FPS games.
- Price: The ASUS TUF monitor costs less than half the price of the Acer Nitro.
What they could improve
While both tested models provided enjoyable gaming performance, we wished for some physical niceties like less-obtrusive stands and easier physical controls. We also noted small differences in each monitor’s picture quality.
Acer gaming monitor drawbacks
- Stand: We felt that the Acer’s stand was noticeably large, and our tester didn’t like its design or the way it sat on a desk.
- Refresh rate: The Acer monitor we tested was slightly slower in refresh rate, 160 Hz to 170 Hz. However, for a 4K monitor, this is a pretty good value.
- Controls: With the OSD controls located behind the unit, it was difficult to know which button to push for setup or changing settings.
- Price: At $799, the Acer Nitro is something of an investment.
ASUS gaming monitor drawbacks
- Color saturation: Colors seemed accurate but we would have liked a touch more richness and contrast.
- Black levels: While overall we enjoyed the picture quality, we did note that the black levels were just slightly grayer than we preferred.
- Wide stand: The V-shaped stand is almost as wide as the monitor itself, and our tester wondered if it would fit on narrower desks.
Top Acer models
We tested the Acer Nitro XV275K with hours of gameplay and came away more than impressed with its capabilities, including frame rate, refresh rate, response time and picture quality. We also included the dual-screen Acer PD163Q as a possible option for gaming while on the road.
Acer Nitro XV275K Gaming Monitor
Both monitors are the same diagonal size, 27 inches, but the Acer’s 4K display is more detailed than the ASUS’s QHD resolution.
Screen Size: 27″ | Resolution: 3840 x 2160 pixels | Refresh Rate: 160 Hz | Connectivity: HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C | Ergonomics: Tilt, swivel, height, pivot
The 27-inch Acer Nitro XV275K Gaming Monitor sits at the top of the Acer’s Nitro gaming monitor line. Its elegant looks and 4K resolution make it stand out among gaming screens, and it wouldn’t look out of place among monitors intended for design or video production.
As a gaming monitor, the Acer Nitro XV275K is no slouch. It offers a maximum 160 Hz refresh rate with AMD FreeSync Premium VRR support, and an excellent one-millisecond response time for an IPS screen. It shines at a maximum 1,000 nits with a dynamic contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1 and 178-degree viewing angles.
We gave the Acer high marks for picture quality, noting its vivid, accurate color and impressive contrast. Our tester would have liked a smaller pedestal but approved of its adjustability. We appreciated it having both a DisplayPort 1.4 connector and USB-C as well as HDMI 2.1.
Acer PD3 Dual-Screen Portable Monitor (PD163Q)
The Acer PD3 stands out for offering two 15-inch screens in one device.
Screen Size: 15.6″ | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels | Refresh Rate: 60 Hz | Connectivity: HDMI, USB-C | Ergonomics: Tilt
The new Acer PD3 isn’t intended as a gaming-focused monitor, but we weren’t going to quibble with the luxury of two 15-inch screens in one portable device. On-the-road productivity, presentations and entertainment is twice as big on this Acer.
The PD3’s two screens each offer 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution. They can be used separately, either stacked on top of each other or in two panels facing opposite each other, a boon for presentations. They can also be used as a single 2150 x 1080 resolution screen in either horizontal or vertical orientation.
With a 60 Hz refresh rate and an eight-millisecond response time, this isn’t a fast screen for gaming. But it’s two screens in one at a tempting price.
Top ASUS Gaming Monitor models
ASUS is widely praised for its gaming-focused lines. The ASUS TUF Gaming monitor we tested had a fast refresh rate and a slew of gameplay optimizations, and the ASUS ROG Strix portable gaming monitor brings even more performance in a foldable, travel-capable form factor.
ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A 27-inch Monitor
We had no difficulty setting up either monitor, but we preferred the design of the ASUS stand over the one on the Acer.
Screen Size: 27″ | Resolution: 2560 x 1440 pixels | Refresh Rate: 170 Hz | Connectivity: HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C | Ergonomics: Tilt, swivel, height, pivot
The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A Monitor has the looks and polish that ASUS’s gaming lines are known for — with performance to match. Our tests showed that it provided all the speed and responsiveness we could want in a mid-priced gaming monitor with a few concessions in picture quality.
The ASUS has a low-glare IPS display at QHD 1440p resolution. It offers 130% of the sRGB gamut and 1000:1 contrast, which, while good, was just a bit less than optimal in our tester’s eye, with somewhat grayed blacks. We had no complaints at all, on the other hand, about its 170 Hz maximum refresh rate and one-millisecond response. It supports both G-Sync and FreeSync, depending on the make of your gaming rig’s graphics card, and packs two HDMI 2.0 ports and DisplayPort 1.2 plus a two-port USB 3 hub.
Our tester liked the looks of this ASUS monitor and appreciated that its V-shaped stand provided open space beneath it (although its wide legs wouldn’t work on a narrow surface). Overall, in its price range, we think the VG27AQL1A is tough to beat.
ASUS ROG Strix XG17AHPE 17.3-inch Portable Gaming Monitor
At 17 inches wide, the ASUS ROG Strix XG17AHPE is made for gaming on the go.
Screen Size: 17.3″ | Resolution: 1920 x 1080 pixels | Refresh Rate: 240 Hz | Connectivity: HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C | Ergonomics: Tilt, orientation
The ASUS ROG Strix XG17AHPE is a portable monitor optimized for gaming from ASUS’ customer-favorite Republic of Gaming (ROG) brand. At over 17 inches across, this portable panel can fit in your luggage or oversized backpack while still providing an engrossing gaming experience.
The ROG Strix XG17AHPE has a blistering 240 Hz refresh rate. It’s less than half an inch thick and weighs 2.34 pounds. It runs on a 7,800 mAh rechargeable battery, which ASUS promises lasts two hours while gaming at 240 Hz. A tablet-style folding cover stand lets you place it on any surface, and it works both in landscape or portrait orientation.
The XG17AHPE has only a 1080p (FHD) resolution, but that helps keep things fast. Its three-millisecond response time is solid for gaming. It connects via USB-C or micro-HDMI.
Acer Nitro XV275K P3 Gaming Monitor vs. ASUS TUF Gaming 27-inch Monitor
The biggest difference between the Acer Nitro and ASUS TUF Gaming monitors is resolution, with the Acer boasting a 4K screen (3840 x 2160 pixels) to the ASUS’s QHD (2560 x 1440 pixels). On the more subtle side, the Acer has specs that provide better color accuracy and vividness than the ASUS.
For variable refresh rate, the Acer uses AMD FreeSync Premium while the ASUS can use both FreeSync or NVIDIA’s G-Sync. Both panels use IPS technology with anti-glare surfaces. However, the ASUS has a slightly faster maximum refresh rate — 170 Hz to the Acer’s 160 Hz.
Physically, the Acer is slightly shorter and heavier than the ASUS, with a flat pedestal base as opposed to a raised V-shaped stand.
Acer PD163Q Foldable Dual-Screen Portable Monitor vs. ASUS ROG Strix Portable Gaming Monitor
Looking at the Acer PD163Q versus the ASUS ROG Strix, the differences are obvious: the Acer has two screens to the ASUS’ one, but the ASUS has a bigger screen with a faster refresh rate and more gaming optimizations. The Acer is a great portable dual-screen monitor for productivity and presentations, while the ASUS has the specs for big-screen gaming on the go.
Acer vs. ASUS gaming monitor functionality
For our testing we played several hours of high-resolution RPGs such as Baldur’s Gate as well as fast-paced FPS games like Fortnite. We also noted usability, design, ergonomics and connectivity options.
Setup and ergonomics comparison
When it comes to gaming monitors, adjustability is particularly important for comfort. Both the Acer and ASUS monitors offered adjustments in height, tilt and swivel. The Acer Nitro can swivel 25 degrees to the left or the right compared to the ASUS TUF, which can do 20 degrees left or right. The Acer has a total height adjustment of 5.91 inches to the ASUS’s 5.12 inches. Both models can pivot their screens.
Setting up the Acer Nitro took our tester only 10 minutes while the ASUS TUF took 15 minutes. In terms of aesthetics, our tester disliked the look and width of the Acer’s pedestal base, feeling it occupied too much desk space. However, the wide V-shaped stand of the ASUS is also a challenge for narrower desks.
Controls comparison
Neither gaming monitor particularly impressed us with their physical controls, but anyone who’s ever used an external monitor or flatscreen TV knows physical buttons are not their forte. Both the Acer and ASUS gaming monitors we tested had OSD controls located on the back of their panels, making it a guessing game if we were pressing the correct button at any given time. Nevertheless, this was a minor headache at best, and we think a user will figure out the button controls quickly enough.
Connections comparison
Gaming monitors need to support fast cable connections such as HDMI 2.0 or DisplayPort. Both the Acer and ASUS models we tested here support HDMI and DisplayPort. The Acer Nitro has a single HDMI 2.1 port, DisplayPort 1.4, a USB-C port, a USB-B upstream port and two USB 3 ports, plus an audio/headphone port. The ASUS TUF has two HDMI 2.0 ports, a DisplayPort 1.2, a USB 3 port and a headphone port.
Display quality comparison
Resolution
The Acer Nitro XV275K is a 4K display, with 3,840 horizontal and 2,160 vertical pixels. The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A has a QHD display with 2,560 horizontal by 1,440 vertical pixels. Both have a 27-inch viewable area, making the Acer Nitro theoretically much sharper than the ASUS. Resolution in a gaming monitor can adversely affect things like frame rate, but in our testing the Acer seemed more than capable of driving its eight million pixels at gaming speeds.
Color and contrast
When it comes to color accuracy comparisons, our tester noted that the ASUS TUF had colors that seemed slightly washed out, and blacks that were grayer than our tester would have preferred. The Acer Nitro, by comparison, had rich color saturation, which we noticed especially in role-playing games. The Acer boasts a native contrast ratio of 200,000:1 and colors with a delta E of less than 2, an excellent value for color accuracy. The Acer has a 99% Adobe RGB color gamut, while the ASUS has a 130% sRGB and 96% P3 color gamut.
Refresh rate
The ASUS TUF monitor had the faster maximum refresh rate of the two gaming monitors, clocked at 170 Hz in the ASUS specs (although we got 165 Hz and 165 fps during our tests). Combined with its QHD display, this allowed the ASUS to rip through fast-paced games with no discernible artifacts in our experience. The Acer Nitro, on the other hand, has a 160 Hz maximum refresh rate to go with its 4K screen. In our gaming sessions, it handled play capably, looking excellent at both FPS games and scenery-heavy RPGs.
VRR and response time
For VRR, the Acer runs AMD FreeSync Premium and the ASUS supports both G-Sync and FreeSync, depending on if you’re running an NVIDIA or AMD Radeon graphics card. Both the Acer Nitro and ASUS TUF monitors boast one-millisecond response times.
Pricing
The Acer Nitro XV275K is the top model in Acer’s Nitro XV5 line, priced at $799. The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A, on the other hand, is a midtier monitor priced at $329, less than half the price of the Acer. If you like the idea of a portable option, the Acer PD3 Dual-Screen Portable Monitor (PD163Q) costs $350 and the ASUS ROG Strix XG17AHPE 17.3-inch Portable Gaming Monitor costs $449.
Bottom line
The Acer Nitro XV275K is a high-resolution, high-performance gaming monitor with a price to match. We found it fast, vivid and capable, and we think, overall, it’s worth the price. The ASUS TUF Gaming VG27AQL1A has a lower resolution but slightly faster performance. What it just misses in picture quality, it makes up for with speed and cost. If you want the best picture quality, get the Acer. If you want the most value, get the ASUS.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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