Get insider access
Preferred store
Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
We've recently released Test Bench 2.0 for Monitors! Read our new VRR Flicker R&D Article and Pursuit Photo R&D Article to learn more.

Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v1.1
Review updated May 06, 2020 at 08:42 am
Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx Picture
8.0
Mixed Usage
7.9
Office
8.6
Gaming
7.8
Multimedia
7.9
Media Creation
7.2
HDR Gaming

The Acer Nitro XV273X Xbmiiprzx is a versatile 1080p monitor with impressive performance, and it uses an IPS panel, which is rare for a 240Hz monitor. It supports FreeSync variable refresh rate technology and is compatible with G-SYNC, providing a smooth and nearly tear-free gaming experience. It has a good build quality, as well as exceptional color accuracy out-of-the-box. Like most IPS panels, it offers good viewing angles, but at the cost of a mediocre contrast ratio, which is less ideal for dark room viewing. It has an excellent low input lag and outstanding response time, resulting in clear motion, and there's a black frame insertion feature to help reduce any motion blur.

Our Verdict

8.0 Mixed Usage

The Acer Nitro XV273X is a great monitor for mixed usage. It has a host of features to satisfy even the most demanding gamers, and its understated design should easily fit into most office settings. Unfortunately, HDR performance is limited by its only decent HDR peak brightness and lack of wide color gamut. On the upside, this monitor has fantastic out-of-the-box color accuracy.

Pros
  • Exceptional color accuracy out of the box.
  • Outstanding response time for clear motion.
  • Excellent low input lag.
Cons
  • Lack wide color gamut support for HDR.
7.9 Office

The Acer Nitro XV273X is a very good office monitor. The IPS panel provides good viewing angles, and it has good ergonomics, making it easier to position the monitor to suit your needs. Although it's a decent size, the 1080p resolution makes it less ideal for multitasking. Also, it has good reflection handling and great brightness to overcome glare in brightly-lit offices.

8.6 Gaming

The Acer Nitro XV273X is an excellent monitor for gaming. It has a high refresh rate, outstanding response time, low input lag, and supports both FreeSync and G-SYNC. Though the 1080p resolution may disappoint those who like to see every detail in their game, it does help to achieve higher frame rates for a smooth gaming experience.

7.8 Multimedia

The Acer Nitro XV273X is a very good monitor for multimedia consumption. It has a decent resolution and size, and it feels very responsive due to its low input lag. The wide viewing angles are great for sharing content with others and it's easy to adjust the monitor's positioning, as it has good ergonomics. In addition, it has excellent out-of-box color accuracy.

7.9 Media Creation

The Acer Nitro XV273X is a very good monitor for media creation. While it has a good size, the 1080p resolution may be disappointing for some. However, it does have good viewing angles and low input lag, as well as excellent color accuracy out of the box. Its exceptional motion handling also helps to keep the picture crisp, with minimal blur trail behind fast-moving objects.

7.2 HDR Gaming

The Acer Nitro XV273X is decent for HDR gaming. Although it has great gaming features with its low input lag and outstanding motion handling, HDR performance is limited by the monitor's lack of wide color gamut and only decent HDR peak brightness.

  • 8.0 Mixed Usage
  • 7.9 Office
  • 8.6 Gaming
  • 7.8 Multimedia
  • 7.9 Media Creation
  • 7.2 HDR Gaming
  1. Updated Feb 26, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
  2. Updated Jan 13, 2020: Review published.
  3. Updated Dec 19, 2019: Our testers have started testing this product.
  4. Updated Dec 19, 2019: Early access published.
  5. Updated Dec 12, 2019: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  6. Updated Nov 29, 2019: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 27 inch Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx; however, there are four other variants of this monitor in various sizes, resolutions, and refresh rates, which you can see in the table below.

If someone comes across a different type of panel or their Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we'll update the review. Note that some tests, such as the gray uniformity, may vary between individual units.

Model Size Resolution Refresh Rate Notes
Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx 27" 1080p 240Hz FreeSync, G-SYNC compatible
Nitro XV273U S 27" 1440p 165Hz FreeSync, G-SYNC compatible
Nitro XV273K Pbmiipphzx 27" 4k 144Hz FreeSync, G-SYNC compatible
Nitro XV253Q X 24.5" 1080p 240Hz FreeSync, G-SYNC compatible
Nitro XV253Q P 24.5" 1080p 144Hz FreeSync, G-SYNC compatible

Our unit of the Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx was manufactured in August 2019 and you can see the label here.

Compared To Other Monitors

The Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx is a great monitor for mixed usage, especially for gaming; however, its 1080p resolution may be disappointing for some. You can also check out our recommendations for the best gaming monitors, the best 27 inch monitors, and the best 144Hz monitors.

LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B

The Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx is slightly better than the LG 27GL850-B/27GL83A-B. The Acer has a significantly better contrast ratio and a higher refresh rate, as well as better black uniformity and peak brightness. However, the LG has a higher resolution of 1440p and supports wide color gamut. Additionally, the Acer has a better build quality and reflection handling than the LG.

Acer Predator XB273K Pbmiphzx

The Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx is better than the Acer Predator XB273K Pbmiphzx. Though they both have an IPS panel, the Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx has a better contrast ratio and significantly better black uniformity, as well as better viewing angles. However, the XB273K Pbmiphzx has a 4k resolution, which is great for multitasking. The XB273K Pbmiphzx supports a wide color gamut, but it can't get as bright as the Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx.

Dell Alienware AW2720HF

The Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx is a significantly better monitor than the Dell Alienware AW2720HF in most uses. While they both have an IPS with a 240Hz refresh rate, the Acer has a better contrast ratio and black uniformity, as well as better viewing angles and color accuracy. The Acer also supports HDR; however, the Dell has a much better build quality and ergonomics.

LG 27GN750-B

The Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx is a better monitor than the LG 27GN750-B. It has better ergonomics, much better out-of-the-box color accuracy, better gradient handling, and a black frame insertion feature to help reduce motion blur. The LG has better reflection handling, and it has a slightly lower input lag when playing at 60Hz. 

Gigabyte AORUS AD27QD

The Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx is marginally better than the Gigabyte AORUS AD27QD. It has a higher refresh rate and better black uniformity, but the Gigabyte has a higher resolution and some nifty extra features such as active noise cancelling, picture-in-picture, and picture-by-picture. The Acer has a higher peak brightness and better reflection handling, making it a better choice for well-lit rooms.

Gigabyte AORUS FI27Q

The Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx has a very similar performance to the Gigabyte AORUS FI27Q in mixed usage, but there are some notable differences. The Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx has a 1080p resolution, while the FI27Q is 1440p. The Acer has a 240Hz refresh, a significantly better black uniformity, and a higher peak brightness, however, the FI27Q has much more extra features and a much better build quality.

ViewSonic Elite XG270

The Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx is a bit better than the ViewSonic Elite XG270. Both monitors offer nearly identical features and also perform similarly, but the Acer has better black uniformity and color accuracy, and it can get brighter. Furthermore, the Acer has better reflection handling and text clarity.

Dell Alienware AW2521HF

Despite having a different outer design, the Dell Alienware AW2521HF and the Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx are very much alike in terms of performance. Both feature a 240Hz refresh rate on an IPS panel, and they also perform similarly when it comes to contrast ratio, peak brightness, and response time. The main difference is that the Acer supports HDR, has a far more color-accurate sRGB mode, and it has a black frame insertion feature to reduce motion blur. On the other hand, the Dell has a better build quality and it has better reflection handling.

ASUS VG279QM

There are very few differences between the Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx and the ASUS VG279QM. The ASUS has better ergonomics, a slightly faster response time, and a more versatile black frame insertion feature, which can even be used with a variable refresh rate. On the other hand, the Acer has a much lower input lag at 60Hz, making it a better choice for console gamers.

+ Show more

Video

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Size 27"
Curved No
Curve Radius Not Curved
Weight (without stand)
8.8 lbs (4.0 kg)
Weight (with stand)
13.4 lbs (6.1 kg)

The Acer Nitro XV273X has a fairly simple design, with thin bezels on three sides and a thicker bottom bezel. The stand's tripod design supports the monitor well and there's basic cable management built into the stand.

Design
Stand
Width
18.1" (46.0 cm)
Depth
9.3" (23.6 cm)

Although the stand's tripod design has a large footprint, the legs are thin, leaving you more desk space to work with. There's very little wobble and the stand supports the monitor well.

7.9
Design
Ergonomics
Height Adjustment
4.5" (11.4 cm)
Switch Portrait/Landscape Yes, Both Ways
Swivel Range -20Ā° to 20Ā°
Tilt Range -22.5Ā° to 5Ā°

The Acer Nitro XV273X has good ergonomics, as you can adjust it however you like.

Design
Back
Wall Mount VESA 100x100

The back of the Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx has a sleek and modern design. It has a quick release button for when you need to VESA mount it, and there's cable management through the stand.

Design
Borders
Borders
0.3" (0.8 cm)

The borders on the Acer Nitro XV273X are thin, which is great for multi-monitor setups.

Design
Thickness
Thickness (with stand)
7.3" (18.5 cm)
Thickness (without stand)
2.8" (7.1 cm)

The monitor itself is fairly thick and gets much thicker with the stand, taking up space on your desk.

7.5
Design
Build Quality

The overall build quality is good. Though it's made entirely out of plastic, it feels sturdy and the stand doesn't wobble much. If you want a monitor with better build quality, check out the Dell Alienware AW2720HF.

Picture Quality
6.2
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
1,155 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
N/A

Like most IPS monitors, the Acer Nitro XV273X has a mediocre contrast ratio. This results in blacks looking more like gray, especially in a dark room setting.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge

This monitor doesn't have a local dimming feature. The above video shown is for reference only.

8.2
Picture Quality
SDR Peak Brightness
SDR Real Scene
383 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 2% Window
431 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 10% Window
432 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 25% Window
432 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 50% Window
433 cd/mĀ²
SDR Peak 100% Window
433 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 2% Window
431 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 10% Window
432 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 25% Window
432 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 50% Window
432 cd/mĀ²
SDR Sustained 100% Window
433 cd/mĀ²
SDR ABL
0.000

The Acer Nitro XV273X has great SDR peak brightness. Even with different content, you shouldn't notice any variation, and it's bright enough to overcome glare in most rooms.

7.0
Picture Quality
HDR Peak Brightness
HDR Real Scene
443 cd/mĀ²
HDR Peak 2% Window
492 cd/mĀ²
HDR Peak 10% Window
493 cd/mĀ²
HDR Peak 25% Window
493 cd/mĀ²
HDR Peak 50% Window
494 cd/mĀ²
HDR Peak 100% Window
494 cd/mĀ²
HDR Sustained 2% Window
491 cd/mĀ²
HDR Sustained 10% Window
493 cd/mĀ²
HDR Sustained 25% Window
493 cd/mĀ²
HDR Sustained 50% Window
493 cd/mĀ²
HDR Sustained 100% Window
494 cd/mĀ²
HDR ABL
0.000

The HDR peak brightness is decent, though it won't be able to bring out highlights in HDR content. There are two HDR modes on this monitor: an 'Auto' mode and an HDR400 mode. The 'Auto' mode tends to clip colors and doesn't really offer any benefit in terms of brightness. We recommend leaving the setting in HDR400 mode. All of our tests were done in HDR400, at maximum brightness.

8.2
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
46Ā°
Color Washout From Right
47Ā°
Color Shift From Left
57Ā°
Color Shift From Right
59Ā°
Brightness Loss From Left
46Ā°
Brightness Loss From Right
48Ā°
Black Level Raise From Left
70Ā°
Black Level Raise From Right
70Ā°
Gamma Shift From Left
45Ā°
Gamma Shift From Right
47Ā°

Great horizontal viewing angle, which is expected from an IPS panel. This is great if you need to share your screen with others as the image remains accurate when viewed from the side.

7.1
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
31Ā°
Color Washout From Above
35Ā°
Color Shift From Below
38Ā°
Color Shift From Above
44Ā°
Brightness Loss From Below
36Ā°
Brightness Loss From Above
40Ā°
Black Level Raise From Below
70Ā°
Black Level Raise From Above
70Ā°
Gamma Shift From Below
31Ā°
Gamma Shift From Above
35Ā°

Okay vertical viewing angle. You lose some image accuracy if it's mounted above or below eye level, but this shouldn't be a problem for most people.

8.8
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
2.884%
50% DSE
0.104%
5% Std. Dev.
0.347%
5% DSE
0.028%

The Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx has remarkable gray uniformity. There's some vignetting in the top corners, but the center of the screen is fairly uniform, so you shouldn't notice any dirty screen effect.

6.9
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
1.362%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

The Acer Nitro XV273X has acceptable black uniformity. There's a little bit of backlight bleed at the bottom of the screen and some blooming around the center cross, but it's only noticeable when viewing dark scenes in a dark room.

9.3
Picture Quality
Pre Calibration
Picture Mode
User
Luminance
204 cd/mĀ²
Luminance Settings
30
Contrast Setting
50
RGB Controls
Warm
Gamma Setting
2.2 (Default)
Color Temperature
6,562 K
White Balance dE
0.77
Color dE
1.30
Gamma
2.15

Out of the box, this monitor has exceptional color accuracy. It follows the gamma very well and most scenes are displayed at the correct brightness.

Our tests were done with the sRGB mode enabled, as this is the most accurate setting and the recommended one for most users. However, all settings are locked when using this preset, as any change will disable it. Furthermore, when sRGB mode is disabled, the monitor's color accuracy declines significantly, even in 'User' mode with our pre-calibration settings.

9.7
Picture Quality
Post Calibration
Picture Mode
User
Luminance
99 cd/mĀ²
Luminance Settings
5
Contrast Setting
50
RGB Controls
41-38-50
Gamma Setting
2.2
Color Temperature
6,474 K
White Balance dE
0.53
Color dE
0.39
Gamma
2.18

After calibration, it has superb color accuracy. Any remaining inaccuracies shouldn't be noticeable.

You can download our ICC profile calibration here. This is provided for reference only and shouldn't be used, as the calibration values vary per individual unit even for the same model due to manufacturing tolerances.

8.8
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB xy
98.7%
Adobe RGB xy
76.0%
sRGB Picture Mode
User
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
User

Amazing SDR color gamut. It covers nearly all of the sRGB color space used in most content and has good coverage of the wider Adobe RGB color space used in photo editing.

8.9
Picture Quality
SDR Color Volume
sRGB In ICtCp
97.1%
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
81.0%
sRGB Picture Mode
User
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
User

Excellent SDR color volume. This monitor can display its color gamut well, but due to its mediocre contrast ratio, it can't display dark colors very well.

6.2
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
No
DCI P3 xy
65.7%
Rec. 2020 xy
57.8%
DCI P3 Picture Mode
HDR400
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
HDR400

The Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx fails to display a wide color gamut, so it can't produce the range of colors needed in HDR.

5.8
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
DCI-P3 In ICtCp
64.2%
Rec. 2020 In ICtCp
52.2%
DCI P3 Picture Mode
HDR400
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
HDR400

This monitor has a disappointing HDR color volume. Due to the limited HDR color gamut and the low contrast ratio, it won't be able to produce dark, saturated colors.

10
Picture Quality
Image Retention
IR After 0 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 2 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 4 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 6 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 8 Min Recovery
0.00%
IR After 10 Min Recovery
0.00%

The Acer Nitro XV273X doesn't exhibit any signs of image retention.

9.8
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit

Outstanding gradient handling, with virtually no noticeable banding.

9.1
Picture Quality
Color Bleed
Pixel Row Error
0.000%
Pixel Column Error
0.183%

There's some very minor vertical color bleed, but it's not visible with most content.

7.3
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
5.6%
Indirect Reflections
2.9%
Calculated Direct Reflections
2.7%

The Acer Nitro XV273X has good reflection handling and shouldn't cause any issues in brightly-lit rooms. If you need a similar monitor with better reflection handling, check out the ViewSonic Elite XG270.

7.0
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
IPS
Sub-Pixel Layout
RGB

Decent text clarity. With ClearType enabled (top photo), diagonal lines, such as on the R and N, are more clear.

Motion
9.4
Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Best Overdrive Setting
Normal
Rise / Fall Time
4.1 ms
Total Response Time
8.4 ms
Overshoot Error
0.2%
Dark Rise / Fall Time
4.8 ms
Dark Total Response Time
9.4 ms
Dark Overshoot Error
0.0%

Overdrive Setting Response Time Chart Response Time Tables Motion Blur Photo
Off Chart Table Photo
Normal Chart Table Photo
Extreme Chart Table Photo

The Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx has an outstanding response time, which is normal for a 240Hz monitor. Motion looks extremely clear and the best Overdrive setting is 'Normal' as it has a quick response time with almost no overshoot.

9.0
Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Best Overdrive Setting
Off
Rise / Fall Time
5.1 ms
Total Response Time
11.2 ms
Overshoot Error
0%
Dark Rise / Fall Time
5.6 ms
Dark Total Response Time
10.5 ms
Dark Overshoot Error
0.0%

Overdrive Setting Response Time Chart Response Time Tables Motion Blur Photo
Off Chart Table Photo
Normal Chart Table Photo
Extreme Chart Table Photo

Excellent response time at 60Hz, which is great for console gamers. The recommended Overdrive setting is 'Off' as motion looks the best and the other settings have significantly more overshoot. This performs similarly to the ViewSonic Elite XG270.

10
Motion
Image Flicker
Flicker-Free Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz

This monitor has a flicker-free backlight, which helps reduce eye strain.

6.3
Motion
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
Yes
BFI Maximum Frequency
240 Hz
BFI Minimum Frequency
120 Hz

There's a black frame insertion feature to help reduce motion blur. The BFI feature has brightness compensation and it was noticeable when the monitor's brightness was set around or below 100nits.

9.6
Motion
Refresh Rate
Variable Refresh Rate
FreeSync
Native
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
240 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
FreeSync
Yes
G-SYNC
Compatible (NVIDIA Certified)
VRR Maximum
240 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors DisplayPort, HDMI

The Acer Nitro XV273X has an exceptional refresh rate. It supports FreeSync and is G-SYNC compatible, and it has a wide VRR range. If you want a monitor with a higher refresh rate for a smoother gaming experience, check out the ASUS ROG Swift 360Hz PG259QN.

Inputs
9.6
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution
2.7 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
11.4 ms
Variable Refresh Rate
3.1 ms
Variable Refresh Rate @ 60Hz
12.5 ms
10 Bit HDR
12.2 ms
Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
4.6 ms

Excellent low input lag, even with VRR enabled. Since 10-bit HDR only works over 60Hz, the input lag is significantly higher. If input lag at 60Hz is important to you, check out the LG 27GN750-B.

Note: Forcing HDR over a higher refresh rate results in a green tint being displayed.

7.1
Inputs
Resolution And Size
Native Resolution 1920 x 1080
Aspect Ratio 16:9
Megapixels 2.1 MP
Pixel Density
82 PPI
Screen Diagonal 27.0"
Screen Area 310 inĀ²

The 1080p resolution is okay for gaming, as it helps to achieve a higher frame rate for a smooth gaming experience, but it's less ideal for multitasking.

Inputs
Inputs
Inputs
Total Inputs
DisplayPort 1 (DP 1.2)
Mini DisplayPort No
HDMI 2 (HDMI 2.0)
DVI No
VGA No
DisplayPort Out No
USB 4 (USB 3.0)
USB C No
Analog Audio Out 3.5mm 1
Microphone In 3.5mm No
Digital Optical Audio Out No
Analog Audio Out RCA No
Power Supply Internal
Features
Features
Additional Features
RGB Illumination
No
Speakers
Yes
HDR10 Yes
Multiple Input Display
No

The Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx has a few extra features, such as:

  • Blue light suppression to reduce eye strain.
  • Crosshair for FPS games.
  • Frame rate counter.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)
Features
Controls

The controls are located on the right back side of the monitor. It has a joystick to make navigating the menu easier.

Features
In The Box

  • Calibration report and user guide
  • Power cable
  • USB-B cable
  • HDMI cable