Acer Predator XB273U F5 27-inch QHD 360 Hz gaming monitor review: Utilizing G-Sync Pulsar to deliver phenomenal blur reduction

G-Sync Pulsar blur reduction tech makes its debut in Acer’s Predator XB273U F5.

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Acer Predator XB273U F5
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Comparing the XB273U F5’s performance is a little challenging at the moment because it’s the first G-Sync Pulsar monitor I’ve reviewed. And it’s somewhat rare being a 360 Hz QHD LCD. Most new and current speedy screens are OLEDs. I mined the database for other 27-inch QHD IPS and VA panels and came up with KTC’s H27E6, AOC’s Q27G4ZMN and CQ27G4ZH, HP’s Omen 27qs G2, and Gigabyte’s GS27QXA.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Acer Predator XB273U F5

(Image credit: 3DTested)

Since I’m now using Nvidia’s LDAT sensor to test panel response, I don’t have any other LCDs to chart with the XB273U F5. It transitioned from black to white in a one-inch square in 2.4ms at 360 Hz. OLEDs I’ve run this test on take around 0.2ms. As I gather more data, I’ll be able to draw more useful conclusions.

In the input lag test, I averaged 25 clicks of the LDAT, equating to 25 mouse clicks, and came up with a quick 14.6ms average. That puts the XB273U F5 on par with many 500 Hz LCDs and most speedy OLEDs as well. It is more than worthy of professional competition.

Test Takeaway: Based on the smoothness I observed and its super low input lag, the XB273U F5 is the first LCD that delivers gaming performance equal to a premium OLED gaming monitor. G-Sync Pulsar provides visually perfect motion resolution and instant control response at 360 Hz.

Viewing Angles

Acer Predator XB273U F5

(Image credit: 3DTested)

The XB273U F5 is one of the better IPS screens I’ve photographed in the viewing angle test. You can see a slight red tint and darker gamma, but there is no change to overall brightness at 45 degrees horizontal. One could successfully share it with another user. From the top, there’s a red tint, a 40% brightness reduction and lighter gamma, which washes out detail.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

Acer Predator XB273U F5

(Image credit: 3DTested)

Given the dance that the XB273U F5’s backlight is doing with its rolling scan, I’m impressed at its visually error-free screen uniformity. My meter detected a slight hotspot in the lower-right corner, but I couldn’t see the issue in dark content. This is solid performance.

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Christian Eberle
Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor
1 Comment Comment from the forums
  • Findecanor
    The type of responsiveness I would like to see tested, is how fast it adapts when the input source's resolution / refresh rate changes, or when input disappears completely.

    Last year, I worked at a company that delivered and installed screens, and programming equipment that switched input to them, and this was a recurring problem with "modern" devices that we didn't have with older equipment that we replaced.
    Brand new big expensive projectors got completely flummoxed when someone yanked the HDMI connector: they could not even be turned off with the remote control before you connected a source again.

    My newest screen at home is supposedly a "fast 180 Hz gaming screen" but it is so slow at startup that I never see the BIOS splash screen any more. When putting my PC in standby mode, I can not turn off the screen directly afterwards and instead have to do it before or wait five seconds until it figures out what is going on.
    Previously I had not imagined that equipment could be this bad.
    Reply