Entry-level OLED gaming is now, officially, affordable. This Acer 27-inch 1440p QD-OLED does come with some compromises in terms of brightness. But OLED gaming, even slightly attenuated, is still something very special indeed.
Key specs: 27-inch | 2560 X 1440 | 240 Hz | 0.03 ms | 200 nits SDR / 400 nits HDR | QD-OLEDView Deal
OK peeps. I’ve done the hard graft, so you don’t have to. I give you the Acer Predator X27U W1bmiiprx. Yes, that’s the X27U W1bmiiprx, not the X27U Z1bmiiprx, and it’s very likely the cheapest big-brand OLED gaming monitor ever at just $315 on Amazon right now for Prime Day.
It should be noted that Acer’s product naming scheme for monitors is catastrophically bad. Along with this W1bmiiprx model, there are numerous other Acer Predator X27U models, including the A1bmiiprx, X1bmiiphx, Z2bmiiprx, Fbmiipphuzx and the aforementioned Z1bmiiprx, for which Jacob spotted a pretty sweet deal yesterday.
Making matters worse, Acer’s own website often has incomplete or even inaccurate information, making it a minefield in terms of knowing what you are buying.
But like I said, I’ve done the leg work, so you don’t have to. What you’re getting with the X27U W1bmiiprx is a 27-inch 1440p QD-OLED panel just like all the other X27U models. But the devil is in the detail.
We’re curating all the best Prime Day PC gaming deals here
This is one of a more recent class of entry-level spec OLED monitors using a somewhat downgraded Samsung QD-OLED panel. It runs at 240 Hz and offers 0.03 ms response. So, the speed is all there. It’s in the brightness where you are making compromises.
Full-screen brightness is rated at 200 nits. Early QD-OLEDs hit 250 nits and more recent panel generations have achieved 300 nits. Peak HDR brightness in a small window is pegged at 400 nits, well below the typical 1,000 nits of most QD-OLED monitors.
In fact, the specs are pretty much identical to the Alienware AW2726DM I reviewed in May. I came away very much impressed by that Alienware at $349, so this Acer for $315 looks even more appealing.
There are caveats. The brightness is a limitation. I found with the Alienware that what you need to do is run it in HDR mode and crank up the SDR brightness in the Windows Settings menu.
The Acer’s specs are a dead ringer for the Alienware AW2726DM. (Image credit: Future)
Then basically run everything in dark mode and you get a nice, punchy experience. That may sound a bit convoluted. But I prefer to run Windows, apps and websites in dark mode, anyway. If you do, too, then this Acer could be a good fit.
In that scenario, you get all the usual OLED goodness. That means perfect per-pixel lighting, incredible pixel speed, fantastic viewing angles, yada, yada, yada.
One final warning to note involves ambient light. If you sit your PC next to a large window, this monitor may not be the best choice. Along with the brightness limitations, this is an OG QD-OLED panel and that means there’s a purple tint issue in bright ambient light.
But that aside, for $315 this monitor is one heck of a deal and a very affordable way to get into OLED gaming.
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