Acer BE270U Review
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Overall
Review of Acer BE270U
1440p monitors has been bridging the gap between 1080p and 4k for quite some time now. In fact, as the recent product releases go, we can consider it as the next mainstream resolution as it slowly becomes the norm that 1080p has been holding for quite some time. The market for such monitors with this resolution is lucrative because currently, it offers a step beyond what 1080p offers, but it also provides a slice of the 4k pie (regarding detail and clarity) without the cost and the upgrade to current hardware. In this regard, Acer offers the BE270U for professionals who require a visual revolution from old monitors, but without all the dazzling accessories and features most modern products have. Aside from the 2560 x 1440 resolution, this model also offers a 48-75hz refresh rate range with Freesync certification, a 178-degree viewing angle IPS panel, and 100% coverage of the sRGB color space wrapped in an unobtrusive package with a $500 price tag.
Technical Specs of Acer BE270U
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 2K 1440p
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 75hz
- Response Time: 6ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1
- Brightness: 350 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 2 watts)
- Stand: Height -Yes (5.91 Inches)
- Stand: Tilt – Yes (-5°/+35°)
- Stand: Swivel – Yes (60°/60°)
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100×100)
- Connectivity: MHL ports x2, DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, Mini DisplayPort x 1, DisplayPort out x 1 , USB 3.0 x 5, USB 3.1 Type-C x 1
Design and Features
The external looks of the BE270U are as typical as any professional monitors available today. But what’s striking about it is its thinner-than-most bezel which Acer calls the Zero frame design. This characteristic, of course, is a welcome design feature for both professional and gaming monitors for fewer distractions and a perceived larger viewing area. The cabinet is finished in a brushed texture in black with a subtle hint of shine, giving this a product a sophisticated look that does not overpower. In a single glance, this gadget would not look out of place in a high-end studio. Since the borders are so thin, Acer has placed five tactile buttons on the underside of the bottom strip for a discrete look. This placement is ideal visually for me since putting them on the face of the monitor itself gives it a rather old look. Even if the bezel that holds them is so thin, they do not protrude too much to be noticed.
Considering the multistream capability of this product, Acer has included a multitude of connection options for the BE270U. Aside from the usual HDMI and DisplayPort connectors, the most notable inclusions are two MHL ports, a DisplayPort Out, and a USB 3.1 Type-C. These additional ports allow for multiple sources to connect to the monitor for multistream and PiP (picture in picture). Acer is smart enough to give us these features, so the “Professional” tag becomes even more evident. Having multiple outputs on the screen translates to efficiency since it eliminates the need for multiple desktops or shifts in controlling and viewing other devices. Although, what piques our interest is the inclusion of the DisplayPort out, which is highly unusual. It turns out that this connector allows daisy chaining between two or three displays for an even wider view of your workspace. Quite handy for those looking for a super-wide viewing capacity. Graphic designers will surely have a heyday when they work with three BE270Us working in unison.
Surprisingly, despite the various options above, this model does not come with audio jacks. Not that it’s highly relevant, but there may be a few users who would appreciate having these ports for convenience. Instead of jacks, Acer has built in two 2-watt speakers into the rear cabinet. They sound like the frequent built-in speakers; they don’t go loud and distort quickly in boomy sound effects plus their orientation is quite peculiar. But even so, this monitor was meant for a quiet ambiance in an office or a studio, so the speakers could probably get used as a BGM source at the most. As for the stand, not a lot can be said about it. It’s a T-shaped mechanism, with an indented surface on the base for little bits and pieces you would normally have cluttering your desk. Despite the minimal aesthetics, the build quality is very sturdy, and the mount offers a good amount of articulation. The neck also features a cable tidy whole to keep messy wires in place (there could be a lot of cables running around especially when using multi-monitor or multistream) and it also detaches from the cabinet revealing VESA holes for aftermarket options.
Display and Performance
The Acer BE270U features a 27-inch IPS panel that produces 16.7 million colors and boasts of 100% sRGB coverage. As I have said before, 1440p and 27 inches of the desktop real estate is a match made in heaven. The increased window space in a frame of this size is a recognizable different coming from a standard 1080p unit, but you don’t have to squint at pictures to see detail and read the text. Colors are pretty accurate and vibrant, except when operating out of the box. Still, a little tweaking is necessary to take advantage of the monitor’s 1000:1 contrast so shades can pop out correctly. The viewing angle is superb, and the brightness of up to 350cd/m2 does a good job of lighting up the whole picture. As with all monitors, adjusting gamma and brightness according to preferences enhances the contrast performance and overall viewing comfort and pleasure. Setting a warmer color tone in the OSD provides a more accurate balance of colors between the screen and printed outputs as well.
This model’s panel features a 75hz refresh rate with a 6ms response time. You can’t consider these numbers to be cutting edge, but this product was not meant to play high-intensity images found in gaming. Even so, 75hz is still plenty for casual gaming, and most of these types of gamers prefer high to ultra graphic settings instead of high FPS so playing games at their max in this resolution could fit the monitor’s capability correctly. On paper, 6ms is quite slow compared to the 1ms response times their Predator line advertises, but this number rarely comes noticeable when playing at home or in the office. Even if 75hz isn’t a hard enough refresh rate to reach for gaming PCs, tearing and blurring can still appear apparent. Its a good thing that the BE270U comes with a Freesync certification. Enabling this technology reduces the ghosting and slight tearing while gaming at 60 to 75FPS and the tech also improves the input lag the monitor has in such applications. Thus it increases the connected feel the user gets concerning the controls and how it plays into the image on the screen.
Aside from all the technical stuff, Acer did not forget to provide eye safety features with the BE270U. This inclusion is entirely necessary since, in professional use, users may end up staring at the display for several hours on end. The WLED backlighting uses DC power instead of PWM power to adjust and control the brightness, so the screen is virtually flicker-free. The manufacturer has also incorporated a discrete anti-glare layer which does a good job of keeping blinding reflections a way while keeping the already minimal radiation at bay. Over all, this product is very comfortable to use since it has such a thin and unnoticeable border.
Conclusion
Acer packages the BE270U as a no-compromise, entry level professional monitor that features a stunning and color accurate display in a sleek and discrete 27″ unit. While not as stellar regarding color performance when compared to higher-end models, the 8-bit and 100% sRGB coverage this model provides is more than adequate for a general use setting for studios or offices. The addition of Freesync also confirms a gaming pedigree on the side making this product far more capable of wide use than most of the productivity monitors company provides. While the 75hz and 6ms rate is not as cutting edge as most gaming monitors advertise, it still is plenty for casual gaming on the side. But when describing a display as such, 500$ is quite steep considering the entry-level rating and features we have encountered in this review.