The Acer CB272 is an ideal daily driver for a wide range of users that need a large and clear screen without spending a small fortune. We now have displays that have a lot to offer such as HDR and high refresh rates, but value monitors offer an affordable solution for more basic applications such as office work. The Acer CB272 is incredibly cheap now, but let’s take a closer look first at what it has to offer.
Acer CB272 Specifications
- Screen Size: 27 Inches
- Resolution: 11920 x 1080 Full HD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 75Hz
- Response Time: 1ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 250 cd/m²
- Built-in Speakers: Yes (2 x 2 Watts)
- Stand: Height -Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel – Yes
- Stand: Pivot– Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.2 x 1, HDMI 1.4x 1, VGA x 1, 3.5mm Audio Jack
- Dimensions with Stand (WxHxD): 24.49″ x 16.02″ x 9.17″
- Weight: 12 lbs
Design and Features
The Acer CB272’s chassis looks identical to its high-end counterparts like the Acer CP271K in some ways, such as its rear panel’s shape and pattern. The monitor is finished in matte black which gives it a sleek look while keeping the new look longer. The display is bezel-free on three sides so this model is suitable for multi-display setups or if you simply want a maximized view.
Take note that the Acer CB272 is slightly larger than your usual office monitor so make sure that you have enough clear space for it. The device needs a little over 9 inches of depth with its circular base, so users with small study corners and deep keyboards might have trouble with placement. The device once fully assembled only weighs 12 pounds, so moving it around shouldn’t be too difficult.
The Acer CB272’s build quality is excellent for a monitor at this price and is comparable to some of the brand’s upper-tier offerings. The plastics used on the housing feel like they can take a beating, while the stand’s mechanism feels smooth yet firm. The monitor doesn’t wobble during use, indicating that this model has a sound design and good material selection.
Another attractive characteristic of the Acer CB272 is its use of an OSD joystick instead of the more common button layouts. Most products in the same class usually have the latter, but many brands like Samsung and LG are now incorporating more convenient ways to manipulate the functions. This model has well-equipped menus and sub-menus, so getting to a setting faster and easier is a must.
Another surprise the Acer CB272 brings to the table is it has a fully-adjustable stand which is rare at this price point. You can tilt, swivel, pivot, and adjust the height of the monitor, so it’s conveniently doable to get a perfect view angle. You can also opt for VESA mounts with this variant, but we think it’s only necessary if you are building a dual or triple-head setup.
The Acer CB272 also has a DisplayPort 1.2 slot to go with its HDMI 1.4 and VGA connector for video inputs. DP is the sought after standard for PC users since modern GPUs use more nowadays, plus it leaves the HDMI port for other devices such as gaming consoles. There is also a 3.5mm jack with the layout, but there are no USB slots which would come in handy for productivity.
The Acer CB272 includes a pair of 2-watt speakers which are useful for basic purposes. They are suited for minor tasks like conference calls or even background music, but they aren’t powerful enough for entertainment use. They lack bass and volume, but that’s okay since this is budget model.
Display and Performance
The Acer CB272 sports a 27-inch IPS panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, 75Hz refresh rate, and a 1ms VRB response time. The backlight only goes up to 250 cd/m2, while the listed contrast ratio sits at 1000:1 like most IPS variants. This model is more for business and daily use, so we’re surprised that it has a boosted pixel response time which is usually reserved for gaming variants.
The Acer CB272’s 1080p screen has a looser than the ideal pixel density which some users complain about. The screen can look pixelated when viewed up close, but it’s not as bad as many claim while playing games or watching movies. Small objects won’t be as sharp as a 1440p display, but visibility is increased since everything will look bigger compared to your usual display.
The Acer CB272 covers 97% of the sRGB gamut which is more than decent for daily use, including games and movies. Accuracy could be better due to the delta E average of 2.8, but it’s within a reasonable limit that sits before discoloration or oversaturation becomes truly noticeable. The screen is slightly cooler than the ideal 6500K, but the bluish tint against white backgrounds is minimal.
You can improve the color accuracy to a delta E of only 1.8, but the jump isn’t immediately noticeable by the naked eye. Some colors on the red and green side of the spectrum will look more natural, but the cost of a colorimeter isn’t worth it. Adjusting the RGB sliders to your liking is a more practical approach, but the Acer CB272 is already decent enough for daily use by default anyway.
The Acer CB272 can’t get very bright since its backlight is limited to a maximum output of only 265 cd/m2. However, that’s more than decent for extended use since anything above 200 cd/m2 will sear your eyeballs. The screen’s contrast ratio only reached 880:1 at 60% brightness, so it has a tendency to display gray instead of black, especially in the dark.
Panel uniformity for the Acer CB272 is great since there are no noticeable leaks or clouding issues. The upper corners are slightly dimmer than the rest of the quadrants, but the loss of contrast and color deviances are not visible to the naked eye. However, take note that IPS panels vary wildly due to some tolerances, so there are worse and better units out there.
The Acer CB272 has a 75Hz refresh ceiling, so it adds a hint of smoothness for games and the screen’s general motion handling. However, the screen is still prone to ghosting in some cases, so using the monitor’s overdrive is a must. But we can only recommend using the middle setting since the maximum which activates the VRB feature of the monitor induces noticeable overshoot.
The Acer CB272 is a FreeSync monitor, but it’s not tested and certified to work with Nvidia’s G-Sync compatibility feature. You can force it via the Nvidia Control Panel, but there are no guarantees that it will work flawlessly. Input lag sits at 9ms, so there are no delays or “de-synced” instances with this model.
Thoughts on the Acer CB272
The Acer CB272 is a fantastic choice for casual gaming or working at home thanks to its excellent price which includes a sleek design and decent image quality. It’s rare to find a fully adjustable monitor at this price that has an extended refresh rate and improved motion handling. The color quality of the display isn’t perfect, but we think most users won’t be bothered by the very minor color errors.
The most significant concern about the Acer CB272 is its low contrast which is prevalent on budget to midrange IPS panels. You also don’t get speakers who are quite useful for the product’s intended audience. However, these are minor complaints if you are paying around $150, especially since you get a large IPS display with it.
Pros:
- Fully Adjustable Stand
- Affordable
- Good Color Coverage and Default Accuracy
- FreeSync Compatible
- Great for Working at Home
Cons:
- Low Contrast
- No USB Ports
- Overdrive Adds Overshoot
About the Author:
Paolo is a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since his junior high years. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations and he believes that it’s every citizen’s right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear to create reviews that accentuate the seldom explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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