The Acer Predator Z57 is one of the craziest monitor releases in an OLED-biased market thanks to its insane dual UHD resolution. It’s basically equivalent to two 27-inch 4K monitors side by side but without the cumbersome cables and bezels in between. It’s a two-grand monitor, so let’s check if it’s worth the investment.
Acer Predator Z57 Specifications
- Screen Size: 49 Inches
- Resolution: 7680 x 2160 DUHD
- Aspect Ratio: 32:9
- Panel Technology: Vertical Alignment (VA)
- Refresh Rate: 120Hz
- Response Time: 2.4 ms
- Contrast Ratio: 3000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 400 cd/m² (1000 cd/m² Peak)
- Speakers: Yes (2 x 10 Watts)
- Stand: Height–Yes
- Stand: Tilt – Yes
- Stand: Swivel–Yes
- VESA Compatibility: Yes (100 x 100)
- Connectivity: DisplayPort 1.4 x 1, HDMI 2.1 x 2, USB-C PD90W x 1, USB 3.2 x 4
- Dimension (W x H x D): 51.73” x 24.33” x 28.71”
- Weight: 33.07 lbs
Design and Features
The Acer Predator Z57 isn’t as flashy as the old ultrawides from the brand, but it still has the signature elements of the series. The monitor has a matte black finish with discrete details, so it doesn’t look too overbearing like the black and red models. The screen has a bezel-free design, but it still has inner borders like most modern monitors.
It’s a massive monitor, so many might have to buy new desks along with the usual peripherals to accommodate it. The device is almost 52 inches wide and 29 inches deep, so it’s safe to assume that other large devices like bookshelf speakers will not have enough room on a standard-sized table. It’s also very heavy at 33 pounds, so asking for help might be wise in assembling and setting it up.
The Acer Predator Z57 is a premium model, so its build quality isn’t compromised. The plastic panels are thick and sturdy, and no cosmetic defects exist on any of its parts. The included stand is firm and stable, but because of its size and weight, it can still wobble if you nudge the screen.
It has an OSD joystick for easy access to its settings and exclusive features. You don’t see it, but it’s very easy to access without standing up or leaning in too much. Other monitors have remotes, but those are mostly unnecessary for daily use and they add more to the price tag.
The Acer Predator Z57’s stand offers tilt, swivel, and height adjustments for your convenience. Pivoting wasn’t included since it’s impossible to position a monitor this wide in portrait mode. You can use VESA mounts, but it would be very difficult to find one that supports the size and weight of this model.
Its connectivity layout includes DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.1 slots, and a 90-watt USB-C port with DP Alt mode. It also has a total of 4 USB 3.2 ports for peripherals, and a 3.5mm jack for headphones. That’s well-rounded for a gaming monitor, and it makes the product more flexible since you can use work-related devices and consoles with it.
The Acer Predator Z57 has a pair of 10-watt speakers which overpower a lot of the built-ins found on competitors. They sound loud and clear enough for games and movies, so another set might not be needed. They aren’t as bassy or crisp as a bookshelf or 2.1 sets, but it’s always nice to have a usable backup for when it’s too hot to use the more immersive headphones.
Display and Performance
The Acer Predator Z57 boasts a 57-inch VA panel with a 7680 x 2160 DUHD resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a 2.4ms minimum response time. The mini-LED backlight has a 400 cd/m² output and a 1000 cd/m² peak, while its contrast is listed at 3000:1. This model has HDR 1000 certification, so it can produce better HDR performance thanks to its searing mini-LED backlight.
The screen’s dual UHD resolution is directly comparable to two 4K screens as mentioned. That means double the sharpness and clarity, plus acres of room to maneuver your programs for multitasking. Games look stunning, but you might need to use scaling to reduce eye strain for productivity purposes.
The Acer Predator Z57 covers 100% sRGB and 97% DCI-P3 for stunning colors in games and movies. Its default accuracy had a deltaE average of 0.93 thanks to factory calibration, so it’s ready to go for games and professional use out of the box. The only thing you’d have to adjust is its brightness which can be blinding when left at default.
Calibrating it reduced the dE average to 0.73, making it even more accurate than it already is. However, there is a point of diminishing returns in this regard, so the improvement might not be noticeable to most users. Buying a colorimeter is not worth it this time, unless you will use the monitor for color-critical work or business.
The Acer Predator Z57’s backlight reached 481 cd/m² in SDR but it peaked at 1377 cd/m² in HDR scenes. Its contrast reached 4200:1 at 40% brightness, but it expanded exponentially when the mini-LED backlight worked its magic. It’s fantastic for HDR gaming, and only OLED panels will be better at this point.
Its panel uniformity did have issues even if it has over two thousand mini-LED zones. Some backlight leaks show at the top edge of the screen, and there were some haloing in contrasting scenes. There are better units out there, but only OLED can truly eliminate the issues added by LED backlights like this.
The biggest weakness of the Acer Predator Z57 is its pixel response time due to the panel type. It shows blurring and ghosting in fast-paced transitions, especially when a bright object on a dark background and vice-versa appear on screen. Using its overdrive feature helped a bit, but setting it too high will add overshoot.
The Acer Predator Z57 is compatible with FreeSync and G-Sync for stutter and tearing-free gaming. Dual compatibility is necessary for a big investment like this so you don’t have to ditch the monitor if you upgraded to the other GPU brand and still want VRR functionality. Its input lag sits at 4ms at 120Hz, so it’s just as responsive as most of the 120Hz 4K monitors out there.
Thoughts on the Acer Predator Z57
The Acer Predator Z57 is a fantastic monitor based on its specifications and performance. Its default accuracy is fantastic, and its HDR performance numbers such as its brightness and contrast are brilliant. It’s built well and equipped to the gills with features, so it’s a great buy for the right user.
It’s not perfect, but its most pressing deal-breaker is its sky-high price tag. This Neo G9 from Samsung can be bought for around the same price, but it has the advantage in terms of specifications since it’s 240Hz. The Acer Predator Z57 is still an excellent monitor, but we’d wait for pricing to come down before pulling the trigger.
Pros:
- Bright and High Contrast
- Excellent Color Accuracy and Gamut Coverage
- Lots of Connectors
- Great Build Quality and Features
Cons:
- Limited to 120Hz
- Expensive MSRP
About the Author: 
Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that 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.
Leave a Reply