The Acer XB253Q GP is a premium Fast-IPS gaming monitor designed to provide great color and responsiveness for superb gaming and entertainment. The monitor rolls with the same specs such as the AOC 24G2, but it packs a few more extras such as HDR capability and full G-Sync Compatible certification. The Acer XB253Q GP is at the higher-priced tier of its category, so let’s check out if that also translates to a considerably better overall experience.
Acer XB253Q GP Specifications
- Screen Size: 25 Inches
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 Full HD
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Panel Technology: In-Plane Switching (IPS)
- Refresh Rate: 144Hz
- Response Time: 2ms
- Contrast Ratio: 1000:1 (Static)
- Brightness: 400 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 2.0 x 1, USB 3.0 x 5, 3.5mm Jack x 1
- Dimensions with Stand(WxHxD): 22” x 20.2” x 9.3”
- Weight: 11.8 lbs
Design and Features
The Acer XB253Q GP is almost perfectly identical to the XN253QX which is differentiated by its higher 240Hz refresh rate. the monitor has a matte black chassis that’s accented with gunmetal pegs on the stand. The display is bezel-free on three sides, but you will still see inner borders when it’s powered on.
The Acer XB253Q GP is only slightly bigger than your typical monitor, so it should fit right into most setups. The base of the stand extends a bit towards the back, increasing the overall depth to a little under 10 inches. However, it is still within reasonable limits and it doesn’t add too much weight since the device only weighs 12 pounds when fully assembled.
Build quality is excellent as expected from a Predator monitor, so you won’t have to worry about physical deterioration or damage in the long run. There are no cosmetic defects as well, so every panel matches each other perfectly without any gaps. The stand’s tripod base offers excellent stability, and there is no wobble on the attachment point even if you poke the screen.
The Acer XB253Q GP also has an OSD joystick which is quite easy to access even if its located at the rear of the chassis. You don’t have to repeatedly press buttons to get to a submenu, and that’s a huge plus for the user in our opinion. It also makes it easier to tweak a setting on the fly such as the backlight while you are in the heat of battle.
The stand included with the Acer XB253Q GP offers tilt, swivel, pivot, and height adjustments, so virtually any view angle is possible. The mechanism on the adjustment point is smooth yet firm enough to hold the position you’ve set without sagging. You can opt for VESA mounts, but we feel that it’s only necessary for multi-display builds or if you absolutely need the extra space.
You will also find a USB hub on the side and a headset hanger that pops out of the stand’s upright. These are minor extras, but they make life easier for gamers that usually have a lot of things going on their desks.
The Acer XB253Q GP doesn’t have a lot of connectivity options by today’s standards, but it does include everything you will ever need. The layout includes DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 2.0 for video inputs along with five USB 3.0 slots for your peripherals. You will also find a 3.5mm port for your headphones, but we know most will use the one on the PC’s I/O.
The Acer XB253Q GP also includes speakers, but their 2-watts of power aren’t sufficient in producing an audio quality that’s suitable for gaming. However, they are suitable as a secondary for purposes such as work from home use, so they add value to the monitor as well.
Display and Performance
The Acer XB253Q GP sports a 25-inch IPS panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, and a 2ms response time. The backlight has a 400 cd/m2 rating, along with a 1000:1 contrast ratio like most IPS panels. This model is HDR 400 compatible, but the standard doesn’t present a lot of improvement to the range of detail and colors in most cases.
The 25-inch screen and 1080p resolution of the Acer XB253Q GP are directly comparable to typical monitors such as those you will at the office. The pixel density is just right, so visibility is clear even without scaling. Full HD is rather easy to run for most modern GPUs, so the 144Hz threshold is easy to maximize on almost every title available.
The Acer XB253Q GP is capable of 100% sRGB coverage and a decent deltaE average of 1.96. The screen has very accurate gamma modes so always looks balanced as long as you have it at 2.2. The color temperature, however, exceeds the 6500K point so there is a slight tint of blue when viewing white backgrounds.
Calibrating the monitor can improve the dE average to 1.56 which is slightly better, but not worth the cost of a colorimeter for gaming. The color temperature will also slightly improve, but we were not able to get rid of the bluish tint of the screen. Thankfully, it’s a minor flaw, so it shouldn’t affect the visual games on an annoying scale.
The Acer XB253Q GP reached 392 cd/m2 at 100% brightness which misses its HDR 400 spec by a few notches. However, contrast is excellent at 1290:1 at 60% of the backlight, so the black luminance and grayscale performance are slightly better on this model. It can still look grayish when the lights are out, but that’s acceptable for IPS panels.
The Acer XB253Q GP has an excellent overall image quality, but it’s marred by backlight leaks on the top edges. Dark scenes are affected with clouding issues, but its less noticeable on full-color images. This varies between every unit due to manufacturing tolerances, so there are better units out there.
Responsiveness is excellent on this model like most Fast-IPS monitors we’ve recently reviewed. You only need to apply a moderate amount of overdrive on this model to correct the slight persistence that still shows up. However, be wary of using the maximum level since it will add overshoot which is worse than the very minimal blurs on the monitor.
The Acer XB253Q GP is a FreeSync gaming monitor, but its also certified to be G-Sync compatible. We still feel weird that it isn’t exclusive to G-Sync like most of the Predator models, but that is the current trend that favors gamers. Input lag sits under 4ms, so there are no delays or de-synced instances while playing.
Thoughts on the Acer XB253Q GP
The Acer XB253Q GP is an excellent choice if you want a screen with great color quality and responsiveness. Its equipped with just about anything you will need for smooth visuals, along with a design that the Predator branding is known for. It’s on par in most aspects with the best out there, but it has a few limitations you have to consider.
The main downside of the Acer XB253Q GP is its higher price and the panel uniformity that could use some improvements. You can’t do anything about the latter except apply for an exchange, but the cost will make consumers buy its competitors.
Pros:
- Excellent Default Accuracy
- High Contrast for IPS Panels
- Attractive and Functional Design
- Low Input Lag
- FreeSync/G-Sync Compatible
Cons:
- Cool Color Temperature is Difficult to Correct
- Panel Uniformity Needs Improvement
- Higher Price than Closest Competitors
-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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