If you’re looking for a WQHD monitor with an IPS panel and 144 Hz, you’ll quickly find that the choice is not huge. With the Nitro XV2, Acer complements the lineup with the XF0, available since 2016. The difference can be found in the details: with the XV2, Acer now also offers HDR, HDMI 2.0b and a lower response time. But has everything really improved? That’s what we want to find out in our test.
Scope of Delivery
The monitor arrives well packed in a thick polystyrene case. In addition, an adjustable monitor stand, power and USB cables, HDMI 2.0b cable and some booklets are included.
Technical Specifications
| Panel | IPS (AHVA) |
| Screen Size | 27″ (68.6 cm) |
| Resolution | 2560 x 1440 |
| Reaction time | 4ms (1ms Acer Visual Response Boost) |
| Form | even |
| Synchronization | Adaptive Sync/AMD FreeSync, NVIDIA G-Sync Compatible max. 144 Hz. |
| Contrast | 1.000:1 (static) 100,000,000 (dynamic) |
| brightness | 400 cd/m² (HDR), 350 cd/m² (typical) |
| Viewing angle | 178°/178° |
| Weight | 6.5 kg |
| Stand foot | Tilt: -5° ~ 20° Height: 120mm Turning: +-180° |
| Color depth | 10bit (8bit with FRC) |
| Energy efficiency class | B |
| Loudspeaker | 2x 2 W |
| Price | € 289.99 * |
Design
The Nitro XV2 looks relatively unobtrusive at first glance and is almost completely black. Only a thin red circle can be seen on the stand. However, this is more stable than its thin appearance would suggest. But there is no cable bushing – too bad, the XF0 had this feature. However, the stand is much larger with this one.
The XV2 controls are located at the rear. Therefore the monitor looks very tidy and simple from the front. This impression continues at the back as well. The Nitro XV2 therefore does without a “gaming design” and special RGB lighting elements.
When switched off, the edge seems to be very thin and therefore looks optically appealing. When switched on, however, a thicker frame is revealed.
Equipment and Extras
The monitor has two HDMI ports and one DisplayPort port, a USB 3.0 hub with 4 USB ports (two on the back and two on the side), a 3.5 mm jack and built-in speakers. Compared to the XF0, the DVI and a jack connection have been omitted, but certainly not annoying for most users.
In our test, the connections worked as expected and error-free. Only the option not to be able to rotate the monitor 90° was noticed negatively.
Image Quality
Let’s get to the most important point in our test: image quality. Anyone who deals with 144 Hz WQHD monitors with IPS panels will quickly notice that the panel quality can vary greatly for some monitors. Among other things, it’s about dirt behind the display or poor illumination.
In our test we have therefore carried out the monitor test of Eizo. Our test product has no pixel errors or dirt behind the display.
We also took a closer look at the illumination with the help of a dark image. It should be noted that the camera displays deficits in illumination much more extreme than they are actually perceptible. Therefore we now come to the practical use: In dark film or play scenes the illumination does not attract negative attention.
The XV2 offers an HDR mode, which is to do justice to the standard DisplayHDR 400. Some HDR sample films were examined and compared in parallel with the Acer XF0. Both monitors had brightness at the maximum level and Windows had HDR mode enabled. In a direct comparison, one difference is immediately noticeable: on the Nitro XV2, the higher maximum brightness and thus a more lively playback is noticeable. The XF0 also looks a bit paler. Overall, we are satisfied with the playback of films, but we shouldn’t expect any miracles in HDR playback due to the maximum possible brightness.
In fact, the majority of users should consider the monitor because of the 144 Hz. In our test it is suitable for playing fast games of all kinds. Images do not hang, but fluidly merge, tearing and stuttering do not occur during our test.
Finally, we come to image processing in our test. The Nitro XV2 comes with a printout of a Color Calibration Testing Report. This certifies that a colour accuracy of Delta E less than or equal to 2 is achieved in the profile sRGB.
Operation
The Nitro XV2 is operated via buttons and a joystick located behind the monitor. In addition to a detailed menu for setting various parameters, it is also possible to select a predefined and personal profile. The menu navigation is logically structured and after a very short familiarization phase it went smoothly and quickly.
Conclusion
Let us come to our conclusion of the review of the Acer Nitro XV2*. All in all, this one convinced us. The scope of delivery is sufficiently extensive, the equipment is good, the operation is simple and the image quality does not reveal any errors. In comparison to the XF0, only the missing cable entry on the monitor stand is really negative.
In relation to the price of € 289.99 * you get a very good monitor. If you are looking for a WQHD monitor with a 144 Hz panel, the Nitro XV2 is not only one of the cheapest, but also a really good monitor!
Acer Nitro XV2
Workmanship
Image Quality
Features
Value for Money
A very good and inexpensive WQHD monitor, with a good 144 Hz IPS panel.
