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The Acer CB272 bmiprx is the first budget, widescreen monitor with AMD FreeSync adaptive sync technology, and it’s a beauty. It uses an In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel to deliver good color accuracy and solid gray-scale performance without drawing lots of power.
It is equipped with three video inputs and sports a bezel-free design, but lacks USB connectivity and ergonomic adjustments, and it won’t give you the same level of detail that you get from its high-resolution competitor and our current Editors’ Choice for widescreen monitors, the ViewSonic VX3276-MHD.
- Need more PC monitor buying options? Check out our Top Picks for 2019.
Design
The CB272’s good looks come by way of a bezel-less, glossy-black cabinet that measures only a half-inch thick at its thinnest point. The panel is supported by a matching circular base that provides 20 degrees of tilt adjustability, but lacks height, pivot, or swivel adjustment. It also has VESA-mounting capabilities. The 27-inch 1,920-by-1,080 resolution IPS panel has a non-reflective coating and a peak brightness of 250 nits.
Along the rear-right edge of the panel is a strip of glossy-black trim that holds four function buttons and a Power Switch, and around the rear-bottom panel are an HDMI port, a DVI port, and a VGA port, as well as a headphone jack.
Like most midrange monitors, the Acer CB272 bmiprx lacks USB ports and speakers. Also missing is a DisplayPort input. You get basic picture settings, including Brightness, Contrast, and Blue Light adjustments, along with the common (Focus, Position, and Clock) settings. Included in the package are a VGA and audio cables.
Performance
The CB272 bmiprx’s out-of-the-box color accuracy is good, but not ideal. On a chromaticity chart, its red and green colors are a tad misaligned with their ideal CIE coordinates, but blue is fine. Nevertheless, the panel produces rich, well-saturated colors in testing and while displaying Netflix’s Our Planet on Blu-ray.
Gray-scale performance is also good, although the Acer CB272 displays every shade of gray on the DisplayMate 64-Step Gray-Scale test, it doesn’t get the same level of clarity and shado detail that you’ll get from a high-end IPS panel, such as the one used on the LG 27UK850-W. Viewing-angle performance, on the other hand, is excellent, with no color shifting or loss of luminance from any angle.
The panel’s 1-millisecond (gray-to-gray) pixel response does a good job of displaying fast-moving images. You won’t have any evidence of ghosting or blurring on modern games like Crysis 3 (PC) and Grand Theft Auto V (Sony Playstation 4), which is great for a budget monitor.
Input Lag
Input lag (the amount of time it takes for the monitor to react to a controller command) came in at an impressive 9.7 milliseconds which is at par with the competing Acer EB321HQU, but is slightly behind our fastest monitor, the BenQ SW2700PT and BenQ ZOWIE XL2430, both measuring 9.5 milliseconds.
Acer CB272 bmiprx Review | Verdict
The Acer CB272 bmiprx is a good choice if you’re looking for a fairly affordable, stylish 27-inch IPS monitor. Granted, you don’t get a lot of features, such as USB ports and DisplayPort inputs, and it lacks a fully adjustable stand. Nonetheless, it delivers solid color and gray-scale performance, does a fairly good job displaying fast-action gaming, and is very easy to run on your utility bill.
Is there a better alternative?
If you require a monitor with a higher resolution, consider the LG 27UK850-W that offers a 4K (3840 x 2160) 27-inch IPS display, is HDR10 compatible, support AMD FreeSync technology and excellent connectivity including a USB Type-C port. It covers 99 percent sRGB Color Gamut and has a fast response rate, making it a great monitor for both gaming and productivity tasks.
On the other hand, if you need something more stylish, the Sceptre C275W-1920RN offers a 27-inch curved IPS panel with built-in speakers, an edge-less metal black design that looks more premium but remains incredibly affordable.
Should you buy it?
If you’re fine with only HDMI and VGA connectivity, though, then with the Acer CB272 bmiprx you get a touch of style – and, at least as important, impressive image quality. Otherwise, if you need solid overall connectivity and even better color quality, the LG 27UK850-W offers the best of both worlds – even though its costs slightly more.
The Review
Acer CB272 bmiprx
The Acer CB272 bmiprx is a good choice if you’re looking for a fairly affordable, stylish 27-inch IPS monitor. Granted, you don’t get a lot of features, such as USB ports and DisplayPort inputs, and it lacks a fully adjustable stand.
PROS
- Nice price
- Good color and gray-scale performance
- Low input lag
CONS
- Tilt-only stand
- No DisplayPort input
Review Breakdown
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EDITORS RATING
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Acer CB272 bmiprx 27" Full HD (1920 x 1080) IPS Zero Frame Monitor with AMD Radeon FreeSync Technology - 1ms VRB & 75Hz Refresh (Display, HDMI & VGA Port)
$137.99 in stock
