ACER Predator XB253Q GW: a first look at the new 280Hz monitor

We briefly had the new ACER Predator XB253Q GW on our hands, part of the new offer that the company inevitably presented in digital form given the impossibility of organizing events in co-presence dictated by the current pandemic. We talked about it in November with an overview of the upcoming news, waiting to be able to actually review the products when they arrive on our market. But these days we have been able to touch an IPS G-Sync monitor with 1080p panel from a maximum of 280Hz that will be available from January with a price of 429 euros.

Features

With the screen off we could not evaluate the actual performance of the panel, but we know that it is a 240Hz model, overclockable up to 280Hz, which looks to competitive gaming and can also exploit video cards to the bone of great power despite the limit of 1080p. Speaking of 25 inches, however, we bet on more than enough definition, like the 400 nits of brightness and colors that we expect to be at least as good as those of the previous Predator series models.

We do not expect much from the HDR400 which however is one of the secondary characteristics for a monitor of this type, based on the fluidity of the action. In this case the strengths are the refresh, the G-Sync and the connectivity that includes two HDMI, a DisplayPort, an audio output and a USB Type-B output, all placed on the back. On the left side, however, there are two USB 3.0 downstream ports which, thanks to the strategic position, are definitely accessible. As for the menu, however, we find the classic combination of stick and quick keys, placed as usual on the back, at the bottom right, where we will find BlueLightShield and different presets, as well as obviously the setting to overclock the panel by pushing it up 280Hz.

A premium 1080p monitor

The shape of the ACER Predator XB253Q GW respects the canons of the series starting from a base with three pointed brackets, and slightly curved downwards, which act as tripod and connect to the holder with a butterfly screw. On the other hand, no screws are needed to attach the latter to the screen, which can be fixed with a slight push and can be released with a slight pressure on the appropriate lever.

A little above, however, there is the classic rise which on the upper side houses a long air grille, presumably illuminated, which together with the large ACER logo, in plain sight on the knob of a narrow support towards the base and more massive at the tip, it represents one of the few aesthetic hazards of a monitor that respects the dictates of the family to which it belongs, aiming for a combination of strong lines and an overall sober setting. On the front, however, there is something different.

Obviously, around the panel we find the ultra-thin upper and side frames, with the lower one thicker and more protruding, but this is metallic gray and presents an absolute novelty. On the sides of the Predator logo there are in fact two LED strips intended to light up, and compatible with the ACER Light Sense Support which synchronizes the lights with what happens in the supported games, which go to give a pinch of an extra gaming look to a 1080p premium aimed at those gamers who are looking for a very high refresh but don't want to give up the overall quality.