Acer’s big annual event has brought us some surprises. In the avalanche of new products unveiled by the Taiwanese company, many of them designed to seduce gamers, the three monitors featured in this article caught our attention. And, as you are about to discover, they deserve their dose of prominence.
The most spectacular of the three is undoubtedly the Predator CG437K S, a 42.5-inch beast equipped with HDMI 2.1 connectivity and determined to challenge the living room TV for the throne it occupies as the center of entertainment in many of our homes.
Hot on its heels comes the Predator X38 S, an ultra-panoramic monitor with fantastic color coverage and 175 Hz. And finally, the Predator X28 aims to be the choice of the tightest budgets. That’s what these monitors are all about.
Acer Predator monitors (2021) specifications
| Predator CG437K S | Predator X38 S | Predator X28 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panel | 42.5” 8-bit 4K UHD VA LCD + Hi FRC | 37.5 “21: 9 8-bit IPS LCD + A-FRC | 28 “8-bit IPS Full HD LCD + Hi FRC |
| Resolution | 3840 x 2160 dots | 3840 x 1600 dots | 1920 x 1080 dots |
| Refresh Rate | 144 Hz | Up to 175 Hz (overclocking mode) | 155 Hz (overclocking mode) |
| Response Time | 1 ms (VRB) | Up to 0.3 ms (GtG) | 1 ms (GtG) |
| Native Contrast | 4000:1 | 1000:1 | 1000:1 |
| Native Brightness | 750 nits | 450 nits | 300 nits |
| HDR | HDR1000 | HDR600 | HDR400 |
| Color Coverage | 90% DCI-P3 | 98% DCI-P3 | 90% DCI-P3 |
| Viewing Angles | 178º / 178º | 178º / 178º | 178º / 178º |
| Connectivity | 2 x HDMI 2.1, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x USB-C, 1 x USB 2.0 x 2 / 3.0 x 3 + USB-B hub | 2 x HDMI 2.0b, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x audio out, 3 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0 and 1 x USB-B | 2 x HDMI 2.0b, 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x audio out, 3 x USB 3.0, 1 x USB 2.0 and 1 x USB-B |
| Speakers | 2 x 10 watts | 2 x 7 watts | 2 x 2 watts |
Predator X38 S: this ultra-widescreen monitor wants to intimidate us with its color and 175 Hz
The heart of this monitor is a 37.5-inch IPS LCD panel slightly curved and with a 21:9 aspect ratio to which a remarkable immersion capacity is presupposed. Its native refresh rate is 144 Hz, and its resolution is 3840 x 1600 dots, but it can reach a whopping 175 Hz with overclocking. Acer claims a minimum GtG response time of just 0.3 ms, which could put it in the spotlight for competitive gamers.
Its native contrast, 1000:1, does not dazzle, but it is not bad, especially considering that it uses an IPS panel, a technology that does not exactly stand out for its contrast. However, it is precisely this technology that allows it to shine in color reproduction with a 98% coverage of the DCI-P3 space, so it can be an interesting option, not only for gaming but also for creating content. One last note: its maximum brightness delivery capacity is 750 nits.
Predator CG437K S: a 42.5″ beast that stands out with its HDMI 2.1 interface
The machine is not a gratuitous thing. This monitor can be used to replace the TV that many gamers have in their living room or family room, especially if they don’t have the space to go for a 55-inch or larger TV (and if they don’t want to watch DTT channels). It uses a VA LCD panel with 4K UHD resolution, and, as you can see in the specifications table, it stands out, as expected from a model that bets on VA technology, for its native contrast (4000:1).
One of its most attractive features is the incorporation of two HDMI 2.1 connectors that can be used to carry 2160p signals with a refresh rate of 144 Hz. However, Acer has not neglected the other parameters of this monitor. And is that it has a response time of 1 ms (VRB), a native brightness delivery capability of 750 nits (maximum peaks reach according to Acer to 1000 nits), and 90% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space. As you can see, it is a balanced monitor that can fit quite well in the list of options to consider for many gamers.
Predator X28: slays it quietly with modest, but balanced features
Just a glance at the specs table is enough to realize that this monitor is not as stunning as the two displays in the Predator family with which it shares the limelight. Still, it’s not bad at all. At its heart is a 28-inch Full HD IPS LCD panel capable of reaching a refresh rate of 155 Hz thanks to overclocking.
Its other figures are at the height of what you would expect to find in a monitor for gaming to the last: it has a response time of 1 ms GtG, a native contrast of 1000:1, a native brightness delivery capacity of 300 nits, and coverage of the DCI-P3 color space of 90%. Not outstanding specs, but it’s clear that this monitor wants to keep the price under control. In any case, it has something important in common with its bigger brothers: it uses an 8-bit + FRC panel, a feature that may not convince some gamers.
Pricing and Availability of the New Acer Predator (2021) monitors
Acer has not yet released when these monitors will arrive in stores, and also what price they will have, but we will update this article with this information as soon as it becomes available.
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