Alienware Rounds Out Its Monitor Lines With Cheaper Options and More
Not everyone is comfortable paying a lot for a gaming monitor, no matter how pretty the picture or fast the screen. To attract gaming monitor buyers who are in love with OLED but don't want to spend Alienware's normally upscale prices, the company's taking it down a notch, starting with its 27-inch AW2725D, a 2,560x1,440-pixel 280Hz display that's expected to hit about $550 -- pretty low for its class -- when it ships this summer.
The company also revealed that the the AW2725Q, announced at CES as one of the displays incorporating a new 27-inch 240Hz 4K panel (older 4K QD-OLEDs were 32 inches) is now shipping for $900. The monitor doesn't support DisplayPort 2.1 and uses Display Stream Compression for HDR, which is disappointing, as is its DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification, which means it isn't too bright. But its HDMI 2.1 supports 4K (via FRL, which increases the bandwidth to enable higher refresh rates in 4K) and variable refresh to connect to a console (and PC).
Its original 34-inch, 3,440x1,440-pixel QD-OLED, one of the first to be available, gets a refresh to the new AW30 design switch to indigo, along with some updates like a bump to 240Hz and a port upgrade to HDMI 2.1 with FRL.
Alienware hasn't given up on other panel technologies, though. New are:
An esports-focused 320Hz 25-inch model which uses a 1080p Fast IPS screen (AW2525HM, $250)
A budget 27-inch 1440p IPS with a 180Hz refresh (AW2725DM, $270)
A low-to-midrange 32-inch 1440p, 180Hz display using a VA panel ($320, AW3225DM)
A 34-inch, 180Hz 3,440x1,440 wide version of the AW3225DM, also with a VA panel ($400, AW3425DWM)
Not all the monitors are shipping this month. One (the 34-inch QD-OLED refresh model) is coming in April, and a couple, including the low-priced OLED model, are slated for the summer.
Alienware 27 4K QD-OLED (AW2725Q), $900, available March 4
Alienware 27 IPS Monitor (AW2725DM), $270, available March 6
Alienware 32 VA Curved Monitor (AW3225DM), $320, available March 6
Alienware 34 VA Curve Monitor (AW3425DWM), $400, available March 6
Alienware 34 240HZ QD-OLED Monitor (AW3425DW), $800, available April 2
Alienware 25 320HZ Monitor (AW2525HM), $250, available this summer
Alienware 27 280Hz QHD QD-OLED (AW2725D), $550, available this summer
Support for the monitors is finally going under the Alienware umbrella, with the paid tier dubbed Alienware Care; it was previously handled by Dell's support. The basics are free: access to support techs and basic hardware troubleshooting 24x7 with one to two business days' turnaround and fast exchange for displays deemed defective. Alienware Care adds "expert" Alienware techs and help with setup.
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CNET
2 hours ago
- CNET
Dell 14 Plus Review: Mainstream Laptop With Bountiful Options, Basic Looks
CNET's expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. 7.8 / 10 SCORE Dell 14 Plus $750 at Dell Pros Sharp 2.5K display Sturdy aluminum chassis Good overall performance for the price Cons Touchpad a touch too firm Plastic display bezels look cheap Underwhelming audio output Dell 14 Plus 7.8/10 CNET Score $750 at Dell The Dell 14 Plus is the update to the previous Inspiron 14 Plus as the computer maker's mainstream offering that sits between Dell "base" models and the more upscale Dell Premium models (formerly named XPS). Dell may have dropped the longtime Inspiron name, but it's nearly identical to the Inspiron 14 Plus 7440 I reviewed last year. It's a solid, if plain-looking, laptop with an all-metal design based on a 14-inch display. This year's version is slightly lighter and offers a slightly higher-resolution screen along with the latest AI chips from Intel and AMD. The Dell 14 Plus is available as both a regular clamshell laptop and a two-in-one convertible, and each is available with Intel Lunar Lake or AMD Krackan Point processors. I tested an Intel-based laptop and an AMD-based 14 Plus two-in-one for this review. If you don't need the added versatility of the two-in-one design, then get the laptop version. It has a superior display not offered on the two-in-one. And when the clamshell model is on sale for $750, it's a particularly great buy if you're shopping for a midrange laptop for home, school or work. Dell 14 Plus models as tested Dell 14 Plus (DB14250) Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (DR04255) Price as reviewed $1,100 (on sale for $750) $850 Display size/resolution 14-inch 2,560x1,600 IPS LCD 14-inch 1,920x1,200 IPS LCD CPU Intel Core Ultra 7 256V AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 Memory 16GB LPDDR5-8533 16GB LPDDR5-7500 Graphics Intel Arc 140V AMD Radeon 840M Storage 1TB SSD 512GB SSD Ports USB-C Thunderbolt 4, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, USB-A USB 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 2.1, combo audio USB-C Thunderbolt 4, USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, USB-A USB 3.2 Gen 1, HDMI 2.1, combo audio Networking Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 Operating system Windows 11 Home 24H2 Windows 11 Home 24H2 Weight 3.34 lbs (1.5 kg) 3.45 lbs (1.6 kg) On the laptop side of the Dell 14 Plus series, there are three models based on Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors and three models with AMD Ryzen AI 300 series chips. I tested the baseline Intel model that features the Core Ultra 7 256V; 16GB of RAM; Intel Arc 140V graphics; a 1TB SSD; and a 2.5K (2,560-by-1,600-pixel), 90Hz, nontouch display. It's priced at $1,100 but was on sale for $750 for the majority of the time I was working on this review. There are two higher-end Intel models, but I'd want a sleeker laptop design to go along with the higher cost and performance. The AMD models of the Dell 14 Plus laptop are lower-end models based on a lower-resolution 1,920-by-1,200-pixel display starting at $800. And there's no option to upgrade to the 2.5K display. The AMD models cost a little less than the Intel models, but I think the crisper image of the 2.5K display I tested is worth the extra money. I also never saw these AMD models on sale with anything approaching the massive $350 discount of my Intel test system, so you might not even need to spend more to get the better display. On the 14 Plus 2-in-1 side, you get the same Intel and AMD options, but you're stuck with the 1,920-by-1,200-pixel touch display. The Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 that I tested is the baseline unit that costs $850 for an AMD Ryzen AI 5 340, 16GB of RAM, AMD Radeon 840M graphics and a 512GB SSD. The Dell 14 Plus starts at £799 and the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 starts at £649 in the UK. In Australia, pricing starts at AU$1,098. Matt Elliott/CNET Dell 14 Plus performance The Intel-based Dell 14 Plus and the AMD-based Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 that I tested produced similar results on our benchmarks, with one exception. The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V features eight physical cores (four performance cores and four efficiency cores) and no Hyper-Threading, so you get a total of eight processing threads. The AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 has six physical cores and 12 processing threads by way of AMD's multithreading technology. The Intel Core Ultra 7 256V and AMD Ryzen AI 5 340 chips may differ in chip architecture, but each is a mainstream mobile processor that delivers similarly competitive laptop performance, although neither could match the power of Apple's M4 processor in the latest MacBook Air. The one area where the two Dell 14 Plus models differed the most was in graphics performance. The Intel 140V graphics of the Dell 14 Plus laptop proved to be greater than the AMD Radeon 840M graphics of the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1. On our 3DMark Steel Nomad tests, the laptop was more than 2.5 times better than the two-in-one. Despite a large difference in TOPS count, the two finished close to each other on the Procyon AI Computer Vision test, which measures integer math proficiency for AI workloads. With an overall 59 TOPS, the AMD-based Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 actually finished higher than the Intel-based laptop, which has a total of 115 TOPS. Battery life, too, was close. Neither could match the long battery life of laptops with Arm-based Apple M4 or Qualcomm Snapdragon X series processors. At nearly 15 hours, the Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 ran for about an hour longer than the laptop, in large part because it has a lower-resolution display that consumes battery resources at a slower clip than the 2.5K display of the Dell 14 Plus laptop. Matt Elliott/CNET Two form factors in two colors, with one clear winner The straightforward design of the previous Inspiron 14 Plus continues with the debut of the Dell 14 Plus. I like the sturdy, aluminum enclosure, especially the softly rounded edges. I also like both color choices. I received the laptop in Ice Blue and the two-in-one in Midnight Blue. The Ice Blue is more gray than blue, and the Midnight Blue is more black than blue, but each offers a pleasing muted effect that shakes up the standard silver or black laptop look to give the system a sophisticated appearance. There's a bit of flex in the lid and keyboard deck, but the overall feel is solid. The keyboard isn't my favorite. The key response lacks the snappy feedback that I look for and feels a bit mushy despite the shallow travel. But the keys are well spaced and feel roomy, and there aren't any annoyingly shortened keys you need to adjust to. Matt Elliott/CNET The touchpad, too, is serviceable but not my favorite. The mechanical click response feels too firm, and the diving-board effect is evident: Clicks feel much firmer at the top half of it than at the bottom half. Dell managed to shave some weight off the Inspiron 14 Plus with the Dell 14 Plus. The Inspiron 14 Plus weighed 3.5 pounds, and the Dell 14 Plus laptop weighs 3.3 pounds. The Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 is slightly heavier than the 14 Plus laptop at 3.5 pounds, likely because of the added layer for its touchscreen display and 360-degree hinges. Still, other 14-inch laptops are lighter, including the 2.9-pound HP OmniBook X 14 and the exceptionally light Asus Zenbook A14 that weighs only 2.2 pounds. Matt Elliott/CNET And now we arrive at the reason why the Dell 14 Plus laptop is the better pick than the two-in-one: the display. With the clamshell laptop, you get a display that's sharper, faster, brighter and has better color accuracy. Here's how they stack up: Dell 14 Plus display comparison Dell 14 Plus Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 Resolution 2,560x1,600 1,920x1,200 Refresh rate 90Hz 60Hz Max brightness 353 nits 283 nits Color performance 99% sRGB, 76% AdobeRGB, 79% P3 66% sRGB, 51% AdobeRGB, 51% P3 I found that text looked clearly sharper on the laptop. On the two-in-one model, letters often looked fuzzy and pixelated. Movement on the laptop's 90Hz display was smoother, an effect I noticed most when scrolling through web pages. And on my tests with a Spyder X colorimeter, the laptop proved to be brighter and much more color accurate. I look for a minimum of 350 nits of brightness in a mainstream laptop, which is a number that the laptop just barely exceeded. If a laptop has a display that can't muster at least 300 nits of brightness, then I'm only interested if it's priced accordingly -- in the budget territory at around $500 to $600. The plastic bezels that frame the laptop's display also have a decidedly cheap look to them. For a mainstream laptop -- particularly one with "Plus" in its name -- I'd like to see edge-to-edge glass for a seamless, more polished look. That's one advantage that the two-in-one has -- its touchscreen gets the edge-to-edge glass treatment. Matt Elliott/CNET With either the laptop or the two-in-one, you get the same set of 2.5-watt stereo speakers for a total output of 5 watts. It's just not enough. The speakers sound very thin and only suffice for video chats or watching shows and movies. Even then, you might want to use headphones or an external speaker. Music playback demands something other than the internal speakers. The 1080p webcam produced a well-balanced image and was free of noise unless the lighting conditions were too low or too bright. The camera has an IR sensor so you can use it for Windows Hello logins, and the power button doubles as a fingerprint reader, giving you a second biometric login option. In the move from the Inspiron 14 Plus to the Dell 14 Plus, the ports remain the same, with one notable exception: The microSD card slot didn't make the jump. Digital photographers in particular won't like that move, but the rest of the external connections should satisfy most people, with a Thunderbolt 4 port plus another USB-C port that can be used to charge the system while keeping the Thunderbolt 4 port free. There's also a USB Type-A port for a mouse or older USB peripheral you might want to connect without needing to find a USB adapter. Matt Elliott/CNET Is the Dell 14 Plus worth buying? The laptop version of the Dell 14 Plus is a good buy, especially when you can pick it up for its sale price of $750. Getting a sharp, 2.5K display inside a sturdy, all-metal design with a modern AI processor for that price is a great value. If you want to spend even less, check out the Acer Aspire 14 AI, and if your budget extends past $1,000, then the Asus Zenbook A14 and Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 are two of my favorite Windows laptops. For the two-in-one shoppers reading this and being disappointed in that half of the Dell 14 Plus equation, I've also got recommendations. The Lenovo Yoga 7 14 Gen 9 is my favorite two-in-one overall, and I also like the HP Spectre x360 14, if you have more to spend and want a premium model with an OLED display. Hide our expert take Photo Gallery 1/1 How we test computers Photo Gallery 1/1 The review process for laptops, desktops, tablets and other computerlike devices consists of two parts: performance testing under controlled conditions in the CNET Labs and extensive hands-on use by our expert reviewers. This includes evaluating a device's aesthetics, ergonomics and features. A final review verdict is a combination of both objective and subjective judgments. The list of benchmarking software we use changes over time as the devices we test evolve. The most important core tests we're currently running on every compatible computer include Primate Labs Geekbench 6, Cinebench R23, PCMark 10 and 3DMark Fire Strike Ultra. A more detailed description of each benchmark and how we use it can be found on our How We Test Computers page. Hide our expert take Geekbench 6 CPU (multi-core) Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M4 2025 15049 HP Omnibook X 14 13428 Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7440 11996 HP Pavilion Plus 14 11646 Acer Swift Go 14 AI (SFG14-01-X006) 11490 Dell 14 Plus (DB14250) 11027 Acer Swift 14 AI (SF14-51T-75AF) 10918 Asus Zenbook A14 (UX3407) 10632 Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (DR04255) 10554 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance Geekbench 6 CPU (single-core) Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M4 2025 3818 Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (DR04255) 2792 Acer Swift 14 AI (SF14-51T-75AF) 2701 Dell 14 Plus (DB14250) 2694 Acer Swift Go 14 AI (SFG14-01-X006) 2422 HP Omnibook X 14 2370 HP Pavilion Plus 14 2267 Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7440 2267 Asus Zenbook A14 (UX3407) 2114 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance Cinebench 2024 CPU (multi-core) Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M4 2025 824 HP Omnibook X 14 809 Acer Swift Go 14 AI (SFG14-01-X006) 709 HP Pavilion Plus 14 643 Acer Swift 14 AI (SF14-51T-75AF) 610 Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (DR04255) 537 Asus Zenbook A14 (UX3407) 535 Dell 14 Plus (DB14250) 465 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance Cinebench 2024 CPU (single-core) Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M4 2025 169 Acer Swift 14 AI (SF14-51T-75AF) 121 Dell 14 Plus (DB14250) 120 Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (DR04255) 111 Acer Swift Go 14 AI (SFG14-01-X006) 107 HP Omnibook X 14 100 HP Pavilion Plus 14 98 Asus Zenbook A14 (UX3407) 96 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance 3DMark Steel Nomad Acer Swift 14 AI (SF14-51T-75AF) 871 HP Pavilion Plus 14 640 Dell 14 Plus (DB14250) 575 HP Omnibook X 14 488 Asus Zenbook A14 (UX3407) 235 Acer Swift Go 14 AI (SFG14-01-X006) 233 Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (DR04255) 220 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance Procyon AI Computer Vision (integer) Acer Swift Go 14 AI (Hexagon NPU, SNPE) 1829 Asus Zenbook A14 (Hexagon NPU, SNPE) 1758 HP OmniBook X 14 (Hexagon NPU, SNPE) 1749 Acer Swift 14 AI (Intel AI Boost NPU, OpenVINO) 1736 Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (DR04255) 1766 Dell 14 Plus (DB14250) 1654 HP Pavilion Plus 14 (Intel AI Boost NPU, OpenVINO) 577 Note: Longer bars indicate better performance Online streaming battery drain test HP OmniBook X 14 25 hr, 12 min Asus Zenbook A14 (UX3407) 24 hr, 7 min Acer Swift Go 14 AI (SFG14-01-X006) 23 hr, 13 min Acer Swift 14 AI (SF14-51T-75AF) 22 hr, 13 min Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M4 2025 15 hr, 50 min Dell 14 Plus 2-in-1 (DR04255) 14 hr, 55 min Dell 14 Plus (DB14250) 14 hr Dell Inspiron 14 Plus 7440 13 hr, 27 min HP Pavilion Plus 14 13 hr, 21 min Note: Longer bars indicate better performance
Tom's Guide
5 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
I review TVs for a living and most people spend too much on HDMI cables — here's what you really need
I've been testing TVs for over a decade, and in that time, I reckon I've answered more questions from friends and readers about HDMI cables than about TVs themselves. If you search for HDMI cables on Amazon, you might get the impression that the results go on forever. It's no wonder that folks are confused. But I'll let you in on a secret: While there's no shortage of pricey cables, you don't need to spend a lot on these things. I mean, sure, you should avoid cheap, flimsy cables that'll likely need to be replaced in short order, but you shouldn't overspend, either. Here's what you need to know. There are two types of HDMI specifications found on today's TVs: HDMI 2.0 and HDMI 2.1. The latter is a newer spec that allows for better audio support, higher refresh rates and additional gaming enhancements like Variable Refresh Rate (VRR). Affordable TVs tend to offer HDMI 2.0, while high-end models — including most of the best TVs on the market — are equipped with a full slate of HDMI 2.1-compatible ports. Mid-range TVs often come with both. If you own an entry-level TV, or one from several years ago, there's a very good chance it doesn't support HDMI 2.1. If you're planning on buying (or already own) a mid-range or high-end TV, at least two of its HDMI inputs are likely 2.1-compatible. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Folks in the first group can safely settle for Premium High-Speed HDMI cables. Forget all the jargon, though. Instead, just look for sturdy cables from a reputable brand with the following bandwidth: 18 Gbps. 18 Gbps will support everything your TV has to offer. It supports HDR and allows gamers to enjoy 4K titles at 60Hz (though not 120Hz). It'll work with whatever you've decided is the best streaming device for your living room. It has its limitations, but if you're sticking a small-ish TV in a guest bedroom with nary a soundbar, you'll be fine. These 18-Gbps, High-Speed HDMI cables come in a pack of two for around ten bucks. If you're a casual viewer using an affordable TV that only supports HDMI 2.0 functionality, these are a good place to start. People who own a mid-range or high-end TV — especially those released in recent years — ought to avoid Premium High-Speed HDMI cables limited to 18 Gbps if they want to make the most of their TV's HDMI 2.1's perks. These perks include a host of gaming features (like playing 4K games at 120Hz or above), but there are audio-related perks to consider, too, like eARC support. (You can read more about that in our guide to ARC and eARC.) Folks who find themselves in this group should buy Ultra High-Speed HDMI cables with a bandwidth of 48 Gbps. 48 Gbps is enough to make the most out of a TV's HDMI 2.1-related capabilities. If you bought your TV (or plan on buying one) in part because it supports things like 4K gaming at 120Hz or eARC functionality, just make sure that the cables you pick up are 48 Gbps. These 48-Gbps, Ultra High-Speed HDMI cables from Monoprice are affordable, braided for additional durability and capable of supporting your new TV's A/V- and gaming-related features. Personally, I wouldn't spend more than this on Ultra High-Speed HDMI cables. You will not see a difference in picture quality between a gold-plated cable and a basic cable. Take it from someone who's been drowning in cables for years: You really don't need to get fancy with these things. For home viewers, the advantages of silver-, bronze-, or gold-plated cables are primarily aesthetic. You will not see a difference in picture quality between a gold-plated cable and a basic cable if they're rated for the same features. Now, you might decide that a braided cable feels more sturdy, or you might just appreciate how the look of a more premium cable blends in with the rest of your A/V equipment. If you feel comfortable spending up on these options, by all means, indulge. Just don't expect to get a better picture. When shopping for new HDMI cables, consider the following: cable length, bandwidth and the sturdiness of the materials. Is your TV limited to HDMI 2.0 inputs? Buy 18-Gbps HDMI cables. Does your TV support HDMI 2.1-related features that you'd like to use? Buy 48-Gbps cables. Are you unsure about what HDMI-related features your TV supports? Play it safe and stick to Ultra-High Speed, 48-Gbps HDMI cables. They're not that much more expensive, and in the worst-case scenario, you'll have better, more capable cables to use in the future.
Tom's Guide
6 hours ago
- Tom's Guide
This $159 Acer Nitro KG272 monitor is a game-changer for budget PC setups — and it's now my favorite affordable display
If I told you to check out a monitor with a 100Hz refresh rate with limited brightness at 1080p resolution, you'd probably laugh and point me toward other options on our best gaming monitors list. Understandable, so why would I recommend the Acer Nitro KG272 E anyway? A look at its $159 / £129 price tag says it all. High-end monitors like the $1,099 MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED and $799 Alienware AW3425DW keep up with the latest in gaming hardware to deliver splendid visuals. But for those with budget setups, that's a lot of pennies going down the well. Instead, the Nitro KG272 E answers the call of value with its entry-level specs that surprisingly deliver smooth, clear visuals in real-world views, even though it may not come across as well on paper. But it also goes a step beyond with its adjustable tilting for a better viewing angle 100 x 100 VESA mountable compatibility. Despite many gamers who would make the most of far greater refresh rates and quality, those who are perfectly fine with entry-level stats or need a capable secondary display will find the Acer Nitro KG272 E to be a solid bet. Could it fit the bill as one of the best monitors on a budget? Considering its cheap price, yes, but those who opt for it will also have to temper their expectations. Let's dive into it all. Specs Acer Nitro KG272 E Price $159 / £109 Display 27-inch Resolution FHD 1920 x 1080 Aspect ratio 16:9 Refresh rate 100Hz Response time 1ms Panel type LCD Color depth 10-bit Backlight LED Inputs 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x VGA, 1x 3.5mm audio jack Wall mountable VESA Mount Compatible (100 x 100) Dimensions 24.1 x 17.7 x 9.1 inches (with stand) Weight 11.9 pounds (with stand) No premium frills here, but the Acer Nitro KG272 E exceeds expectations once it's put into action. It makes for a decent display for gaming and a second monitor for productivity — something the best laptops for students can take advantage of. With displays sporting top-of-the-line features like 240Hz refresh rates on OLED panels with 0.03 response rates, along with multiple display modes geared for specific games, it's easy to write off the Nitro KG272 E as a monitor that can't keep up. But not everyone needs to take advantage of all these specs, and sometimes, a simple screen can go a long way. That's exactly what the Nitro KG272 E offers, and I was impressed by the color accuracy, clarity and smoothness it boasts. In our tests, the KG272 E produced the lowest numbers we tested, but not by much. And considering the price of the other monitors it's matched up with, it does an admirable job. Although it still falls behind another budget banger: the Lenovo L27i-4B ($109 / £159). Acer Nitro KG272 E Lenovo L27I-4B MSI MPG 272URX Alienware AW2752Q sRGB 110.1% 126% 131% 182.5% DCI P3 78% 89.3% 97% 129.3% Delta-E (lower is better) 0.17 0.05 0.15 0.06 Despite its numbers, the screen can still pull off detailed colors during work and play, as in real-world testing, nothing looked washed out. I watched "28 Weeks Later" on Netflix in anticipation of "28 Years Later," and it comfortably presented the vicious infected running down the hill after our understandably freaked-out lead, Don (Robert Carlyle). This is at 1080p on a 27-inch LCD display, so it's not the clearest of details out there, but I still was terrified by the bloody, rage-induced faces of the infected. Even in more recent, visually stunning shows like "KPop Demon Hunters," it captured the bright gold and deep purple of the Honmoon barrier, keeping the human and demon worlds apart. I also used it as my main monitor, plugging it into my 13-inch MacBook Air M3, and it reflected exactly what I'd expect to see on the MacBook's display. Using its "Normal" color mode (there's no specific "Mac" display mode), details, smoothness and color accuracy were on point. Lenovo's L27i-4B also manages to offer some impressive visuals for its price, but the Nitro KG272 E one-ups it in one area... The Nitro KG272 E may only have a 100Hz refresh rate, but it still offers a super-fast 1ms response rate and AMD FreeSync for virtually zero-lag, tear-free gameplay. That works in favor of both fast-paced multiplayer titles and single-player games. I tested out The Finals, Doom: The Dark Ages and Cyberpunk 2077, and despite the Asus TUF Gaming A18 with an RTX 5070 that can pump out over 200 FPS at high settings on its 1600p resolution display, the Nitro monitor could still deliver smooth frame rates with fine details (if only a tad dark in some areas and without those real crisp textures, but more on that later). While demolishing walls in The Finals, with settings set to Epic at 1080p resolution and Nvidia's multi-frame gen at x4, I could easily nail headshots and manage my way through the madness of all the destruction around me. Even in a frantic, fast-paced game such as this, I never felt I was at a disadvantage. I didn't get the same visual spectacle of the demon-torn landscape in Doom: The Dark Ages as I would in other displays. It was a tad grainy, but it could keep up with the bloody action of tearing down hulking beasts with Doom Guy's chainsaw shield. Even visual cues, such as the green orbs you can parry back at enemies, were clear. Cyberpunk 2077 pulled off better lighting reflections and neon-infused visuals of Night City's skyline, and with brightness on the monitor at max, I was happily cruising through the streets. It's not something I see often on budget gaming monitors, but the Nitro KG272 E comes with some adjustability. There's no way to swivel or change the height of the display, but it does have some tilt action. It has a vertical and horizontal viewing angle of 178 degrees, but this can be adjusted by tilting it up or down. This makes it easier to get the right angle when setting it up on a desk, as there's nothing worse than having a fixed monitor that's slightly off viewing angle-wise and there's nothing you can do to change it. It helps that the Nitro KG272 E is relatively light, too. It only weighs 11.9 pounds with the stand (compared to the 24 pounds of the MSI MPG 272URX), so it's light enough to shift around to get the right angle. Better yet, it looks sleek with its nearly bezel-less borders. The Acer Nitro KG272 E may triumph due to its price, but it falls into the usual pitfalls of being budget. That includes low brightness and just passable speakers. If your PC setup is in a room that's filled with sunlight, the Nitro KG272 E will struggle to show a lot on its display. Generally, it's best to keep a monitor out of sunlight's way, but the Nitro's max 196.2 nits of SDR brightness (no HDR here) can also make darker elements in games or shows harder to see. Acer Nitro KG272 E Lenovo L27I-4B MSI MPG 272URX Alienware AW2752Q SDR Nits (brightness) 192.6 231.8 254 250.4 It isn't surprising that it falls behind its pricier competition, but even the Lenovo L27I-4B offers a wealthy number of nits to offer acceptable viewing. This isn't a deal breaker, especially in darker rooms that I usually find myself in, and I was able to comfortably play games without it being a hassle. That said, in certain games such as Doom: The Dark Ages, trying to find hidden passages to crash through to find secrets was tricky in darker tunnels or hallways (I had to fire off a few rounds to illuminate the areas). Finding speakers on a monitor is always a win, but they don't usually offer the best sound. That's certainly true of the dual speakers of the Nitro KG272 E. While they do just fine if you're watching shows in the background, it's far from an immersive experience or being able to let you hear the footsteps of foes in competitive multiplayer games. They can sound hollow without that oomph from the bass, and it makes shots fired out of guns in The Finals, Doom and Cyberpunk sound weak. You won't be blown away by the audio it fires, so you may want to get one of the best gaming headsets instead. There are some premium, ultra-fast gaming monitors out there sporting jaw-dropping visuals on OLED panels, but all that comes at a high price. The Acer Nitro KG272 E strips down those features for a pocket-friendly price. For those who don't need the full spectacle of stunning details at sky-high frame rates, especially for entry-level or casual gamers with budget systems, the Nitro KG272 E is a fantastic shout for its budget price. Just keep in mind that it won't keep up with the latest in PC or console hardware, along with its low brightness, and this gaming monitor will shine. It's now my favorite budget gaming monitor to use, as I believe it even surpasses the cost it's set at from what I get out of it. But if you have the funds to get something flashier, our list of the best gaming monitors will point you in the right direction.
