Latest news with #NitroKG272E
Tom's Guide
a day 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.
Tom's Guide
22-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
I tested this $159 gaming monitor thinking it was a joke — but it's now my favorite budget display
I've tested some premium, ultra-fast monitors with jaw-dropping OLED panels over the years, and it's hard to go back to anything less than the best gaming monitors once you've seen them upfront in all their glory. So, when the Acer Nitro KG272 E landed in our testing labs, I wasn't expecting much. A quick rundown of its specs will give you a good idea of what I mean: an FHD (1920 x 1080) IPS panel with a 100Hz refresh rate, 1ms response time and a 100,000,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio. All that doesn't exactly make me say "I need this monitor on my desk right now," not when there's a ridiculous LG UltraGear 45GX950A-B 5K2K OLED curved gaming monitor or an MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED boasting a 240Hz refresh rate and a 0.03ms response time. Impressive? Yes, but they're also both over the $1,000 / £1,000 mark. That's a whole lot of chump change for premium-quality visuals, but depending on your PC setup, some may not even take full advantage of what these monitors can deliver. Still, it's hardly a surprise that anyone would glaze over Acer's offering to check out these beasts instead. Me included, but that's until I took a peek at the Nitro KG272 E's price tag. At just $159, and even more impressive £129, (down to £109 as of writing!), this is one of the cheapest gaming monitors out there. For the specs it offers at this price, and having used it as my primary monitor for a week, I can confidently say that this is now my favorite budget display for both work and play. The Acer Nitro K272 E gaming monitor is a budget underdog for anyone looking for a simple yet effective display to play PC games or get some work done. With its 27-inch (1920 x 1080) IPS panel, 100Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, it may pale in comparison to the top dogs, but for its price, it goes above and beyond. And it's even more of a bargain in the U.K.! Right now, you can get £20 off this already pocket-friendly monitor. Whether you're using it as a second monitor or your main display for work, gaming, or watching shows, it will do the job just fine for this cost. There's still more testing to be done, but I've put it through its paces during everyday tasks, watching shows and playing games. So far, it does everything I could ask for, considering its price — and that says a lot about how you don't need to spend a fortune to get ample performance on a gaming monitor like this. So, let's get this out of the way first. We've received the numbers from the test lab, and just as I expected, it falls far behind its premium competitors in terms of color accuracy and brightness. I mean, is that surprising considering the specs it sports? Hardly. But I'd argue that for its low price, its results are pretty manageable. Acer Nitro KG272 E MSI MPG 272URX Alienware AW2752Q sRGB 110.1% 131% 182.5% DCI P3 78% 97% 129.3% Delta-E 0.17 0.15 0.06 When putting it together (it's very simple) and setting it up with a 4K video just to see how it looks, though, I had a small hint of surprise on my face and said to my fellow tester Nikita Achanta, "Hey, that isn't too bad." And I was met with agreement. And so, I lugged it home and started using it as my main monitor. For work, I use my 13-inch MacBook Air M3, and while its display offers great detail for work and binge-watching shows, it's always nice to have a 27-inch monitor as a secondary display. Better yet, it worked like a charm. The Nitro KG272 E doesn't have many customizable settings, nor a display mode for Mac, but bumping up its brightness to max (it only measures 196.2 nits of SDR brightness, but more on that later) and using its "Normal" color mode allowed it to easily reflect exactly what I'd expect to see on my MacBook's display. That includes fine details, smoothness and fine color accuracy. A 27-inch monitor is big enough for a desk, and seeing as it only weighs 11.9 pounds with the stand (compared to the 24 pounds of the MSI MPG 272URX), it's light enough to shift around to get the right angle. Speaking of, and not something I'd expect from a monitor at this price, the display's angle can also be adjusted. That's only a simple feature, but it makes shifting the monitor to your liking all the more accessible. Anyway, it isn't just a few Google Docs and Google Sheets that it helped me out with, as I also threw on a few shows to see if it could dish out some decent visuals. Nothing mindblowing here, but I was decently surprised by the image quality it presented. In anticipation of "28 Years Later," I decided to throw on "28 Weeks Later" on Netflix. This is a 1080p display, so details weren't completely vivid, but I was still on the edge of my seat as Don (Robert Carlyle) fled the house with the rage-infected people coming over the hill chasing him down at full speed. The vicious, bloodshot eyes were on point, and I didn't feel I was missing out on any finer details while watching the thrilling intro sequence. After that, I finally used the Nitro KG272 E for what it's intended for: gaming. More specifically, first-person shooters such as The Finals and Doom: The Dark Ages. With its 100Hz refresh rate and 1ms response time, this won't be the first choice for hardcore competitive gamers, and it won't take advantage of the powerful performance the Asus TUF Gaming A18 with an RTX 5070 can pull off (with DLSS 4 delivering frame rates over 200 FPS). Still, especially for budget gaming systems, this can pull off some mighty fine, buttery smooth visuals. With settings set to Epic at 1080p resolution, with Nvidia's multi-frame gen at x4, I was smashing down buildings, popping off shots and securing cash in The Finals in all its graphical, fast-paced glory. And frame rates were smooth enough to get me clean shots at the competition. With similar settings in Doom: The Dark Ages with patch tracing turned on, while it wasn't the same "wow" moment I had experienced on a 4K monitor, I was still impressed by the war-torn, demon-infused settings in the game. Visual cues, such as the green orbs you can parry back at enemies, were clear, and despite it looking just a smidge grainy, I was happy with what it was able to pull off. For those with budget laptops or gaming PCs, the Nitro KG272 E offers an affordable way to elevate your system's visuals, if only by a bit, and it's quite the wallet-friendly solution. While I've been impressed by its gaming potential and how it handles productivity, I noticed two downsides that are inevitable for a gaming monitor at this price. I tried putting on "Love, Death + Robots," known for its visually stunning animation. I watched "Can't Stop," which is basically a new music video for the iconic Red Hot Chili Peppers, seeing them as puppets. The Nitro KG272 E could capture the stunning lights and frantic movements of the band, but I did notice during the darker moments, environments that should be visible weren't on show. That's due to the display's brightness. At an average of 196.2 nits of SDR brightness (no HDR here), it isn't much. If it's in a room where the sun can get at it, it would be hard to see what's on display. The speakers aren't a key selling point, either. They can sound hollow without that oomph from the bass, and while it's fine for easy watching, you won't be blown away by the audio it fires. Essentially, you may want to get one of the best gaming headsets instead. Now, with all that said, these are only minor points that are common with budget monitors. Plus, don't expect absolutely jaw-dropping visuals, but for those who only need a simple and affordable gaming monitor solution to catch up with competitive multiplayer games or even the latest single-player adventures, then the Acer Nitro KG272 E does this in its stride. If I were a student after a display, I can imagine this being at the top of my list.
