Acer KB272 EBI UM.HK2AA.E02 27" Black 2023

The Acer KB272 is a budget 27-inch 1080p monitor with a smooth 100Hz IPS panel and FreeSync, but the plastic build and missing ports remind you it's cheap. Buy it for the panel, not the stand.

The 100Hz refresh rate is the headline here, and it's genuinely smooth for a budget panel. Our database puts overall performance at the 68th percentile, which is solid but not spectacular. The 1ms VRB response time is marketing math, you'll see some ghosting if you push it hard, but for casual gaming and productivity it's fine. The real surprise is how many owners report getting 120Hz out of this thing on some models, which would make it an even better deal than the spec sheet suggests. Just don't expect miracles from a 250-nit panel in a bright room.

The LG UltraGear 27G810A-B is the obvious step up if you want better build quality and more connectivity, but you'll pay for it. The Dell S2725QC gives you 4K and USB-C, which is a completely different use case, and the MSI MAG 271QPX QD-OLED is in another universe entirely. For pure budget gaming, the KB272 holds its own against anything in its price bracket. The ASUS TUF Gaming VG34VQL1B is ultrawide and curved, so it's not really a direct competitor, but if you want immersion, that's where you'd go.

At $133 USD, this is a no-brainer for a secondary display or a first gaming monitor. At the European prices we're seeing, around 400 EUR, it's a much harder sell. You're paying for the panel, not the build quality, and that's fine if the price is right. Just don't overpay for what is fundamentally a budget monitor with a decent screen.

The Acer KB272 is a budget 27-inch 1080p monitor that punches above its weight where it counts. You get a 100Hz IPS panel with FreeSync and a claimed 1ms response time, which is honestly more than most people need for everyday gaming and office work. The catch? Acer cut every corner that doesn't show up on a spec sheet. The stand is flimsy plastic, there's no DisplayPort, no USB hub, no speakers, and no audio passthrough. If you can live with that, this thing is a steal at the right price.

If you need built-in speakers, a USB hub, or DisplayPort, this isn't your monitor. Go grab a Dell S2725QC or an LG UltraGear instead. And if you're doing color-critical work, the 250-nit brightness and 54th percentile display score won't cut it. This is a budget gaming and office panel, not a content creation tool.

The Acer KB272 is a budget monitor that knows exactly what it is. It's not trying to be a premium display, and it doesn't pretend to be one. You get a smooth 100Hz IPS panel with FreeSync, decent colors, and a price tag that makes sense for what you're getting. The build quality is cheap, the connectivity is barebones, and the brightness is mediocre. But if you need a solid 27-inch 1080p monitor for gaming or office work and you don't want to spend a fortune, this is one of the best options out there. Just make sure you're paying the right price for it.