Acer XB280HK is a 28-inch 4K Ultra HD monitor with G-Sync

Officially known as the XB280HK, Acer’s 28-inch Ultra HD monitor should be the world’s first such monitor with Nvidia’s embedded G-Sync technology. Asus has an existing 1080p G-Sync model, and others are planned from companies like BenQ, ViewSonic, and AOC.

What I know about Acer’s monitor is that it incorporates ComfyView technologies (intended to reduce eye strain, which is further aided by G-Sync), has ultra low dimming for dark environments, and boasts 170 degree viewing angles. In a thoughtful touch, it also packs four USB 3.0 ports for charging and connecting accessories like mice and keyboards. The base rotates 120 degrees, and the screen pivots from landscape to portrait view. That’s right Team Green, Surround-enabled G-Sync 4K gaming is closer than ever, just ignore the cost!

It’s the more crucial specs Acer is holding close to their chest for now, probably waiting to reveal the goods at Computex on June 4th. We don’t have a price, nor an exact panel specification (TN, IPS, etc). With its feature set, I’d wager a guess that it will clock in at $949 or above, as most non G-Sync 4K panels are settling in at around $699 to $799.

I’ve been evangelizing Nvidia’s G-Sync for months because it’s an elegant solution to a problem that’s plagued PC gamers for decades: killing the artifacts like screen tearing that pop up when a game’s dynamic framerate butts heads with a monitor’s fixed refresh rate. It also solves the problem of leaning on “VSync” which locks your game’s framerate but results in stutter and input lag.

You can learn more about G-Sync in my initial preview. Seeing is believing, but there are admittedly limited opportunities to do so.

Acer’s XB280HK starts shipping in Q2 in Pan America, EMEA, Japan, and Taiwan.

-- Press release

Acer announces the new Acer XB280HK gaming monitor as the world’s first 4k2k display featuring NVIDIA® G-SYNC™ technology to provide stunning, ultra-smooth, tear-free imagery and rich colors for outstanding gaming experiences. It features Acer’s flicker-less, low-dimming and ComfyView technologies that reduce strain on the eyes for smooth and comfortable extensive viewing.

Part of the new XB0 line of large gaming monitors, the Acer XB280HK is intended to be paired with enthusiast PCs for immersive, ultra high-end gaming. It features a spacious 28-inch LED backlit display with 4k2k Ultra HD (3840 x 2160 pixels) that’s four times the resolution of 1080p Full HD, and presents stunning high quality images for outstanding visual enjoyment.

With a GeForce® GTX™-powered PC, NVIDIA® G-SYNC™ display technology synchronizes the display’s refresh rates to the GPU to eliminate screen tearing and minimize display stutter and input lag to deliver smoother, faster, more breathtaking gaming experiences. Scenes appear instantly, objects look sharper and more vibrant, and gameplay is more fluid and responsive providing gamers with significant performance advantages.

The Acer XB280HK builds in several features that take into consideration prolonged usage by heavy users such as programmers, writers, and graphic designers:

• Flicker-less technology – stable power supply eliminates screen flicker particularly beneficial for heavy users by helping to reduce eye strain.
• Low dimming technology – adjust to as low as 15 percent brightness in low light environments to make it easy on the eyes. Standard monitor settings start at 30 percent brightness level.
• ComfyView technology – the non-glare panel reduces reflection from light source.

The Acer XB280HK features 170/170 degree viewing angles so that brilliantly-colored images can be seen from almost every angle. DisplayPort™ v1.2 transmits video signals and four USB 3.0 ports are conveniently located at the side and bottom of the display for connecting to keyboard, mouse or mobile devices.

The Acer XB280HK monitor is made with post-consumer recycled plastic and features a distinctive red ring on the base stand. The multi-functional ErgoStand allows the screen to tilt from -5° to 35° to ensure the best viewing angle; the base rotates 120° from left or right for easy screen sharing; the panel height can be raised by up to 150 mm for optimum comfort; and the screen pivots from horizontal to vertical for more viewing perspectives.

This eco-friendly monitor features a mercury- and arsenic-free panel, LED backlighting for reduced power consumption, and is ENERGY STAR®(1) qualified. 

The Acer XB280HK starts shipping in Q2 in Pan America, EMEA, Japan, and Taiwan.