The Acer Predator XB273K is a cousin to the esteemed Predator X27, which sits at the top of our Best Gaming Monitors list and reigns supreme on our Best 4K Monitors for Gaming list, bringing a certain amount of excitement. Checking the specs, it looks like a cousin of the X27. Very close. So close that it is very difficult to tell the difference, from the appearance to the specs. Nevertheless, given the reputation of Acer's Predator series, there is good reason to be optimistic.

Also, given the price difference between the XB3 and X27 - a whopping nearly $1000 - there is a desire to see if that difference is measurable in performance as well. To put it simply, if the XB3 can stand up to the X27 in particular, we may have a new 4K sheriff in town.

The XB273K's gaming pedigree is evident right out of the box: a 27-inch, G-Sync-enabled, IPS screen with a 4ms gray-to-gray response time and 144Hz refresh rate. And 4K resolution; it also has HDR. For reference, these are the same specs as the X27. If the monitor delivers all this and does it right, it's quite something (if you have a rig that can take full advantage of all the specs).

Otherwise, the XB273K has a wide range of options in its menu for deploying gaming specs, from different gaming presets (Acer's GameView option) to adjustable blue light settings to protect your eyes. There is definitely enough here to rely on not only when plugging in and playing, but also when creating your own perfect settings. The buttons to access the menus are easy enough to use, the main stick is particularly easy to operate, and there are HDMI, DisplayPort, and five USB 3.0 ports available.

With the privacy shield (to reduce screen glare and reflections) set up, we fired up a few games to test the monitor. Assassin's Creed Odyssey in all its glory. The entire game is incredibly vivid and of the most crisp picture quality. There are no blurred or smudged edges, and each feature appears to be almost perfectly defined and graphically distinct. Particular highlights are the way water effects, lighting, reflections, and gloss are rendered, but landscapes, people, and urban elements are equally enjoyable. Excellence in color, contrast, shading (and shadows), and color tones are all brought to life in the work.

When we turn our attention to "Metro Exodus" in an even darker setting, we are immediately greeted with excellent image quality. From Artyom's perspective, every scene and landscape is wonderfully clear and well presented. Contrast is especially strong, with every color breaking through the grays and blacks. But fine details, from clothing details to skin tones and facial expressions, are equally good. "Metro Redux," the predecessor to "Exodus" and in the same vein, proved that the Acer Predator XB273K can handle near pitch-black environments very well. Blacks and grays have an immersive quality that makes it hard to believe the game is five years old when played on the XB273K.

Playing Apex Legends on the XB273K at maximum settings and running smoothly and seamlessly across Kings Canyon is one of the best Apex Legends experiences I've had as far as monitors go. Not only did the image quality of the other games hold up, but the speed and smoothness of the monitor provided a wonderfully smooth image at 144Hz. Because of the speed of the screen, there was no loss of image quality while frantically spinning around on the spot looking for enemies or jumping between shots in cover.

I used the Acer Predator XB273K for many hours of gaming and then used this monitor as my daily work screen without any noticeable drawbacks. While still high for a gaming monitor (usually around $1000), the XB273K, at $1000 less than the X27, which is considered the leader in this field, is a very good value for a screen that will likely last for years. [The XB273K's HDR is 400 nits (minimum), while the X27's HDR is 1000 nits. Simply put, the HDR is a bit darker on the XB273K. That's all said, the XB273K is arguably the best product we've tested, and if the price comes down, it will be an absolute bargain.