The Acer KB272 EBI monitor brings lots of quality to a wide range of everyday scenarios despite its rock-bottom price both in the US and in the UK. It cuts a niche for itself in the budget monitor market that’s simply difficult to grasp. This isn’t even because of the technology, which is pretty easy to understand, but the sheer wealth of options available.
We’ve reviewed excellent budget monitors including the gamers’ favorite KOORUI 27E3Q, and the Sceptre E275W-19203R has been our top pick for the home office. For 2023, Acer is offering something better for most of us, something with enough contrast and color coverage to handle everyday computing tasks, from browser-based work to office apps, and its decent design and low price make it a great everyday option for most folks.
And while the Acer KB272 EBI has its limits, a quick look at the spec sheet reveals a lot of bang for the buck. The 27-inch diagonal is big enough to fit most home, office, and bedroom situations. All that is bolstered by IPS technology, a 100Hz refresh rate, and AMD FreeSync technology support.
Specifications
| Screen Size | 27-inch |
| Resolution | 1920×1080 (Full HD) |
| Panel Type | IPS |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 (Widescreen) |
| Refresh Rate | 100Hz |
| Response Time (GtG) | Not specified |
| Visual Response Boost | 1ms (MPRT) |
| Adaptive-Sync | FreeSync (48-100Hz) |
| Ports | HDMI 1.4, VGA |
| Brightness | 250 cd/m² |
| Contrast Ratio | 1000:1 (static) |
| Colors | 16.7 million (8-bit) |
| VESA | Yes (75x75mm) |
Design and Features
A minimalist design isn’t surprising in any budget monitor, and the Acer KB272 EBI places very little emphasis on looks as possible. The monitor gets slim bezels on three sides and a chin at the bottom. The chin provides space for the Acer logo and on-screen menu controls are behind the screen. On the backside, there are a few ridges and another Acer logo. It does the basics well, nothing eye-catching, but it looks much better than some bland monitor designs we’ve seen at this price point.
The small included stand clips on the bottom of the monitor. It only offers tilt adjustment and the stand’s default height might be too low for users around 6 feet tall or taller. The lack of other ergonomic adjustments is disappointing but is quite standard at this price point. A 100 x 100mm VESA mount is included, at least you can hook up a third-party monitor stand to solve the monitor’s ergonomic issues for tall users.
Perhaps the only serious complaint I have with the KB272 EBI’s design is minor, but not petty. The power LED is placed facing forward, it’s too bright and distracting in a dark room. There’s no option to turn it off in the menu, a DIY is to cover it with a piece of electrical tape.
The KB272 EBI comes with only two video inputs: one HDMI and one VGA. The inclusion of VGA might be a perk for those with older computers but need a modern display. On the other hand, the single HDMI is dismal. The monitor essentially has one input for most users because modern devices can’t connect to VGA. Most competitors like the HP 24mh and Sceptre E248W offer an additional video input.
Image Quality
When shopping for a budget monitor, you rarely expect great image quality, and I think that makes image quality even more important. Most $500 monitors can offer a quality picture, but the same can’t be said of sub-$200 monitors. Fortunately, the Acer KB272 EBI is among the better monitors in the budget arena. It’s among the first few budget monitors that are boasting a 100Hz refresh rate, replacing the 60-75Hz budget monitors we’ve always known.
Brightness maxes out at 250 nits, an above-average score for this category. Many competitors clock in at 200 nits, this means the KB272 EBI can appear bright and vivid when used in a brightly lit room with no blinds or curtains. If your office has some light control, you’ll have no issue using the monitor at just 60 percent of its maximum.
The Acer KB272 EBI delivers a respectable contrast ratio of 1,000:1, which, while not the highest around, is still better than what you’ll find in least-capable budget monitors. The lack of depth is evident in movies and gaming, but the inclusion of AMD FreeSync makes things a little better, especially when using a compatible PC. The Samsung CF39 series is a better choice if you’re buying a monitor for entertainment, but it has its issues with games.
- 165HZ REFRESH RATE: Conquer every enemy, even at soaring speeds; 165Hz refresh rate...
- 1MS RESPONSE TIME (MPRT): Make every move count with a 1ms response time; Screen pixels...
- AMD FREESYNC PREMIUM: Effortlessly smooth gameplay; AMD FreeSync Premium features adaptive...
With a 100Hz refresh rate, you’re getting a noticeable boost in motion clarity as opposed to 60Hz and 75Hz displays. This isn’t only applicable to just games, moving your cursor around and scrolling web pages feels a lot smoother as well. Remember, to feel the full benefits of 100Hz in games, you’ll need to have a high frame rate – ideally 100FPS – but, even at lower frame rates, you still get lower input lag and less noticeable screen tearing compared to 60Hz/75Hz monitors.
Since this monitor supports AMD FreeSync with a 48-100Hz variable refresh rate range for tear-free gameplay up to 100 FPS, your games get a significant boost even at this low price. However, since it lacks a DisplayPort input, VRR is only usable with AMD Radeon graphics cards over HDMI.
Acer KB272 EBI Review: Should you buy it?
The Acer KB272 EBI is an easy monitor to recommend for budget shoppers. It’s not the most impressive monitor around – nothing in this price range is – but it’s attractive enough and it doesn’t disappoint on the basics. That makes it a safe bet.
Of course, it doesn’t have the color quality, the gamut coverage, or the refresh rate to work with more demanding content-creation tasks or the latest AAA games; but it does have the contrast and colors to make everyday computing look decent.
Combine all those with its 27-inch IPS display, AMD FreeSync support, a higher 100Hz refresh rate, and low price, and you’ve got a rock-solid everyday display. Some pricier alternatives offer better colors and better adjustments but stick with the Acer KB272 EBI if you need a solid work monitor without breaking the bank.
The Review
Acer KB272 EBI
The Acer KB272 EBI is an easy monitor to recommend for budget shoppers. It’s not the most impressive monitor around – nothing in this price range is – but it’s attractive enough and it doesn’t disappoint on the basics.
Recommended Configuration
Acer KB272 EBI 27" IPS Full HD (1920 x 1080) Zero-Frame Gaming Office Monitor | AMD FreeSync Technology | Up to 100Hz Refresh | 1ms (VRB) | Low Blue Light | Tilt | HDMI & VGA Ports,Black
$99.99 in stock
4 used from $79.51
PROS
- Very affordable
- Wide viewing angles
- Includes AMD FreeSync support
CONS
- Tilt-only stand
- No DisplayPort input
Review Breakdown
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EDITORS RATING
Last update on 2024-12-21 at 09:16 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
