RM3,299
Along with the Orion 3000 gaming desktop we wrote about last week, Predator has also sent us the Predator XB273U GX gaming monitor, which is an utter beast, to say the least.
Featuring a 1440p IPS panel packed with a 240Hz refresh rate (270Hz when overclocked), the XB273U GX delivers a stunning combination of speed and colour accuracy.
Build and design
The monitor has a sleek if unremarkable design. Like most modern monitors, it features a pleasantly subtle slim-bezel design on 3 sides, with a slightly thicker chin. It has a three-legged base with a pretty large footprint, so be sure your table is deep enough to accommodate it.
The stand provides tilt, swivel, and height adjustments so you can tweak it to your comfort; for further adjustments, you can also mount it on a monitor arm, as it has 100x100 VESA compatibility.
Those who like their tables neat will be delighted to find a cable routing hole in the stand, as well as a flip-out headphone holder on the back. The OSD buttons are located on the back, keeping the front bezel clean with just a single LED power indicator.
Display panel
Although TN panels are arguably the best bet for high-speed esports needs, I personally prefer IPS panels due to the colour accuracy and viewing angles that TN panels simply can't deliver.
In any case, this monitor ain't no slouch in the speed department either, offering a 240Hz refresh rate overclockable to 270Hz, along with a speedy 1ms response time and G-Sync compatibility. It also has 3 levels of Overdrive and Backlight Strobing capabilities - off, normal, and extreme.
When playing at 240Hz and above, Overdrive looks best when set to normal, while Backlight Strobing looks best at normal settings as well. As Backlight Strobing rapidly switches the screen on and off to reduce motion blur, it is understandably darker overall. While the brightness is tolerable at normal settings, it is way too dark at extreme settings to be viable.
In terms of colour, the Agile-Splendor IPS panel produces beautifully vibrant images, and boasts great colour accuracy at 100% sRGB, 99% Adobe RGB, and 93% DCI-P3 coverage. So, not only is this screen great for gaming, but suitable for creative work as well. The wide viewing angles also help in maintaining image integrity even when sitting at extreme angle relative to the monitor. I was also pleasantly surprised to find no noticeably "IPS glow" or backlight bleed - but of course, results may vary from unit to unit.
As for resolution, 1440p on a 27" monitor is the sweet spot for me - 1080p is a little bit stretched, while 4K is overkill on this size and puts unnecessary strain on your budget.
I/O Ports
As for I/O ports, it has pretty much everything you need, with two HDMI 2.0 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, as well as four USB-A ports, two of which are located behind the monitor, and the other two within easy reach on the left side.
It also features a USB-C port with power delivery, so you can plug in your handphone to charge - while it's not going to be as quick as a proper charger, nor is it powerful enough to charge a laptop while in use, it's definitely a nice-to-have feature in a pinch.
Also, there is a headphone jack if you'd rather plug it into your monitor instead of your PC tower which may be further away; it's also convenient to keep cables neat since there is a headset hanger right on the back of the monitor.
Other features
Some other useful features are the Black Boost and Colour Saturation settings. The Black Boost feature helps lighten up dark areas, which is especially useful for horror games and B tunnel in CS:GO's Dust 2. On the other hand, Colour Saturation feature helps increase, well...colour saturation, which makes it easier to distinguish enemies from the background. Used together, it definitely makes a noticeable improvement to visibility in games.
The monitor also has two 2W speakers built in, so if you don't feel like using a headset and refuse to clutter up your desk with standalone speakers, these are a good option to have. While most monitor speakers are simply underwhelming, these are surprisingly decent and will suffice for casual movie watching.
Conclusion
Marketed as a gaming monitor, I was surprised to find that the XB273U GX has a decent set of specs that make it a great all-rounder. Apart from the speedy refresh rate and response times that enable competitive gaming, it also boasts a beautiful IPS panel with great colour reproduction that also makes it viable for creative work and media consumption. Quality-of-life features like the built-in speakers, flip-out headset hanger, and PD USB-C port are the cherry on top of an already compelling product.
The Predator XB273U GX gaming monitor retails for Rm3,299 on their official Shopee store.
For more information, you may head on over to the official product page here.
