The 32" Acer Nitro XZ2 is one of the highest value monitors I’ve had the pleasure of testing. As far as performance and reliability, it checks just about every box. When it comes to high-end gaming there’s definitely a point of diminishing returns when it comes to performance, and while the Nitro XZ2 has a few compromises to meet the price point, it’s genuinely hitting the high bar on most every front. Look for comparable gaming monitors in the price range of the XZ2 and you’ll find options that are either flat, smaller, or have a lower refresh rate. The XZ2 brings a value that’s tough to beat.
Function Over Form
The XZ2 has a familiar red-on-black gamer aesthetic common among lots of different brands, and while I’m definitely a sucker for the angular accents and shiny chrome stands, I’m afraid there’s one aspect of the design that seems rather dated. The XZ2 has a big pancake base that really cramps my space efficiency. It’s a shame too, considering the relatively compact 32" screen with a 1500R curve. Many high-end monitors these days have much more minimal stands, sometimes even as thin as TV stand legs that still allow you to use the space under and around the screen. That’s not the case with the XZ2 and it’s really the only thing I actively dislike about it.
The benefit of the bulky stand is an incredible amount of articulation. 360-degree swivel, 125mm height adjustment, and 30-degree range of tilt adjustment make this one of the most adjustable monitors I’ve ever tested. Honestly, It’s probably too much, but I’m not complaining.
The Specs You Need To Care About
1500R is probably the optimal curve for this size monitor. It does the job without being distracting, and it makes 32" a reasonable size. I generally 27" inch is the best size for a gaming monitor, but this 32" with the curve feels just right.
The XZ2 is a VESA certified DisplayHDR 400 monitor. 400 nits is the minimum for VESA certification and, to be honest, I didn’t get much out of it. If high dynamic range is something you really care about, this is not that monitor. The XZ2 is more geared for competitive shooters and the like, so if you’re more interested in eye-popping visuals or movie watching, look elsewhere (and prepare to invest a lot more because good HDR does not come cheap). For what it’s worth, I felt like the display was way brighter than other 400 nit displays I’ve tested.
The 165Hz refresh rate and AMD FreeSync are the real performance champs here. Ever since Nvidia started supporting FreeSync on their video cards the value of FreeSync displays has gone way up and this one is no exception. I tend to think refresh rate is a bit overvalued. Hitting 165 fps means you’re either playing a very old game, playing on very low settings, or using a very expensive video card. In any event, the XZ2 is certainly future-proofed at 165Hz and further proves this monitor’s value for competitive online gamers.
Bells and Whistles
I’m actually pretty impressed with the in-monitor options that Acer offers. The differentiators typically don’t amount to much more than very niche settings, but when it comes to the XZ2 I found myself using their fancy settings fairly frequently.
One thing I really appreciated was the BlueLightShield feature. Acer has been including this option on a lot of their monitor and laptops recently. As a loyal user of Gunnar glasses, I appreciated a built-in option for blue light blocking for those who don’t wear glasses. It has variable settings too so you can adjust how strong the filter is.
I also really like the way you can assign gaming mode presets to different games so that the monitor automatically switches between them. Most of the time I don’t even bother switching modes with my displays even though I know games, media, and productivity should all use different settings, so I like being able to assign everything once so it changes automatically without having to think about it.
Were I in the market for a 16:9 screen (I’ve been corrupted by the allure of ultra-wide and there’s no going back) the XZ2 would likely be my choice. A better HDR would be nice, but for the types of games I play — Apex Legends, Destiny 2, Doom — I have to prioritize performance over beauty, and the XZ2 has just about everything I could want for a fantastic price.
An Acer Nitro XZ322QU was provided to TheGamer for this review. You can learn more about the Acer Nitro XZ2 series on the Acer Website.
