Acer Predator XB273U V3 vs Dough Spectrum One
The Dough Spectrum One is 22 pixels per degree sharper at a desk distance — 68 against 46, and that is the line between sharp and retina-class. Every other published specification for both is in the table, with the rows where they differ tinted.
Acer
Acer Predator XB273U V3
46ppd · sharpNo HDR~$350
Predator is Acer's gaming brand rather than a specification, and on this model the difference from the cheaper Nitro amounts to 50 more nits, a red-accented chassis and G-Sync Compatible certification on top of FreeSync Premium; the panel underneath is the same class of 27-inch 1440p IPS at 180 Hz with 0.5 ms rated response.
Best for: An Nvidia build that wants certified G-Sync without paying for a hardware module
- 2×HDMI 2.0· below the panel's maximum
- DisplayPort 1.2· below the panel's maximum
Dough
Dough Spectrum One
68ppd · retina-classReal HDR~$349
It ships without a stand, and that is the clearest statement of intent on this page — the assumption is that you already own an arm.
Best for: A monitor-arm desk that wants 4K120 for a console and 144 Hz for a PC
- 2×HDMI 2.1· full speed(DSC)
- DisplayPort 1.4· full speed(DSC)
- USB-C (DP Alt Mode)· full speed(DSC)
| Specification | Acer Predator XB273U V3 | Dough Spectrum One |
|---|---|---|
| Approx. price | ~$350 | ~$349 |
| Type | Gaming | Gaming |
| Screen size | 27 in | 27 in |
| Resolution | 2560×1440 | 3840×2160 |
| Aspect ratio | 16:9 | 16:9 |
| Pixels per degree | 46 — sharp | 68 — retina-class |
| Pixels per inch | 109 | 163 |
| Panel | IPS | IPS |
| Finish | matte | matte |
| Curvature | Flat | Flat |
| Max refresh | 180 Hz | 144 Hz |
| Response time | 0.5 ms GtG | 1 ms GtG |
| VRR | FreeSync Premium | FreeSync Premium Pro |
| HDR tier | No HDR | Real HDR |
| HDR certification | None | DisplayHDR 600 |
| Peak brightness | 400 nits claimed | 750 nits claimed |
| Measured peak | — | 692 nits · TFTCentral |
| SDR brightness | 400 nits | 450 nits |
| Local dimming | — | 16 zones |
| Static contrast | 1,000:1 | 1,000:1 |
| Colour gamut | 95% DCI-P3 | 98% DCI-P3 |
| Colour depth | 8-bit | 8-bit+FRC |
| HDMI | 2 × HDMI 2.0 | 2 × HDMI 2.1 |
| DisplayPort | 1 × DisplayPort 1.2 | 1 × DisplayPort 1.4 |
| DSC | Not supported | Supported |
| Port speed | No input reaches the panel's maximum | 3 of 3 inputs at full speed |
| USB-C | None | Video in over USB-C |
| USB-C power | — | 100 W — 14-inch class laptop |
| Thunderbolt | No | No |
| KVM | None | None |
| USB hub | None | 3 ports |
| Speakers | Built in | None |
| Stand | height, tilt, swivel, pivot | Fixed |
| VESA | 100x100 | 100x100 |
| Weight | 15.1 lb | 10.4 lb |
| Released | 2023 | 2021 |
| $ per inch | $13 | $13 |
| $ per megapixel | $95 | $42 |
Acer Predator XB273U V3: what it gives up
- No DisplayHDR certification at any tier — VESA has never listed this model — and no dimming-zone count either, so the HDR mode tone-maps onto a 400-nit edge-lit backlight
- DisplayPort here is 1.2 and the HDMI ports are 2.0, so 180 Hz is available on exactly one input
- 1000:1 contrast is standard IPS — black levels lift visibly in a dark room
Dough Spectrum One: what it gives up
- No stand in the box; the matching aluminium one is another $99
- 16 dimming zones is a token number — expect obvious blooming around bright objects on black
- 1000:1 native IPS contrast, so the DisplayHDR 600 badge is mostly about brightness
- No speakers and no KVM switch
- The 1 ms figure is the overdrive best case, not what the panel does with overdrive off
Full specifications: Acer Predator XB273U V3 · Dough Spectrum One