acer EK271 27-inch 120Hz Monitor Review: The Budget High-Refresh Rate Champion?

For years, my desk has been a revolving door of monitors, each promising to be the one that finally ends the search. The problem is a familiar one: the market is split into two extremes. On one side, you have the standard 60Hz office monitors—reliable for spreadsheets and emails, but utterly underwhelming for anything that moves quickly. Scrolling a web page feels choppy, and gaming is a blurry, tear-filled affair. On the other side, you have the esports-grade behemoths with sky-high refresh rates and even higher price tags, often packed with features that are overkill for the average user or budding gamer. I’ve long sought the middle ground: a display that delivers a genuinely smooth, high-refresh-rate experience without demanding a second mortgage. Not finding this balance leads to compromise—either you suffer through a sluggish visual experience or you overspend on features you’ll never use. This is the precise dilemma the acer EK271 27-inch 120Hz Monitor aims to solve.

What to Consider Before Buying a Budget Monitor

A monitor is more than just a screen; it’s your primary window into the digital world, a key solution for productivity, entertainment, and creative work. The right monitor can reduce eye strain, improve your in-game performance, and make everyday tasks feel more responsive and enjoyable. A high refresh rate, like the 120Hz offered here, doubles the amount of information displayed per second compared to a standard 60Hz screen. This results in silky-smooth motion, which is not just a luxury for gamers but a tangible quality-of-life improvement for anyone who spends significant time in front of a computer.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone facing the exact conundrum described above: students, home office workers who enjoy casual gaming, or console gamers looking to take advantage of high-frame-rate modes. It’s for anyone who wants to upgrade from a basic 60Hz display to something noticeably better without breaking the bank. Conversely, this monitor might not be suitable for professional graphic designers or video editors who require absolute colour accuracy and higher resolutions like 4K. Similarly, elite competitive gamers might seek out even faster 240Hz+ refresh rates. For them, alternatives with higher specifications might be a better, albeit more expensive, fit.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: A 27-inch monitor provides a generous amount of screen real estate, which is fantastic for multitasking with multiple windows side-by-side. However, ensure your desk has the depth and width to accommodate its 61.2 cm width. You should be able to sit at a comfortable distance to avoid turning your head constantly and to mitigate any visible pixelation from the 1080p resolution at this size.
• Capacity/Performance: The headline features here are the 120Hz refresh rate and Full HD (1920×1080) resolution. 120Hz provides a massive leap in smoothness over 60Hz, while 1080p is less demanding on your graphics card, making it easier to achieve high frame rates. The inclusion of AMD FreeSync is critical for gamers, as it synchronises the monitor with your GPU to eliminate screen tearing and stuttering for a cleaner image.
• Materials & Durability: At this price point, expect a functional, primarily plastic construction. While not premium, Acer’s builds are generally solid and reliable for everyday use. Pay attention to the stand’s stability and adjustability—most budget monitors offer tilt, but not height or swivel adjustments. Thankfully, VESA mount compatibility is often a standard feature for those wanting more ergonomic flexibility.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: A user-friendly on-screen display (OSD) menu, controlled by physical buttons, is important for tweaking settings like brightness and colour. The matte screen finish is a practical choice, as it significantly reduces glare and reflections from ambient light, and it’s easy to clean with a simple microfiber cloth. Connectivity is also key; this model’s HDMI and VGA ports cover the basics for modern and legacy devices.

Keeping these factors in mind, the acer EK271 27-inch 120Hz Monitor stands out in several areas, particularly its blend of performance and value. You can explore its detailed specifications and current offers here.

While the acer EK271 27-inch 120Hz Monitor is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Lean, Clean, and Ready for Action

Unboxing the acer EK271 27-inch 120Hz Monitor was a straightforward and no-fuss affair. Inside the secure packaging, we found the screen, a two-part stand, an HDMI cable, and the power cord. Assembly was tool-free and took less than two minutes; the stand neck clicks into the back of the monitor, and the base screws on with an integrated finger-turn screw. The first thing that struck me was its modern, minimalist design. The bezels are impressively thin on three sides, giving it a sleek appearance that makes it ideal for a dual-monitor setup.

The build is entirely plastic, which is expected at this price, but it feels sturdy and well-put-together. There’s no creaking or excessive flex. The stand provides a stable base with minimal wobble, though its functionality is limited to basic tilt adjustment. Powering it on for the first time, the 27-inch VA panel came to life with vibrant, if slightly cool, out-of-the-box colours. The matte finish did an excellent job of diffusing the overhead lights in our testing room. Navigating the OSD with the tactile buttons on the bottom right was intuitive enough, revealing a surprising number of customisation options for a budget model, from different picture modes to blue light filter settings.

Deep Dive: Performance and Real-World Experience

A monitor’s spec sheet only tells half the story. The true test is how it performs day in and day out, from the mundane task of scrolling through documents to the exhilarating rush of a fast-paced game. We put the acer EK271 27-inch 120Hz Monitor through its paces in a variety of scenarios to see if its real-world performance lives up to its promising specifications.

The 120Hz Fluidity: A Tangible Upgrade for Work and Play

The jump from 60Hz to 120Hz is, without exaggeration, transformative. It’s the single most compelling reason to consider this monitor. In standard desktop use, the difference is immediately apparent. Dragging windows across the screen, scrolling through long articles, and even the simple movement of the mouse cursor feel incredibly fluid and responsive. It’s a quality-of-life improvement that, once experienced, is very hard to go back from. But where the high refresh rate truly shines is in gaming. We tested it with several titles, including fast-paced shooters like Apex Legends and racing simulators. At 120 frames per second, motion blur is significantly reduced, tracking targets becomes easier, and the overall experience feels more connected and immediate. The included AMD FreeSync support worked flawlessly with our test rig’s compatible GPU, completely eliminating the distracting screen tearing that can plague high-frame-rate gaming on non-adaptive sync displays. This combination of a 120Hz refresh rate and FreeSync delivers a premium gaming feature set in a remarkably accessible package.

Visual Fidelity: The VA Panel’s Colour and Contrast

Acer opted for a Vertical Alignment (VA) panel in the EK271, a choice that comes with distinct advantages. The most notable is the excellent contrast ratio, rated at 2750:1. In practice, this translates to deep, inky blacks and bright whites, giving the image a real sense of depth and punch. This was particularly noticeable when watching films or playing games with dark scenes; where IPS panels can sometimes exhibit a greyish “glow,” the EK271 maintained rich black levels. This observation was echoed by one user who, upgrading from an older office monitor, noted the Acer’s picture was “a little darker and slightly sharper.” We found this to be an accurate assessment. Out of the box, the colours are vibrant and pleasing for general entertainment and web browsing. While it may not satisfy a professional photographer requiring perfect colour accuracy, the colours are far from washed out and provide an engaging viewing experience. The OSD offers several presets and manual controls, allowing for a good degree of customisation to suit personal preference. For its intended audience, the visual performance is a significant step up from typical budget displays.

Everyday Usability and Ergonomics

Beyond gaming, the acer EK271 27-inch 120Hz Monitor proves to be a capable daily driver for productivity and entertainment. The large 27-inch canvas is a boon for multitasking, allowing for comfortable side-by-side viewing of documents or applications. One potential concern for some is the 1080p resolution stretched over this large a screen, resulting in a pixel density of around 81 PPI (Pixels Per Inch). For users sitting at a normal desk distance, text is perfectly legible and clear, but those who prefer to sit very close or are accustomed to higher-resolution “Retina” displays might notice individual pixels. However, for the vast majority of users, this is a non-issue and a worthwhile trade-off for the screen size and refresh rate. The matte screen finish is another huge practical win, effectively eliminating distracting reflections. Furthermore, the inclusion of Acer’s VisionCare technologies, specifically the BlueLightShield, is a welcome feature for those who spend long hours in front of the screen. We found that enabling the low blue light mode in the evening significantly reduced eye fatigue during extended writing and research sessions. If you’re looking for a monitor that can handle both work and high-refresh rate play, this model presents a compelling and comfortable option.

What Other Users Are Saying

Our positive experience with the acer EK271 27-inch 120Hz Monitor seems to be shared by many users. The general sentiment is one of pleasant surprise at the quality and performance offered at such a competitive price. One piece of feedback we found particularly insightful came from a user replacing an eight-year-old Dell office monitor. They admitted the Acer “had a lot to live up to” but concluded that the “picture quality is very good for this price.” They also highlighted the extensive settings available in the OSD, a feature they appreciated even if they stuck with the solid out-of-the-box calibration. This confirms our own findings that while professionals might want to perform a full calibration, the factory settings are more than adequate for most users. Critiques are minimal and align with our own observations, primarily focusing on the 1080p resolution at 27 inches being a point of consideration rather than a major flaw. Overall, users see it as a fantastic value upgrade, especially for those moving from older, 60Hz displays.

How Does the acer EK271 27-inch 120Hz Monitor Compare to the Competition?

While the Acer EK271 carves out a fantastic niche, the monitor market is fiercely competitive. To give you a complete picture, here’s how it stacks up against three notable alternatives, each catering to a slightly different user need.

1. KOORUI 32 inch 1440p 170Hz Curved Gaming Monitor

The KOORUI monitor represents a significant step up in immersion and raw gaming performance. Its larger 32-inch curved screen and higher 1440p (QHD) resolution create a more enveloping and detailed visual experience. The 170Hz refresh rate offers an even smoother gameplay feel for competitive gamers with high-end PCs capable of pushing those frame rates. This is the choice for a user who prioritises gaming above all else, has a larger budget, and wants a more premium, feature-rich display. The trade-off is the higher cost and the increased demand it places on your graphics card.

2. AOC CQ27G2SE 27″ QHD Curved Gaming Monitor

The AOC CQ27G2SE can be seen as a direct upgrade path from the Acer EK271. It maintains the 27-inch screen size but increases the resolution to 1440p, resulting in a much sharper and more detailed image. It also boosts the refresh rate to 165Hz and adds a gentle curve for enhanced immersion. This monitor is perfect for the gamer or productivity user who loves the 27-inch form factor but desires greater pixel density for crisper text and more detailed game worlds. It strikes a fantastic balance between size, resolution, and speed, but it comes at a higher price point than the Acer.

3. Dopesplay 15.6” 1080P Portable Monitor

This Dopesplay monitor is in a completely different category, highlighting the importance of use case. It isn’t a competitor for a primary desktop display but rather an excellent alternative for someone who needs a screen on the go. Its compact 15.6-inch size and ability to be powered via USB-C make it the ideal travel companion for laptop users, developers, or anyone needing a second screen away from their desk. If your primary need is portability and a flexible second display for a laptop, this is the product for you, whereas the Acer is built exclusively for a stationary desktop setup.

Our Final Verdict: Is the acer EK271 27-inch 120Hz Monitor Worth It?

After extensive testing, we can confidently say that the acer EK271 27-inch 120Hz Monitor is an outstanding value proposition. It successfully bridges the gap between basic office monitors and expensive gaming displays, delivering a core feature—the 120Hz refresh rate—that fundamentally enhances the user experience across the board. The smooth motion in games and on the desktop, combined with the deep contrast of its VA panel and a large 27-inch screen, makes it a joy to use for both work and play.

Yes, the 1080p resolution on a screen this size might be a slight compromise for pixel-peepers, and the lack of a DisplayPort is a minor omission. However, these are smart trade-offs to bring this level of performance to such an accessible price point. We wholeheartedly recommend it to budget-conscious students, home office users, and entry-level PC or console gamers looking for their first high-refresh-rate monitor. It delivers where it counts, providing a tangible, meaningful upgrade over any standard 60Hz screen.

If you’ve decided the acer EK271 27-inch 120Hz Monitor is the right fit for your desk and your budget, you can check its current price and purchase it here.