Acer has unveiled a gaming monitor at IFA 2026 that pushes one of the strangest numbers in the display industry even further: a 1,000Hz refresh rate at Full HD resolution.
The new model is called the Predator XB253Q U1, a 24.5-inch monitor built primarily for competitive esports players, where motion clarity and response time matter more than maximum resolution. Acer announced the display on September 2 as part of its IFA 2026 lineup in Berlin.
The important difference this time is that Acer is not reaching 1,000Hz only through a lower-resolution mode. The Predator XB253Q U1 runs at 1,920 x 1,080 at 1,000Hz, making it Acer’s first monitor to bring that refresh rate to Full HD. The company previously crossed the 1,000Hz barrier with the Predator XB273U F6, but that model reached the speed only at 1,280 x 720, while running at up to 500Hz in QHD.
The specifications are clearly aimed at esports.
The monitor uses a 24.5-inch IPS panel, offers a response time of up to 0.3ms with VRB Pro, reaches up to 450 nits in HDR mode, and supports AMD FreeSync Premium and NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible. Connectivity includes two HDMI 2.1 ports and a DisplayPort 2.1 connection.
Acer has also added its Visual Response Boost Pro technology, designed to reduce motion blur and ghosting during extremely fast gameplay. For competitive games such as Counter-Strike, Valorant and League of Legends, the goal is straightforward: reduce the time between frames and make fast-moving targets easier to track.
But 1,000Hz does not automatically mean every game will look 1,000 times better. To take advantage of a display like this, the PC also needs to produce an extremely high number of frames per second. If a game is running at 200 or 300fps, a 1,000Hz monitor cannot create the missing frames by itself. That makes the technology far more relevant to professional esports players and high-end gaming systems than to the average gamer.
Then there is the part that may attract just as much attention as the refresh rate: the price.
Acer says the Predator XB253Q U1 will start at $1,099.99 in North America and around €1,099 in Europe. It is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2027.
That puts the monitor into a very specific category. For most gamers, a 240Hz or 360Hz display remains a much more practical and affordable choice. Even 500Hz monitors are already available, while Acer is asking a much smaller group of buyers to spend more than $1,000 to move into four-digit refresh rates.
Still, Acer is not alone in pushing display technology toward extreme refresh rates. The esports monitor race is becoming increasingly competitive, with manufacturers taking different approaches to speed and image quality. Dell, for example, has just introduced an Alienware 560Hz QD-OLED display, highlighting the industry’s split between OLED technology focused on image quality and speed, and extreme-refresh IPS or TN-style esports panels focused almost entirely on responsiveness.
The Predator XB253Q U1 is therefore not a monitor Acer expects every gamer to buy. Instead, it is a statement about how far gaming displays can go when speed becomes the absolute priority. 1,000Hz is no longer just a laboratory number — Acer is turning it into a real consumer product.
Acer today announced a full lineup of monitors for high-powered gaming and content creation across the Predator, Acer Nitro, and Acer ProDesigner portfolios. Spanning ultrafast refresh rates, high-resolution panels, and adaptive display technologies, the new monitors are designed to meet the needs of a wide range of gamers and creators.
Predator XB253Q U1: Top-tier Responsiveness for Esports
The Predator XB253Q U1 monitor is a premium gaming display designed for hardcore gamers and enthusiasts seeking the ultimate speed and responsiveness for fast-paced titles and esports competitions. The 24.5-inch size is optimal for esports environments and delivers ultrafast visual response, motion clarity, and consistent performance, enabling gamers to react more quickly and maintain precision during fast-paced gameplay. It features a 1000 Hz refresh rate with FHD resolution, along with Acer’s proprietary Visual Response Boost (VRB) Pro technology, which reduces motion blur and ghosting so that fast-moving objects on screen appear sharper and easier to track. The monitor is VESA DisplayHDR400 certified and includes Circular Polarizer technology to reduce glare and eye strain during longer gaming sessions. It also offers AMD FreeSync™ Premium and NVIDIA G-SYNC® Compatible for tear-free gaming visuals.
Predator X32 V3: The Ultimate Display for Visual-Driven Gameplay
The Predator X32 V3 monitor is built for professional gamers who need high resolution and exceptional picture quality. The 31.5-inch display features a QD-OLED Penta Tandem™ panel that adopts a five-layer emission structure to enhance brightness and efficiency while extending screen lifespan and durability. The monitor offers UHD resolution with a 180 Hz refresh rate. With VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certification, it offers higher brightness and deeper blacks along with greater color depth for rendering objects in more detail. Delta <1 color accuracy ensures maximal color quality and uniform appearance, while a 99% DCI-P3 color gamut ensures colors are faithfully represented with optimal precision. The monitor also offers AMD FreeSync™ Premium Pro and NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible for tear-free gaming visuals.
Predator XB273K V7: Detail and Speed for Switching Between Gaming and Creative Work
The 27-inch Predator XB273K V7 monitor offers a happy medium of high resolution for detailed visuals and high refresh rates for fast gameplay. It is designed for versatility and multiple purposes, including high-speed gaming with refresh rates of up to 500 Hz, as well as exceptional picture quality, color accuracy, and ultra-smooth visuals for creative work. With a baseline of UHD resolution at 160 Hz refresh rates, the panel supports DFR technology, allowing users to switch on up to FHD resolution at 500 Hz refresh rates for fast-paced gameplay. The monitor offers AMD FreeSync™ Premium and NVIDIA G-SYNC Compatible for a seamless, tear-free visual experience, and Delta <1 ensures exceptional color quality. For creative work, an Acer Smart Dial allows users to control the monitor remotely, enabling adjustment of brightness, contrast, and input without reaching behind the screen.
Acer Nitro XV275X P: Accessible 5K Resolution for Gaming, Creativity, and Productivity
Under Acer’s entry-focused Nitro gaming brand, the 27-inch Acer Nitro XV275X P monitor is designed for ultra-enthusiast gamers seeking top visual experiences that are more accessible. It renders visuals in stunning detail, combining 5K resolution, 2304-zone Mini LED backlighting, and VESA DisplayHDR 1400 certification for ultra-deep blacks and exceptional contrasts. With DFR technology, users can switch between immersive visuals and competitive gaming, with 5K resolution at 165 Hz refresh rates as the baseline, then up to QHD resolution at 330 Hz. AMD FreeSync™ Premium provides tear-free experiences, paired with a 0.5 ms GTG minimum response time, delivering ultra-smooth gameplay. With 99% Adobe RGB, 99% sRGB, and 99% DCI-P3 color gamuts as well as Delta E<2 color accuracy, vivid colors bring every scene to life. Across gaming, entertainment, and work, the display serves multiple purposes thanks to USB Type-C 90 W power delivery for simplified cable management, a KVM switch for seamless changing of connected devices, and picture-in-picture (PIP) and picture-by-picture (PBP) features for enhanced productivity.
Acer Nitro XZ340CKR P: Speed and Detail Without Compromise
The Acer Nitro XZ340CKR P monitor is for gamers who require both ultra-wide cinematic detail and esports-level speed without compromises. The curved 34-inch display offers a baseline of 5120 x 2160 resolution at 180 Hz that is ideal for exploring open-world gamescapes in detail or for content creation. For switching on high responsiveness for competitive gameplay, DFR technology enables up to WFHD resolution at 360 Hz and up to 0.5 ms GTG response time. The monitor delivers incredible smoothness, contrasts, and color, supporting AMD FreeSync™ Premium for tear-free experiences, HDR10 certification, and a DCI-P3 color gamut of 90%.
Acer Nitro XV275U Z2: Tri-mode for Gaming Performance
For competitive gamers and enthusiasts, the Acer Nitro XV275U Z2 monitor delivers the perfect balance between immersive visuals and competitive speeds. The 27-inch display is designed as a single display that caters to multiple needs of modern gamers: playing both AAA games and competitive esports, a balance between image quality and ultra-high refresh rates, and juggling gaming and content creation. For staying ahead of the competition, it is capable of refresh rates of up to 520 Hz and a 0.5 ms GTG response time. Tri-mode gaming with DFR technology allows gamers to play every game at its best, offering QHD resolution with a 275 Hz refresh rate, FHD resolution at 360 Hz, and HD resolution at 520 Hz. With 1152-zone Mini LED backlighting and Acer HDR1000, the monitor delivers incredible detail and high levels of contrast, while 97% DCI-P3 and 95% Adobe RGB color gamuts facilitate creative work as well as gaming. It also offers AMD FreeSync™ Premium for tear-free experiences.
