Acer Predator X32 FP review: A Mini-LED monitor for work and play

At a glance

Expert's Rating

Pros

Six video inputs, including USB-C
Good range of image quality options
Very wide color gamut
Sharp, crisp 4K image

Cons

Stand is too wide
Contrast ratio could be better
Low dimming zone count has consequences

Our Verdict

Acer’s Predator X32 FP is a good Mini-LED monitor for HDR, but pricing puts it out of contention as there are other options such as OLED and other capable Mini-LED monitors at the same or lower price point.

The Acer Predator X32 FP rides a wave of new Mini-LED monitors that reduce the number of dimming zones in order to lower pricing. It stands out from the pack for two reasons: It has gobs of connectivity and delivers 4K resolution at up to 160Hz. These features keep the X32 FP’s price above $1,000, however—so, is it worth the cash?

Note: See our roundup of the best 4K monitors to learn about competing products, what to look for in a 4K monitor, and buying recommendations.

Acer Predator X32 FP: The specs

The Acer Predator X32 FP might appear similar to older 4K gaming monitors at a glance. However, its features are fairly unique: It has a 4K panel, an enhanced refresh rate, and a Mini-LED backlight, but it keeps the backlight restrained to 576 dimming zones instead of the 1,152 zones found on more expensive monitors like the Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX.

Display size: 32-inch
Native resolution: 3,840 x 2,160
Panel type: IPS LCD with Mini-LED backlight and 576 dimming zones
Refresh rate: Up to 160Hz
Adaptive-Sync: AMD FreeSync Premium Pro
HDR: Yes, VESA DIsplayHDR 1000 Certified
Ports: 1x USB-C with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and 90 watts Power Delivery, 4x HDMI 2.1, 1x DIsplayPort 1.4, 1x 3.5mm audio-out
Stand adjustment: Height, swivel, tilt
VESA mount: Yes, 100x100mm
Speakers: Yes, two 7-watt
Price: $1,499.99 MSRP

Acer throws a ton of connectivity at this monitor. It has numerous HDMI ports but also supports DisplayPort and USB-C. Many high-end monitors offer USB-C, but it’s still somewhat uncommon in a gaming monitor.

The monitor’s MSRP is $1,499.99. However, it sometimes retails below that price. It’s currently around $1,275 on Amazon and $1,099.99 at Micro Center.

Acer Predator X32 FP: Design

Matt Smith

The Acer Predator X32 FP’s design feels like a blast from the past…if you, like me, remember what Acer was producing eight years ago. There was a time when Acer’s Predator line went for a tank-like, armor-clad appearance. The X32 FP riffs on that with a tread-like pattern down the stand’s neck and thick, beefy plastics that cross to form an X-shape along the back.

mentioned in this article

Asus ROG Swift PG32UQX

Read our review

Best Prices Today: Not Available at Adorama

It’s an aggressive look, but one that doesn’t hold up to much scrutiny. I’m particularly annoyed by the use of silver stickers around the puck-like element near the bass of the stand. It looks and feels unworthy of a monitor in this price range. To be clear, the X32 FP feels fine, even sturdy, at least by the standards of most monitors. However, it’s no more impressive than AOC’s Agon Pro AG274QZM, which sells for hundreds less.

Acer makes the common mistake of opting for a wide, aggressive stand. It feels hefty, and the legs seem to be made of solid metal, but the stand consumes more desk space than it should. On the plus side, the stand includes several elements that can be used as handles, which makes the monitor easy to adjust or move. A 100mm VESA mount is included for use with third-party monitor stands and arms.

Acer Predator X32 FP: Features and menus

Matt Smith

The Acer Predator X32 FP sets itself apart from competitors with extensive connectivity. It includes a total of four HDMI 2.1 ports, plus one DisplayPort 1.4, and a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and up to 90 watts of power delivery.

That’s a total of six video inputs. The DisplayPort 1.4 port is the only option to support the monitor’s maximum refresh rate of 160Hz, but the rest can handle 144Hz, which is more than adequate for a 4K gaming monitor (remember, consoles only support up to 120Hz).

mentioned in this article

AOC Agon Pro AG274QZM

Read our review

The USB-C port also extends to four physical USB-A ports, two on the back of the monitor and two on the left flank. This makes the X32 FP a useful USB-C to USB-A hub. The USB-A ports can also be driven by a USB-B connection if your computer doesn’t support USB-C.

Acer’s “whoops, all ports!” approach gives owners options. You can connect a desktop tower PC, a laptop, a PlayStation 5, a Xbox Series X|S, a Nintendo Switch, and a streaming box simultaneously. That’s excellent news if you plan to use the Acer Predator X32 as your main display in a small entertainment room, gaming den, or studio apartment.

The on-screen menu is accessed through a joystick on the right flank. It works with several buttons that control features. This arrangement is quick and easy to understand, though I did find the power button a bit too close to the other menu buttons and, as a result, easy to hit on accident.

The Acer Predator X32 FP sets itself apart from competitors with extensive connectivity: four HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4, and a USB-C port with DisplayPort Alternate Mode and up to 90 watts of power delivery.

Matt Smith

Acer provides a healthy range of image-quality adjustments. This includes gamma and color temperature adjustments, six-axis color calibration, and support for several color gamut profiles including sRGB. The monitor also includes an uncommon “max brightness” option, which is turned off by default. This restrains the maximum brightness of the display to a more manageable level for SDR content. It’s a useful toggle, as dialing in brightness on HDR monitors can be fussy due to their wide range of luminance.

Acer Predator X32 FP: SDR Image Quality

The Acer Predator XP32 FP is one of several new Mini-LED monitors rushing to market after CES 2023. It achieves a lower price by limiting the number of dimming zones to just 576 (some earlier models had 1,152), but it doesn’t compromise in other aspects of image quality.

Matt Smith

Acer provides a maximum SDR brightness of 461 nits. This is quite a bit less than some competitors, and certainly not the highest the monitor can achieve, as I’ll touch on when explaining its HDR performance. The Acer’s SDR brightness falls behind some recent Mini-LED monitors including the Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K and AOC Agon Pro AG274QZM.

Whether this matters is up for debate, as 461 nits should be more than enough for comfortable viewing in a bright, sunlit room. Still, I prefer to see monitors offer a higher level of brightness if the monitor is capable of achieving it.

Matt Smith

The monitor’s maximum contrast ratio came in at 3230:1. That’s a good result for an IPS monitor, and on par with the AOC Agon Pro AG274QZM, but less than some other monitors with a Mini-LED backlight such as the Viewsonic Elite XG341C-2K, which has more dimming zones. OLED also outperforms thanks to its ability to achieve an essentially perfect black level with zero luminance.

Still, the XP32 FP looks good in real-world conditions. Dark scenes generally appear deep and rich, with far less of the IPS glow found on standard IPS monitors. Vivid, bright scenes seem to leap out of the display thanks to its high maximum brightness.