If you’re still rocking a 1080p desktop monitor, I think it’s time to upgrade. At 27 inches, a 1440p display gives you almost twice the screen real estate in terms of pixels while still being comfy enough for day-to-day use. Today, you can get Acer’s take with upgraded IPS panel for just $109.99 at Best Buy. That’s a smooth $90 off.
This is definitely a budget screen, so it’s not going to blow anybody away for gaming or video. But with that upgraded resolution and IPS panel, it’s perfect for office work or as a multi-monitor upgrade next to a bigger, fancier monitor. You do get two HDMI ports and a DisplayPort, but no USB extras so it’s not a natural companion for a laptop or tablet. It does include a standard VESA mount for a monitor arm… and you should probably do that because the plastic stand doesn’t impress.
As one Best Buy customer and a SlickDeals poster points out, the listed “100Hz” refresh rate might not be what you actually get in the box. It looks like there are multiple versions of the Acer KA272U monitor, some with 100Hz and others with 75Hz. Frankly, that’s not going to make a huge difference — this kind of budget display isn’t really ideal for gaming anyway — but it’s worth noting.
If you’re looking for a gaming monitor, this Acer Nitro monitor has a much speedier 180Hz IPS panel but compromises with 1080p resolution.
Save 45% on Acer's 27-inch 1440p IPS monitorSee our Best Monitor round-up for more PC monitor buying advice.
Author: Michael Crider, Staff Writer, PCWorld
Michael is a 10-year veteran of technology journalism, covering everything from Apple to ZTE. On PCWorld he's the resident keyboard nut, always using a new one for a review and building a new mechanical board or expanding his desktop "battlestation" in his off hours. Michael's previous bylines include Android Police, Digital Trends, Wired, Lifehacker, and How-To Geek, and he's covered events like CES and Mobile World Congress live. Michael lives in Pennsylvania where he's always looking forward to his next kayaking trip.