REVIEW: Acer Predator X32 X3 Gaming Monitor is a Multi-tasking Gamers Dream

By
PHIL TANN - SENIOR JOURNALIST
Phil hails from an IT background and has spent 14 years as a tech journalist, and over that time has seen massive evolution in phones, development...
13 Min Read

The modern display landscape demands versatility, especially from high-end devices designed to anchor both elite gaming setups and professional workstations. The Acer Predator X32 X3 emerges as a compelling contender in this segment, offering a synergy of bleeding-edge display technology and practical, comprehensive feature integration. Built upon a 31.5-inch Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) panel, this monitor is not merely an incremental upgrade but a definitive statement on the capabilities of contemporary visual hardware. Its core promise lies in its ability to reconcile the traditionally opposing forces of resolution fidelity and raw refresh speed, positioning it as one of the most intriguing and capable monitors on the market. This review will comprehensively dissect the X32 X3’s technical specifications, evaluate its effectiveness as a multi-purpose home office hub, analyse its colour reproduction and response metrics, and ultimately assess the subjective “joy of gaming” it delivers.

SCREEN SPECS AND DUAL-MODE ADVANTAGE

At the technical core, the Predator X32 X3 establishes its flagship status immediately. It features a 31.5-inch screen size with a native 4K UHD resolution (3840×2160), delivering over eight million pixels. The panel technology is OLED, which is foundational to the monitor’s performance profile, offering per-pixel illumination that eliminates the need for a traditional backlight. However, the defining technical feature that sets the X32 X3 apart is its pioneering dual-mode functionality, often referred to as Dynamic Frequency and Resolution (DFR) switching. This mode allows the user to instantly toggle between two distinct performance settings based on their immediate needs.

The first mode provides the display’s native 4K UHD resolution paired with a supremely fluid 240 Hz refresh rate. This configuration caters to immersive single-player games and demanding graphical applications where detail and environmental fidelity are paramount. The second, more competitive mode dynamically drops the resolution to FHD (1920×1080) while simultaneously boosting the refresh rate to a staggering 480 Hz.

Crucially, because FHD resolution is exactly one-quarter of 4K UHD, the scaling process is lossless and mathematically perfect, avoiding the visual artifacts often associated with non-native resolution playback. This 480 Hz mode transforms the monitor into an esports-grade instrument, emphasising competitive responsiveness over sheer pixel density, offering users unprecedented flexibility within a single hardware unit. Beyond these primary metrics, the X32 X3 boasts essential modern gaming staples, including full certification for AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and compatibility with NVIDIA G-SYNC, ensuring tear-free and stutter-free visuals across its entire refresh range. The combination of high-resolution visual mastery and competitive-grade speed cements its position as a technological hybrid in the premium display category.

MODERN CONNECTIVITY FOR BATTLE STATION INTEGRATION

While the Predator X32 X3 is engineered for peak gaming performance, its comprehensive connectivity suite and integrated features effectively position it as a powerful hub for the modern home office, significantly broadening its utility beyond pure entertainment. The monitor is equipped with an industry-leading selection of inputs, ensuring maximum compatibility with current and future devices. These connections include dual HDMI 2.1 ports, essential for maximising refresh rates and features on the latest-generation gaming consoles, as well as a DisplayPort 1.4 interface with Display Stream Compression (DSC) to handle the full 4K/240 Hz bandwidth from a PC.

However, its most vital feature for productivity is the inclusion of a USB-C port, which supports not only video input via DisplayPort Alternate Mode but also provides a substantial 90 W of Power Delivery (PD). This capability allows users to connect and charge a modern laptop—such as a MacBook or high-end Ultrabook—using a single cable, simultaneously transmitting video, data, and power. This significantly declutters the workspace, simplifying transitions between the gaming PC and the work laptop.

As a huge functionality bonus, the X32 X3 integrates a KVM (Keyboard, Video, Mouse) switch. While I have already got a specific dock in place for this functionality, it works well, allowing a single keyboard and mouse set to control two different computers connected to the monitor, making it highly space-efficient for users who maintain separate work and personal systems.

Combined with the ergonomic stand, which offers height, tilt, and swivel adjustments, and the inclusion of dual 5 W stereo speakers — enough for video meetings or background music — the X32 X3 transcends the classification of a mere gaming screen, serving as a genuinely competent and centralised command centre for both rigorous professional tasks and high-adrenaline leisure time.

COLOUR AND CONTRAST

In the realm of visual quality, the choice of OLED panel technology provides the Acer Predator X32 X3 with an immediate and decisive advantage over traditional LCD technologies. The fundamental principle of OLED—where each pixel generates its own light and can be individually turned off—results in a theoretically infinite contrast ratio and the rendering of true black. This deep, absolute black level is the foundation for unparalleled image depth and realism, particularly when consuming high dynamic range (HDR) content.

From a colour fidelity perspective, the monitor is meticulously engineered for accuracy. It covers an expansive colour space, achieving 99% coverage of the cinema-grade DCI-P3 gamut, alongside a native 10-bit colour depth capable of rendering over 1.07 billion colours. This level of colour precision is usually the domain of professional content creation monitors, making the X32 X3 suitable for tasks like video editing and graphic design, where colour accuracy (Delta E<1 factory calibration) is critical. For HDR performance, the monitor is certified with VESA Display HDR True Black 400, a specification tailored to the strengths of OLED technology. More impressively, the panel can achieve peak brightness figures exceeding 1000 nits in small highlight windows, resulting in blindingly bright explosions, specular reflections, and sunlight effects that lend a spectacular, almost lifelike intensity to supported games and movies. This combination of perfect black levels and stunning highlight capability ensures a highly immersive and visually impactful viewing experience that current competing LCD technologies struggle to replicate.

REFRESH RATES MATTER

For dedicated gamers, the speed and responsiveness of the X32 X3 are arguably one of its most crucial attributes. The monitor offers a performance ceiling designed to satisfy the needs of both the casual enthusiast and the competitive esports professional. As noted, the core 4K mode operates at a 240 Hz refresh rate, translating to a new frame being rendered every 4.17 milliseconds (ms). This is a substantial improvement over the previous generation’s 144 Hz standard and ensures exceptionally smooth motion clarity in visually detailed games. I spent a lot of time testing the monitor in Escape from Tarkov, where a moment of lag could cost you your life in the game

However, the speed advantage extends beyond mere refresh rate. The OLED panel delivers gray-to-gray (GTG) pixel response time of just 0.03 ms. This ultra-fast response time virtually eliminates motion blur and ghosting, a visual anomaly where trailing artifacts follow moving objects, which is common in slower panels. In competitive titles, this clarity provides a significant edge, allowing players to track fast-moving opponents with greater precision. For the most demanding esports scenarios, the FHD/480 Hz mode pushes this speed limit further, effectively cutting the frame time in half to approximately 2.08 ms.

While the input lag of the monitor varies slightly across resolutions and refresh rates, the X32 X3 consistently maintains very low input latency across all modes. The seamless operation of Adaptive-Sync ensures that no matter the frame rate output by the GPU, the display synchronises perfectly, removing screen tearing and offering a consistently fluid, immediate, and high-fidelity visual feedback loop crucial for peak gaming performance.

THE JOY OF GAMING

Ultimately, the technical specifications of any gaming monitor must coalesce into a profound and enjoyable user experience. The Acer Predator X32 X3 excels at delivering a palpable “joy of gaming” through a combination of its fidelity, speed, and versatility. For AAA single-player titles, the sheer visual spectacle of 4K resolution combined with the infinite contrast of OLED technology is breathtaking. Exploring fantasy worlds or realistic open environments becomes an intensely immersive experience, where the smallest details are razor-sharp, and HDR lighting effects genuinely pop off the screen against a backdrop of true blackness. The high 240 Hz refresh rate in this mode ensures that even cinematic moments feel responsive and smooth, devoid of the judder or blur that can detract from spectacle.

Conversely, for titles requiring raw, competitive speed, the easy toggle to FHD/480 Hz allows the monitor to shed its visual demands and become a pure instrument of performance. This versatility means that a gamer no longer needs two separate monitors—one for detail and one for speed—as the X32 X3 provides a best-in-class experience for both. The monitor is a premium, all-in-one solution that enhances both casual and competitive play styles. The integrated OLED care features, such as image retention refreshers and display savers, are also noteworthy, providing peace of mind to the user about the longevity of the panel, allowing them to focus entirely on the game. The overall effect is a display that is not only technically advanced but fundamentally transformative, offering a level of visual impact and responsiveness that redefines the premium gaming experience.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

As part of the Predator gaming range of hardware, it would be easy to expect that the Acer Predator X32 X3 is top tier pricing and, it is; but for what you’re getting the pricing is pretty reasonable at an RRP of AU$2,499.00 but on special for AU$1,999.00 at the time of publishing this review.

CONCLUSION

The Acer Predator X32 X3 stands as an impressive achievement in display technology, successfully bridging the gap between visual fidelity and extreme speed. Its core technical foundation—a 31.5-inch 4K OLED panel with 99% DCI-P3 colour coverage—guarantees stunning, colour-accurate visuals with the unparalleled depth of infinite contrast. The pioneering dual-mode functionality, offering 4K/240 Hz for immersion and FHD/480 Hz for competition, provides a flexibility unmatched by most rivals. Crucially, the inclusion of the KVM switch and 90 W USB-C Power Delivery ensures that this gaming powerhouse is equally adept at serving as the central hub for a modern, minimalist home office setup.

While its premium price point positions it at the peak of the market, the X32 X3 delivers solid value if you’re going to use the features. It offers a cohesive, versatile, and high-performance solution for users who demand the absolute best for both their professional productivity and their passion for gaming.

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Phil hails from an IT background and has spent 14 years as a tech journalist, and over that time has seen massive evolution in phones, development of technology and the introduction of AI. If it’s got buttons, a screen or goes “ping”, then he’s probably going to have some thoughts or opinions on it.
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