The $3,000 monitor has 1152 dimming zones (absurdly high when the highest-end TV right now is ~480) and does almost 90% of the Rec.2020 gamut (a TV with close to 100% DCI/P3 gamut coverage is short of 80% of Rec.2020) so it looks to be a truly high-end video editing display but without getting into the price realm of Flanders Scientific and other reference displays that cost far, far more.
For sure - that many zones is pretty much required when sitting so close to a display and using it for varied content (text, photos, etc.). 6+ feet away, you can get away with fewer zones for fullscreen video and gaming content, but it's not so great for desktop use. The bloom of local dimming zones is really noticeable if (when) it follows the cursor around, especially if you use a dark theme/background. I would even go as far to argue that 1152 is not enough for regular desktop use and for the price I would be tempted to go OLED, despite the IR/BI issues.
That said, I'm sure it'll be a great display in its own right. The Predators are excellent displays, so Acer knows how to get the job done.
MicroLED is still quite a few years from consumer availability in TVs, let alone high-DPI monitors - and when it arrives, it'll be far more expensive than this at first.
As for everything else: as cheinonen mentions below, the color accuracy, gamut, and general featureset of both these monitors target them squarely at professional markets (including the G-Sync one, just for game development), where prices like these are perfectly reasonable.
Professionals for what? FALD is the antithesis of professional monitoring. You're looking at roughly a 90x90 pixel grid for each dimming zone which will wreck havoc for monitor accuracy. Anything with FALD is not targeting the professional market.
FALD is something you can (almost certainly here) disable in the menus but allows you to have access to it for looking at HDR if that's what you're working on. The relatively meager specs available don't really say what other features it has that professionals would need (LUTs, custom colorspace support, calibration reminders, etc...), but mostly the lack of 144Hz or adaptive sync here is meaningless since that's not the market.
Turn off FALD and all you're left with is the same 4K 32" IPS panel with quantum dots, i.e. nothing worth $3K. And the only reason these aren't targeting "that market" is because AU Optronics failed their original plan of producing such panels. Straight from their 8/28/2018 press release:
Mini LED Backlit Gaming Monitor Displays Reviving Game Scenes with Ultimate Image Quality
Also targeting at high-end gaming and niche application markets, AUO will exhibit 27 and 32-inch 144Hz gaming monitor displays adopting direct-lit mini LED backlight. Equipped with UHD 4K high resolution and quantum dot wide color gamut, and exceptional local dimming effect combined with 1,000 nits ultra high brightness, the displays boast HDR images to meet the highest VESA DisplayHDR performance level, perfectly capturing both bright and dark image details in games. Furthermore, its bezel-less design provides gamers with lifelike and immersive gaming experience.
If it's possible to turn off you would be looking at a black screen, so that seems pretty pointless, unless you suggest they ship them with two different backlights?
I agree. This is surprising if not shocking coming from Acer of all places. They're always marketed their crappiest products here in the USA and are considered somewhat of a joke in the industry. But in Europe and Asia they sell considerably higher quality products.
Which makes me wonder how they expect to be taken seriously shaking a reputation they have carved for themselves over 2+ decades here in the USA.
i really like the design of the 500 workstation. something a little different at least. not sure if i'm sold on the wood grain but I think i like it. Would it be too much to hope it'll be actual hardwood (if only a laminate) and not a decal?
interesting how Acer is slowly moving upmarket... they used to be utter bargain big rubbish but their hardware lately is rather nice. Got their 32" curved 1080P display recently for a new build and found the image and build quality to be nothing short of excellent.
I understand for gaming content you need a widescreen but for the rest of us professionals doing mainstream graphic work for print or web 16:9 is wrong. Monitors are the wrong shape. in our case 80% of web traffic is via mobile and sites/content are desiged to be long ie scroll down not wide. On top of that there is no limit to the height of a monitor on your desk whereas the wider it gets the further away your coffee is. Someone needs to introduce a decent 26/28 inch monitor with a 3:2 aspect ratio.
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bubblyboo - Friday, April 12, 2019 - link
Still the $2K price point for the 144Hz 4K displays after a year. +$1000 for miniled (not microled) but only 60Hz and no adaptive sync. Yikes.cheinonen - Friday, April 12, 2019 - link
The $3,000 monitor has 1152 dimming zones (absurdly high when the highest-end TV right now is ~480) and does almost 90% of the Rec.2020 gamut (a TV with close to 100% DCI/P3 gamut coverage is short of 80% of Rec.2020) so it looks to be a truly high-end video editing display but without getting into the price realm of Flanders Scientific and other reference displays that cost far, far more.nathanddrews - Monday, April 15, 2019 - link
For sure - that many zones is pretty much required when sitting so close to a display and using it for varied content (text, photos, etc.). 6+ feet away, you can get away with fewer zones for fullscreen video and gaming content, but it's not so great for desktop use. The bloom of local dimming zones is really noticeable if (when) it follows the cursor around, especially if you use a dark theme/background. I would even go as far to argue that 1152 is not enough for regular desktop use and for the price I would be tempted to go OLED, despite the IR/BI issues.That said, I'm sure it'll be a great display in its own right. The Predators are excellent displays, so Acer knows how to get the job done.
Valantar - Saturday, April 13, 2019 - link
MicroLED is still quite a few years from consumer availability in TVs, let alone high-DPI monitors - and when it arrives, it'll be far more expensive than this at first.As for everything else: as cheinonen mentions below, the color accuracy, gamut, and general featureset of both these monitors target them squarely at professional markets (including the G-Sync one, just for game development), where prices like these are perfectly reasonable.
bubblyboo - Saturday, April 13, 2019 - link
Professionals for what? FALD is the antithesis of professional monitoring. You're looking at roughly a 90x90 pixel grid for each dimming zone which will wreck havoc for monitor accuracy. Anything with FALD is not targeting the professional market.cheinonen - Sunday, April 14, 2019 - link
FALD is something you can (almost certainly here) disable in the menus but allows you to have access to it for looking at HDR if that's what you're working on. The relatively meager specs available don't really say what other features it has that professionals would need (LUTs, custom colorspace support, calibration reminders, etc...), but mostly the lack of 144Hz or adaptive sync here is meaningless since that's not the market.bubblyboo - Sunday, April 14, 2019 - link
Turn off FALD and all you're left with is the same 4K 32" IPS panel with quantum dots, i.e. nothing worth $3K. And the only reason these aren't targeting "that market" is because AU Optronics failed their original plan of producing such panels. Straight from their 8/28/2018 press release:Mini LED Backlit Gaming Monitor Displays Reviving Game Scenes with Ultimate Image Quality
Also targeting at high-end gaming and niche application markets, AUO will exhibit 27 and 32-inch 144Hz gaming monitor displays adopting direct-lit mini LED backlight. Equipped with UHD 4K high resolution and quantum dot wide color gamut, and exceptional local dimming effect combined with 1,000 nits ultra high brightness, the displays boast HDR images to meet the highest VESA DisplayHDR performance level, perfectly capturing both bright and dark image details in games. Furthermore, its bezel-less design provides gamers with lifelike and immersive gaming experience.
Zoolook13 - Monday, April 15, 2019 - link
If it's possible to turn off you would be looking at a black screen, so that seems pretty pointless, unless you suggest they ship them with two different backlights?Flunk - Sunday, April 14, 2019 - link
Why pay for the world's most overhyped, overpriced feature if you're not going to use it?stephenbrooks - Friday, April 12, 2019 - link
ConceptD 500 looks like a nice design and a competitive price. Rest of them look a bit steep. The 4K HMD looks very cool too, shame no price yet.stanleyipkiss - Friday, April 12, 2019 - link
Honestly, this looks like an amazing product line that I wish my employer would support me ordering.Samus - Friday, April 12, 2019 - link
I agree. This is surprising if not shocking coming from Acer of all places. They're always marketed their crappiest products here in the USA and are considered somewhat of a joke in the industry. But in Europe and Asia they sell considerably higher quality products.Which makes me wonder how they expect to be taken seriously shaking a reputation they have carved for themselves over 2+ decades here in the USA.
DanNeely - Friday, April 12, 2019 - link
Does this mean fake wood accents will be coming back to cars next?Samus - Friday, April 12, 2019 - link
God I hope so, woody's give me a woody!Flunk - Sunday, April 14, 2019 - link
They're already on the way back in (interior at least). Check the new car reviews on YouTube.KateH - Friday, April 12, 2019 - link
i really like the design of the 500 workstation. something a little different at least. not sure if i'm sold on the wood grain but I think i like it. Would it be too much to hope it'll be actual hardwood (if only a laminate) and not a decal?interesting how Acer is slowly moving upmarket... they used to be utter bargain big rubbish but their hardware lately is rather nice. Got their 32" curved 1080P display recently for a new build and found the image and build quality to be nothing short of excellent.
Flunk - Sunday, April 14, 2019 - link
A very small slice wouldn't add much cost.Lord of the Bored - Saturday, April 13, 2019 - link
Acer thinks we all want the D....
They might not be wrong. Some of the ConceptD stuff looks real nice.
hMunster - Sunday, April 14, 2019 - link
It'll take a while for pros to seriously consider Acer, a company known for low-price low-build-quality consumer products.toomanylogins - Monday, April 15, 2019 - link
I understand for gaming content you need a widescreen but for the rest of us professionals doing mainstream graphic work for print or web 16:9 is wrong. Monitors are the wrong shape. in our case 80% of web traffic is via mobile and sites/content are desiged to be long ie scroll down not wide. On top of that there is no limit to the height of a monitor on your desk whereas the wider it gets the further away your coffee is. Someone needs to introduce a decent 26/28 inch monitor with a 3:2 aspect ratio.