Our Verdict
Acer’s Predator GD711 is a gaming-focused projector with a variable refresh fee. With 4K decision and a few tremendous handy picture adjustment settings, it’s extra like a monitor than a projector. But, its washed-out colorscape leaves quite a bit to be desired.
Tremendous straightforward configuration
4K decision
Expansive settings
Colours want some tweaking
Audio system are poor
Restricted availability
Acer’s Predator GD711 is the most recent within the firm’s lengthy line of stable gaming projectors. In contrast to a few of its H and X collection siblings (all of that are extra designed for informal filmgoers) the Acer Predator, as its identify suggests, is tuned across the gaming market. It treads a high-quality line incorporating options you’d sometimes discover on a top-tier gaming monitor, with the perfect tech the projector market has to supply.
It’d sound odd at first, (significantly given the excessive refresh fee OLED screens and TVs which can be out there on the market at the moment), however the perfect gaming projectors can sustain and supply a top-tier gaming expertise, throughout consoles and PC. It’s actually one thing value experiencing, significantly for those who’re curious concerning the medium.
In fact, it’s not going to be fairly as potent as these top-tier items, and there are only a few merchandise on the market able to hitting the heady body charges and response occasions of a number of the greatest gaming screens with out breaking into the four-figure value entrance, however for those who’re an informal gamer enjoying a little bit of every thing, and have the area, and never acting at a aggressive stage, then gaming projector is the place to be.
Now I’ve been testing screens, projectors, and panels from all walks of life for the final eight years or so, and have even labored behind the scenes offering suggestions on explicit items. So I can say surely that Acer’s Predator GD711 is a complicated unit.
Why? Effectively merely put, it’s the value tag and availability of this factor that provides essentially the most pause for thought. With restricted availability within the US and a $1200-1400 price ticket (£1,200 within the UK), it’s a massive funding to place down for the spec. Let me clarify why.
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Specs
Max decision
3840 x 2160
Max refresh fee
240 Hz (PC), 120Hz (Console)
Distinction Ratio:
2,000,000:1
Colours
1.07 Billion
Life expectancy
As much as 30,000 Hours
Response Charge
Not Listed
Connectivity
Wi-fi Dongle, Distant solely, 2x HDMI 2.0, 1x USB 3.0
Dimensions
320 x 230 x 109 mm
Weight
3.2 kg
Design
The general design of the GD711 is a reasonably slimline affair, it’s actually a much more interesting providing than one thing like Benq’s X3100i, with its boxy kind issue and hulking weight. No, the GD711 is available in at simply 32 x 23 x 10 cm, in a slender rectangular field that you just’re in all probability used to seeing for the reason that daybreak of the projector to be fairly sincere.
And at simply 3.2 KG it’s hardly a heavy unit both, so ceiling mounting it’s a straightforward affair. Acer features a full information within the consumer handbook on simply how to try this, though it does require you to choose up an extra common projector ceiling mount.
When you intend to make use of it simply on a desk, or a shelf the GD711 has adjustable ft to get the right angle you want too. The throw vary is fairly good as properly. Popping the unit 2.2M again will web you a show equal to round 80 inches or so. Crank it again by 8.1 meters and theoretically you’ll be able to throw up a picture as massive as 300 inches.
Cooling is dealt with by an inside fan setup, each the rear and one facet of the unit (closest to the lens) home cool-air intakes, and the other facet acts as an exhaust. It’s operating a optimistic strain system right here to reduce mud build-up, however each intakes and exhaust are lined in mesh to assist scale back that regardless.
There are built-in OSD menu buttons, permitting you to actively change supply, re-sync the projector, and cycle via the quite a few menus, positioned on the very prime, together with a spotlight ring/dial simply above the lens, and an connected lens cowl as properly to maintain it protected throughout transportation.
For I/O you get two HDMI 2.0 ports, a USB A 2.0 port (for keyboard and mouse management) a USB A 5V DC service connector, analog audio out, and extra apparently a USB A Wi-fi Dongle. The GD711 additionally comes with its personal distant management, offering the identical collection of buttons as discovered on the projector itself as properly.
Options
On the floor, the GD711’s top-line stats learn like a want checklist for any gaming-enthused monitor junky. 3840×2160 4K decision, big distinction ratio (2,000,000:1) entry to an enormous 1.07 billion colours, 4000 Lumens max brightness, HDR10 help, 30,000 hours life expectancy, variable refresh fee tech, and a max 240 Hz refresh fee, (though that’s pretty caveated that final one).
The true confusion surrounds latency. There are loads of critiques on the market suggesting the latency on this unit is extremely good, however most of that appears to be referring to the refresh charges out there as an alternative. When it comes to precise latency, It’s onerous to know for certain, exterior of subjective really feel (we nonetheless don’t have unbelievable testing strategies for that simply but), as Acer hasn’t offered any particulars regarding what the response fee of the GD711 is.
It does nevertheless have a considerably big selection of refresh charges depending on what decision you’re gaming at. When you’re at 4K you’re restricted to simply 60 Hz, (a pure limitation of HDMI 2.0 anyway), 1080p then you’ll be able to faucet out at 240 Hz (so long as it’s on PC), and for console 1080p 120 Hz is the max.
The true good trick is how Acer is dealing with the keystone. It’s very spectacular, in brief, to keep away from any type of twisted or trapezoidal distortion as a result of projector itself being angled incorrectly, it’ll auto-adjust the lens to compensate if the gadget just isn’t stage, or tilted incorrectly, eliminating any skew points in any way.
You in fact get your typical handbook 2D Keystone changes as properly alongside the horizontal and vertical axis, however having this additional step automated is a severely clever design selection.
Efficiency
I spent few days testing the GD711 throughout a number of completely different media sorts from movie and leisure to gaming and YouTube. I’ve acquired to say it’s fairly spectacular, significantly at 4K 60 fps. The readability of the picture is excellent. Though I’m testing with a comparatively brief throw distance, making a 50-inch display, your mileage could fluctuate at increased throw distances.
What’s much less nice was the colour replica. It doesn’t matter what I attempted, total coloration accuracy with out HDR enabled in Home windows or on the PS5 felt considerably washed out in comparison with comparable opponents at this value level and barely increased. Don’t get me improper, it’s not an terrible expertise by any means, however for those who’re used to the crisp coloration readability of one thing like a 55-inch OLED LG TV or perhaps a fashionable IPS or VA monitor, the GD711 leaves quite a bit to be desired.
You may in fact tweak the settings closely, switching between mode sorts, and color-correcting each component to try to get to that good replica, however that may be extremely difficult, and even my greatest dialed-in settings didn’t really feel fairly as competent as one thing like (admittedly way more costly) BenQ’s X3100i.
General the responsiveness felt stable, nevertheless, and if there weren’t any main latency points between me and my less-than-competitive RPG and RTS mind, it was onerous to note. Complete Struggle Warhammer III and Star Wars: Jedi Survivor have been an absolute blast to play, and I noticed no discernable distinction in my demise fee in comparison with on a full-size show.
The issue I’ve is the value. When you’re seeking to recreation on this at 4K, you’re going to be utilizing a PC. For half the associated fee you can choose up one thing like an AOC AGON Professional AG324UX, a full IPS, 144 Hz, 31.5-inch panel, with FreeSync Premium, 1ms G2G. If you would like one thing a bit extra sizeable, the perfect 4K gaming screens embody LG’s 48GQ900-B is a 48” 120 Hz 4K OLED show, for simply over $1000, and Gigabyte will even promote you a 54.6-inch 4K VA show for simply $700.
This places the Acer Predator GD711 in a little bit of a sticky place to be in. We knew that going into this in fact, however you might want to a) have the area to benefit from its bigger display measurement, and b) be in that place, and likewise money restricted to the purpose of not with the ability to make investments an additional $600-700 into one thing with a bit extra punch. It’s nonetheless nice for gaming, and as an entry-point gaming projector, the function set is wealthy sufficient to maintain any passionate gamer comfortable, however if you would like slightly extra versatility, you may need to look elsewhere.
Ought to You Purchase It?
Sure: If you would like a stable entry-level gaming projector
Sure: When you’ve got the area to help an even bigger show measurement
Sure: When you’re an informal gamer, and don’t thoughts colours not being tremendous vibrant
No: When you’re on the lookout for the perfect worth per $ show
No: If you would like the perfect coloration accuracy
So far as gaming projectors go Acer’s Predator GD711 is an fascinating proposition. On the one hand, its huge function set and pretty low-level value level for a 4K projector make it a stable choose for these seeking to get into the scene or are after an enormous occasion piece show to recreation with their mates. On the opposite, its coloration accuracy leaves quite a bit to be desired.
Options
When you’re after the perfect gaming projector you should buy, one thing like BenQ’s X3100i is a unbelievable choose. Though considerably chunky by comparability, and extra suited to a desk or a shelf attachment, there’s no denying simply how unbelievable its coloration accuracy is, significantly because it matches the GD711 in each gaming component.
The issue, nevertheless, lies not on this planet of projectors, however extra so within the type of devoted TVs and screens as properly. The previous, you’ll be able to sometimes discover at comparable costs with OLED panels and better refresh charges at 50 inches and above and comes with higher audio system, and the latter contains even richer gaming specs (equivalent to 0.01 ms g2g, G-Sync premium), sooner refresh charges, and simply as many bells and whistles, for even much less funding.
If 4K gaming at excessive refresh charges is what you’re after, AOC’s AGON Professional AG324UX ticks all of the containers, at lower than half the value of the GD711, or for those who’re after one thing with a bit extra diagonal heft, then Gigabyte’s 54.6-inch S55U 4K 120 Hz VA show will match the invoice even higher than that.
Verdict
Acer’s Predator GD711 Gaming Projector comes with some spectacular software program tech, and, on the value level gives a severely tempting proposition in comparison with a few of its competitors. Nonetheless, the shortage of coloration accuracy hurts it long-term, significantly in comparison with a number of the competitors from each OLED TVs and screens at across the similar RRP. It’s a stable unit, however a distinct segment projector for 4K gaming.