Acer Predator Z35P Bmiphz  Monitor Review

Reviewed Nov 06, 2018 at 08:02am
Tested using Methodology v1.0 
Acer Predator Z35P Bmiphz
7.5
Mixed Usage 
7.5
Office 
8.2
Gaming 
7.3
Multimedia 
7.4
Media Creation 
5.7
HDR Gaming 
 5

The Acer Predator Z35P Bmiphz is a good ultrawide VA monitor with great gaming features, including a fast refresh rate and support for NVIDIA G-SYNC. It has excellent low input lag and a fast response time, great for gaming. The large, high-resolution screen is great for multitasking, and it provides a more immersive gaming experience. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the wide viewing angles found on IPS monitors, and it doesn't look great in a dark room due to the poor black uniformity.

How We Test Monitors

We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, with units that we buy completely on our own, without any cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized and custom tools to measure various aspects with objective data-based results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance against the competition, and whether or not it's easy to find.

Our Verdict

7.5
Mixed Usage 

The Acer Predator Z35P is a good monitor for most uses. The large, high-resolution screen is great for gaming and multimedia, and it makes it easy to multitask. It has a fast response time, so motion in movies and games looks clear with little blur. Unfortunately, it doesn't support HDR, and the Adobe RGB coverage is less than ideal for professional use.

Pros
  • Low input lag
  • Great gaming features, including NVIDIA G-SYNC support
  • Great screen real-estate, perfect for multitasking
Cons
  • Disappointing viewing angles
  • Poor black uniformity
7.5
Office 

The Acer Predator Z35P is a good monitor for office use. The large, high-resolution screen is wonderful for multitasking. It has a good stand that can easily be adjusted for the most optimal viewing position. It has great reflections handling and decent peak brightness, so there shouldn't be many issues using it in a medium-lit office, but it can't overcome glare in a bright room.

8.2
Gaming 

The Acer Predator Z35P is great for gaming. It has very low input lag and a fast response time, and it supports NVIDIA G-SYNC for a tear-free gaming experience. The high resolution, 35" curved screen delivers a more immersive gaming experience than with smaller monitors. The default 100 Hz refresh rate is great for gaming, and it can be overclocked to 120 Hz directly from the OSD, which is great.

7.3
Multimedia 

Decent monitor for multimedia. It has a fast response time, so fast motion looks clear with little blur. The large screen is great for watching movies, but unfortunately, the mediocre viewing angles limit how many people can watch it at once. It has a good contrast ratio, so blacks look black in a dark room, but it has poor black uniformity.

7.4
Media Creation 

Decent monitor for media creation. The large, high-resolution screen allows you to see more of your project without zooming out. Unfortunately, the curved screen causes minor image distortion, and the Adobe RGB coverage isn't ideal for professional photo or video editing.

5.7
HDR Gaming 

The Acer Predator Z35P does not support HDR. For a good HDR monitor, check out the Samsung CHG70.

  • 7.5
    Mixed Usage
  • 7.5
    Office
  • 8.2
    Gaming
  • 7.3
    Multimedia
  • 7.4
    Media Creation
  • 5.7
    HDR Gaming
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Nov 06, 2018: Review published.
    2.  Updated Nov 04, 2018: Early access published.
    3.  Updated Nov 02, 2018: Our testers have started testing this product.
    4.  Updated Nov 02, 2018: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.

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    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    We tested the Acer Predator Z35P bmiphz. There are other models in the Predator family of gaming monitors, but they have different specifications and do not perform the same.

    The Acer Predator Z35P we reviewed should not be confused with the Z35. The Z35 has a lower native resolution, but a higher native refresh rate.

    If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Z35P doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review. Note that some tests such as the gray uniformity may vary between individual units.

    Model Size Resolution Refresh Rate Notes
    X35 bmiphzx 35" 3440x1440 (QHD) 144 Hz 2000R Curved, G-SYNC, VA, HDR
    X34 bmiphz 34" 3440x1440 (QHD) 100 Hz 3800R Curved, G-SYNC, IPS
    X27 bmiphzx 27" 3840x2160 (UHD) 120 Hz G-SYNC, IPS, HDR
    Z35P Bmiphz 35" 3440x1440 (QHD) 100 Hz 1800R Curved, G-SYNC, VA
    Z35 bmiphz 35" 2560x1080 144 Hz 1800R Curved, G-SYNC, VA

    The Acer Z35P we reviewed was manufactured in December 2017.

    Popular Monitor Comparisons

    Comparison picture

    Left:  ASUS PG348Q. Middle: Acer Predator Z35P. Right: Dell U3818DW.
    Unlike our other photographs, this picture wasn't taken under a controlled environment, so do not draw conclusions from it.

    The Acer Predator Z35P is a good monitor for most uses, and it delivers a great gaming experience.

    See our recommendations for the best ultrawide gaming monitors, the best 1440p gaming monitors, and the best 4k gaming monitors.

    ASUS ROG Swift PG348Q

    The ASUS ROG Swift PG348Q and the Acer Predator Z35P Bmiphz are very similar overall. The Z35P has a higher native refresh rate, but the PG348Q can be easily overclocked to 100Hz. The PG348Q also has better wide viewing angles, great for sharing your screen with other people.

    Samsung CHG70

    The Samsung CHG70 is better than the Acer Predator Z35P Bmiphz for most uses. The CHG70 has a faster refresh rate and faster response time, so motion has less blur trail. The Z35P has a higher resolution, larger screen, better for multitasking and office work. The CHG70 supports HDR, and FreeSync VRR, great for Xbox One S/X owners or if you have an AMD graphics card. The Z35P supports G-SYNC VRR, great if you have an NVIDIA graphics card.

    Dell Alienware AW3418DW

    The Dell Alienware AW3418DW is a bit better than the Acer Predator Z35P Bmiphz. The Acer has slightly better dark room performance, but the Dell looks better when viewed at an angle. The Dell also has a faster response time, so fast-moving objects have less blur trail behind them.

    Dell U3818DW

    The Dell U3818DW is better than the Acer Predator Z35P Bmiphz for most uses, unless you are looking for an ultrawide gaming monitor. The Dell U3818DW has a higher native resolution and larger screen, great for multitasking, and the image remains accurate when viewed at an angle. The Dell is limited to a 60Hz refresh rate that may be disappointing to some gamers. The Z35P has a higher native refresh rate, and it supports NVIDIA G-SYNC VRR for a tear-free gaming experience.

    Samsung C34J791/CJ791

    The Acer Predator Z35P Bmiphz is better than the Samsung C34J791/CJ791. The Z35P has better ergonomics than the Samsung and allows you to place in a comfortable position with ease. Also, the image remains accurate at slightly wider horizontal and vertical viewing angles on the Acer, although they are still disappointing.

    Test Results

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    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    Style
    Size35"
    CurvedYes
    Curve radius1800R
    Weight (without stand)
    20.7 lbs (9.4 kg)
    Weight (with stand)
    27.6 lbs (12.5 kg)

    The Acer Predator Z35P has a good overall design. It looks very similar to the Dell Alienware AW3418DW and the Predator X27. It has a sleek stand that supports the monitor well, but it does wobble a bit when nudged. Unfortunately, the inputs are difficult to access due to the way they are placed, and the borders are somewhat thick, especially the bottom bezel. 

    Stand
    Width
    22.8" (57.9 cm)
    Depth
    12.1" (30.7 cm)

    The stand requires a large footprint, but the legs are relatively thin and spread out, so you can still place small objects in front of the monitor. It supports the monitor well, but the monitor still wobbles when you make adjustments or change the settings.

    6.2
    Ergonomics
    Height Adjustment
    5.1" (13.0 cm)
    Switch portrait/landscapeNo
    Swivel Range-20° to 20°
    Tilt Range-32.5° to 5°

    The Acer Z35P has mediocre ergonomics, although better than the Samsung CJ791. It can swivel from side-to-side, great for sharing your screen with someone sitting beside you. It has a good height adjustment. It also has a great tilt range, but the overall range changes as you lower the monitor. When the monitor is at its maximum extension, the monitor the full tilt range of -32.5° to 5° is available, but when the monitor is at the lowest height it can only tilt from -12.5° to 5°.

    Back
    Wall MountVESA 100x100

    The back of the Acer Z35P has a stylish design typical of gaming monitors. There is no ambient lighting, and only basic cable management.

    Borders
    Borders
    0.7" (1.8 cm)

    The borders of the Acer Z35P are thicker than the majority of monitors that we've tested so far. The bezel is thick around the screen, making the frame look even thicker.

    Thickness
    Thickness (with stand)
    11.6" (29.5 cm)
    Thickness (without stand)
    5.0" (12.7 cm)

    This is one of the thickest monitors we've tested so far, even without the stand. This is partially due to the curved screen, but it is still thicker than other comparable monitors like the CF791 and the Dell Alienware AW3418DW.

    8.0
    Build Quality

    Very good build quality, similar to the Dell Alienware AW3418DW and the Acer Predator X27 bmiphzx. It is a mix of plastic and metal, but it feels well built.

    Picture Quality
    7.5
    Contrast
    LCD Type
    VA
    Native Contrast
    2,391 : 1
    Contrast with local dimming
    N/A

    The Acer Z35P has a good native contrast ratio, but not as good as the other VA monitors we have tested, including the Samsung CF791.

    0.0
    Local Dimming
    Local Dimming
    No
    Backlight
    Edge

    There is no local dimming feature on this monitor. The video is for reference only.

    7.4
    SDR Peak Brightness
    SDR Real Scene
    286 cd/m²
    SDR Peak 2% Window
    298 cd/m²
    SDR Peak 10% Window
    298 cd/m²
    SDR Peak 25% Window
    298 cd/m²
    SDR Peak 50% Window
    298 cd/m²
    SDR Peak 100% Window
    298 cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 2% Window
    298 cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 10% Window
    298 cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 25% Window
    298 cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 50% Window
    298 cd/m²
    SDR Sustained 100% Window
    298 cd/m²
    SDR ABL
    0.000

    Decent peak brightness, good enough for most rooms, but the Acer Z35P isn't bright enough to overcome glare in a really bright room. There is absolutely no variation in brightness with different content, which is great.

    0.0
    HDR Peak Brightness
    HDR Real Scene
    N/A
    HDR Peak 2% Window
    N/A
    HDR Peak 10% Window
    N/A
    HDR Peak 25% Window
    N/A
    HDR Peak 50% Window
    N/A
    HDR Peak 100% Window
    N/A
    HDR Sustained 2% Window
    N/A
    HDR Sustained 10% Window
    N/A
    HDR Sustained 25% Window
    N/A
    HDR Sustained 50% Window
    N/A
    HDR Sustained 100% Window
    N/A
    HDR ABL
    N/A

    HDR is not supported on this monitor.

    5.9
    Horizontal Viewing Angle
    Color Shift from Left
    45°
    Color Shift from Right
    45°
    Brightness from Left
    58°
    Brightness from Right
    58°
    Black Level from Left
    14°
    Black Level from Right
    14°
    Curve Radius1,800R

    Disappointing horizontal viewing angles. Colors remain accurate to a wide angle, similar to the LG 32UD59-B, and the brightness remains constant to a wider point than any other VA monitor we've tested. Unfortunately, the black levels rise rapidly at even minor angles, worse than any VA monitor we've tested so far.

    If you prefer an IPS panel with better viewing angles, check out the Dell Alienware AW3420DW.

    5.5
    Vertical Viewing Angle
    Color Shift from Below
    30°
    Color Shift from Above
    31°
    Brightness from Below
    40°
    Brightness from Above
    41°
    Black Level from Below
    11°
    Black Level from Above
    10°

    The monitor has disappointing vertical viewing angles, but they are actually better than most VA monitors we've tested so far, although not as good as the LG 32UD59-B.

    8.5
    Gray Uniformity
    50% Std. Dev.
    3.364%
    50% DSE
    0.118%
    5% Std. Dev.
    0.890%
    5% DSE
    0.059%

    Great gray uniformity. The sides of the screen are slightly darker than the rest, but the center is more uniform. There is only slight DSE, which is great. In near-dark scenes the uniformity is much better, and there is almost no DSE.

    4.9
    Black Uniformity
    Native Std. Dev.
    2.754%
    Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
    N/A

    The Acer Predator Z35P has poor black uniformity. There is noticeable flashlighting around the entire screen; this is especially distracting when working in a dark room.

    7.1
    Pre Calibration
    Picture Mode
    User
    Luminance
    242 cd/m²
    Luminance Settings
    77
    Contrast Setting
    56
    RGB controls
    35-39-50
    Color Temperature
    7,457 K
    White Balance dE
    3.76
    Color dE
    2.87
    Gamma
    2.20

    Decent out of the box accuracy. The color and white balance errors are a bit high, but not enough to be noticeable by most people. Gamma follows the target curve nearly perfectly, which is great. The most accurate Picture Mode was 'User', with the Color Temp set to 'Normal' instead of the default 'Warm'.

    9.6
    Post Calibration
    Picture Mode
    User
    Luminance
    101 cd/m²
    Luminance Settings
    18
    Contrast Setting
    50
    RGB Controls
    43-46-59
    Color Temperature
    6,496 K
    White Balance dE
    0.57
    Color dE
    0.47
    Gamma
    2.19

    After calibration, the Acer Predator Z35P is extremely accurate. Color and White balance are nearly perfect, and even enthusiasts aren't likely to notice any remaining issues. Gamma follows the curve perfectly, and the color temperature is almost spot on the 6500 K target.

    You can download our ICC profile calibration here. This is provided for reference only and should not be used, as the calibration values vary per individual unit even for the same model due to manufacturing tolerances. Also take note that using our recommended settings may cause blues to clip in some cases, so you may need to adjust your settings.

    8.9
    SDR Color Gamut
    sRGB xy
    99.2%
    Adobe RGB xy
    78.2%

    s.RGB Picture Mode: User (calibrated)
    Adobe RGB Picture Mode: User

    Excellent SDR color gamut. Nearly perfect coverage of the sRGB color space, but Adobe RGB coverage is less than ideal for professional photo or video editing.

    9.2
    SDR Color Volume
    sRGB in ICtCp
    98.6%
    Adobe RGB in ICtCp
    84.7%

    s.RGB Picture Mode: User
    Adobe RGB Picture Mode: User

    Outstanding SDR color volume. The monitor can't produce deep, dark colors, and like most displays, it can't produce very bright blues.

    0.0
    HDR Color Gamut
    Wide Color Gamut
    No
    DCI P3 xy
    N/A
    Rec. 2020 xy
    N/A

    HDR is not supported on this monitor.

    0.0
    HDR Color Volume
    DCI-P3 in ICtCp
    N/A
    Rec. 2020 in ICtCp
    N/A

    HDR is not supported on this monitor.

    10
    Image Retention
    IR after 0 min recovery
    0.00%
    IR after 2 min recovery
    0.00%
    IR after 4 min recovery
    0.00%
    IR after 6 min recovery
    0.00%
    IR after 8 min recovery
    0.00%
    IR after 10 min recovery
    0.00%

    There is no temporary image retention on the Acer Predator Z35P, even immediately after displaying a high contrast static image for 10 minutes.

    8.6
    Gradient
    Color Depth
    8 Bit

    Excellent gradient performance. There is only very slight banding visible in dark grays and dark greens.

    10
    Color Bleed
    Pixel row error
    0.000%
    Pixel column error
    0.000%

    Perfect color control, as there are no pixel errors.

    8.0
    Reflections

    Excellent reflections handling, there should be no issues using the Acer Z35P in a bright room.

    Motion
    8.6
    Motion Blur
    80% Response Time
    5.1 ms
    100% Response Time
    14.1 ms
    Best Overdrive Setting
    Normal

    Over Drive Off
    Over Drive Normal
    Over Drive Extreme
    Over Drive Normal, 100 Hz

    Refresh Rate Tested: 120Hz

    Excellent response time. Most transitions are very fast, with only very slight overshoot that shouldn't be noticeable. The 0-20% transition is extremely slow, which may be noticeable in very dark scenes when watching movies or playing games. Many of the down transitions are slower, and some of them have slight undershoot.

    Unusually, when the monitor is set to its default refresh rate of 100 Hz the response time is even better. The 80% response time is 3.5ms, and the 100% response time is 12.5ms.

    There are three Over Drive modes, but we recommend the 'Normal' setting. The 'Extreme' mode only slightly improves the response time, but there is more overshoot.

    7.5
    Image Flicker
    Flicker-freeYes
    PWM Dimming Frequency
    0 Hz
    Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
    No
    BFI Maximum Frequency
    N/A
    BFI Minimum Frequency
    N/A

    The Z35P does not use PWM to dim the backlight, and there is no flicker, which is great. Like the ASUS PG348Q and the Dell Alienware AW3418DW, it does not support NVIDIA's ULMB technology that can reduce persistence blur.

    8.8
    Refresh Rate
    Variable Refresh Rate
    G-Sync
    Native Refresh Rate
    100 Hz
    Factory Overclock
    120 Hz
    Variable Refresh Rate
    G-Sync
    G-SYNC Compatible
    Yes (Native)
    VRR Maximum
    100 Hz
    VRR Minimum
    < 20 Hz
    VRR Maximum With OC
    120 Hz
    VRR Supported ConnectorsDisplayPort

    The Acer Z35P has a great 100 Hz default refresh rate, and it can be overclocked to 120 Hz directly from the OSD, which is great. It supports NVIDIA G-SYNC, and it has a great wide VRR range, ensuring you are always getting a great tear-free gaming experience, even if your frame rate drops down in busy scenes. Unfortunately, VRR is only supported over DisplayPort, which isn't uncommon with G-SYNC monitors (see our recommendations for the best G-SYNC monitors).

    Inputs
    9.4
    Input Lag
    Native Resolution
    5.5 ms
    Non-Native Res @ Native Refresh
    N/A
    Native Resolution @ 60 Hz
    12.2 ms
    Variable Refresh Rate
    5.9 ms
    10 bit HDR
    N/A
    Black Frame Insertion (BFI)
    N/A

    Refresh Rate Tested: 120 Hz

    The Acer Z35P has excellent low input lag. Non-native resolutions are not natively supported, but this shouldn't cause any issues as most graphics cards will upscale without you knowing. When gaming at 60 Hz over HDMI, the input lag is a bit higher than on most 60 Hz monitors, but still good for most gamers.

    8.9
    Resolution and Size
    Native Resolution3440 x 1440
    Aspect Ratio21:9
    Megapixels5.0 MP
    Pixel Density107 PPI
    Screen Diagonal35.0"
    Screen Area436 in²

    The Acer Z35P has a great 35" screen and impressive 3440x1440 native resolution, excellent for multitasking or for an immersive gaming experience.

    Inputs

    The main inputs are hidden in a sort of pocket that makes them difficult to access.

    The USB ports are on an angle on the back of the monitor, as shown here.

    Total Inputs
    DisplayPort1 (DP 1.2)
    Mini DisplayPortNo
    HDMI1 (HDMI 1.4)
    DVINo
    VGANo
    DisplayPort OutNo
    USB4 (USB 3.0)
    USB CNo
    Analog Audio Out 3.5mm1
    Microphone In 3.5mmNo
    Digital Optical Audio OutNo
    Analog Audio Out RCANo
    Power SupplyExternal Brick

    The 3.5mm analog audio out port is a headphone port with adjustable volume on the monitor's on screen display.

    Features
    Additional Features
    Speakers
    Yes
    HDR10No
    Multiple input display
    No

    The Acer Z35P has only a few additional features. It has built-in speakers, but does not support HDR. There are a few options that can improve your gaming experience, including:

    • Aim Point: There are three selectable cross-hairs that can be added, good for FPS games that don't have a cross-hair.
    • Dark boost: This option can be used to make it easier to spot other players hiding in the shadows.
    • Modes: There are three preset configurations for Action, Racing, and Sports.
    On-Screen Display (OSD)

    The OSD is somewhat difficult to navigate. Some of the menus have two rows of options, so it takes a bit more work to get to the option you are looking for. There are two customizable hot keys that can be used to quickly adjust certain settings.

    Controls

    The controls are easy to use. The buttons are larger than on most monitors and they provide good tactile feedback.

    In The Box

    • HDMI Cable
    • DisplayPort Cable
    • USB Cable
    • Power Brick
    • Cable Management Clip