Acer Predator Z35P: the little brother of the Z35 with WQHD definition

Presentation

Where the Acer Predator Z35 clearly targets players looking for performance (curved VA panel of 35 inches, definition "reduced" to 2,560 x 1,080 px and, frequency of 200 Hz), the Acer Predator Z35P is more versatile: its 35-inch curved VA panel (≈89 cm) displays a WQHD definition (3,440 x 1,440 px) and a frequency of 100 Hz, much more comfortable on a daily basis. The G-Sync module is always present - a guarantee of fluidity for owners of Nvidia graphics cards; owners of a Radeon graphics card will rather turn to a FreeSync model, like the Philips 349X7F (800 €).

The Acer Predator Z35P is sold for around € 1,050, while the Acer Predator Z35 is now displayed around € 800.

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Ergonomics

The Predator Z35P is pretty well drawn. Its front design is sober and only the red Predator logo gives a clue to the target audience, namely the players. Its perfectly matte 35-inch slab is curved with a radius of curvature of 1.8 m.

The grid at the back of the Predator Z35 allows both to dissipate the heat given off by the LED backlight system and to diffuse the sound of the two 9 W speakers. As on the X34, the sound here is better than on most other monitors. The bass is still absent, but the low mids are heard.

The very airy foot frees up space on the desk. Compared to that of the Predator X34, it now manages horizontal rotation over ± 20 °.

The monitor is adjustable in height by 13 cm and in inclination from -4 ° to + 35 °. There is no pivot.

The connection is classic for a second generation G-Sync screen: a DisplayPort input, to fully exploit the potential of the screen, with a frequency of 100 Hz, and an HDMI 1.4 connector useful for connecting a console or a box. There is also a headphone output and a hub with 4 USB 3.0 ports. Note that the power is transferred to an external box.

Access to monitor settings (OSD) is always via the five buttons located at the base of the monitor. It is much less practical than the joystick of other monitors (Asus or Philips for example), but the menus are quite readable and well laid out.

With a white set at 150 cd / m² on our test pattern, the Acer Predator Z35P monitor consumes 40 W, or a relative consumption of only 90 W / m². In terms of power consumption, this monitor is below the average of the monitors tested (around 100 W / m²).

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Colors and contrast

Default: average temperature at 6,280 K.

Default: gamma curve at 2.1.

Default: Delta E average at 2.9.

Out of the box, the Acer Predator Z35P monitor is fairly well calibrated with an average temperature of 6,280 K perfectly stable across the spectrum. The color fidelity is very good (average delta E of 2.9) and only the gamma curve overexposes the dark gray a little too much, which results in an average of 2.1 instead of the expected 2.2.

Manual adjustment: average temperature at 6320 K

Manual adjustment: gamma curve at 2.1

Manual setting: Delta E medium at 2.9

By lowering the brightness to 36, so as to display a calibrated white at 150 cd / m², the values remain almost identical: an average of gamma at 2.1 and an average delta E at 2.9. Only the temperature is a little closer to the 6,500 K reference.

The contrast is good for a monitor. If the best models manage to exceed 3,000: 1, the contrast measured here at 2,170: 1 already allows you to enjoy a good depth of blacks, whether in movies or in games.

Calibrated: average temperature at 6,530 K.

Calibrated: gamma curve at 2.2.

Calibrated: average delta E at 1.5.

Switching to the calibration probe makes it possible to smooth all the curves and obtain almost perfect colors. The average temperature is very close to 6,500 K, the gamma curve perfectly stable on the reference value 2.2, and the delta E falls to 1.5. You can download the monitor profile by following this link.

The VA panel is uniform. The average difference in white is only 8% over the entire surface. If the viewing angles are smaller than on an IPS panel, the curvature here makes it possible to compensate for the defect, in particular in the corners of the screen which may appear blackened on large diagonals of this type.

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Reactivity

Good news for those who are sensitive to it, the Acer Predator Z35P monitor does not use Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) to vary its brightness. This avoids the flicker associated with the decrease in brightness which, in some people, causes headaches and eyestrain.

This monitor is compatible with G-Sync technology between 30 and 100 Hz and it therefore works optimally when the graphics card sends between 30 and 100 images per second. In this case, the fluidity is there and the image does not suffer from tearing problems or jerks (micro-stuttering). With a recent graphics card, the very wide frequency range allows you to play in native definition (WQHD) without having to cut corners on the quality of the graphics.

The VA panel is reactive (average remanence time of 8.5 ms). By default, the overdrive is set to "normal" and provides a satisfactory result by improving the reactivity of the panel without causing any harmful effect. However, switching to the "extreme" setting results in a rather annoying reverse ghosting phenomenon.

Finally, the delay in display is measured at 14 ms, a little less than one frame per second. The difference between the image generated by the graphics card and that displayed on the screen is imperceptible.

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Conclusion

The Acer Predator Z35P combines the best of Acer panoramic screens: the VA panel of the Predator Z35 and the definition and elegance of the Predator X34. Well calibrated and responsive, it offers a beautiful image, a comfortable definition, good contrast and a frequency of 100 Hz which makes it an essential panoramic gaming monitor. It thus dethrones the Asus ROG Swift PG348Q and quite simply becomes the best panoramic monitor for games.

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