Bottom Line
The Acer ET322QK is an affordable 32″ 4K monitor with great image quality and plenty of features including HDR and FreeSync. However, there are better and cheaper alternatives available.
Are you looking for an affordable 32″ 4K monitor for PC or console gaming? Then you should definitely check out the Acer ET322QK!
Image Quality
Based on a VA panel with a 3,000:1 static contrast ratio and a 300-nit peak brightness, the Acer ET322QK display is capable of delivering deep black shades and vivid details in shadows and highlights of the picture.
Now, for HDR (High Dynamic Range) content to really stand out, a display would need a good local dimming system for a higher contrast ratio, a peak brightness of at least 1,000-nits, and a wide color gamut (at least 90% DCI-P3).
Since the Acer ET322QK doesn’t have any of these, enabling HDR for the compatible content won’t make it look necessarily better. Some content may look slightly better, but in most cases, you’d just get either washed out or over-saturated colors.
HDR shenanigans aside, the Acer ET322QK still delivers a great image quality for the price thanks to its 4K resolution, vibrant colors, and high contrast ratio. Besides, the HDR support on this monitor doesn’t increase its price, so think of it as a bonus trait, not as the main reason to purchase the display.
Next, the panel sports 10-bit color depth and 100% sRGB color gamut.
It also offers advanced alteration options for calibration, such as 6-axis hue and saturation for both RGB and CMYK. You can also swap between sRGB, Rec709, and HDR color modes and save your own custom profiles.
Next, 4K Ultra HD resolution on the Acer ET322QK 32″ monitor results in a rich pixel density of ~140 PPI (Pixels Per Inch), which provides plenty of screen real estate and incredibly sharp details.
Performance
The Acer ET322QK monitor specifies 178-degree viewing angles, but there are some slight shifts in color and contrast when the image is viewed from certain off-angles.
It’s rather negligible and not nearly as bothersome as it is on TN panels, but still worth mentioning.
The input lag performance could be better as the measured delay amounts to ~20ms.
For a casual gamer, the lag will definitely not be noticeable. However, if you’re a competitive player, you should look for a faster screen.
The 4ms (GtG) response time speed eliminates most of the ghosting in fast-paced games. However, motion blur and trailing is apparent, particularly with scenes where a lot of dark pixels are involved.
In the OSD (On-Screen Display) menu, you can set the OverDrive setting to Off, Normal, and Extreme. We recommend leaving it at Normal as Extreme introduces pixel overshoot i.e., reverse ghosting.
Features
The Acer ET322QK offers AMD FreeSync technology, which eliminates screen tearing and stuttering if you have either a compatible AMD GPU or Xbox One/S/X. The FreeSync range is 40-60Hz at 4K over both HDMI and DisplayPort.
Alas, FreeSync cannot be active at the same time as HDR. Moreover, when HDR is enabled, all picture adjustments, excluding brightness, are grayed out.
The monitor isn’t certified as G-SYNC compatible, but FreeSync works without issues with compatible NVIDIA cards.
The OSD menu is nothing fancy and somewhat outdated, but it gets the job done. There are plenty of settings available, including the Picture In Picture and Picture By Picture modes for watching content from different sources at the same time.
Design & Connectivity
The design of the Acer ET322QK features thin bezels, while ergonomic options include -4°/12° tilt and VESA mount compatibility.
As far as connectivity is concerned, there are two HDMI 2.0 ports with HDCP 2.2, DisplayPort 1.2, two 2W integrated speakers, and a headphones jack.
Note that DisplayPort 1.2 doesn’t support HDR.
The screen is coated with matte anti-glare protection, which eliminates sunlight reflections. At the back of the monitor, you’ll find the OSD joystick/buttons, and the headphones hook; there are no USB ports, though.
Price & Similar Monitors
The Acer ET322QK price is around $400. We recommend having a look at the LG 32UL500 if you want a better 4K HDR monitor at this price range.
Visit our best 4K monitor buyer’s guide for more options and information.
Conclusion
While the monitor offers a decent image quality for the money, there are better alternatives available at this price range.
| Screen Size | 31.5-inch |
| Resolution | 3840×2160 (UHD) |
| Panel Type | VA |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:9 (Widescreen) |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
| Response Time | 4ms (GtG) |
| Adaptive Sync | FreeSync (40Hz-60Hz) |
| Speakers | 2x2W |
| Ports | DisplayPort 1.2, 2x HDMI 2.0 |
| Other Ports | Headphone Jack |
| Brightness | 300 cd/m2 |
| Contrast Ratio | 3000:1 (static) |
| Colors | 1.07 billion (true 10-bit) |
| VESA | Yes (100x100mm) |
| HDR | Software-enabled only |
The Pros:
- Plenty of features including AMD FreeSync over HDMI
- High resolution and contrast ratio
The Cons:
- HDR works over HDMI only
- Tilt-only design
- High input lag
