Acer Predator CG437K: Specifications:
Screen size: 43 inch
Solution: 3840×2160
Refresh rate: 144 Hz
Inputs: DisplayPort, HDMI, USB-A, USB-C
Dimensions: 38.5 x 26.5 x 3.9 in
The Acer Predator CG437K deserves a lot of credit for innovation. Aimed to split the difference between a living room TV and a gaming monitor, this unconventional device delivers PC-level performance with a console-ready design. However, the CG437K isn’t as impressive as it could be, with dull colors and a subpar remote. The overall product is a mediocre execution of a great idea.
If you want to put a gaming PC in your living room and are suspicious of standard TVs, the CG437K is not without its charms. It’s the right size, it has lots of ports, and it plays well with HDR systems. On the other hand, the screen just doesn’t look that good, which is a hard sell in such an expensive peripheral.
The CG437K might be worth considering simply because there just aren’t many gaming monitors out there in this size. But in any case, avoid buying it at full price if possible. Read on for our full Acer Predator CG437K review.
Acer Predator CG437K review: Configurations
The first thing to know about the Acer Predator CG437K is that it’s not easy to know which one you’re getting. There are two different models of the device, but they both have the exact same name, and even the Acer website isn’t very good at distinguishing the two.
We tested the Acer Predator CG437K Pbmiippuzx, which has a 43-inch screen, a 120 Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.0 inputs. This model costs $1,500.
However, you can also purchase the Acer Predator CG437K SBMIIPUZX, which has a 42.5-inch display, a 144Hz refresh rate and HDMI 2.1 inputs. This model costs $1,600.
The two devices are otherwise nearly identical, but if you want to connect a PS5 or Xbox Series X, you’ll need the SBMIIPuzX, as it supports HDMI 2.1. Otherwise, you’re stuck with a 60Hz output, although both systems support 120Hz refresh rates for certain games. It’s an incredibly subtle and complicated difference for the everyday consumer, especially since the term “HDMI 2.1” doesn’t come to market. official Acer site comparing the two models (opens in new tab)or on the The product page of Pbmiippuzx (opens in new tab)† It’s not hard at all to imagine a console player buying a monitor without HDMI 2.1.
Acer Predator CG437K review: Design
The Acer Predator C437K is a lot bigger than most gaming monitors. That almost goes without saying, but it’s worth reiterating what makes it so different from most other screens on the market. While most 4K gaming monitors are somewhere in the 28-32-inch range, the C437K is a full 43-inch. This moves it from “desktop” to “living room” area. If you wanted this monitor to live on a desktop, you might want to rethink your choice – we weren’t physically able to see the whole thing when we sat at a desk in front of it.
From a physical standpoint, 43 inches is a respectable size for a living room peripheral, and the device looks pretty good. With a simple black chassis, a few LED highlights and a minimalist stand that doubles as storage for game controllers, the CG437K looks just a little different from a traditional TV to make a statement.
It also has many more ports than a traditional TV. Our test model came with two DisplayPorts, three HDMI 2.0 ports, four USB-A ports, and one USB-C port.
The lack of USB-B and 3.5mm audio ports is noticeable, but not the end of the world, as the rear of the unit isn’t as easily accessible anyway.
Acer Predator CG437K review: Screen
For such an expensive display, I expected the Acer Predator CG437K to have a much better display. I tested the device with both a gaming PC and a PS5† With HDR turned off, the color was faded and dull; with HDR enabled, the color accuracy was much better, but the screen looked way too dark otherwise.
Here’s how the Acer Predator CG437K stacks up against some of the other 4K gaming monitors we tested recently:
| Brightness (nits) | sRGB spectrum (%) | Delta-E | |
| Acer Predator CG437K (Standard) | 506 | 147 | 0.22 |
| Acer Predator CG437K (HDR) | 700 | 146 | 0.31 |
| Acer Nitro XV282K (Standard) | 185 | 137 | 0.31 |
| Acer Nitro XV282K (HDR) | 248 | 136 | 0.22 |
| Asus TUF VG28UQL1A (sRGB mode) | 247 | 102 | 0.27 |
| Asus TUF VG28UQL1A (HDR) | 233 | 102 | 0.27 |
This is one of those unusual cases where the benchmarks and our qualitative observations just don’t match at all. On paper, the Predator CG437K looks spectacular, with significantly higher brightness and color spectrums than its smaller counterparts. The only major “issue” is that the color accuracy (Delta-E; lower numbers are better) is nothing special in HDR mode, but no worse than the competition.
And yet, when we tried the Predator CG437K ourselves, it looked faded and lifeless, with imprecise, grayish colors. I consulted with two other Tom’s Guide gaming experts, who agreed that Standard mode looked faded on PC and HDR mode looked too dark on PS5. In standard mode you can adjust many different settings to get better color levels, but in HDR mode you are pretty much stuck with what the monitor gives you.
We’re not sure if it’s better to take our observations or the benchmarks with a grain of salt; all we can say is that after repeated testing and analysis they just didn’t match up.
Acer Predator CG437K review: Performance
I tested the CG437K with a variety of games on both the PC and PS5. The monitor handled red and purple much better than other colors, with Eternal doomthe rocky hellscapes look particularly menacing. Blue and black, on the other hand, looked much less vibrant, as the inanimate version of Cyberpunk 2077Demonstrated at night city. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla – usually an extremely colorful game – looked equally uninspired. Nioh Remastered did slightly better though, perhaps due to the heavy emphasis on gray textures in its levels.
To its credit, the CG437K can handle high frame rates quite well. Every game I tested on PC ran at 75 frames per second or more; every PS5 game had a stable 60 fps (at least when set to “framerate” instead of “resolution”). The only caveat here is that one CG437K model supports 120 Hz modes on console; the other doesn’t. Please check the “Configurations” section and be careful when ordering.
The bottom line is that while a handful of games looked good on the CG437K, nothing looked great – and some games looked a lot worse than I expected from such an expensive display.
Acer Predator CG437K review: Interface
Like other monitors from the same company, the Acer Predator GC437K has a simple menu system that you can use to change inputs, adjust color options, and so on. Once you know where everything is, the options are pretty straightforward, although the menus themselves are slow to load and tricky to navigate. You can also select different visual presets or control the volume using the remote control or built-in buttons.
The problem here is that the menu is absolutely small and there is no way to make it bigger. This isn’t a deal breaker for a monitor that sits on a desktop, but you’ll probably be at least 10 feet away from the CG437K. If you want to change options, even with the remote, you have to get up from the couch and sit right in front of the TV. It’s a strange and unwelcome relic of a more traditional monitor design.
Acer Predator CG437K review: Accessories
Since the Acer Predator CG437K is a living room peripheral, it makes sense that the device comes with built-in speakers and a remote control. The only problem is that neither is that good. The speakers are a lot better than the typical monitor fare, as they don’t have the same metallic, muddy quality as most other monitor speakers. However, compared to high-end TV speakers, they are nothing special, with a flat sound and unbalanced bass and treble. Also, since the device doesn’t have Bluetooth, it’s not easy to connect to a soundbar (although you can just go through your PC instead).
The remote is also less functional than I had hoped. The volume buttons are probably the most useful features, but there is a significant input lag between pressing the button and the monitor parsing your command.
You can also change some of the menu options, but since the menu font is small, it’s hard to do without sitting right in front of the TV. The brightness controls are of limited use, as you can’t use them when the TV is in standard HDR mode.
Acer Predator CG437K review: verdict
The Acer Predator CG437K isn’t a terrible machine, but it has too many drawbacks to cost as much as it does. While the impressive 1ms latency is significantly less than what you’d find even in a high-end TV, the practical benefits can be limited. In our testing, we found that comparable-priced TVs generally have 10ms latency in game mode, which is more than good enough for everyday use. High-end TVs may also have better color options or nice OLED screens. If nothing else, they usually have better remotes.
If you know exactly what you’re getting into, the Predator CG437K at least fills an unusual niche in the gaming monitor world, and it works well enough for most games. Just don’t dive in without at least considering a comparably priced TV like the LG C1 OLEDfirst.