Let’s say you’re ready for (or in need of) a new monitor, but can’t quite find one that is both top-of-the-line and within your budget. Have you considered looking around for a refurbished monitor? I know, I know. We’ve all heard about the horror stories that have come with refurbished electronics. I myself have had more experience with poor-quality refurbished electronics than I’d like to admit to, ranging in everything from monitors, to phones, to even full-fledged PCs and laptops.
As such, I came into my review of the Certified Refurbished Acer Predator XB3 Monitor cautiously optimistic. On one hand, I was a bit concerned about the longevity of the monitor, and even if it would work immediately out of the box – a frustrating experience that has happened to me more than once with refurbished electronics. On the other hand, eBay’s new Certified Refurbished program is pretty impressive both with its list of partnered brands, as well as its guarantees to help keep buyers protected. I’ve spent over a month with my Certified Refurbished Acer Predator XB3. If my time with this product is any indication, I have no doubt that I’ll become a repeat customer through eBay’s Certified Refurbished program for my future needs.
First, let’s touch on the Acer Predator XB3 itself. The XB3 (or XB253Q Gwbmiiprzx for you gearheads) is part of Acer’s Predator suite of monitors, coming with a 24.5″ display and NVIDIA G-SYNC compatibility. It features a full HD resolution of 1920 x 1080@240 Hz with an aspect ratio of 16:9, a response time of 1 ms, an overclock refresh rate of 280 Hz, along with having more USB 3.0 ports than you’ll know what to do with (although, I’m sure you’ll find a way). A nice little addition is its 2 x 2 W speakers, which is great for when you’re wanting desktop speakers, but lack the real estate on an already cluttered desk.
Related: Roccat Syn Pro Air Wireless Gaming Headset Review: Style PointsAs for its performance, the XB3 is incredible. I’ve never really had a “nice” monitor used specifically for gaming, mostly using an LG dual-monitor setup both for work, as well as gaming and streaming. The XB3, however, is definitely designed to be your dedicated gaming monitor. I’ve run through multiple high-end games to test out its graphical capabilities – Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice, WRC 10, GTA Online – and they all look higher in quality than I’ve ever seen before. Even World of Warcraft looks and feels like an improved and more immersive experience. I feel like I’ve missed out a bit on having never invested in a top-tier gaming monitor. Now, I don’t think I can ever go back.
What’s even better about my entire experience is that my XB3 is… refurbished! Certified Refurbished, to be exact, I don’t think I’ve ever before encountered a refurbished product that felt like it was brand-new. I’ve always kind of been able to tell that my refurbished electronics were “like-new”, but the XB3 just feels like a mint monitor straight out of the box. Of course, as with all refurbished products, my experience may differ slightly from yours. However, eBay’s Certified Refurbished program comes with plenty of protections for you and your product, including a two-year warranty for all purchases made in the US, a money back guarantee, as well as hassle-free returns should the product not be exactly what you wanted. All refurbished products come with new accessories and manuals, along with manufacturer-sealed packaging.
The partnered brand list is pretty impressive itself. In addition to Acer, brands like Razer, Microsoft, Samsung, HyperX, and Dell are just a few of major companies to be a part of eBay’s Certified Refurbished program, all of which offer refurbished products up to 50%-off the normal market price.
The XB3 falls on the lower end of the XB3 series’ price range, coming in at a market price of $369.99. With the eBay Certified Refurbished program, however, you can snag the high-end monitor right now for $279.99 – that’s almost $100-off!
The XB3 is just one of a slew of gaming monitors (and other peripherals) that are well worth checking out if you’re in the market for new gear. I’ve been pricing out new gaming desktops PCs for a few months now, and now that I know about eBay’s Certified Refurbished program, you can bet that I’m keeping my eye out for deals. I’m that confident in the program, and would be more than willing to pair a Certified Refurbished gaming PC with my Certified Refurbished Acer Predator XB3.
A product sample was provided to TheGamer for this review. The Certified Refurbished Acer Predator XB3 is available now on eBay via its Certified Refurbished program.
Next: Flexispot L-Shaped Office Adjustable Desk E1L Review: Standing Tall