As long as I've been in this technology media game—and the origin story there dates back to the early Mesozoic—some company or other has been trying to flog 3D display technology. So far, none of it has stuck. Even Nvidia's 3D Vision goggles didn't catch on. Could that be about to change with the new Acer Predator SpatialLabs View 27? Put simply, is this the glasses-free 3D tech you've been waiting for?

When it comes to gaming, and without wishing to give away too much, too soon, the simple answer is, nope, you probably won't want to buy this monitor for gaming. However, at its best this fascinating 3D display is stunning; an experience you won't quickly forget. Hold that thought and get comfy, there's a lot to get through when it comes to the technology involved here.

In simple terms, what you're looking at here is a 27-inch 4K gaming monitor with an IPS-type panel (actually AHVA, but that's splitting hairs) and 160 Hz refresh support. It's pretty well specified with a glossy panel coating and plenty of connectivity, including USB-C. What you don't get is any kind of HDR support, not even basic VESA DisplayHDR400.

That's not a disaster given most LCD-based monitors with claimed HDR support deliver little by way of true HDR visuals. But omitting even basic HDR signal decoding is rather stingy, especially considering the painful asking price. Oh yeah, did I mention, this thing costs $1,999 or £2,199. Holy moly.