Alienware AW2725D QD-OLED QHD 280 Hz gaming monitor review: Rich color, high performance and excellent value

It’s a 280 Hz panel with QHD resolution, Adaptive-Sync, HDR10, wide gamut color, and a very attractive price.

Reviews
By published
Alienware AW2725D
Editor's Choice
(Image: © Tom's Hardware)

Why you can trust Tom's Hardware Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The second reason to buy an OLED gaming monitor after smoothness is HDR quality. With infinite contrast and perfect black levels, no display technology can do HDR like OLED. The AW2725D offers six HDR picture modes that provide extra flexibility to the user.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

Image 1 of 3
Alienware AW2725D
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The LG drives its panel a bit harder to top out at 763 nits, but the AW2725D is the brightest of the rest at 460 nits. Variable brightness is in play, and I know this because I had to measure a 25% window to get that figure. A full white screen hits around 265 nits. This result tracks with its VESA DisplayHDR 400 rating.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

Image 1 of 3
Alienware AW2725D
(Image credit: Portrait Displays Calman)

I measured all six modes and found HDR Peak 1000 to track the best for grayscale, EOTF and color. Grayscale runs slightly green above the tone-map transition of 65%. The EOTF is a tad dark until 40% where it meets the reference line. This is solid performance.

In the HDR color test, the AW2725D takes full advantage of its large gamut to deliver high saturation and a vivid picture. All six colors show solid hue tracking, so there are no issues visible in content. Some bright neutral tones are a tad green, but that doesn’t have a significant impact. In the BT.2020 test, the AW2725D tops out at 90% red, 80% green and 95% blue. It covers more of that gamut than many QD-OLEDs.

Test Takeaway: The AW2725D stands out among QD-OLEDs with tremendous color coverage and solid accuracy. Though I noted a little green in neutral tones, it did not impact the image significantly. Thanks to vivid color and deep contrast, the AW2725D is a superb display for HDR content.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor

TOPICS
Christian Eberle
Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor

Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom's Hardware US. He's a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors. Christian began his obsession with tech when he built his first PC in 1991, a 286 running DOS 3.0 at a blazing 12MHz. In 2006, he undertook training from the Imaging Science Foundation in video calibration and testing and thus started a passion for precise imaging that persists to this day. He is also a professional musician with a degree from the New England Conservatory as a classical bassoonist which he used to good effect as a performer with the West Point Army Band from 1987 to 2013. He enjoys watching movies and listening to high-end audio in his custom-built home theater and can be seen riding trails near his home on a race-ready ICE VTX recumbent trike. Christian enjoys the endless summer in Florida where he lives with his wife and Chihuahua and plays with orchestras around the state.