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HDR Performance

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

HDR is the best reason to own an OLED gaming monitor and the AW3425DW exemplifies that. Like any OLED, it has perfect blacks and bright highlights that deliver infinite dynamic range and a deeply textural and realistic image. The AW3425DW supports the HDR10 format with six dedicated picture modes, including one that is adjustable for color and contrast.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

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Alienware AW3425DW — (Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The AW3425DW employs variable brightness for HDR content to raise peak output to a healthy 459 nits. Alienware claims 1,000 nits for a 1.5% window, and I see no reason to doubt this. With only a few exceptions, all the OLEDs I’ve tested show the same maximum brightness. Screens like the Acer and Asus drive their panels a bit harder to hit higher peaks. The AOC sits last because it doesn’t have variable brightness.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

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Of the AW3425DW’s six HDR modes, HDR1000 has the best grayscale and luminance tracking. This is important for proper neutral tones, i.e. no tint, and full detail at all brightness levels. The picture is perfectly balanced and natural. This is the chart you want to see. The color charts are also exemplary with slight but linear oversaturation in all colors. This brings extra pop to HDR content without muddying detail. The AW3425DW uses its full gamut for both DCI-P3 and BT.2020 mastered material, which is as it should be. The 2020 chart tops out at 90% red, 75% green and 95% blue.

Test Takeaway: The AW3425DW delivers all the HDR standard has to offer with accurate color, wide gamut coverage and correct luminance tracking. While there are a few OLEDs with brighter highlights, the differences are small in practice. Once you’ve experienced HDR on the AW3425DW, you’ll be hooked.

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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.