Alienware AW3426DW gaming monitor review: Premium gaming and OLED goodness in a value-priced package

Alienware delivers value from a 34-inch ultra-wide OLED with the AW3426DW.

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Alienware AW3426DW
Editor's Choice
(Image credit: © Tom's Hardware)

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Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The AW3426DW is a bit brighter than last year, with over 320 nits peak for SDR. That’s from a full field white pattern. There is no variable brightness option, so you’ll see the same number from smaller windows and highlights in actual content. This does not reduce the impact of OLED’s infinite contrast and its unmeasurable black levels. The new anti-glare layer and five-layer Tandem OLED are said to lower black levels, but to the naked eye, they were already as black as black gets.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration doesn’t change the black level or contrast result. It still cannot be measured. You’ll only need one brightness value since there’s no variable option. That comes into play for HDR content, though. ANSI, or intra-image contrast, also cannot be measured.

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Test Takeaway: The AW3426DW offers the same black level and contrast performance as any OLED. That said, its new anti-glare layer offers better light rejection, which improves the perception of blacks in environments with medium to high ambient light levels. That is a visual observation that I cannot measure with instruments. One point in favor of upgrading your AW3425DW to an AW3426DW is the extra 60 nits of peak brightness it offers.

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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.

14 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Roland Of Gilead
    That's a beaut! I've only just upgraded my monitor to 21:9 3440x1440p, IPS and I love it. I play mainly BF6 and F1 2026, and the wider screen makes games like that shine.

    I will upgrade to something like this in a couple of years. I'm drooling.
    Reply
  • SkyBill40
    I have the 3423DWF and I love it. This would be a nice addition as my main while relegating the older one to a secondary display role, but my wife would notice and string me up by my entrails if I brought this home.
    Reply
  • thestryker
    It seems like Dell has delivered another solid monitor especially when considering the price. I am very interested in what comes next in this space as I really love the 21:9 34" format and development here has generally been a lot slower than 16:9.

    While $800 is still a lot of money it amazes me that Dell is undercutting everyone else with this display. The closest priced to it is Asus' similarly spec'd version which is at least $100 more while most other monitors using this panel are >$1000.

    The upgrade over the AW3425DW is certainly tangible, but it's not one I'll be making. I'd be a little more tempted if I used a single monitor setup because of the pixel layout. Instead when looking at this I just see the hassle of selling my existing monitor or eating the cost of the new one.
    Reply
  • SkyBill40
    thestryker said:
    It seems like Dell has delivered another solid monitor especially when considering the price. I am very interested in what comes next in this space as I really love the 21:9 34" format and development here has generally been a lot slower than 16:9.

    While $800 is still a lot of money it amazes me that Dell is undercutting everyone else with this display. The closest priced to it is Asus' similarly spec'd version which is at least $100 more while most other monitors using this panel are >$1000.

    The upgrade over the AW3425DW is certainly tangible, but it's not one I'll be making. I'd be a little more tempted if I used a single monitor setup because of the pixel layout. Instead when looking at this I just see the hassle of selling my existing monitor or eating the cost of the new one.
    I'm in the same boat. I could probably flip my display to one of my coworkers, but I'm not sure what I could get back for it to lessen the cost of a newer replacement.
    Reply
  • mr.phil
    I'm not a gamer, but as a photographer I'm interested. How does this stand up for photography work? Any opinons?
    Reply
  • Roland Of Gilead
    SkyBill40 said:
    This would be a nice addition as my main while relegating the older one to a secondary display role
    Same. I've 2 27in 1440p no curved. Am gonna have both at either end of the 34in vertical orientation :) I'm thinking a nice matrix screensaver would look cool on that setup.
    Reply
  • Roland Of Gilead
    thestryker said:
    I am very interested in what comes next in this space as I really love the 21:9 34" format and development here has generally been a lot slower than 16:9.
    Yeah, I've been wondering why this size/aspect ratio isn't more prevalent. It's almost niche. There are lots of VA panels, but my own is IPS, and is hard as hens teeth to find. Hopefully there will more entries in this space.
    Reply
  • thestryker
    Roland Of Gilead said:
    Yeah, I've been wondering why this size/aspect ratio isn't more prevent. It's almost niche. There are lots of VA panels, but my own is IPS, and is hard as hens teeth to find. Hopefully there will more entries in this space.
    Definitely! When I got my first one with a VA panel the choice was basically compromised monitor or over $1000. By the time I wanted to replace it to get something with proper HDR OLEDs were the only reasonable choice. There were no IPS displays that weren't really old (aside from an AOC which wasn't curved) and there was only one VA panel and no mainstream brands ever picked it up. Even going OLED only the QD-OLED panel was viable for me due to WOLED being 800R curve.

    Currengly it seems like the market is entirely cheaper VA/IPS and two tiers of OLED: input/refresh compromised or expensive.
    Reply
  • Roland Of Gilead
    mr.phil said:
    I'm not a gamer, but as a photographer I'm interested. How does this stand up for photography work? Any opinons?
    Well, this is just my opinion, and just a being a gamer, but I think OLED tech would be great in terms of the near infinite contrast, real dark blacks, colours that pop, and nice brightness that would be close to what would be expected for professional photography.
    But, I understand some calibration is required for best results.
    Reply
  • Roland Of Gilead
    thestryker said:
    WOLED being 800R curve.
    That's a serious curve. I've only ever seen 1000R min. 800R would be like wearing the monitor wrapped around your face! 😀
    Reply