Alienware AW2523HF Review: Blinding Speed and Instant Response

Alienware’s AW2523HF has an FHD/IPS panel with 360 Hz, Adaptive-Sync and HDR.

Reviews
By Christian Eberle
published
Alienware AW2523HF
(Image: © Alienware)

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To compare the AW2523HF’s performance, I’ve rounded up all the 360 Hz monitors in my database and put in a lone 240 Hz screen as a reality check, ViewSonic’s XG2431. The others are AOC’s AG254FG, Alienware’s AW2521H, MSI’s NXG253R and the Acer Predator X25. All are IPS/FHD panels.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

Click here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.

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Alienware AW2523HF
(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

These charts show why we’re here; this is as fast as a gaming monitor gets today. A 3ms panel draw means zero motion blur. Overdrive is not really necessary, but the AW2523HF has it and uses it for a very subtle improvement. Motion resolution is visually perfect; moving images are as clear as static ones.

Input lag is also nearly non-existent. The MSI wins the contest at 17ms total lag, but the AW2523HF matches its $200 more expensive stablemate with an equally impressive 19ms. This is otherworldly performance that must be seen and experienced to be fully appreciated.

Viewing Angles

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The AW2523HF offers viewing angles similar to other premium IPS panels. The image cools off a bit at 45 degrees to the side but doesn’t get any dimmer. The top view is poor, like most, with a green tint and washed-out picture.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)

The AW2523HF’s screen uniformity is what I expect from any premium display. There are no visible variations in a black field pattern, nor are there any issues viewing other colors and brightness levels. The image maintains smooth tones throughout.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

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MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor: A 2022 Guide

MORE: How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor

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.

6 Comments Comment from the forums
  • Sleepy_Hollowed
    Wow, this is a great monitor, on my shortlist now, thank you for the review.

    I love that it has no speakers (this is a plus for security AND in case they start buzzing later on due to crappy parts), and while the resolution is even more exotic than the 1920 x 1200, the extra pixels are great for doing work when not gaming.

    Alienware/Dell keep knocking it out of the park in the monitor department it seems.
    Reply
  • patrickisfrench
    the 1920x1440p is a typo. tech specs from dell show standard 1080 HD resolution for this one.
    Reply
  • Sleepy_Hollowed
    patrickisfrench said:
    the 1920x1440p is a typo. tech specs from dell show standard 1080 HD resolution for this one.
    Thank you.
    That's both a plus and minus then, it's better for gaming for sure, not so much for work, but it is what it is.
    Reply
  • escksu
    Wow 360Hz. Thats 2.77ms per frame!!

    IMHO, its a bit overkill for online gaming as even the best internet gaming servers has around 20ms latency. However, it still cool.
    Reply
  • brandonjclark
    escksu said:
    Wow 360Hz. Thats 2.77ms per frame!!

    IMHO, its a bit overkill for online gaming as even the best internet gaming servers has around 20ms latency. However, it still cool.
    What formula are you using when calculating that, sir?
    Reply
  • GEO_SD
    I just recently bought this monitor. The alien vision cross hair is a really useful feature imo, it can be configured in the command center. There's only one worth using and it's the crosshair small, it's available in 5 different color variations. Crosshair small is the perfect size, very useful as it uses two colors for the small Crosshair(I use black with white inner crosshair) . There's also a dot you can use but I find it too small. The toggle on and off for it is also super simple, just using a directional input from the joystick. I'll attach a picture soon to reference what I mean about the dot and crosshair small. All the other alien vision settings don't have a practical use. I'll update this comment for a long term use of the monitor.
    Reply