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The AW2524H comes out of the box with pro-level color accuracy in the sRGB realm. You can use it without adjustment in its Standard mode. Tweakers can adjust a six-color control in the three Game modes or dial in grayscale using the Custom Color mode, as I did.
Grayscale and Gamma Tracking
Our grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.
For an initial measurement, it doesn’t get much better than this. There are no visible grayscale errors and RGB tracking is nearly identical at every brightness step. My only nitpick is the slight gamma variations. Shadow detail is a tad light and highlights are a bit dark. These errors are hard to spot but perfection is always a good thing and the AW2524H comes a little short of that.
After calibration, which only required slight changes to the RGB sliders, grayscale tracking is reference level, but gamma remains the same.
Comparisons
Going from a grayscale error of 1.55dE to 0.47dE just means that the AW2524H goes from great to greater. Visibly, there is no difference in the actual image. That is true of all the displays here except the Asus. In the world of high-end monitors, this is how it should be.
Though the AW2524H’s gamma tracks with an average value of 2.2 (0% deviation), there is a 0.30 range of values. This is not a grievous error, but there is a little room for improvement.
Color Gamut Accuracy
Our color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.
In the spec table on page one, I termed the AW2524H an “sRGB+” monitor. It doesn’t quite qualify as a DCI-P3 display, but it delivers more saturated color than the 360 Hz monitors I’ve tested. Extended color hasn’t yet come to this category, but Alienware is trying the hardest. You can see some bonus red that remains inside the realm of visual accuracy but gives the image a bit more verve in the warmer shades. All other colors stick close to their targets.
With calibration, the AW2524H looks the same but measures a little better. However, you don’t need to calibrate this monitor unless you really want to. And there are no gamut options here. What you see above is what’s used for all content.
Comparisons
Calibration takes the AW2524H’s color error from 1.5dE to 1.2dE. You won’t see a difference in practice, but it looks good on a CIE chart. The price may be high, but you are getting a professional grade monitor.
In terms of color volume, the AW2524H is the clear class leader. If you are considering upgrading from any 360 Hz screen, you’ll get more color. There is a visible difference in both SDR and HDR content, so it is worth considering. Most DCI-P3 monitors cover 85-90% of that gamut so the Alienware’s 81.08% coverage represents progress at the bleeding edge of gaming performance. Also notice the significant jump up from the AW2523HF.
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