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The desktop OLED monitor has been something of a unicorn for many years, but it seems that they are finally entering the realm of reality. Though a 48-inch screen is a lot of fun for gaming, it’s a bit clunky as a desktop display. It’s much easier to integrate a traditional 27- to 32-inch flat-panel or a 34-inch ultra-wide into an office setup than to find room for what is essentially a big-screen TV.
Alienware’s AW3423DW is the first OLED monitor I’ve seen that fits into the regular computer monitor category and its execution is nothing short of revolutionary. Even a premium LCD with Mini LED tech can’t match the image quality of an OLED. The greatest number of dimming zones found in the LCD camp is 1,152. This monitor has 4,953,600 dimmable pixels. Which do you think will look better?
The AW3423DW delivers on every element. Its contrast is tremendous, with black levels that can’t be measured. It has plenty of brightness for both SDR and HDR images. In fact, it’s the first OLED screen of any kind that I’ve measured at 1,000 nits. Granted, that requires a tiny window pattern to achieve, but in practice, the HDR performance here is superb.
It also delivers a lot of color. With nearly 108% coverage of DCI-P3, its saturation is well above most screens. Only a handful of monitors have such a wide gamut. And out-of-box accuracy is at the professional level. There is no need to calibrate the AW3423DW; it hits the marks with no tweaking.
Video processing is equally impressive. No blur reduction and no overdrive? No problem. The panel has perfect motion resolution with zero loss of clarity from moving objects or during rapid camera pans. The screen draws at the same speed as a 240 Hz LCD while running at 175 Hz. Adaptive-Sync ensures that there are no frame tears, and I observed no artifacts whatsoever during many hours of gaming.
With premium build quality and slick styling, the Alienware AW3423DW is priced right. It is a substantial purchase, but it delivers substantial performance and the best picture you’re likely to see today. If you’re seeking a monitor that earns the "ultimate" descriptor, this one is it.
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