Dell has been at the top of its game when it comes to gaming monitors for years, and the Alienware brand has delivered pivotal technological advances, ranking among the first to embrace 500 Hz refresh-rate panels and QD-OLED technology. Dell is now claiming another “first” with its 39-inch Alienware AW3926QW, along with a fresh 34-inch QD-OLED SKU and two QHD/WQHD VA entries. All four new monitors use the same Alienware 30 design language, with AlienFX lighting, 360-degree ventilation, and streamlined cable management.

Alienware’s two new OLED gaming monitors

The Alienware AW3926QW is the largest monitor announced today and is billed as the world’s first 39-inch monitor to use an RGB Stripe Tandem OLED arrangement with 5K resolution. Dell is using an LG-sourced panel with a 4-stack light source consisting of two blue elements along with red and green elements. The stacked emissive layers reside behind an RGB-stripe subpixel layout.

Because of this particular architecture, we’re expected to see further improvements in color volume and brightness, as well as in text clarity, over legacy WOLED panels.

Using LG’s tech as the foundation, the AW3926QW features a 5120 x 2160 resolution with a native refresh rate of 165 Hz. However, since the AW3926QW is a dual-resolution monitor, dropping the resolution to 2560 x 1080 boosts the maximum refresh rate to 330 Hz. Dell boasts a 1.75 million:1 contrast ratio, aided by a polarizer layer that blocks ambient light and reduces reflections. As you might expect, AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync are supported, and you’ll get a 0.03 ms GtG response time with 99 percent coverage of DCI-P3.

The monitor also supports various eSports display modes, allowing you to use just a portion of the display in predefined screen sizes. For example, you can simulate a 24.5-inch monitor with a 1520 x 855 resolution with a 330 Hz refresh rate or a 27-inch monitor with a 1680 x 945 resolution and a 330 Hz refresh rate. You can also configure the AW3926QW to work as a 31.5-inch monitor with a 4K resolution at 165 Hz. In each of these eSports configurations, the unused portion of the screen will remain black.

Additional features include an enhanced “personalized algorithm” that uses machine learning to predict your usage patterns and intelligently optimize panel brightness to extend panel longevity.

On the connectivity front, the AW3926QW includes two HDMI 2.1 ports, a DisplayPort 2.1 port, and a USB-C port (DisplayPort 2.1 Alt Mode with 90W PD) for video. There’s also a USB hub with two downstream USB-A 5 Gbps ports and one USB-C 5 Gbps port.

The next new monitor on the docket is the AW3426DW, which uses a QD-OLED panel with 5-stack “Penta Tandem” technology (the blue-emitting stack has increased from 4 to 5 layers). The Samsung-based tech is said to have a 1.3x uplift in luminous efficiency and a 2x improvement in panel longevity. A V-Stripe RGB subpixel arrangement is employed to deliver clearer, sharper text without the fringing that is common on traditional QD-OLED panels.

The end result is a 34-inch panel with a 3440 x 1400 resolution, a 1800R curve, and a maximum brightness of 1,300 nits (300 nits typical). You get a native refresh rate of 280 Hz, which is available over HDMI and DisplayPort connections. VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 and Dolby Vision are supported, along with FreeSync Premium Pro and G-Sync.

The AW3426DW features two HDMI 2.1 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4 port for video. You’ll also find a USB hub with USB-A 5 Gbps and USB-C 5 Gbps ports (the latter of which supports 15W charging).

Alienware hasn’t forgotten about mainstream gamers with its new Alienware 32 and 34

There are also two monitors aimed at the mainstream gaming market: the AW3226DM and AW3426DWM. Both feature 1500R curved VA panels with a 240 Hz refresh rate, VESA DisplayHDR 400 support, 3,000:1 contrast ratio, and 1ms GtG response times.

The two monitors primarily differ in their screen size and resolution. The AW3226DM features a 32-inch panel with a 2560 x 1440 (16:9) resolution, while the AW3426DWM has a 34-inch panel with a 3440 x 1440 (21:9) resolution.

Both monitors have two HDMI 2.1 ports, one DisplayPort 1.4 port, along with downstream USB-A 5 Gbps and USB-C 5 Gbps ports.

At this time, Dell has not announced pricing for the AW3926QW or the AW3426DW, but the former will launch this fall, while the latter will be available in July. The AW3226DM and AW3426DWM debut in July, priced at $299.99 and $399.99, respectively.

Alienware has typically positioned itself as a premium brand of laptops and desktops for PC gamers. With the new Alienware 15 laptop, however, the Dell subsidiary is boiling down to the essentials in the hopes to reach a wider user base and offer a cheaper laptop.

For the lowest-end configurations, Alienware is digging in the parts bin for some older components, including AMD Ryzen 200 ("Hawk Point Refresh") and Intel Core Series 2 ("Raptor Lake") CPU options and GPUs starting with the RTX 4050 Laptop GPU in the United States, though some regions will start with the older RTX 3050 Laptop GPU.

In the U.S., the starting configuration with an AMD Ryzen 5 220, 16GB of RAM (1x16GB DDR5-5600), 512GB of storage, and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop GPU will start at $1,299, while the cheapest Intel variant, subbing out the Ryzen chip for an Intel Core 5 210H will run $1,349. A Dell spokesperson suggested that there may be promotions that lower the prices at some point.

Those starting GPUs have just 6GB of VRAM, where as an update to the RTX 50-series options will get you a roomier 8GB.

I had access to a pre-production unit for early hands-on time, but I wasn't able to benchmark it (stay tuned for a full review for that). My initial opinions of it were that it didn't feel like an Alienware laptop. I'm used to Alienware laptops including some aluminum or premium plastics. While this system looks the part, with the Alienware head logo and rounded edges of the company's AW30 design language, the black polycarbonate lid and bottom cover feel a bit cheap. The bezels, in shiny plastic, feel like a relic of the old Dell G-Series, and the whole thing feels halfway between a standard Dell laptop and an Alienware machine.

I'm not surprised to see plain, white keyboard backlighting, similar to the Alienware Aurora line. RGB lighting is about the easiest thing to cut.

Our hands-on unit, with an RTX 4050, had a simple rear foot. If you get an RTX 50-series GPU, the company adds the cryo-chamber found on the Alienware Aurora for some extra cooling.

The keyboard has 1.3mm of key travel, and only comes with white backlight, similar to the Alienware Aurora line. On the bright side, in a short hands-on time with it, I didn't notice much flex in normal typing. You also get a 180-degree hinge.I'm not looking forward to fully testing that display. Dell claims the 15.3-inch, 1920 x 1200 screen covers 62.5% of the sRGB gamut and offers 300 nits of brightness. That sounds about right — games and movie trailers looked dim and often washed out.

On the bright side, Alienware hasn't skimped on ports here, with two USB Type-A ports, an Ethernet jack, HDMI 2.1, and a USB-C port with charging support and DisplayPort on the left side, while the right side has a 3.5 mm headphone jack and another Type-C port. These are slower, 5Gbps ports (USB 3.2 Gen 1 on all but the USB-C port on the left, which is USB 3.2 Gen 2) but if you're only using them for accessories, that shouldn't be a big deal.

Resident Evil Requiem seemed to run fine on the device at native resolution, even during a busy mid-game boss fight with tons of fire effects, but that game is extremely well-optimized. There's no unannounced silicon in this device, so we know what to expect, for the most part. But it didn't look amazing on the screen, which was dim and bland.

There will be more expensive versions, going up to an RTX 5060, 1TB of RAM, and either a Ryzen 7 or Intel Core 7 processor. Here's a table of configurations that Alienware provided:

It is understandable why Alienware is going for a cheaper laptop. Notebooks are very expensive right now, and the budget category has all but evaporated. For real deals, you often have to go several generations back on at least the CPU. This should widen the number of people considering Alienware in this market, and people who buy the entry-level system this time around may consider an Aurora or an Area-51 in a few years, alongside any of the mice, headsets, or keyboards that Alienware also makes.

The price is questionable. It's unclear what promotions may come and drop the price down the line — perhaps holiday or back to school sales. If a less premium brand dropped a laptop like this at this price, it might actually seem downright reasonable, given the current state of components. In fact, if some of Alienware's rivals, or even Dell itself under the G-series brand, had dropped this exact laptop two years ago and this was now the going price, I think some people would think it was more agreeable. But Alienware launching a less premium notebook with old parts now might make it seem expensive for what you get, or at least feel off-brand. And some of those higher tiers are still pricey, with an Intel system with an RTX 5060 passing $2,000.

It does risk making Alienware look a bit less premium. I'm very curious to see the mainstream reception to this notebook. Dell ended its G-Series gaming laptops, which were cheaper and technically not affiliated with Alienware, when the company rebranded its laptops in 2025. But hey, at least something is coming out aimed at the masses.

Last year, Dell's gaming arm substantially updated the Alienware 16 Area-51 with a new design. This year, the laptop has a much more moderate adjustment: the addition of an OLED display, which fans of the pricey brand have been clamoring for for a few years, and that several of the best gaming laptops already have.

Without any major GPU launches, Alienware's other internal update is an upgrade to Intel's latest CPUs, which are a light refresh that didn't provide any massive upgrades to our performance in testing.

You still get plenty of ports, and the $50 mechanical keyboard is worth it – at least to my fingers. And while I can't imagine most people buy new gaming rigs on an annual basis; there's not a ton of change year-over-year.

Design of the Alienware 16 Area-51

The 2026 edition of the Alienware 16 Area-51 looks identical to last year's model, which was a total overhaul, with rounded corners and curved edges, along with a striking "liquid teal" color that stands out from other gaming laptops and looks like different colors under different light.

The lid features Alienware's alien head logo in a mirror finish, but you can't see that once it glows with RGB lighting when you turn the rig on. The lighting can also be found in a diffused ring around the ports on the back "shelf" where the ports live, as well as beneath the keyboard and around the intake fans.

The majority of the ports are at the back of the laptop, including three USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, a pair of Thunderbolt 5 ports, HDMI 2.1, and the connector for the 360-watt power adapter. The left boasts an SD card slot and a 3.5 mm headphone jack.

I get why Alienware puts the ports in the back; it lets you plug in major accessories and forget about them, and allows for a clean desk. But if you want to plug in external drives or peripherals that don't always have a home on your desk, you'll have to reach around the back of this big notebook. I would have loved at least one USB port on the side, but Alienware has spent most of the real estate on the side of the laptop for exhaust in its four-fan system.

On the bottom of the laptop, there's a glass window exposing part of the motherboard and the cooler, and you can also catch some RGB lighting here. It's cool on first glance, I guess, but I'd rather have something less breakable than glass on the outside of my laptop. It would probably save some weight to switch the glass, too.

The 16-inch Area-51 measures 14.37 x 11.41 x 1.12 inches and weighs 7.49 pounds (before the 2.2-pound power adapter). I could just barely close my backpack around it, largely because of the thermal shelf at the back. And there are smaller flagship 16-inch gaming notebooks out there. The MSI Raider 16 Max HX is 14.29 x 10.62 x 1.14 inches and 5.73 pounds.

Alienware 16 Area-51 Specifications

Gaming and Graphics on the Alienware 16 Area-51

The Alienware 16 Area-51, with its Intel Core Ultra 290HX Plus and Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU (16GB GDDR7, 175 W TGP, 1,500 MHz boost clock), proved to be a powerful performer across our benchmarks and in playtesting.

For instance, Resident Evil Requiem ran between 87 and 113 frames per second, as I explored the care center and engaged in a shootout to take down a blisterhead. That was at the system's native 1440p, with ray tracing on, hair strands improvements on, high graphics quality (with some at max), and without any upscaling or frame generation. It fell to 74 FPS in a darker area where I ultimately snuck behind and killed the villain known as the Chef.

We compared the Area-51 to last year's model, with a Core Ultra 9 275HX and an identical RTX 5080 Laptop GPU, to see how much the year-over-year CPU upgrade matters. We also compared it to a slightly more expensive system, the MSI Raider 16 Max HX, with an RTX 5090 and the same Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus as our review unit.

This year's Area-51 and last year's system were consistently in range. At 1920 x 1200, the newer model typically won out, with the exception of Far Cry 6. In a few games, like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Red Dead Redmption 2, last year's model did better at 2560 x 1600, even if it lost at lower resolutions. In general, though, the two systems were largely in spitting distance of each other.

Unsurprisingly, the MSI's RTX 5090 won out in most games.

But if you just bought a top-of-the-line gaming laptop last year, slight CPU upgrades aren't going to make or break your experience. You likely won't even be able to tell the difference.

During our Metro Exodus stress test, in which we run the game at RTX settings for 15 runs, approximating half an hour or game play, the performance cores on the CPU averaged 4.11 GHz, while the efficient cores hit 2.75 GHz. The GPU ran at an average of 1,950.46 MHz.

Productivity Performance on the Alienware 16 Area-51

The Alienware 16 Area-51 we tested is using an Intel Core i9-290HX Plus. This new chip is based on a refreshed version of Arrow Lake, and we didn't see any massive changes in our testing. Last year's Area-51 that we tested ran on an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX, while the MSI Raider 16 Max HX we're comparing here is using the same 290HX Plus processor.

On Geekbench 6, the Area-51 with 290HX Plus earned a single-core score of 3,216 and a multi-core score of 20,754. Last year's Alienware with Core Ultra 9 delivered scores of 3,126 and 20,498, so nothing eye-bulging here. The Raider achieved similar scores as the current model, at 3,231/20,656.

The SK Hynix drive in this year's system proved speedy, copying 25GB of files at a speed of 2,738.90 MBps, easily beating the MSI Raider (1,357.93 MBps) and last year's Alienware.

On Handbrake, the Alienware 16 transcoded a 4K video to 1080p in 2 minutes, which is 2 seconds behind last year's model, and enough for me to say it could go either way. The Raider was faster, at 1:51.

Display on the Alienware 16 Area-51

The major difference between the 2026 version of the Area-51 and last year's is the display. It's still a 2560 x 1600, 240 Hz screen, but this year there is an option for an anti-glare OLED panel.

In the trailer for The Odyssey, the screen appeared bright, especially in early scenes with Odysseus and his men underneath clear blue skies. There were some very deep blacks, like when Odysseus enters the cyclops' cave, where green foliage and orange flames all popped. It's not the most vivid OLED screen I've ever seen, but it's still nice.

The OLED worked to strong effect in Resident Evil 9, with dark blacks making for increasingly haunting shadows. But it was just as good with buckets of crimson zombie blood.

I like the anti-glare. I assume this took some of the shimmer out of the screen, but considering I work next to a window at home, I was still able to see most of the screen without reflections, even if the colors weren't as good at an angle.

The OLED screen covers 93.7% of DCI-P3 color volume, compared to 132.2% sRGB, surpassing last year's non-OLED model and the screen on the MSI Raider. Those screens, however, were brighter than the Area-51's OLED screen, which measured 368.6 nits on our light meter. Last year's model came in at 515.8 nits.

Keyboard and Touchpad on the Alienware 16 Area-51

Our review unit came with a low-profile Cherry MX mechanical keyboard. We've seen these on a few gaming laptops (mostly from Dell and MSI), and they always seem worth the upgrade. In this case, it's $50. Frankly, I think that on these high-end notebooks, Alienware should just make these mechanical keyboards the default.

It feels great to type on, and I hit 121 words per minute at 98% accuracy on monkeytype.com. That being said, the keys are clicky, loud, and even have a bit of ping to them. But if you wear headphones while you type, your fingers may be happy enough that your ears don't care.

The layout is a bit weird, with a row at the end of the keyboard for the volume and mute keys. It feels out of place, as I'm used to having those on the function keys. Instead, four macro keys take up those spaces. Additionally, there's a massive Copilot key on the right side. It's about a key and a half wide.

The touchpad measures 4.4 inches wide by 2.5 inches tall, bucking the trend of large touchpads finally making their way to gaming laptops. This one feels a bit cramped, but not difficult to use, especially as people playing games typically use a mouse.

Audio on the Alienware 16 Area-51

There are four speakers on the Area-51: two 2W tweeters and a pair of 2W woofers. They're fine, but nothing special.

Listening to Jade Bird's "I Get No Joy," the computer filled my apartment with sound. Bird's vocals were clear, as were the guitars and some synths. When drums played alone, like in the song's intro, they were clear, but they got lost in the mix with the rest of the instruments. Despite the bulky chassis, there's not much bass here, either.

The system came tuned with Dolby Atmos, but in the settings software, changing the equalizers didn't seem to do very much.

In Resident Evil 9, Grace's nervous breathing was loud (and constant — tamp down, Capcom), and infected zombie growls were clear. The sound was acceptable, if not earth-shattering.

Upgradeability of the Alienware 16 Area-51

To open up the Alienware 16 Area-51, you need to loosen the four screws on the bottom of the system closest to the palm rest. These are captive. Another four screws hold the rest of the cover on, and those come out completely.

The bottom cover has glass on it, which provides a window into the system. Dell's maintenance guides stress that you shouldn't scratch it with a sharp tool, like, say, a screwdriver.

Dell's guides suggest that you can use your fingertip to loosen the base cover, but just like last year, I needed a plastic spudging tool to get through the plastic clips holding it on.

Once you're inside, you have access to the battery, as well as the memory slots and three SSD slots. There's a code written in an alien language on the bottom of the case, but it's identical to last year.

Battery Life on the Alienware 16 Area-51

The 96 WHr battery in the Alienware 16 Area-51 can't power the laptop for too long. On our battery test, which includes browsing websites, streaming video, and running light OpenGL tests with the screen set to just 150 nits of brightness, the system ran for 3 hours and 33 minutes.

Last year's non-OLED model lasted for 4:10. The MSI Raider 16 Max HX ran for much longer, at 8:33. Both appear to have Nvidia's Advanced Optimus, so it's unclear why the Alienwares aren't running as long.

Heat on the Alienware 16 Area-51

We measured heat on the Area-51 while running our Metro Exodus gauntlet, running the benchmark for about half an hour.

The chassis gopt a bit toasty. The center of the keyboard climbed to 105.5 degrees Fahrenheit, which you can definitely feel, while the hottest spot on the bottom was 114.5 F. The touchpad stayed cool at 83.5 F. Be sure to use this on a desk.

Inside, the CPU measured an average of 82.8 degrees Celsius, while the GPU reached 62.11 C.

Webcam on the Alienware 16 Area-51

There's a 1080p webcam embedded in the Area-51's top bezel. It's OK, though perhaps not befitting of a laptop that costs over $4,000.

While it caught stitching my shirt and individual hairs in my beard, images taken from the cameras had some pixelation, which also occurred in video calls. On the bright side, the camera was color accurate.

Last year, I tested a version of this system with a 4K webcam that I enjoyed more, but Alienware isn't offering it this time around. A representative for the gaming brand said in an email that this would "help pricing without compromising in other areas that are more essential for premium gaming."

Software and Warranty on the Alienware 16 Area-51

Alienware has preinstalled some software. I've seen worse, but there's more than I like here. Alienware Command Center is the primary application on the machine, with control of AlienFX RGB Lighting, system performance adjustments, and a built-in game library.

Otherwise, the Alienware apps include one dedicated to downloading anything you bought at purchase, as well as Dell Support Assist for customer service.

There is bloat on here, including McAfee with a month-long trial.

Alienware sells the 16-inch Area-51 with a 1-year warranty. You can cover accidental damage and spill for a year for an extra $79, while Elite Care adds extended battery support and "top-tier gaming support experts" for $99.

Alienware 16 Area-51 Configurations

We tested the Alienware 16 Area-51 in a $4,309.99 configuration including a Core Ultra 9 290HX Plus processor, GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU, 32GB of RAM, a 2TB M.2 PCIe Gen 5 SSD, and the new 16-inch OLED screen. It also features a CherryMX low-profile keyboard and Windows 11 Pro.

The base model is $1,949.99 with a Core Ultra 7 255HX, an RTX 5060 Laptop GPU, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, a non-OLED screen, a membrane keyboard, and Windows 11.

Alienware's configurator has many options in between, including a Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, laptop GPUs up to an RTX 5090, RAM up to 64GB, and storage up to 12TB in RAID 0 (3 x 4TB). The most expensive configuration we could make came out to $8,009.99.

Bottom Line

The Alienware 16 Area-51 is a large, bulky gaming laptop designed to deliver a ton of gaming power on the go.

It's a heavy system, one that barefly fit in my backpack. Ideally, Alienware could find some way to slim this down, or at least drop a few pounds. But a slim, lighter laptop with the same components almost certainly wouldn’t be able to deliver the same level of performance.

On the bright side, Alienware finally brought OLED screen options, which should have always been available given the prices it's asking for its top-tier laptops. But this year's chip upgrades really don't povide better gaming performance year-over-year (not that most people are buying gaming laptops every single year.) It was unfortunate to see that the webcam was downgraded from 4K to 1080p; while that's arguably one of the parts people might care about least on a gaming rig, this system is over $4,000. It should have the best of the best.

If what you're looking for is a desktop replacement that's plenty powerful and portable enough, Alienware's 16-inch system delivers. But you may need a bigger backpack.

With AMD releasing its flagship Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 Dual Edition CPU, Alienware has become the first PC brand to debut the chip on its Area-51 gaming desktop. According to the company, it is the most powerful Alienware desktop that they have ever built powered by an AMD processor. Naturally, it doesn't come cheap with pricing starting at $4,449.99 for a config with AMD's new chip, but one has to consider the $900 MSRP of the Ryzen 9 9950X3D2.

• Check out the Alienware Area-51 from Dell.com

In addition to the existing Ryzen 9000 series configurations, the Area-51 desktop lineup will offer the new Ryzen 9 9950X3D2 CPU, AMD’s most ambitious consumer desktop CPU. It features 16 cores, 32 threads, and a massive cache of 208MB, making it one of the best CPUs for gaming. The CPU will be paired with a standard ATX Alienware X870E motherboard available with up to 64GB of dual-channel DDR5 XMP memory at 6400 MT/s. For graphics, Alienware sticks with Nvidia’s RTX 5000 series, ranging from the RTX 5070 to the RTX 5090. Storage options include 1TB/2TB NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen 5 SSD or a 4TB NVMe M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSD. Depending on the configuration, the Area-51 can be paired with either an 850W Gold or 1500W Platinum power supply, along with options for a 240mm or 360mm AIO liquid cooler.

We recently tested the Area-51 with top-of-the-line Intel and AMD configurations and found it to be a noteworthy improvement over the company’s previous gaming desktop offerings. It features a rather large 80-liter chassis measuring 22.4 x 24.04 x 9.12 inches (569 x 610.5 x 231.6 mm), with a ‘Lunar Silver’ finish and a glass side panel to showcase the internals. It uses standard PC hardware, meaning you’re not fully restricted to OEM parts if you plan to upgrade in the future. However, you may need to purchase a $35 adapter kit for the included AlienwareFX daughterboard.

There’s plenty of I/O available, including two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, and dedicated microphone-in and line-out ports at the front. At the back, there are two USB 4.0 Type-C ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, five USB 2.0 Type-A ports, and additional line-in, line-out, and SPDIF audio ports. The system also includes a Realtek RTL8125BG 2.5G Ethernet controller, along with a MediaTek Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4 wireless networking chip.

As expected from any Alienware product, there’s a large RGB light ring around the air intake, along with additional lighting inside the case. Apart from the included CPU liquid cooler, the case comes with dual 180mm fans at the front and two 140mm fans at the bottom.

The base configuration, priced at $4,299.99, includes a 1TB SSD, 32GB of RAM, an Nvidia RTX 5070, an 850W PSU, and a 240mm liquid cooler. That said, Alienware’s system configurator recommends opting for the 1500W PSU and 360mm liquid cooler combo, which bumps the price up to $4,449.99. At the top end, a fully maxed-out configuration can go all the way up to $7,049.99.

OLED monitors have been getting more and more accessible over the past few years as both LG and Samsung iterate on their respective panel technologies. Cheaper models were previously relegated to older panels, but throughout 2025, we regularly saw modern OLED displays for around $500. Now, Alienware has just launched its latest 'AW2727DM' OLED monitor for only $350, marking a new era of OLED accessibility.

• Get the Alienware AW2726DM for $350

The AW2726DM is a 27-inch, 1440p gaming monitor featuring a 3rd Gen QD-OLED panel from Samsung with the updated subpixel layout for improved text clarity. It has a 240 Hz refresh rate, with FreeSync Premium built in, so you're not getting entry-level barebones specs either. The only notable downside is the maximum brightness, rated at 200 nits. Keep in mind that's SDR brightness; your HDR content will still peak at around 1,000 nits and look incredible.

That's because this is still a QD-OLED panel with excellent color volume (better than competing WOLED options), perfect blacks, and a glossy coating to ensure clarity. Alienware is listing 99% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space, and it's a 10-bit panel, so it can display over a billion colors. The perceived contrast enabled by OLED's pixel-level dimming helps make HDR pop more than you'd think, given its on-paper specs.

We've already reviewed the monitor and gave it an Editor's Choice award because there's simply nothing else on the market that challenges its value. Yes, you can find better specs, but you won't find them at this price. The cheapest OLED monitor on Amazon is the AOC Q27GAZD, which goes for $380 right now. The next step up from there is MSI's MAG 274QP X24, which is listed for $430, and that's on sale for $500.

For connectivity, you get 2x HDMI 2.0 ports, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. There are extras such as a KVM, speakers, or even a USB port for firmware upgrades. But the monitor does come with a 3-year burn-in warranty, typical for OLED displays these days. The OSD also features various OLED care options, such as pixel refresh, to make sure the panel stays as good as new for a long time.

Not that it matters much, but design-wise, the AW2726DM is a clean-looking unit with no frills. Usually, you'd see RGB on the back of an Alienware monitor, but $350 doesn't buy you that. The build quality is, however, very solid, and we were impressed with the stand included in an otherwise basic package. It has tilt, height adjustment, rotation, and swivel capabilities; more than enough to get you started. Alienware is offering all this at a $350 MSRP; no discount required.

To start this off as clearly and plainly as possible, this review is of a $350, 27-inch OLED gaming monitor with Quantum Dot color, 240 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR10 and QHD 2560x1440 resolution. If you’ve been paying attention to the gaming monitor market, you might want to stop reading right here and go buy one on those specs and pricing alone. The Alienware AW2726DM is far more than an incremental price drop for the category; the $500 barrier hasn’t been smashed, it’s been erased.

But please read on, because below you’ll find my full battery of test results, with comparisons to more expensive monitors with higher refresh rates. Let’s take a look.

Alienware AW2726DM Specs

For this price, you’d expect the AW2726DM to be stripped down to bare essentials. But while it isn’t festooned with features, this display isn’t a barebones proposition, either. You get a 27-inch QHD OLED panel with Quantum Dot color that fills over 111% of the DCI-P3 gamut, which is a tick higher than average. Accuracy is decent out of the box, with even better image fidelity after a quick calibration. The only thing missing on the color front is an sRGB mode, which isn’t a big deal for gaming.

There are plenty of other picture modes though, 11 for SDR and another three for HDR10 content. Brightness is one thing that is sacrificed on the altar of value. While I measured 400-nit peaks in HDR mode, SDR topped out at around 200 nits. You still get OLED’s perfect blacks, though. Like all its more expensive competitors, contrast is so good that it can’t be measured.

There are no sacrifices when it comes to gaming performance here. You get a 240 Hz refresh rate with Adaptive-Sync. That’s more than enough to eliminate motion blur, and coupled with the QHD resolution, speedy frame rates are easy enough to achieve. There’s no black frame insertion, AKA ELMB/ULMB, but it’s not needed unless you pair the AW2726DM with a slower gaming rig.

Less important omissions include internal speakers, USB ports, and LED lighting. And the stand is simply designed, though it has full ergonomics. Build quality is up to par with any Alienware display I’ve worked with, and long-term reliability is backed by a three-year warranty that includes burn-in. And that can be staved off with the pixel refresh you’ll find in the OSD.

Small misses aside, the AW2726DM is going to be hard to fault given its $350 price tag. The last few 27-inch QHD OLEDs I reviewed all had prices north of $500. Let’s see what the instruments reveal.

Assembly and Accessories

The AW2726DM’s carton is unassuming, and aside from a small line of text announcing the model number, 240 Hz and QD-OLED; you’ll have to open it up to experience the incredible bang-for-the-buck that it offers. The base and upright mate with a captive bolt and you’ll need to find the four screws and included tool to attach the panel. There is no snap on fitting here. The mount is 100mm VESA compatible, so aftermarket arms are easy to employ. The power supply is internal, so there’s an IEC cord plus cables for HDMI and DisplayPort.

Product 360

Styling is minimalistic thanks to the all-screen look Alienware is going for. The front bezel is flush and narrow, with a strip at the bottom just wide enough for an Alienware logo. Moving around the side, you can see the two-part design that many OLEDs feature. The panel is among the thinnest I’ve seen at just three millimeters deep. The component housing takes the total thickness to just 1.65 inches. And if you don’t use the included stand, the back is completely smooth. The AW2726DM is one of the slimmest displays you’ll find in any size.

The back features just a small Alienware head and the OSD joystick. A Kensington lock is provided too. There’s plenty of ventilation on top of the bulge, and the screen is further shielded from heat by a graphite layer. There are no internal fans.

The stand is reasonably solid, with full ergonomics that include 5.2 inches of height range, a 90-degree portrait mode, and 5/21 degrees tilt. Swivel is a full 360 degrees, thanks to a bearing ring in the base that allows the entire package to turn smoothly.

The input panel is up and under and is made up of a DisplayPort 1.4 with Display Stream Compression (DSC) and two HDMI 2.1 ports. They support consoles with VRR up to 120 Hz. For the full 240 Hz, you’ll need to use DisplayPort. You also get a 3.5mm headphone jack.

OSD Features

The AW2726DM includes a tiny joystick around the back right as its only control. Pressing it brings up a quick menu, and an up-click opens the full OSD.

The quick menu has five icons that can be programmed for easy access to commonly used features like picture modes or game enhancements. At the top of the screen is a signal status bar that shows the input resolution, refresh rate, picture preset, HDR status, panel health, and the dark stabilizer setting. When panel health turns red, you can run the pixel refresh routine found in the Others sub-menu.

The Game menu has 11 picture modes for different game types, a color temp (warm or cool) preference, or Custom Color where you’ll find a two-point white balance control plus color management. There are no gamma presets, but the AW2726DM sticks close to the 2.2 reference for SDR and ST.2084 for HDR. Game Enhance refers to the available timers and frame counter. You also get alignment marks, but there are no aiming points or sniper modes.

HDR10 signals get three of their own modes. Display is the default and best choice there. I observed very obvious edge enhancement in the Movie and Game presets, but Display was free of artifacts.

There are many ways to customize the operation of the AW2726DM. Shortcut Key refers to the five icons in the quick menu. You can scroll left or right through the available settings and make them convenient things like input selection or picture mode. The four joystick directions can be programmed as well, for a total of nine options.

The AW2726DM’s only panel maintenance feature is a pixel refresher. I have never seen burn-in on any OLED display, and that includes the monitor I’m currently writing this review on and my nearly six-year-old LG television. Both have gotten by on pixel refresh alone with no need for orbiters or logo protection. And Alienware includes a three-year burn-in warranty if you’re still concerned.

Acer Predator X27 X1 Calibration Settings

My AW2726DM review unit wasn’t quite perfect out of the box in the Standard picture mode. It looked slightly green in tone when viewing grayscale test patterns, so I went for the Custom Color mode and its two-point RGB controls. That got me to reference level. There are no gamma options, but the monitor sticks close to the 2.2 power spec for SDR. Color is very saturated thanks to the Quantum Dot layer. It covers over 111% of DCI-P3. There is no sRGB option, so you’ll be seeing that extra color for all SDR and HDR content. I doubt anyone will consider that a bad thing. When I ran the initial measurements, brightness peaked at around 204 nits, but after calibration, it dropped to 185 nits. There is no variable brightness for SDR. To dial in your AW2726DM, try the settings shown below.

HDR signals get three of their own modes, with no options for adjustment. I found color and luminance to be nearly spot-on, which is a good thing. You can read more about that on page five.

Gaming and Hands-on

The AW2726DM is a 27-inch OLED for $350, so it’s really hard to fault. But in practice, it gives nothing away to more expensive displays. The picture looks gorgeous, even though it doesn’t quite have the measured brightness of others. But it is bright enough once set up. I learned during testing that it peaks around 185 nits after calibration, which was plenty of output for my moderately bright office with one sunny window opposite the test bench. The screen’s anti-glare layer was effective in this situation.

The picture is as stunning as any premium OLED, with deep blacks and lush color. The Quantum Dot tech is used to full effect here, with the AW2726DM covering over 111% of DCI-P3 in my tests. I had to calibrate for the best picture, but it wasn’t difficult to get to reference level.

The gaming experience was no different from other OLEDs either. The 240 Hz rating is a reliable and honest one, with no hiccups or artifacts to spoil the fun. Input lag is extremely low, as you’ll see on the next page. The AW2726DM punches well above its weight class, not only on price but also on speed. It’s just as quick or quicker than monitors with higher refresh rates. While a 500 Hz screen is great, you won’t see much need for it next to this one. I had no trouble mowing through alien monsters with precision and proliferation. My aim was true, and my defensive moves were exactly as planned. There was no motion blur and no breakup of finely detailed textures as I whipped about the virtual environment.

For everyday tasks, I was completely satisfied with the monitor as well, except for the missing sRGB mode. Most tasks are fine with extra colo,r but when working on graphics, it’s nice to at least do a reality check using the correct SDR gamut. Most users won’t have an issue, as the AW2726DM is very colorful in a good way. But it’s always nice to have options. The picture was super sharp and smooth though. 27-inch QHD has an ideal 109ppi pixel density, which is enough to hide the dot structure beyond a two-foot viewing distance.

The only things this screen gives to the competition are a few bells and whistles. It’s not difficult to live without USB ports, internal speakers, or LED lights. And getting a monitor with those extras and the AW2726DM’s performance will cost a lot more money.

Takeaway: The AW2726DM performs on par with premium OLED displays in every area that affects gameplay. It’s quick and smooth with very low input lag, so functionally, it is no different. You won’t have a significantly better experience with a 360 or 500 Hz monitor. It also has equal or better image quality than any Quantum Dot monitor. The only thing it gives up is peak brightness, which is a bit lower than pricier competition. For my needs and desires, though, I would be happy to use this screen every day.

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Many of the latest 27-inch QHD OLED displays run at 240 Hz or more. In fact, the AW2726DM is on the low side of the numbers game when compared to others at 360 or 500 Hz. But that doesn't mean it’s less smooth or has more lag. To compare, I’ve included Gigabyte’s MO27Q28G, Asus’ XG27ACDNG and XG27AQWMG, Samsung’s OLED G6 and AOC’s Q27G4ZD.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

I’m still adding new results from Nvidia’s LDAT to my test database, so the first chart includes the OLEDs I’ve reviewed since I started using it. Clearly, refresh rate is not a guarantee of fast response. The Acer sits atop the group at 0.12ms while the AW2726DM matches the 360 Hz Asus at 0.24ms. In practice, this difference cannot be seen by the naked eye. Moving test patterns at 240fps have perfect resolution.

In the lag test, the AW2726DM takes the win with a super quick 13.6ms of total input lag. This is an average of 25 mouse clicks at 240 Hz. Given the test results and my visual observations, I cannot say that a 360 Hz OLED like the XG27ACDNG is any better for gaming. While this is not a universal truth, one should check out tests like these to see a monitor’s actual performance in comparison to its competitors.

Test Takeaway: The AW2726DM offers phenomenal performance for a $350 monitor. That it is an OLED is a bonus. It offers perfect motion resolution at 240fps and has less input lag than almost every monitor I’ve ever reviewed. That includes OLEDs running at 360 Hz and higher.

Viewing Angles

Many QD-OLEDs show a slight color shift when viewed from the side,s but not the AW2726DM. It has identical color and grayscale from all horizontal angles up to 45 degrees. It is very shareable by two users. There’s no change in brightness or gamma either. From the top, you can see a slight red tint and a reduction in gamma, which washes out the image. Brightness remains steady, though.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

Screen uniformity remains a sample-specific result, but my AW2726DM certainly excelled in this test. It’s one of the smoothest screens I’ve ever measured. Amazingly though, it isn’t the record holder. That honor belongs to the AOC Q27G4ZD. As a category, OLED offers uniformity that is superior to most LCDs.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The AW2726DM has many impressive attributes, but high brightness is not among them. It offers just enough light to do well in a typical indoor setting like an office or media room. It should be kept away from sunny windows, though. Black levels are no different from other OLEDs. They cannot be measured, and neither can contrast. You get the rich and deep OLED picture but not a ton of light output. I noted that variable brightness was not an option for SDR signals. That’s unfortunate because the AW2726DM can top 400 nits (25% window pattern) in HDR mode. The headroom is there, but it isn’t made available for SDR content.

After Calibration to 200 nits

I kept the brightness slider maxed, but calibration cost me a few nits. I wound up at 185, which is still enough for workday tasks and gaming. Stay away from bright light sources, and you’ll be fine. Black levels are still unmeasurable as is static and ANSI (intra-image) contrast. This is typical OLED performance.

Test Takeaway: Aside from a little less brightness than others, the AW2726DM performs like any OLED, regardless of price. It has the black levels and contrast of its competition, just not the peak output. But it has enough light for a satisfying experience and a gorgeous picture. The only thing I’d like to see is a variable brightness option for SDR.

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The AW2726DM includes 11 picture modes with Standard being the default option. You can calibrate grayscale with two-point precision in Custom Color, which is where I ran my tests.

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.

My AW2726DM sample looked a little green out of the box with visible errors at 50% brightness and higher. You can just see the tint in test patterns or in neutral content like hockey games or black and white video. Gamma tracks almost perfectly to the 2.2 reference. That’s a good thing because there are no additional gamma presets.

I only needed to adjust the RGB gains to achieve perfect grayscale tracking. All errors are below 1dE, which is reference level. Gamma got a tad darker because I could only reduce the RGB sliders; they start at their maximums. Picture quality is visibly improved after these adjustments.

Comparisons

OLEDs are generally good out of the box so the AW2726DM’s 4.15dE score is a bit below average. In practice the error isn’t too obvious, but it is visible, so I recommend calibration. Adjusting just the RGB gain sliders made a significant improvement both measurably and visually. It’s impressive that 0.56dE is only good enough for fifth place here. That speaks highly to OLED’s quality and precision as a display technology.

In the gamma test, the AW2726DM maintained a tight 0.17 range of values from highest to lowest. The actual average of 2.25 equates to a 2.27% deviation from 2.2. This is excellent performance.

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.

The AW2726DM has solid out-of-box color accuracy with a 2.5dE result. You can see the bonus color in red and green, which are oversaturated when referenced to DCI-P3. The points are linear in progression, which keeps all hues looking natural and finely detailed. No picture information is clipped.

Calibration makes a slight difference in the chart with secondary colors closer to their hue targets and a bit more saturation in general. This is a good thing. The picture, like all good OLEDs, looks stunning. I noted that the AW2726DM does not include an sRGB mode. You’ll be enjoying its large color gamut for all content, SDR and HDR alike.

Comparisons

Like the grayscale test, OLED displays excel in the accuracy department, and the AW2726DM is no different. Its final score of 1.74dE means there are no visible errors. It is oversaturated but in a good way. No one will say that it is too colorful. In the volume test, it scores slightly above average for Quantum Dot screens with 111.51% coverage of DCI-P3. Anything over 100% is good, which makes the AW2726DM really good. There is no sRGB mode, so that coverage is a whopping 165.33%. You can’t use it for critical work unless P3 is the reference.

Test Takeaway: The AW2726DM is a tremendously colorful monitor with reasonable out-of-box accuracy and excellent results after calibration. I recommend an adjustment for the best picture. It has higher-than-average color volume but no sRGB mode. It’s fine for critical applications, as long as P3 is the goal.

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

The AW2726DM supports HDR10 content with an automatic switch and three dedicated picture modes. After seeing obvious ringing (edge enhancement) in Game and Movie, I settled on Display as the best choice. It also happens to be the default. There are no adjustments available in HDR mode.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The AW2726DM has variable brightness for HDR content, as you can see by its peak value of 404.1313 nits. This is from a 25% window pattern. A full field is around 200 nits. This clearly differentiates HDR content from SDR with bright highlights and more vivid color. The AW2726DM is on par with most of its more expensive competitors, but a few go even higher, like the Asus and Gigabyte screens.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

There are no adjustments available in HDR mode, but given the above results, none are needed. Grayscale tracking is visually free of errors, with all values below 3dE. The EOTF tracks close to the reference, with slightly dark values below 30% brightness. This error cannot be seen in the content, as all detail is fully rendered. The transition to tone mapping is softer than the reference, but this does not affect the actual material. The transition point is at around 58%, which is correct for the measured black and white levels.

The AW2726DM is more color accurate in HDR mode than most of the displays I test. It is just slightly (rather than extremely) oversaturated. This gives the picture a smoother and more natural look. It is never cartoony or overblown. The monitor uses all its gamut volume in the P3 test and covers a good portion of BT.2020 as well. There, it runs out of color at 90% red, 80% green, and 95% blue.

Test Takeaway: The AW2726DM renders punchy and colorful HDR content. It isn’t quite as bright as some other screens, but it is on par with most of the competition. It is a bit more color-accurate than most, with only slight oversaturation that adds enough verve to distinguish HDR from SDR.

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For years, OLED gaming monitors solely resided in a premium price category. The cost has come down a little, but progress has been slow and incremental. And if you want great game performance, 240 Hz is a minimum. Image enhancers like Quantum Dot color have been cost increasers, too. Until now, you’d need $500-600 in your budget for a 27-inch QHD resolution QD-OLED with 240 Hz and Adaptive-Sync. Alienware decided that you should only have to spend $350 when it unveiled the AW2726DM.

To be fair, this isn’t a fully loaded display. There aren’t extras like sRGB modes, USB ports, LED lighting, or internal speakers. But you do get a fully adjustable stand and solid build quality. The AW2726DM has a three-year burn-in warranty that you are unlikely to ever need. And most importantly, it has the performance to compete with the best gaming OLEDs I’ve reviewed, at any price.

During both tests and gameplay, I noted very low input lag, and panel response quick enough to eliminate motion blur above 200 FPS. Since the AW2726DM is QHD, it isn’t difficult to drive to its 240 Hz maximum. When playing games, I experienced the same feel as I do with displays costing twice as much. At best, you’re looking at around $500 for a comparable screen from another brand. The only thing I truly missed was an sRGB mode. And that is only a workday issue. If you don’t edit graphics for publishing like I do, you won’t care about that. You’ll only notice how colorful it is.

If you have $350 to spend and you’ve been wishing for an OLED monitor, the Alienware AW2726DM is your ship that has just come in. Don’t look for USB ports, internal speakers, or RGB lighting, but do look for premium game performance, because it’s here and you definitely want to check it out.

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Alienware is bringing OLED panels to a significant portion of its gaming laptops for the first time, following in the footsteps of brands like Asus and Lenovo that have introduced OLED displays to gaming laptops over the past 12 months. Alienware was actually a pioneer in this space, offering OLED panels on models here and there, going as far back as 2016. But now the Alienware 16 Area-51 and Alienware 16X Aurora are getting updated with 240Hz anti-glare OLED displays.

For now, Alienware is only updating its 16-inch laptops with an OLED panel. Dell claims the display has a 0.2ms response time, 620-nit peak HDR brightness, and 120% coverage of the DCI-P3 color space. It also comes with certifications from VESA, including DisplayHDR True Black 500 and ClearMR 9000. The displays come with an anti-glare coating, which Alienware claims reduces “gloss by 32%.” That number comes from internal testing from Samsung Display, so add a bit of salt.

The Alienware 18 Area-51 isn’t getting an OLED upgrade, instead sporting the same 18-inch IPS panel, with a 300Hz refresh over the previous generation.

All three laptops remain unchanged aesthetically, still sporting Alienware’s AW30 design language that it rolled out last year; you can read our thoughts on them in our Alienware 16 Area-51 review and Alienware 16 Aurora review. The 18-inch and 16-inch Area-51 models have a slight spec adjustment, however. Alienware says they’ll pack “new” Intel Core Ultra 200HX processors. These laptops already go up to a Core Ultra 9 275HX, which is one step below the highest-end mobile Arrow Lake offering Intel has. Dell wasn’t able to share model names or specs.

Outside of the CPU updates (and the OLED display on the 16-inch model), the two Area-51 designs remain unchanged. You can configure them with an RTX 5070 Ti up to an RTX 5090, as well as up to 64GB of DDR5-6400 memory and a total of 12TB of storage, split across three M.2 PCIe Gen 4 SSDs in RAID 0.

The lower-end Alienware 16X Aurora remains unchanged, outside of its OLED update. You can configure it with up to a Core Ultra 9 275HX — it isn’t getting whatever new HX models Intel has, it seems — along with up to an RTX 5070 mobile running at a 115W TGP. You can also configure it with up to 64GB of DDR5-5600 memory, as well as 2TB of PCIe Gen 4 storage.

All three updates will be available in the first quarter of 2026, but Alienware hasn’t shared any pricing details yet. Given the current crisis in RAM availability, there’s a good chance prices will rise compared to last year’s models.

Alienware Ultra-Slim and Entry-Level concepts

Alienware is updating its range of Area-51 and Aurora laptops at the beginning of the year, but it teased two new models that will arrive later in 2026. Currently, they’re just called the Ultra-Slim and Entry-Level laptops. These laptops will round out Alienware’s laptop offerings, as it moved away from designs like the slim Alienware x14 R2 during Dell’s larger rebranding efforts.

First, Dell says the Ultra-Slim design is around 17mm thin, or around 0.66 inches. For context, the MacBook Air M4 is about 0.45 inches thick, while the 2024 and 2025 Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 is around 0.64 inches. For specs, Alienware says the laptop will come with a discrete Nvidia GPU and “new highly efficient CPUs.” It’ll be available in a 14-inch and 16-inch variant, and Alienware claims the 16-inch model is nearly 50% smaller in volume compared to the Alienware 16 Area-51.

Alienware hasn’t shared any details about the Entry-Level laptop yet, short of the render you can see above. Alienware says those interested should “stay stunned for more this spring,” suggesting the laptop is closer than the lack of details would let on.

Alienware Area-51 Desktop, now with the Ryzen 7 9850X3D

Starting in February, Alienware plans to offer its flagship Area-51 Desktop with AMD’s new Ryzen 7 9850X3D. The souped-up X3D chip comes with an average 7% improvement compared to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, says AMD, though even Team Red’s official benchmarks show minor improvements in most games, with some games posting identical results.

The Ryzen 7 9850X3D is identical to the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, short of the clock speed. The updated CPU can climb up to 5.6GHz, while the original model topped out at 5.2GHz. Nothing else is different. Both CPUs carry the same 120W TDP, and they both carry 104MB of combined L2 and L3 cache. The 96MB SRAM chunk is placed under the compute die on both models, giving them more thermal headroom for overclocking. AMD supports multiplier-based overclocking (along with PBO) on both chips.

Alienware originally launched the Area-51 Desktop exclusively with Intel’s Core Ultra 200S ‘Arrow Lake’ CPUs before bringing AMD’s Ryzen 7 9700X, Ryzen 7 9800X3D, and Ryzen 9 9950X3D to the desktop in November of 2025. Alienware hasn’t said if the Ryzen 7 9850X3D will replace the Ryzen 7 9800X3D, but AMD claims both CPUs will live in the Zen 5 X3D lineup moving forward.

Outside of the new CPU, the specs of the Area-51 remain unchanged. You can pack in up to an Nvidia RTX 5090, 64GB of DDR5-6400 memory, and 12TB of total SSD storage split across three 4TB PCIe Gen4 drives. Neither Alienware nor AMD has shared pricing details on the Ryzen 7 9850X3D yet, but the configuration will reportedly arrive in February.

You’ve decided to splurge on one of the best OLED gaming monitors, and you’ve decided that a 27-inch flat panel is just right for your desktop. The question now is, “How much OLED do I need?” It’s possible to spend $800 or more if you go for 4K resolution and a 240 Hz refresh rate. But is that overkill? Can you get the same gaming experience from QHD and 280 Hz?

I’ll attempt to answer that as I review Alienware’s new AW2725D. It’s a 27-inch QHD 2560x1440 resolution Quantum Dot OLED with 280 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR400, and wide gamut color. And it’s $550 at this writing, so let’s take a look.

Alienware AW2725D Specs

One thing all OLEDs share, at least the ones I’ve reviewed, is a super quick panel response. The universally quoted figure is 0.03 milliseconds, and it is not an exaggeration. This is why OLED doesn’t need overdrive and why it’s smoother at a given refresh rate than a comparable LCD. The threshold where motion resolution equals static resolution is around 144 Hz. And since you can’t go beyond perfect, is there a reason for OLEDs to be quicker than 240 Hz?

As you ponder that question, check out the Alienware AW2725D. It breaks into a lower pricing zone at $5,50 and for that sum, you get 280 Hz, QHD 2560x1440 resolution, Quantum Dot technology, HDR400, a wide color gamut, LED lighting, USB ports, a full rack of play aids, and Alienware’s usual premium build quality.

The QD layer means extra color gamut coverage. I measured over 111% of DCI-P3, making it one of the most colorful monitors I’ve yet tested. Accuracy is OK out of the box and excellent after a simple calibration. You also get Creator mode, which lets you pick between DCI-P3 Cinema and sRGB. The picture is very satisfying with or without adjustment.

The panel’s lifespan is assured by a heat-dissipating graphite film behind the OLED layer, along with generous ventilation in the back. It’s passive, meaning there are no fans. In the OSD, you’ll find a panel refresh routine and a health indicator that lets you know when to run it. Alienware backs the AW2725D with a three-year warranty.

Gaming features include AlienVision, which is fast becoming my favorite aiming point system with its flexible and capable editor that includes many shapes and colors and even a night vision mode. Also included are timers, a frame counter and display alignment marks. The LED show extends to Alienware’s famous head icon in back and a large power button. Both can be set to any color and be made to coordinate with on-screen action. Two USB ports underneath the panel’s bottom edge make plugging in peripherals a snap. The only things missing are a headphone jack and internal speakers.

The AW2725D delivers a lot of performance and image quality for $550. It is the best way to avoid dropping $1,100 on a big, fancy, and potentially slower 4K OLED gaming monitor.

Assembly and Accessories

Alienware’s molded pulp packaging has proven itself to be more than capable of protecting computer monitors from the rigors of shipment. I have yet to receive a damaged sample, despite some having gone through multiple trips on the FedEx truck. The AW2725D’s three component parts assemble without tools into the cool new design I’ve seen from Alienware with an upright that appears to float above the base. It’s very solid in practice. The cable bundle includes HDMI, DisplayPort, USB and IEC for the internal power supply.

Product 360

The AW2725D’s bezel is reasonably narrow at 6mm wide on top, 11mm to the sides and 14mm at the bottom, where you’ll find an Alienware moniker and a large backlit power button. Its color and behavior are controlled in the OSD. Additional lighting is in the back where the Alienware Head is prominently displayed. It too can light up in any color and both LEDs can follow on-screen action using the Aurora control app.

The stand looks delicate thanks to the upright’s floating look and the base’s small size. But it is quite heavy and the three parts mate solidly to form a monolithic package. Ergonomics include 5/21 degrees tilt, 20 degrees swivel, 90-degree portrait mode and a 4.6-inch height adjustment. Movements are firm and sure with no wobble or play. The AW2725D isn’t expensive, but it is premium in every way.

The input panel is kept compact in the center, underneath the stand attachment point. You get two HDMI 2.1 and a single DisplayPort 1.4 with Display Stream Compression (DSC). A USB-B upstream port forms a hub that includes Type C and A ports on the panel’s bottom edge. They’re easy to access from the front, so you can plug in peripherals, like headphones for instance, as there is no traditional 3.5mm jack. There are no internal speakers either.

OSD Features

Pressing the AW2725D’s center joystick, the only control, opens the quick menu and status bar seen in the first photo below. An up-click opens the full OSD, which will be familiar to any user of Dell or Alienware monitors.

The top status bar shows signal information and panel health info. At the bottom is a quick menu with five programmable icons that provide access to often-used functions. The full OSD starts appropriately with Game and its 12 picture modes. Standard is the default with solid gamma out of the box, but I found it a tad green in tone. After the game-specific modes, you’ll find Creator with gamut and gamma selections. Its DCI-P3 option refers to the cinema standard with a 2.6 gamma and D63 white point. sRGB is close to spec and is appropriate for colorists and photographers needing that reference.

To find the best image, I went for Custom Color and its two-point white balance sliders. A few tweaks took grayscale and color to pro-level accuracy. The rest of the Game menu includes game aids like timers and a frame rate counter. And there's AlienVision, which is a super cool aiming point editor. It includes multiple shapes and colors plus night vision and even a dynamic reticle that changes color to stay in contrast with the background.

The lighting options have fixed colors for the power LED and Alienware Head. Or you can sync them with your PC using the Aurora control app. HDR options are found in the Display menu where you get six additional modes. Desktop is the default, and it is good, but HDR Peak 1000 is the most dynamic with variable brightness and accurate color tracking. It provides a vivid, colorful presentation that is unmatched by anything except another QD-OLED monitor.

The PIP/PBP mode includes five different screen split ratios plus options for the PIP window position. This feature lets you view two video sources at once. In Personalize, you can set the functions of the joystick directionals and the five icons in the quick menu.

In Others, you can run the pixel refresh routine manually whenever you wish. When the panel health indicator turns red, it runs automatically. Finally, you can view nine screens of factory calibration info that is unique to each AW2725D sample.

Alienware AW2725D Calibration Settings

The AW2725D comes out of the box in Standard mode, and I found that it was a bit green in tone. It has spot-on gamma and color, but bright white shades are slightly off. The best choice is Custom Color where you’ll find RGB gain and bias sliders plus hue and saturation controls for all six colors. With a few changes to gain, I achieved a visually perfect grayscale. Gamma is spot on in any case, but there’s only one choice, 2.2. If you want a darker or lighter presentation, you’re out of luck. My SDR settings are below. Note that there is no variable brightness option in SDR.

HDR signals enable six additional picture modes, of which HDR Peak 1000 is the best. It employs variable brightness for peaks around 460 nits, slightly higher than the class average. Custom Color HDR offers a contrast slider that lets you dial down the overall brightness, plus color hue and saturation controls.

Gaming and Hands-on

As I played a few hours of Doom Eternal’s horde mode, I kept thinking of the word “translation.” The AW2725D, like nearly all OLEDs faster than 200 Hz, translates your thoughts into action with no delay and no blur. About the only other monitor class on this level is an Ultra HD OLED at 240 Hz. So taken on a price/performance basis, the AW2725D clearly wins.

With a decent mouse and keyboard, a monitor like this lets your skills shine, as in, it’s never in the way. There is no delay, and the picture is always sharp as a tack, whether still or moving. Aiming and shooting is consistently precise. The AW2725D’s video processing is without flaw.

The image is stunning in every respect. The extra punch from Quantum Dot color is clear when comparing the AW2725D to a non-QD screen. Though it’s just a 10-15% difference in volume, you can plainly see the extra red and green in gameplay and in the Windows desktop. Photos look brighter and more vibrant. And those perfect black levels don’t hurt. The AW2725D delivers performance on par with all the QD-OLEDs I’ve reviewed and has just a tad more color than most of them.

From a convenience standpoint, the AW2725D’s extra USB ports on the bottom are handy. They are easy to find and are the perfect place to plug in a pair of headphones. Though I wished for a 3.5mm jack to run my trusty Sennheisers, there are plenty of capable USB cans out there. Some may mourn the loss of internal speakers, but considering the sound quality coming from most of them, it isn’t a big sacrifice.

The AW2725D is a great everyday screen for work and play. Its color is a real asset when working on graphics in Photoshop or watching video. I’m a fan of mini home theaters and a screen like this creates a personal experience in a small space for not a lot of money. Add in good desktop speakers or headphones and you can enjoy the latest blockbuster from Marvel Studios while sitting in your favorite gaming chair.

Takeaway: The AW2725D is a great all-around display and a superlative gaming monitor. It has the same premium video processing as any high-end monitor with low input lag and perfect motion resolution. Do you need a higher refresh rate? I’m going to say no. 280 Hz QHD is super responsive and the picture here gives nothing away to higher-res screens thanks to its highly saturated color. For the price, this OLED is going to be hard to top.

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I’ve reviewed plenty of 240 Hz QHD OLEDs, but lately, more displays are coming out at 360 and even 480 Hz. To answer the question, “How fast does an OLED need to be?”, I’ve rounded up the LG 27GX790A, Samsung OLED G6, Asus XG27ACDNG, Philips 27M2N8500, and AOC Q27G4ZD.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

When you’re counting individual video frames from a 1,000fps video, yes, you can tell the difference between 240-280 Hz and 360 Hz. In practice, you cannot. 240 Hz provides perfect motion resolution. That means there is no loss of detail and no blur from moving objects or panning backgrounds. I’ve observed this in Blur Busters test patterns and in actual content. This also means that you won’t find more smoothness at 280, 360, or 480 Hz. The AW2725D matches motion quality with all the quicker screens, and so does the AOC with its 240 Hz refresh rate.

Input lag is therefore the deciding factor, and there certainly is a difference there. The LG and Philips are my two record holders at 10ms of total lag. So, you’ll need at least 360 Hz to play in that sandbox. But the AW2725D is right in the fray with 17ms, putting it 1ms ahead of the Samsung. I doubt anyone can tell a 1ms difference in input lag, or differentiate between 17 and 18ms. Bottom line, the AW2725D is plenty quick.

Test Takeaway: If smooth motion is your top priority, there is no need to buy an OLED faster than 240 Hz. The AW2725D’s 280 Hz is more than quick enough for perfect motion resolution and blur-free operation. Its input lag is also low enough for competition unless you want the ultimate performance offered by Philips or LG’s 360/480 Hz displays. Which cost $700 and $800, respectively, so there’s that. Performance-wise, the AW2725D is going to be hard to beat.

Viewing Angles

Quantum Dot layers usually create a subtle polarization effect that manifests as a barely visible green tint. The AW2725D shows this trait in a gray test pattern, but it’s nearly impossible to spot in content. Brightness and gamma remain consistent at 45 degrees to the sides. The top view is also solid with slightly reduced gamma and brightness.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

At 3.96%, the AW2725D has above-average screen uniformity. You won’t see any issues like bleed or glow here. Though this result is sample-specific, I’ve found OLEDs to be very consistent in this test. I haven’t encountered a bad one yet.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The AW2725D doesn’t include a variable brightness option for SDR mode, so window and full screen patterns will measure the same. I recorded 265 nits peak in the Standard mode, which is on par with other screens in the genre. The LG and Asus panels can top out at over 400 nits, which would be handy in a very sunny environment like a location video shoot. Black levels cannot be measured by currently available instrumentation, so contrast is undetermined.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration and the setting of 200 nits peak don’t affect black levels or contrast. They are still unmeasurable. ANSI, or intra-image contrast, is the same way, with no reading coming from the black squares in my checkerboard pattern. This is typical OLED performance.

Test Takeaway: The AW2725D has about the same peak brightness as its competition save the LG and Asus monitors, which can go over 400 nits in SDR mode. If you need those higher peaks for your environment, they are a good choice. For a typical office, media or game room though, the AW2725D is more than bright enough.

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The AW2725D comes in its Standard picture mode, allowing for brightness and contrast adjustment, but has fixed color and gamma. You can tweak grayscale in the Custom Color mode and change the gamut in Creator mode.

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.

The AW2725D is a touch green by default, which is noticeable in brighter content with a lot of white and neutral tonality. Green is the color most visible to the human eye, so it’s a difficult error to forgive. Luckily, gamma is spot on the reference line, so all that’s needed are RGB tweaks.

In the Custom Color mode, a few changes to the RGB gains are all it takes to achieve visual perfection. With all errors under 0.5dE, the AW2725D is pro-monitor territory. In Creator mode, the sRGB gamut works as intended, but the grayscale is green, and there is no mechanism to fix it. Gamma is slightly askew, but not enough to impact the image negatively

Comparisons

The AW2725D’s default grayscale error of 3.73dE and its visible green tint mean that it should be calibrated. While some users will be satisfied with the default image, the adjustments do make a visible improvement in depth and realism. Once adjusted, it becomes the top finisher with a tiny 0.32dE average error. That’s about as good as it gets.

I’ve observed lately that all the Alienware monitors I review have perfect gamma. The AW2725D rides the 2.2 line perfectly with only a 0.08 range of values and a 0.9% deviation, the actual value is 2.22. This means color saturation and tonal separation will be optimal in all SDR content. This is excellent performance.

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.

If you measure a monitor’s quality by its color gamut accuracy, the AW2725D excels both before and after calibration. The first chart, Standard mode, shows slight hue errors in cyan and magenta, plus a bit of extra saturation in red, green and cyan. These are minor errors and in practice cannot be seen in content.

Calibration tightens up the chart nicely, making the visual impact a bit more vivid. Removing the green tint from neutral tones lifts a veil, to use symbolism, and makes the image pop.

In the sRGB test, you can see slight hue errors in cyan and yellow and a tad bit of bonus green. This mode is suitable for color grading and critical applications, although its grayscale output runs slightly green and lacks calibration options.

Comparisons

OLEDs are generally color accurate in my tests and the AW2725D continues that trend. It sits right in the middle of the pack with a solid 1.76dE result. In practice, all the monitors will appear equal since none have errors greater than 3dE, the generally accepted visible threshold.

In the volume test, the AW2725D shows its best asset with over 111% coverage of DCI-P3. That’s about as good as it currently gets. Even among QD-OLEDs, it’s a cut above. The 109% figure for sRGB isn’t ideal, but still can be used for color grading.

Test Takeaway: The AW2725D is an extremely colorful gaming monitor with above-average DCI-P3 gamut coverage. With a few tweaks, it delivers pro-level accuracy and has exemplary gamma tracking. I only wish there were additional gamma presets because I’m a fan of choice.

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

The second reason to buy an OLED gaming monitor after smoothness is HDR quality. With infinite contrast and perfect black levels, no display technology can do HDR like OLED. The AW2725D offers six HDR picture modes that provide extra flexibility to the user.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The LG drives its panel a bit harder to top out at 763 nits, but the AW2725D is the brightest of the rest at 460 nits. Variable brightness is in play, and I know this because I had to measure a 25% window to get that figure. A full white screen hits around 265 nits. This result tracks with its VESA DisplayHDR 400 rating.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

I measured all six modes and found HDR Peak 1000 to track the best for grayscale, EOTF and color. Grayscale runs slightly green above the tone-map transition of 65%. The EOTF is a tad dark until 40% where it meets the reference line. This is solid performance.

In the HDR color test, the AW2725D takes full advantage of its large gamut to deliver high saturation and a vivid picture. All six colors show solid hue tracking, so there are no issues visible in content. Some bright neutral tones are a tad green, but that doesn’t have a significant impact. In the BT.2020 test, the AW2725D tops out at 90% red, 80% green and 95% blue. It covers more of that gamut than many QD-OLEDs.

Test Takeaway: The AW2725D stands out among QD-OLEDs with tremendous color coverage and solid accuracy. Though I noted a little green in neutral tones, it did not impact the image significantly. Thanks to vivid color and deep contrast, the AW2725D is a superb display for HDR content.

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We’ve seen OLED refresh rates climbing steadily from 144 Hz up to 480 Hz in a few cases. But after playing on many 240 Hz QHD panels, I’ve concluded that you don’t need more speed than that because motion resolution can’t get better than perfect. By that, I mean that moving objects are rendered with the same clarity as static ones.

The Alienware AW2725D’s 280 Hz is more than fast enough for any gamer at any skill level. Though you can buy lower input lag at 360 and 480 Hz, there are very few players who can differentiate between 17 and 10 milliseconds. If you want the faster one, expect to pay $700-800.

For $550 at this writing, the AW2725D delivers tremendous color volume and a bright image with over 460 nits for HDR and 265 for SDR. You get reasonable accuracy out of the box and pro-level performance after a few tweaks. And it’s flexible with lots of color modes, a full set of gaming aids and USB ports placed within easy reach. Add in Alienware’s excellent build quality and you have a winner that pulls the OLED price of admission a little lower. If you have $550 in your monitor budget, keep if on your shopping list.

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When you’ve maxed your gaming PC budget for a high-end video card and you don’t have enough left for an OLED monitor, you reach for the next best thing – a speedy LCD with a fast refresh rate, preferably something over 300 Hz. And this isn’t necessarily settling for second best. Some truly excellent deals in this category are less than half the price of an the best OLED gaming monitors.

Alienware’s newest generation of gaming screens embraces value, and few models define that better than the AW2525HM. This 25-inch FHD IPS screen runs all day at 320 Hz, supports G-Sync and FreeSync, delivers HDR10, and, in a rarity for the genre, covers nearly 94% of the DCI-P3 color gamut. And it’s $250 at this writing. Let’s take a look.

Alienware AW2525HM Specs

The AW2525HM is less than half the price of a 27-inch OLED, but in terms of features and performance, the return is well over half. It runs at 320 Hz without overclock, a frame rate that’s easy to achieve at 1920x1080 resolution. The screen size means pixel density is a serviceable 90ppi, meaning it’s sharp enough for clear imagery and fast enough for high motion resolution. The overdrive is precise and provides near-full elimination of blur and no ghosting artifacts.

An IPS panel delivers decent contrast, over 1,100:1 in my tests, and that figure is both a static and an intra-image result, which is rare for any monitor category. However, the big draw is color. Very few FHD monitors have wide gamut coverage, but the AW2525HM delivers just under 94% of DCI-P3, making it a class leader, by a wide margin. That color is accurate as well, with calibration optional and reference level performance after a few adjustments.

There’s a complete set of gaming aids here, including Alienware’s slick new aiming point editor that incorporates a dynamic aiming point and night vision options with three user-programmable presets. You also get a frame rate counter, a set of timers, and alignment marks. At $250, some users might want to put two or three of these compact screens on their desktops.

Physical features are in the everything-you-need-and-nothing-you-don’t category. There are no internal speakers, nor is there a headphone jack. And there’s no LED light show either. But you do get USB ports, two of which are on the panel’s bottom edge for easy access. And the stand is top shelf with quality ergonomics and a solid build. It’s a 320 Hz monitor for $250. That kind of speed would have cost $500 just a few years ago.

Assembly and Accessories

The AW2525HM comes in an easy-open clamshell box with molded pulp forms securing the contents. It’s fully recyclable and there are no foam crumbs to vacuum up after unpacking, yay. The three parts, base, stand, and panel, assemble without tools into a stylish and solid piece. The cable bundle includes IEC for the internal power supply, plus DisplayPort, HDMI, and USB.

Product 360

I really dig Alienware’s latest aesthetic with an upright that appears to float just above the base and the smooth surfaces found throughout. There isn’t a sharp angle or hard edge in sight, just balanced ovals and rounded rectangles. The front view is all screen with one of the narrowest bezels I’ve seen to date, just 5mm around the top and sides and 14mm on the bottom. The trim sports the Alienware moniker and a large backlit power button/LED.

The back photo is a bit deceiving. Alienware’s Head logo is not backlit, but it does split white light into red, green, and blue from any angle other than straight on. It’s a neat holographic effect that I haven’t seen before. Ventilation is provided by a ring of small holes that mimic the shape of the attachment plate. Under that is a 100mm VESA mount with fasteners included.

The stand is solid despite its floating appearance. The look of its attachment to the base is something I haven’t seen elsewhere, and it’s a feature of all the latest Alienware displays. The height adjustment is 4.3 inches along with 5/21 degrees tilt, 30 degrees swivel and a 90-degree portrait mode. Overall, the AW2525HM is hefty despite its small size. It’s reasonably portable and ruggedly built.

The input panel is up and under the center, just behind the OSD joystick. You get two HDMI 2.1 ports and a DisplayPort 1.4. A USB-B serves as the upstream hub connector with the two downstream Type As arrayed on the bottom edge of the panel, where they’re in easy reach of peripheral connections. There’s no headphone jack, which is unusual, and ironic because on the upper left side is a pop-out headphone hook made from a very thick piece of powder-coated metal.

OSD Features

Alienware and Dell monitors all have the same basic OSD design as the AW2525HM. Pressing any joystick direction opens a small menu with signal status at the top of the screen. You can left- and right-click for quick access functions, which the user can specify. An up-click opens the full OSD.

The Game menu offers 13 picture modes, each corresponding to a different game type. Three Game modes offer RGB gains and bias sliders, along with dark stabilizer and response time values, which are independent of each memory. There is no Creator mode, but you can call up sRGB in the sRGB mode. It is reasonably accurate, though slightly undersaturated, more on that later. For the most precise calibration, go for Custom Color with its RGB and color management options.

Game Enhance Mode has the aids you’ll need with a set of timers, frame rate counter and alignment marks. The Response Time (overdrive) has three settings, of which I found Extreme to be the most responsive and smoothest. None of them have ghosting artifacts.

The AlienVision sub-menu is super cool because it gives you total control of the aiming point’s size, shape, and color. It also includes night vision. There are three presets, all user programmable, that can be called up with a couple of clicks. The dynamic crosshair changes color to stay in contrast with the background, or you can keep it a static color.

The AW2525HM fully supports HDR10 with four dedicated modes. Desktop measured well in my tests and looked the best for gaming and video. Custom Color HDR offers color saturation and contrast adjustments.

The Personalize sub-menu controls the functions available in the quick menu and the joystick direction commands. It’s very flexible and completely programmable by the user.

Alienware AW2525HM Calibration Settings

The AW2525HM can be used without calibration in its Standard mode, but I found a visible improvement by adjusting the RGB gain sliders in Custom Color. There are no gamma options, but my tests showed that luminance tracked closely to the 2.2 reference value. If you need sRGB color, there is a picture mode for it, and it is a tad undersaturated but close enough to reference to be called accurate. My recommended SDR settings are below.

For HDR content, I found the default Desktop mode to be the best measuring and the best looking. It doesn’t offer any adjustments, but it more than doubles contrast thanks to a field dimming feature and delivers plenty of color too.

Gaming and Hands-on

When space or money is at a premium, a small high-performance gaming monitor is the perfect solution. The Alienware AW2525HM is one of the best examples I’ve played on lately. Though I’ve experienced 500 and 540 Hz screens, the 320 Hz rate here is just as smooth and satisfying for any kind of gameplay, from lush adventures where you’ll spend time enjoying the scenery to frenetic shooters where you barely have time to breathe.

With no perceptible input lag, I enjoyed instant response to all control inputs. The AW2525HM never wavered in its delivery of smooth gameplay with no artifacts, hesitation, or frame tearing. My test PC maintained 320fps throughout with its GeForce RTX 4090 in operation. The image remained sharp with enough pixel density to keep the FHD resolution beneath my notice. You can certainly achieve a sharper image with QHD or UHD screens, but not for $250 and not at 320fps.

Comparing the experience to other small monitors, the AW2525HM’s extra color is a real value-add. You won’t find more than 90% of DCI-P3 anywhere else in the FHD category and that extra saturation is easy to see. Reds and greens were vibrant, and the image looked natural and correct both before and after testing and calibration. The AW2525HM is ready to go out of the box.

Everyday tasks are a breeze with enough sharpness to keep small fonts and icons legible. If you’re used to a larger screen, the 25-inch size will take some adjustment, but among small monitors, the AW2525HM stands out with its excellent color and brightness. HDR was particularly nice, not only for gaming but also for video, which played smoothly.

My only gripe is the lack of audio options. There are no internal speakers, which isn’t unusual, but there’s no headphone jack either. Ironically, there is a substantial metal headphone hook that pops out of the upper left side of the panel. So, you can hang headphones there if they plug into a USB port. I’ve seen a few monitors lately without headphone jacks, I hope it’s not a trend.

Takeaway: In use, it’s hard to fault the AW2525HM on any level. It’s a great gaming monitor with smooth motion and quick response. It has enough pixel density to provide a sharp image. And it has greater color saturation and volume than any other fast FHD screen I’ve reviewed. For the relatively low price of $250, it punches well above its weight class.

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To compare the AW2525HM’s performance, I’ve rounded up 24, 25, and 27-inch FHD screens running between 280 and 540 Hz. They are Lenovo’s R27fc-30 and R25f-30, Asus’ PG248QP, BenQ’s XL2566X+, and ViewSonic’s XG2536.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

Refresh rates, AKA frame rates, are the primary governor of smoothness or motion resolution. More Hertz/fps means less blur, assuming that overdrives are of the same quality. The AW2525HM has an excellent one, and it has no problem matching the 400 Hz BenQ. Only the Asus with its 540 Hz refresh rate can claim better performance, and in practice, the difference is small.

You’d think that the Asus would be on top for input lag, but surprisingly, it isn’t. The win goes to the 280 Hz ViewSonic with just 13ms of total lag, and the AW2525HM manages to equal the PG248QP with a respectable 19ms score. Bottom line: it’s plenty quick and will deliver competition-level performance for a low price.

Test Takeaway: The AW2525HM is nearly equal in smoothness to the fastest LCDs currently available, matches their input lag and costs less in the process. It’s a high bang-for-the-buck gaming monitor that will satisfy gamers of all skill levels, from novice to professional.

Viewing Angles

The AW2525HM looks a bit better from 45 degrees off-axis than typical IPS panels. Though you can see a slight green/blue tint, it is barely a factor in practice and there’s no appreciable drop in brightness or gamma. While few users will be sharing a 25-inch monitor, this one has the capability. The image looks pretty much the same from all angles up to 45 degrees. The top view is darker and greener in tone with lowered gamma that reduces visible detail.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

The AW2525HM’s screen uniformity score is comfortably under the visible threshold of 10%. With an 8.09% value, you won’t see any glow, bleed, or hotspots. My sample measured a bit brighter in the center, but I couldn’t see a problem.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

All the monitors here deliver plenty of brightness, with the AW2525HM occupying the third spot in the comparison. 419.7 nits is brighter than you’d need for any application unless the sun is shining directly on the screen. I noted that you can easily dial it down to 50 nits for dark room play. With a 0.3647-nit black level, contrast works out to a respectable-for-IPS 1,150.8:1. The Lenovo’s VA panels give them a distinct advantage in this test.

After Calibration to 200 nits

The AW2525HM’s calibration doesn’t change anything visually except for the new white level of 200 nits, which I use to level the field for testing. It moves up one spot in the black level and contrast comparisons, though, so that’s progress. The ANSI score is higher than the static, which is something I rarely see. That speaks to the AW2525HM’s high quality control and component selections. It means the grid polarizer element is fitted precisely, which is a good thing.

Test Takeaway: If you want a lot of contrast for a little money, VA is still the king, but the AW2525HM’s IPS panel is a little above average with over 1,100:1 measured in all tests, including ANSI, which is unusual, in a good way. The picture is satisfying with convincing black levels and more than enough brightness to suit any usage environment.

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I started my color tests in the AW2525HM’s Standard picture mode and found that it was just on the edge of needing calibration. Most users will be satisfied to use the monitor unadjusted. In the Custom Color mode, it’s possible to achieve very accurate results for all color benchmarks.

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.

In the AW2525HM’s first grayscale/gamma chart, you can see a slightly warm tone rising from 40% brightness up to the peak level. This error is minor because green and red are in balance; neither color dominates. All that’s needed is a bit more blue. Gamma tracks perfectly on the 2.2 reference line with no anomalies visible in content.

Calibrating the Custom Color mode delivers perfection with all errors now below 1dE. That is reference-level performance. Gamma now says 2.19 average, but that change is so minuscule that it’s barely visible on the chart, much less in practice. It doesn’t get better than this, even from a pro display.

The sRGB mode is based on a higher 2.4 gamma reference and the AW2525HM is slightly darker than that. Grayscale errors are invisible, so this issue is extremely minor. The monitor is qualified for grading work, but as you’ll see below, the sRGB gamut is slightly undersaturated.

Comparisons

The AW2525HM’s 3.41dE default grayscale value is borderline for calibration. Since the errors create a warm tone, they are more forgivable than a blue or green push, which is easier to spot in content. But with such precision available from calibration, it’s logical to do so. If you use sRGB, it lacks adjustments but runs a solid 1.58dE grayscale error and gamma that’s close to the intended 2.4 value.

Gamma tracking is about as good as it gets with top scores for value range and deviation. A 0.07 gap between low and high numbers is super tight and the 2.19 average means it’s just 0.45% off the reference, which is an excellent result.

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.

I was impressed by the AW2525HM’s color coverage. No FHD screens in my experience cover as much of the DCI-P3 gamut as this one. Only green comes up slightly short. All points are on or near their targets with just the slightest hue errors in cyan and magenta. With an average of just 1.87dE, you won’t see any issues.

Calibration takes the AW2525HM below the difficult-to-achieve 1dE threshold. Only a few monitors can manage this. Remember that it is the average value of 36 measurements. This is on par with the best professional displays.

The sRGB test result was a bit disappointing as it shows clear undersaturation in red, magenta and green. The AW2525HM certainly has enough color to cover 100% of sRGB. I would still call it qualified for critical applications, but just barely.

Comparisons

The AW2525HM wins the color accuracy contest for DCI-P3 with a 0.93dE score. It’s one of the few monitors that has cracked 1dE in my test. The next four screens aren’t far behind, but the BenQ is out of the mix at over 7dE.

The coverage test is where the AW2525HM really shines. You won’t find Quantum Dot color in the FHD gaming monitor category, but Alienware has achieved significantly more color than its rivals. The extra coverage is in red and green, meaning the picture is visibly more saturated and vibrant. It’s a great enhancement for gaming that adds to the AW2525HM’s already exemplary performance. The sRGB gamut comes up short of the mark with 86.82% coverage. For gaming, this isn’t an issue, but if you really need sRGB, there are monitors that do it better like the Lenovo R27fc-30.

Test Takeaway: The AW2525HM offers excellent color, grayscale and gamma accuracy that competes with professional screens after calibration. It has a greater DCI-P3 gamut volume than all its competitors, translating to more vibrant and enjoyable gaming.

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

The AW2525HM accepts HDR10 signals and switches modes without user intervention. There are four dedicated modes available, focused on different uses: Desktop, Game, Movie and an adjustable option, Custom Color HDR. The BenQ XL2566X+ is absent from this test because it does not support HDR.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

I managed to measure over 419 nits in SDR mode, but the AW2525HM only topped out at 355 nits for HDR content. That isn’t a huge drop in brightness, and its offset by a field dimming feature that takes contrast to over 2,700:1, more than double the SDR value. That’s thanks to very low black levels. I noted that a zero signal shuts off the backlight, so I had to put a tiny info bug on the screen to take an HDR black level measurement. In the comparison, you can see the VA screens have about the same dynamic range for SDR and HDR, and the Asus uses more aggressive dimming to raise its contrast ratio.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

In the AW2525HM’s HDR grayscale test, I saw near-perfect tracking with errors above 70% just touching the 3dE threshold. This is an acceptable result. The EOTF runs a tad dark below 40%, then rides the reference line until the tone map transition at 65% where it takes a softer turn than the reference. In practice, there is no effect on detail rendering.

The AW2525HM has a large color gamut that delivers better HDR saturation than its competitors. With nearly full coverage of DCI-P3 and linear oversaturation, the image pops and makes HDR games stand out from their SDR counterparts. Hue tracking is on-point as well. In the BT.2020 test, color runs out at 85% red, 65% green and 95% blue.

Test Takeaway: If you want really good HDR, I wouldn’t normally recommend a fast FHD display, but the AW2525HM challenges that statement. Clearly, it is just as colorful as QHD and UHD offerings and it manages above-average contrast for a $250 gaming monitor. It’s accurate too, with no tweaking required so that you can enjoy HDR right out of the box. Based on this group of tests, the AW2525HM has no equal in its price category for HDR performance.

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Many users need a small monitor that suits both budget and desk space. While jumbo and ultra-wide screens are killer gaming displays, their footprint and cost don’t always match the user’s available assets. Competition gamers require a rugged and fast panel that is both easily transportable and quick to set up. The Alienware AW2525HM is such a product, and it delivers terrific value as well.

A few years ago, a 320 Hz monitor would have been on the bleeding edge with a $500 price tag to match. The AW2525HM delivers that same low input lag and smooth motion resolution, along with a huge color gamut and really good HDR. Even its native contrast is above the IPS average at over 1,100:1. Setup is flexible enough that you can either enjoy the picture as is, or calibrate for professional-grade accuracy.

My only complaint is the lack of audio options. Though USB headphones are out there, many users rely on an old and trusted set of cans that sound better than many of today’s offerings. The AW2525HM has one of the best headphone hooks I’ve seen, so that’s something. I was also glad to see USB ports arrayed on the bottom edge of the panel for easy access.

If you can’t afford a premium OLED gaming monitor, a small, fast screen is a great alternative. The AW2525HM’s 320 Hz delivers smooth play and low input lag while also rendering more color than its competition. And it’s only $250 at this writing, which makes its price/performance very high. For bargain shoppers who want to compete at a high level, this is a monitor worth considering.

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I'm in the market for a new gaming monitor, as my trusty old screen is starting to show its age with a few dead pixels. Shopping around a few monitor dealers, I came across this interesting deal on Dell's Alienware AW2725QF gaming monitor.

It ticks a lot of the right boxes for me. Primarily, it has a high-pixel-density 4K panel with a fast 180Hz refresh rate (most graphics cards will struggle to reach in graphically intensive games), and also a mode that switches the monitor to a 1080p resolution, but ups the refresh rate to a whopping 360Hz for buttery-smooth low-latency esports levels of gaming for when I want to prioritise that type of game.

This interesting gaming monitor deal from Dell lists the Alienware AW2725QF at just £415. A reduction in price of £73 from the original £488 list price. It's just a single monitor, but technically it can act as two, with you being able to switch the monitor's native output levels depending on the type of game you want to play.

Having reviewed the Dell Alienware AW2725QF late last year (Sept 2024), we awarded this versatile gaming monitor an Editor's Choice award for its class-leading performance, dual-resolution feature, inclusion of Dolby Atmos support, build quality, and wide color gamut. This gaming monitor gives you the best of both worlds: high-resolution 4K gaming and superfast refresh rate 1080p esports performance.

The Alienware AW2725QF comes with both HDMI and DisplayPort connectivity as standard, with the HDMI ports using the latest 2.1 standard. There are two HDMI ports, with one of them using eARC for Dolby ATMOS signal pass-through support. The DisplayPort is 1.4 compliant, with a mix of USB-A, USB-B, and USB-C (5 Gbps) ports.

The RTX 5090 is Nvidia's top-of-the-line card, which makes it the fastest consumer graphics card you can buy right now. But can you actually buy it? Most places are sold out of the RTX 5090 and prices from scalpers on eBay range from $3,400 to more than $4,000 for a card that's supposed to sell for around $1,999.

Fortunately, you can get a fully-loaded Alienware Area-51 desktop with an RTX 5090 inside for not much more than the bare card. For $4,899, reduced from $5,499, during Memorial Day weekend, you can get an Area-51 with a Core Ultra 9 285K CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, a 2TB SSD, a 1,500-watt power supply, Alienware's snazzy case and that RTX 5090 you've been dreaming of.

We had a chance to review a similarly-configured Alienware Area-51 with RTX 5090 inside and came away impressed with its performance. In the review, we compared it to RTX 4090-powered desktops we had tested in the past.

At 1080p, the Area-51's Core Ultra 9 285K CPU held it back a little bit in comparison to competitors with the better but older Core i9-14900K processor. But when you step up to 4K resolution, you see more of a difference between the old and the new.

On Red dead Redemption 2, It scored 109 fps at Medium Settings (this is a very demanding title) , eclipsing competitors at that resolution by at least 29 fps.

With ray tracing enabled in Cyberpunk 2077, the differences were also stark, with it beating its nearest competitor by at more than 20 percent.

Overall, this is about as powerful of a gaming desktop as you can get.

There’s a new member of Alienware’s excellent QD-OLED gaming monitor family, and it looks to be potent for enthusiasts seeking to gain an advantage over the competition. The new AW3425DW sports a 34-inch QD-OLED panel in a widescreen 21:9 aspect ratio and 3440 x 1440 resolution with an 1800R curve.

Compared to its predecessor, the AW3423DW, Alienware has increased the maximum refresh rate from 175 Hz to 240 Hz. More importantly, the AW3423DW only featured HDMI 2.0 ports, limiting the refresh rate over HDMI to just 100 Hz. However, the AW3425DW has no such concessions as it supports 240 Hz over HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4. Speaking of ports, the AW3425DW features one DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.1 ports. It also features an integrated hub with 5 Gbps USB-A and USB-C ports (the USB-C port supports 15-watt charging).

Given that this is a QD-OLED panel, you won’t be shocked to learn that it boasts a 1,500,000:1 contrast ratio and a quick 0.03 ms response time. SDR brightness isn’t usually a strong point for OLED panels, and the AW3425DW is rated for 250 nits. However, peak HDR brightness is measured at 1,000 nits with a 3 percent window. As expected from any high-end gaming monitor, the AW3425DW supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync.

Besides the internal upgrades, the AW3425DW also incorporates the new AW30 design language finished in Interstellar Indigo. The organic shapes look quite sleek, and you'll also find AlienFX RGB lighting, which is customizable via the Alienware Command Center software package.

A couple of additional notes on the AW3425DW: most OLED gaming monitors feature a glossy finish to make colors pop a bit more, but this one has an anti-reflective coating. Alienware has also incorporated a graphene-infused heatsink within the panel to better dissipate excess heat. According to Alienware, this is yet another mitigation strategy to root out potential screen burn-in.

The Alienware AW3425DW is currently available in the United States and is priced at $799.99.

You might not be able to get your hands on a new Nvidia 50-series graphics card separately, but there are still a few floating about in prebuilt gaming PCs from various builders. Today's deal focuses on a top-spec build from Dell's Alienware lineup that features an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 at its heart. Now I do use the term "deal" here a little loosely, as yes, there is a deal whereby you get $400 off of the list price of this gaming rig, but, the cost of the whole PC is pretty expensive, and not a good deal if you're only after the GPU.

If you like this PC deal, check out Dell.com where the Alienware Area-51 (RTX 5080) gaming PC is listed for $4,649, a markdown of $400 on the list price of $5,049. This is a very beefy and competent gaming PC spec list with components that will be able to help push the most out of the latest game titles.

Dell has listened to customer feedback, done away with proprietary parts, and constructed a gaming PC that can be easily upgraded when more powerful components become available. The new case design features a glass side panel and a subdued yet modern design, and the hardware inside is up-to-date and powerful. The list of hardware inside this Alienware Area-51 includes the aforementioned Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 GPU with 16GB of GDDR7 VRAM, Intel's 24-core Core Ultra 9 285K processor, 64GB of DDR5 RAM, and 4TB of SSD storage.

For cooling the CPU, the Alienware Area-51 uses a 360mm All-in-One liquid cooler, and to ensure the power-hungry GPU gets enough power and covers transient spikes, the PC comes with a 1500W Platinum-rated ATX12VO power supply.

Don't forget to look at our Dell coupon codes for March 2025 and see if you can save on today's deal or other products at Dell.

Today's deal features a superb value gaming monitor from Dell that features many specifications that are common on more expensive gaming monitors. So, if you're looking for a new monitor, a second screen, or a main monitor for a low-cost budget gaming setup, this is a great place to start.

You can find this deal over at Dell, where the Alienware AW2724DM is just $199, saving over $180 from its original MSRP. I've seen this monitor on sale on Amazon for $230 before, and currently, you can also find it on sale for $199.

The Alienware AW2724DM is a flat-panel fast-IPS gaming monitor with 27 inches of real estate for your games. Some of the fantastic features of this screen include a fluid 165Hz refresh rate (up to 180Hz when overclocked), HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4, and a 1ms gray-to-gray extreme response time. The picture has a QHD 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution for sharp images, and with most modern GPUs, you can achieve respectable frame rates on this gaming monitor.

Avoid screen tearing and visual anomalies with VESA adaptive-sync, and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, plus compatibility with Nvidia G-Sync tech. The screen has a superb 600-nit brightness and great color accuracy with a DCI-P3 0f 95% and is factory calibrated with an accuracy of Delta E less than two.

Don't forget to look at our Dell coupon codes for January 2025 and see if you can save on today's deal or other products at Dell.

If you're looking for a new monitor or an upgrade to your existing setup, then today's deal is a beautiful monitor from Dell that offers plenty of screen real estate along with high refresh rates, high color gamut, and high resolution. Just in time to pair with one of Nvidia's new graphics cards when they release at the end of the month.

Available on Dell's website you can find the Dell Alienware AW3225QF curved 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor for $999, saving $200 off the original $1,199 MSRP price. This gaming monitor is the complete package if you're looking for a high-resolution screen with an OLED panel and a high framerate for super-smooth gameplay.

The Alienware AW3225QF has a 4K resolution and ample pixel density on a 32-inch QD-OLED panel. The screen also features a 1700R curve for more immersive gaming, a blisteringly fast 240Hz refresh rate, adaptive sync, HDR10, and Dolby Vision. For connectivity, the input panel of the AW3225QF includes one DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, two HDMI 2.1, USB 3.2 (one upstream and three down), and a USB-C port.

We've had the chance to review the Alienware AW3225QF and were impressed with its performance in our benchmark testing. We awarded the monitor 5 stars along with an Editor's Choice award, noting how the monitor produced a stunning image, broad contrast, and rich color, with excellent OLED color volume compared to most other OLEDs we'd tested, and 110% DCI-P3 color gamut.

Don't forget to look at our Dell coupon codes for January 2025 and see if you can save on today's deal or other products at Dell.

It’s been six years since we last saw an Alienware Area-51 device, but Dell is bringing its flagship gaming sub-brand back in a big way for CES 2025, with color-shifting 16- and 18-inch laptops, complete with a glass window on the bottom (to better see its internal RGB fans), and a monstrous full-tower gaming desktop with support for cooling the most power-hungry next-gen components.

Area-51 16, Area-51 18 gaming laptops

The 16- and 18-inch laptops sport a new “AW30” external design named for the company’s 30th anniversary – curious considering the company was founded in 1996. This includes a striking “liquid teal” color-shifting anodized shell and a “thermal shelf” bump behind the screen that houses cooling hardware and ports, surrounded in typical Alienware fashion by a diffused RGB light ring. The touchpad is also RGB-lit, and the per-key RGB keyboard features Cherry MX mechanical switches.

In a first, Alienware has added a Gorilla Glass window on the bottom of the laptop and RGB fans that shine through, giving the laptop an underglow while you game or work. You can also faintly see the lighting from the fans from the top while looking down through the vents.

Details on graphics options were scarce when we wrote this, but it’s likely both models will support up to an RTX 5090, as Alienware touts the laptops’ “highest total power ceiling in a gaming laptop” with up to 175W for the GPU and 105W for the CPU simultaneously, for a total of 280W. How well (and how noisily) the laptops handle those extreme loads of course remains to be seen.

CPU support is listed as up to a Core Ultra 9 275HX CPU, RAM up to 64GB DDR5-6400 (and XMP support up to 72000), and storage up to 12TB – with one of the M.2 slots supporting PCIe 5.0 drives.

As you might have guessed, these laptops aren’t thin or light, even compared to other gaming laptops. THe Area-51 16 is 1.12 inches thick at the back and tops out at 7.6 pounds, while the larger 18-inch model is 1.2 inches thick and weighs 9.82 pounds fully specced out. 

When we saw the laptops ahead of CES, they were under very low lighting, and the press shots the company provided were under the same lighting conditions, so it’s still a little unclear how they’ll look in the light of day. But the design is still very much in the typical Alienware realm, with the iconic head on the lid, and lots of curved edges. If you’re an Alienware fan, chances are you’ll like how these laptops look.

Dell says its Alienware Area-51 laptops will be available sometime later in Q1, with entry configurations expected to land around $1,999. But if you want one at launch, that model will set you back around $3,199, with a “high-end, next-gen” Nvidia GPU. 

Area-51 Desktop 

At 22.4 inches tall, 24.04 inches deep, and weighing in at a minimum of 76 pounds, the new Area-51 desktop is a big, bold gaming rig with a rounded metal exterior and a front light ring, borrowing much of its exterior design for the Aurora R16. As you would expect from an Area-51, top-end components will be supported, including GPUs up to 4 slots wide and 17.1 inches long, PCIe 5.0 storage, and 360mm AIO cooling (with room for an even larger 420mm radiator in the top chamber).

Interestingly, all of the system’s fans are intake, relying on positive pressure to move warm air out of the back. The company says this lets the system run 13% cooler and 45% quieter, though we’ll, of course, have to wait for testing to see how cool and quiet the rig actually is.

My favorite aspect of the Area 51 is its use of a standard-sized ATX motherboard (supporting Intel’s Core Ultra Arrow Lake CPUs) and ATX power supply, making future upgrades easier. And for those who aren’t particularly confident in their DIY PC skills, the company has also printed several QR codes at key spots inside the case, so you can bring up how-to videos to aid the upgrade and maintenance process.  

The chassis looks nice and feels premium, though it would be nice if there were fewer visible seams. I’m happy to see the company move to more standard parts though, a direction that HP’s competing Omen line has been moving toward for a few years now. Hopefully, we’ll see that trend trickle down to the company’s more mainstream Aurora line.

The Alienware Area-51 desktop should be available in Q1 of this year. Starting price is still up in the air, but the company says a launch configuration with a “high-end, next-gen” Nvidia GPU will set you back $4,499. How that stacks up to similarly equipped desktops from other PC makers remains to be seen, but you can probably expect the usual Alienware price premium.

OLEDs have become the “new hotness” in the gaming monitor space, and we’re seeing a lot of activity with monitors big and small. Dell is debuting a new OLED gaming monitor at CES that is definitely on the smaller side of the scale, measuring 27 inches across (actually, 26.7 inches).

The Alienware AW2725Q uses a QD-OLED panel with a 4K resolution, which is uncommon, although not unheard of for such a small monitor. As a result, you’ll find that the AW2725Q offers 166 pixels per inch (ppi), which is the highest density currently available for a QD-OLED gaming monitor.

Since this is a gaming monitor, performance is a key focal point for potential buyers. Thankfully, the AW2725Q doesn’t disappoint with a maximum panel refresh rate of 240 Hz, which is supported using the HDMI 2.1 port. The response time is 0.03ms, which is typical for OLED gaming monitors. As you’d expect from a high-end gaming panel, the AW2725Q supports both AMD FreeSync Premium Pro and Nvidia G-Sync technologies to help prevent screen tearing.

Alienware AW2725Q Specifications

As if that wasn't enough, the AW2725Q has a claimed 99 percent DCI-P3 color coverage, along with Display Vision HDR and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 certifications.

The AW2725Q also ushers in a new design language for Alienware gaming monitors, which is dubbed "AW30" to commemorate the brand's upcoming 30th anniversary. You can also find AW30 iconography on the back of the monitor. The monitor is finished in what the company calls “Interstellar Indigo” and includes 360-degree ventilation, improved cable management that routes through the monitor stand, and a smaller footprint for the monitor base to free up more space on your desk.

The on-screen display (OSD) has also been redesigned (this new OSD will be featured on all subsequent Alienware gaming monitors), and there's full support for Alienware Command Center 6.6, which allows you to control the AlienFX lighting.

Dell says that the Alienware AW2725Q will debut in March 2025, priced at $899.99. The monitor has a three-year advanced replacement warranty and OLED burn-in coverage. We’ll be eager to see in a future review if the AW2725Q has the chops to be included among the best OLED gaming monitors. 

Our favorite ultrawide gaming monitor, the Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED gaming display, has been marked down to its lowest price to date. It debuted with a price of $899 but right now it's available for just $649 as part of an early Cyber Monday promotion. As far as gaming monitors go, this one has plenty of beefy specs to delight the pickiest of gamers.

In fact, when we reviewed the Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED gaming monitor, we rated it at 5/5 stars. We were hard-pressed to find any issues with the display, listing the only con as having no flaws at all. It offers an incredibly slick performance and comes with an AMD FreeSync Premium Pro certification.

The Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED gaming monitor features a 34-inch quantum dot OLED (QD-OLED) panel with a curvature of 1800R. The resolution is incredibly dense, measuring in at 3440 x 1440px. The refresh rate can get as high as 165Hz while the response time can get as low as .5ms.

The monitor's AMD FreeSync Premium Pro certification is well-earned thanks to high-powered specs like its ability to cover 99.3% of the DCI-P3 color gamut which pairs well with a maximum brightness of 250 Nits. There are two video input options including two DisplayPort 1.4 ports and an HDMI 2.0 port. A USB hub provides 5 USB Type-A ports and a 3.5mm jack is offered for connecting external audio devices. The monitor is backed up by a 3-year warranty from Dell as well as Amazon's 30-day return policy.

Check out this great offer while it's still in stock by heading over to the Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED gaming monitor product page at Amazon.

If you've been in the market for a dedicated gaming rig, you've got to check out this discount on the Alienware Aurora R16 RTX 4070i gaming desktop. It usually goes for around $2099 but today it's discounted to $1499 as part of a Black Friday promotion. This saves you $600 off the asking price, netting an RTX 4070i GPU, Intel Core i7-14700F CPU, 16GB of RAM and 1TB of internal storage.

We reviewed a slightly different version of the Aurora R16 gaming desktop that had some spec differences and were very pleased with our experience. We ended up giving it a rating of 3.5/5 stars, remarking on its port selection and small footprint. Our biggest gripes were that the fans can occasionally get loud and the fact that it uses a proprietary motherboard.

The main processor powering the Alienware Aurora R16 gaming desktop is an Intel Core i7-14700F. It works alongside an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070i Super graphics card that has 16GB of GDDR6X. For memory, it comes with 16GB of DDR5-5600 via two 8GB modules and a 1TB internal SSD. It's also powered by a 1000W Platinum SSD.

As far as networking support goes, it has WiFI 6E AX210 802.11ax support and an Ethernet port for wired connections. Like we mentioned above, it's got quite a bit to choose from as far as ports go. The front panel has three USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 1 ports and a USB Type-C Gen 2 3.2 port. The rear ports include an assortment of audio ports, two USB Type-C ports and six USB Type-C Gen 2 3.2 ports.

It's not clear for how long this offer will be made available so we can't guarantee it will last past Black Friday. Visit the Alienware Aurora R16 gaming desktop product page at Dell while supplies last.

The Dell Alienware m18 R2 featuring Nvidia's flagship RTX 4090 mobile GPU alongside Intel's 24-core i9-14900HX has dropped to $2,999 this Black Friday. Whether it be heavy workloads, gaming, or internet browsing, the m18 carries 64GB of DDR5-5200 RAM, a 4TB SSD, and a stunning 18-inch 480 Hz display to fulfill all your needs.

The RTX 4090 laptop GPU - based on AD103 silicon - offers 9728 CUDA cores and 16GB of VRAM. We see Intel's i9-14900HX on the CPU end in action - with a massive 24-core count (eight P-cores and sixteen E-cores) and 32 threads. Intel's "HX" processors are essentially rebadged desktop processors in the mobile form factor. This allows the i9-14900HX to boost up to 5.8 GHz and is further backed by 68MB of total cache (36MB L3 + 32MB L2).

The Dell Alienware m18 comes installed with Windows 11 Home and includes a 360W SFF power adapter. Check out our detailed review of this laptop for a closer look at its relative performance. Below, you can see several of our extensive gaming benchmarks we ran on this laptop to compare it with other leading models. 

Modern workloads are memory-intensive and to address that problem, the m18 comes equipped with 64GB of DDR5-5200 RAM (2x32GB) - running in dual-channel. The 4TB SSD, on the other hand, should eliminate all storage concerns, although Dell did not disclose the specific speeds.

Moving over to the externals, the m18's chassis is built using anodized Aluminium and offers a Dark Metallic Moon finish. The display is decked out with a large 18-inch 1920x1200 panel, running at 480 Hz, with G-SYNC compatibility, and can display 100% of the DCI-P3 color space. All this performance does come at the cost of a lower battery runtime. However, the 97Wh 6-cell battery should be ample to provide a few hours of backup.

You also have the option to swap the existing keyboard with an LP-mechanical US-profile keyboard with CherryMX switches for $50 more. While ultrabooks and slim laptops are all the hype, they compromise on I/O ports. On that note, the m18 offers a robust selection of ports, including four different USB 3.2 Gen 1 ports, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one RJ45 Ethernet port, one 3.5mm port, one HDMI 2.1 port, one power-adapter port, one mini-display port and one SD-card slot.

We are working hard to find the best deals for you this Black Friday. If you're looking for other products, check out our Black Friday Computer Hardware Deals Live blog for a range of products, or dive deeper into our specialized SSD and Storage Deals Live blog, Monitor Deals Live, Graphics Card Deals, or CPU Deals pages.

Black Friday is just on the horizon but you can already find some pretty stellar deals on gaming hardware—like this awesome deal on the Alienware M18 R2 RTX 4080 gaming laptop. This edition usually goes for around $2799 but right now it's discounted to just $2199. As of writing, it's not clear how long this discount will be made available.

We took the opportunity to review Alienware M18 R2 RTX 4090 edition earlier this year and really enjoyed it, ultimately giving it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Overall, it's a heavy, 18-inch machine with performance that makes lugging it around absolutely worth it. It's got plenty of room for upgrading the storage which makes it an excellent main gaming rig.

Under the hood of this beefy machine, you'll find an Intel Core i9-14900HX processor. It works alongside an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 graphics card with 12GB of GDDR6. This GPU outputs to an 18-inch display with a QHD+ plus resolution that measures in at 2560 x 1600px. The refresh rate caps out at 165Hz while the response time gets as low as 3ms.

This edition comes with 32GB of DDR5 and a 1TB internal SSD for storage. You can expand upon this using its four M.2 SSD slots. It has quite a few USB ports to take advantage of including 3 USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port and 2 USB Type-C Thunderbolt 4 ports. For video output it has both an HDMI 2.1 port and a mini DisplayPort. For network support, it has both WiFi 7 support and an Ethernet port for wired connections. A 3.5mm jack is provided for audio output, as well.

Visit the Alienware M18 R2 RTX 4080 gaming laptop product page at Amazon for more details and purchase options.

With Black Friday just around the corner, you can already find some pretty good discounts on quality hardware, like this offer from Dell on the Alienware Aurora R16 gaming desktop. It debuted with a price tag of $3,999, but as of writing, it's currently available 33% off, or just $2,999. This is one of the best prices we've seen for the machine since its launch.

We reviewed both editions of the Alienware Aurora R16 in late 2023 and ultimately rated our experience at 3.5 out of 5 stars. Overall, the machine performed well, but a few caveats stood out. However, considering today's discount, it's easier to look past those concerns. 

Under the hood of this gaming rig, you'll find an Intel Core i9-14900KF processor paired with an OEM GeForce RTX 4090 GPU. It comes with 32GB of DDR5-5600 and two SK Hynix PC801 1TB internal SSDs. The processor is cooled by a 240mm liquid cooler and two 120mm case fans. For network connectivity, you've got both an Ethernet port for wired connections as well as Killer Wi-Fi 6E AX1675x for wireless support.

The front port selection includes three USB 3.2 Type-A ports and one UB 3.2 Type-C port alongside a 3.5mm headphone jack. On the rear panel, you get four USB 2.0 Type-A ports, two USB 3.2 Type-A ports and two USB 3.2 Type-C ports. There's also a decent selection of audio ports including a line in, line out, mic in and SPDIF to take advantage of. Video output includes an HDMI port and three DisplayPorts. The unit also features a 1000W Platinum power supply.

This system is poised to deliver great performance with Intel's fastest gaming CPU paired with Nvidia's fastest gaming GPU. However, while we appreciated its footprint paired with a vast selection of front ports, we weren't fans of the proprietary motherboard and how loud the fans could get when cooling under heavy loads. Again, these considerations aren't as pressing given the reduced cost. 

Visit the Alienware Aurora R16 gaming desktop product page at Dell for more details and purchase options.

Ever-popular for their pre-built gaming PCs and potent laptops, Dell often commands premium price tags, notably on its Alienware gaming line-up. We track deals on Dell and Alienware systems from multiple retailers, so make sure to keep checking this page for updates.

Dell's Alienware brand has been synonymous with gaming over the years. High-spec gaming machines from the Aurora lineup, and now the Area-51 relaunch, use top-tier hardware like the RTX 5090 graphics card from Nvidia, the most powerful consumer GPU available, and newer-generation CPUs for peak performance.

We use our in-depth knowledge, gained from thorough reviews, expansive benchmarks, and extensive historical pricing analysis, to help us pick the best deals for you to choose from. We keep that constantly updated list below.

Best Dell and Alienware Deals: Quick Links

• Dell: Up to 40% off Dell productivity and gaming monitors
• Dell: Over 40% off headsets, keyboards, and mice

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Also, you can join the Tom's Hardware deals Discord for up-to-the-minute hardware deals.

When building or purchasing a gaming PC, the video sub-system is ultimately what makes or breaks your experience. We all want the highest possible resolution, you need to take a look at one of the best 4K gaming monitors. But that means an expensive video card is needed to move those 8.3 million pixels. Even with the fastest hardware currently available, getting past 200 fps in 4K is hard.

What if you could have the best of both worlds in one monitor? 4K for more casual games, high-quality video and productivity; and FHD for super-quick response in first-person shooters and racing sims. You can do this with Alienware’s new AW2725QF. It operates like two monitors in one and with a single button, switches modes seamlessly. It’s a 27-inch IPS panel with 4K at 180 Hz, Full HD at 360 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR600 and wide gamut color. Let’s take a look.

Alienware AW2725QF Specs

The AW2725QF isn’t the first monitor I’ve reviewed with two resolution/refresh modes. I recently tested Asus’ PG32UCDP, an OLED that does 4K at 240 Hz and FHD at 480 Hz. While it posted some impressive numbers, it is also expensive at $1,300. The AW2725QF is selling for $600 at this writing and delivers nearly the same performance in both panel response and input lag.

For that sum, you get a 27-inch IPS panel that runs 4K at 180 Hz and Full HD at 360. It also supports G-Sync with an Nvidia certification and FreeSync plus VRR for consoles. A DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.1 inputs will run the full resolution and refresh rates with a PC. Consoles can run at 4K and 120 Hz with VRR.

A Fast IPS panel is certified for VESA DisplayHDR 600, and it offers wide gamut color. I measured over 90% coverage of DCI-P3. Creator modes deliver accurate sRGB color if you need precision for critical applications. The backlight is an LED edge array with 24 dimming zones for greater contrast in HDR mode. In my tests, the AW2725QF topped 11,200:1 with low black levels, putting it in Mini LED territory for both brightness and dynamic range.

Like all Alienware gaming monitors, the AW2725QF does not skimp on features. The only thing it doesn’t have are internal speakers, but you get a cool pop-out hook for headphones. It also has plenty of USB ports including a USB-C on the bottom edge of the panel where it’s easy to reach. AlienVision includes several viewing enhancements like sniper, night vision and aiming points.

Oh, and I almost forgot. The AW2725QF supports Dolby Vision. Though common for a few years in the TV world, Dolby Vision is still only found in a handful of computer monitors. Support from gaming titles is sparse which is the likely reason for this, but if more desktop displays had it, more game creators would embrace it. Its dynamic tone mapping is visibly superior to the fixed version found in HDR10 material.

Even with its huge array of features, the AW2725QF’s big attraction is its dual-mode operation. It literally is two monitors in one and as you’ll soon see, this could be a real game-changer.

Assembly and Accessories

Alienware continues its responsible tradition of forgoing the usual crumbly foam packaging for molded cardboard that is completely recyclable. The base and upright connect with a captive bolt and the panel snaps in place to create a solid package with a premium look and feel. The AW2725QF cuts no corners in build quality. The accessory bundle includes an IEC cord for the internal power supply plus DisplayPort, HDMI and USB cables.

Product 360

The AW2725QF follows Alienware’s simple but instantly recognizable aesthetic with smooth tapered surfaces, a matte finish, and elegant lighting. The back shows The Alien plus a “27” to denote the screen size. A crosshatch pattern adorns the central oval that rings the stand’s attachment point. The screen has a super thin flush bezel with the Alienware moniker at the bottom. The power LED is also a button and glows with whatever color you choose from the OSD. You can also pick the colors of the lights in the back. Or shut everything off for a stealth look.

The stand is Alienware’s usual high-quality piece with full ergonomics. You get 5/21 degrees tilt, 20 degrees swivel and a 4.3-inch height adjustment. The smooth and firm movements befit a premium display. At the top left is a metal headphone hook that extends when pressed. It feels capable of supporting heavy cans and will likely withstand many years of use.

The input panel is underneath and faces downwards. It’s split in two with USB 3.2 (one up and two down) on one side and video (one DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.1) on the other. On the front edge, next to the OSD joystick are two additional USBs, one of which is type C. The HDMI inputs are designed for consoles’ 4K at 120 Hz with VRR but will support the full 3840x2160 resolution, and refresh rates (180 or 360 Hz) on a PC.

OSD Features

The AW2725QF’s OSD is extensive so apologies in advance for the large number of photos. Hey, this monitor does a lot of cool stuff. A centrally located joystick controls the fun. Press it once to summon a quick menu with status bar. Click it back to open the full OSD.

To enable the AW2725QF’s dual refresh/resolution operation, you press the joystick once to open the quick menu, then scroll left or right until the “4K” icon is centered. Another press changes the resolution and refresh rate on the fly. I’ll get into more detail in the hands-on section because there are a few setup chores to do first.

In the Game menu are 12 picture modes with different levels of adjustability. Standard is the default and it’s reasonably accurate but has no options for color tweaks. The Creator mode has DCI-P3 and sRGB options along with gamma presets, but no color temps. The three Game modes let you adjust grayscale and configure video processing. And there’s the familiar Custom Color mode which has RGB gain and offset plus color management. For my purposes, I used Custom Color which, after a few tweaks, is very color accurate.

Game Enhance has timers, a frame rate counter and display alignment marks. The overclock is also dual mode in that you can set it separately for 4K and FHD resolution. In 4K, the choices are 170-180 Hz and FHD has 340-360 Hz. I maxed both modes and had no issues with stability. The three-level overdrive works well in both refresh modes. I found Super Fast to strike the best balance between blur reduction and ghosting. AlienVision has night vision, sniper mode and aiming points to help you better dispatch distant threats.

The input selector has options for the dual-resolution switch. I recommend leaving these alone as they are already on the right settings for an easy change that requires just two presses of the OSD joystick. AlienFX Lighting lets you change colors and effects for the power LED, The Alien and the 27 on the back of the panel. Or you can turn the lights off if you wish.

Smart HDR refers to the HDR10 options, which includes five modes. Though you might think DisplayHDR 600 is the brightest, it isn’t. Custom Color HDR is where I found the best image. It also has adjustments for brightness, contrast and color saturations. In the Dolby Vision sub-menu, you can pick between Bright, Dark, Game or Off. This mode only works when content is encoded in Dolby Vision.

The OSD joystick can be programmed for many different quick access functions. You can also set up your own AlienVision menu to easily toggle play enhancements on and off.

Alienware AW2725QF Calibration Settings

There are a few ways to optimize the AW2725QF’s image depending on your intended use. For most situations, the default Standard mode is fine with a slightly warm grayscale, accurate gamma and good color saturation in the DCI-P3 space. If you want sRGB, choose Creator mode and that gamut from the sub-menu. To calibrate grayscale, I recommend Custom Color, where you’ll find gain and offset sliders plus color management. I only had to tweak the gain controls to achieve reference level. The sRGB mode has a fixed D65 color temp that tracks without any visual errors. My settings for Custom Color mode are below.

For HDR content, the best image comes in the Custom Color HDR mode, which has the brightest highlights and broadest dynamic range. For Dolby Vision, I recommend Bright for rooms with some ambient light and Dark for rooms with no light.

Gaming and Hands-on

To set up the dual refresh modes, I started with the AW2725QF in 4K mode. Go to the Overclock section of the Game menu and select 180 Hz. Once this is working, select the 4K icon in the OSD quick menu to switch to FHD resolution. Visit the Overclock section again and set it to 360 Hz. Then, you’ll be able to switch with two presses of the joystick. When making the change, do it from the Windows desktop, not in-game. That way, it will be seamless.

My testing PC is equipped with a GeForce RTX 4090, so it is well suited for 4K gaming. I was able to maintain the maximum 180fps in 4K while playing Doom Eternal. I enjoyed the superb overdrive which erased nearly all motion blur.

I switched to 360 Hz mode by returning to the Windows desktop and pressing the OSD joystick twice. Make sure the little 4K icon is centered before the second press. The AW2725QF changes within a few seconds and I was back in Doom Eternal about a minute later. The response and non-existent input lag were obvious as my aiming precision improved by leaps and bounds. Dispatching enemies became child’s play because I could stop and fire exactly where I wanted to. If you’re playing in an esports competition, the FHD mode provides a significant advantage.

Comparing the images, FHD is a little softer than 4K. But motion resolution is so clear and consistent I barely noticed. The one thing in favor of the AW2725QF’s 4K mode is pixel density. 27-inch 4K monitors are rare, but they should be savored because there are 163 pixels per inch. That’s about as dense as it gets unless you go to 6K or 8K. That 27-inch size also means FHD won’t be as soft as it is on a 32-inch monitor, the more common 4K size. Bottom line, the AW2725QF has a pixel density advantage over its chief rival, Asus’ PG32UCDP.

I had no negative observations to make when engaging in workday tasks. The AW2725QF’s color is superb with rich hues and bold saturation. The native gamut is just over 90% of DCI-P3 so it’s well situated between sRGB and the full P3 space. You get more color but not too much more. Accuracy, particularly in the Custom Color mode, is excellent and I never thought it looked overblown in SDR/sRGB content. The high pixel density also made small text razor sharp, enough that I barely noticed that I wasn’t playing or working on a 27-inch screen. My daily use display is 32 inches.

Takeaway: The AW2725QF is incredibly versatile for any game type and any work situation. If you have a powerful video card, you can play most games in 4K. But if you want the ultimate advantage with super low input lag, FHD/360 mode is only two button clicks away. The switch was always seamless and reliable. I also appreciated Alienware’s precise overdrive. The HDR image is one of the best apart from a premium Mini LED or OLED so that is a definite consideration. For $600, the AW2725QF delivers tremendous performance and usability.

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The AW2725QF’s comparison group is a bit diverse with both IPS and OLED screens, all 4K. I’ve included the only other dual-resolution screen in my database, Asus’ PG32UCDP, plus Alienware’s AW3225QF and Aorus FO32U2P for the OLED category. IPS is represented by HP’s Omen 27k and BenQ’s EX321UX which is a Mini LED display.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

Here’s what I expect most of you have skipped ahead to. Is the AW2725QF the fastest monitor of all time? Not quite. That honor still belongs to the PG32UCDP, which, in 480 Hz mode, draws a full white field in 2ms and has 11ms of total input lag. But the AW2725QF is close behind at 3ms and 17ms for its 360 Hz mode. Remember that at the faster refresh rate, both monitors are running FHD resolution, but the AW2725QF has greater pixel density thanks to its smaller screen. In 4K mode, both monitors are quick but not quite as smooth as the 240 Hz displays which can draw in 4ms. When total input lag is considered though, the AW2725QF is faster at 180 Hz than two of the 240 Hz monitors in the group.

Test Takeaway: There are a few things to consider here. First, there is nothing that has better motion resolution than a fast OLED. At 360 Hz, the AW2725QF is close but not quite as clear. However, when input lag is considered, it beats all but a few 500 Hz screens on the market. Since the principal selling point is dual mode opedual-modets only real competition is the PG32UCDP which costs more than twice as much. For $600, the AW2725QF is one of the fastest and most versatile gaming monitors available.

Viewing Angles

OLED screens will beat the AW2725QF’s off-axis image quality but not by a lot. Among IPS monitors, this is one of the better examples, with only a slight red shift to the sides and no apparent reduction in light output. Gamma is consistent too which means detail is sharp. The top view is blue in the middle and red on the sides with a 40% light reduction and lower gamma as well.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My AW2725QF had visually perfect screen uniformity except for a slight hotspot in the lower right corner. I couldn’t spot the problem in actual content unless it was nearly all dark. It certainly was not a distraction at any time.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The AW2725QF is an extremely bright monitor, nearly matching some Mini LED displays. In SDR mode, I recorded almost 500 nits peak which is a lot of headroom for indoor use. The brightness slider is non-linear in operation which means each click changes the light level by a different amount. From 75% and up, the screen gets significantly brighter.

Of the IPS screens, the AW2725QF has the lowest black level and the best contrast by a hair. 1,176.2:1 is better than the IPS average of 1,000:1. Coupled with excellent color saturation, the picture is quite vivid.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration required me to lower the contrast slider a few clicks to solve a clipping issue, so the resulting dynamic range is lower than before. 944.3:1 is OK but not quite at the level of most of today’s IPS monitors. It’s mitigated somewhat by the wide color gamut, so I recommend sticking with Custom Color mode rather than Creator for the most vibrant image.

ANSI contrast falls a bit to 839.8:1. Intra-image contrast suffers a bit because you can’t use the zone dimming for SDR content. It only works in HDR mode. The AW2725QF’s performance in contrast tests is good but with some room for improvement.

Test Takeaway: The AW2725QF has vibrant color but slightly less SDR contrast than the competition. It’s unfortunate that the zone dimming can only be used for HDR. The picture is satisfying though, and I suspect that most buyers will be focused (and properly so) on its substantial gaming prowess.

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The AW2725QF has 12 total picture modes that can create a large number of different looks should the user choose. Standard is the default, and it can be used without calibration. Specific gamuts can be chosen in Creator mode, or you can calibrate grayscale in the Game and Custom Color modes.

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.

In the AW2725QF’s default Standard picture mode, you can see a slight blue reduction as brightness increases but the errors are only a hair past the visible threshold. One could use the monitor this way and be happy. Depth and contrast are solid thanks to accurate gamma which stays very close to the 2.2 reference line.

After calibration in the Custom Color mode, grayscale tracking is visually perfect with nearly all errors below 1dE. It doesn’t get much better than that. Gamma is unchanged which is also a good thing.

If you need sRGB for color grading work, it has an error-free grayscale, but gamma is a little off the mark. It’s light in the 10% brightness region, then becomes too dark in the upper mid-tones. This makes the image a little flat but sinc,e color is on-spec, it can be used for critical applications.

Comparisons

The AW2725QF’s default grayscale error is 3.48dE which is just at the line between calibrate or not. Since the error is small, it’s forgivable if you don’t want to tweak the Custom Color mode. But if you do, it takes the number to near-reference level.

In the gamma comparison, the AW2725QF places third in both metrics. The range of gamma values is fairly tight relative to the competition and the deviation from 2.2 is only 1.36%, actual value 2.17. This is very good performance.

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.

The AW2725QF has bold and vibrant color and when referenced to DCI-P3, we see a little bonus red and blue and a slightly under-saturated green primary. This is typical of the wide-gamut LCD/LED monitors I’ve tested. With an average error of 2.56dE, there will be no complaints about accuracy.

Calibration lowers the gamut error to 1.83 which isn’t much, but the difference can be seen. Magenta and cyan are now closer to their hue targets.

The sRGB option in Creator mode is spot-on with a small average error of 1.51dE. That qualifies it for critical work and color grading if you have that need.

Comparisons

None of the monitors here have any visible color errors so the accuracy comparison is essentially a wash. The AW2725QF performs on par with its competition. Where it lacks a bit though is in color volume and that is solely due to the slight green under-saturation I noted earlier. This is squarely in the realm of nit-picking but if you want the largest possible gamut, a Quantum Dot monitor is the way to go. You’ll find that tech in the AW3225QF, EX321UX and FO32U2P OLED screens. They fill out the green primary for extra total volume. The AW2725QF’s sRGB volume is a nearly ideal 98.62%.

Test Takeaway: The AW2725QF doesn’t have quite as much color volume as its competition but it has enough to be called colorful. Accuracy is high whether you calibrate or not and for gaming, it provides a rich and vibrant image. It should be noted that the AW2725QF is significantly less expensive than all but the HP.

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

The AW2725QF has comprehensive HDR support with five modes for HDR10 and three more for Dolby Vision. The latter standard is rarely seen in the computer monitor genre and I’m glad to see it included here. Though it doesn’t have a lot of game support, it is commonly seen from streaming services like Netflix and Disney+.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The AW2725QF is rated for VESA DisplayHDR 600, and it easily exceeded that figure in testing with a peak white level of 663 nits. This was achieved in the Custom Color HDR mode. Interestingly, I could only hit around 420 nits in the DisplayHDR 600 mode when measuring a 25% window pattern. It’s likely that a smaller window would get over 600 nits. However, when viewing content, Custom Color HDR was clearly brighter with better black levels and contrast. The AW2725QF’s ratio of 11,276.4:1 is excellent when compared to other edge-backlight monitors. You can thank the 24 dimming zones for this.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

Custom Color HDR also has the most accurate grayscale, EOTF and color tracking of the five HDR modes. There are no visible grayscale issues, and the luminance curve stays very close to the reference. The tone-map transition comes a tad early, 65 instead of 70%. But you won’t see this issue in actual content.

In the HDR gamut tests, the AW2725QF is generally over-saturated but in a linear fashion so as not to clip detail. This provides extra impact to HDR content and coupled with the well-engineered dimming feature, delivers an excellent image. The Rec.2020 chart looks respectable with similar over-saturation until the AW2725QF runs out of color. It manages around 90% of red and blue, while green tops out at 65%.

Test Takeaway: The AW2725QF is one of the best edge-backlight HDR monitors I’ve reviewed. It has solid contrast that’s beaten only by OLEDS and some Mini LEDs. The dimming feature works seamlessly to deliver the best possible image with accurate and well saturatewell-saturated600, you won’t find much better.

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With the graphics and display hardware currently available, it’s difficult to buy or build a gaming PC without some compromise. 4K delivers the sharpest picture, but you sacrifice frame rates. You can run at some ridiculous speeds with a 360 or 500 Hz monitor but then you give up resolution. And putting two premium monitors on your desk runs up the bill even more.

Alienware has found a great balance by employing some simple math. 4K has four times the number of pixels as Full HD. That means it can engineer a monitor that runs both resolutions by doubling the refresh rate and halving the pixel count. It is truly two monitors in one.

The AW2725QF truly delivers a lot for $600. You get superior pixel density in 4K, 163ppi for the 27-inch screen. 180 Hz is faster than many 4K displays and coupled with a precise overdrive, a premium system can drive it smoothly and with low input lag. And when you want even more performance, two clicks of the OSD joystick makes a quick and seamless change to FHD and 360 Hz where you’ll enjoy even smoother motion and no perceptible input lag. In the video processing metric, it's a win-win.

The AW2725QF also delivers an excellent image with good SDR contrast and excellent HDR contrast. The 24-zone dimming edge backlight hit over 11,200:1 in my tests which puts it ahead of nearly all edge-backlit screens and within striking distance of many Mini LEDs. To see better, you’ll have to spend a lot more money. I also noted very accurate color with calibration. And even in its out-of-box mode, the picture is very colorful and satisfying.

The Alienware AW2725QF presents an effective and innovative solution to the issue of balance between display and video card. It’s versatile enough to be paired with gaming systems that cover a wide range of costs. And at $600, it’s priced below premium Mini LED and OLED monitors. At this point in time, it has no real competition. Definitely check it out.

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Right now at Amazon, you can find the Alienware Aurora R16 gaming desktop for one of its best prices to date. According to CamelCamelCamel data, this is the lowest price ever for this particular build. It usually goes for around $2,199 but today it's been marked down to $1,899 without any specified expiration date.

We reviewed another edition of the Alienware Aurora R16 gaming desktop back in 2023 and found the experience to be generally pleasant, rating it at 3.5/5 stars. We appreciated its performance and form factor which is on the compact side. It's important to note, however, that the specs for the unit we reviewed do not match the one we have found discounted on Amazon today.

Alienware PCs can be on the pricey side and this one is no exception, so the fact that this is the lowest price ever for this particular model is welcome. The machines often have a flair for design, with ecosystem-styled peripherals available, and have notable brand recognition which lends to the higher price tag. That said, the specs are still worth getting excited about. This one comes with an Intel Core i9-13900F processor which is liquid-cooled. It is supported by a comfortable 32GB of DDR5-5600 memory.

As far as graphics are concerned, you get an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 GPU which comes with 12GB of GDDR6X video memory. You get both a 1TB internal SSD and 1TB HDD for your local storage and a 500W Platinum PSU for power. All of the hardware is visible through a clear side panel. A complete list of front and rear ports is available on the product page.

Visit the Alienware Aurora R16 gaming desktop page at Amazon for more details and purchase options.

Today's deal is one for the hardcore gamer who wants no compromise when it comes to both picture quality and performance. Featuring a combination of the latest OLED technology and superfast refresh rates, the Dell Alienware AW2725D can not only reproduce your games on screen with stunning visuals and motion resolution but also give you esports-level refresh rates for pinpoint accuracy and latency. 

Available at Dell, the Alienware AW2725D gaming monitor is now $689 - reduced from $899, saving you a tasty $210. The AW2725D measures 27 inches diagonally and uses a QD-OLED panel with a native 2560 x 1440 pixels resolution. OLED technology lets you experience unrivaled contrast, with true blacks helping the picture to be truly vibrant. 

When we reviewed the Alienware AW2725DF we were impressed by the speed of the monitor, first with its 360Hz refresh rate and secondly, the 0.03ms response time which delivers perfect motion resolution without needing strobing or overdrive. The picture is stunning, with a larger color gamut than other OLEDs. The AW2725DF doesn't include internal speakers or an analog headphone jack, but this didn't put us off awarding the AW2725DF with 5 stars and an Editor's Choice award.  

The AW2725DF comes with plenty of connectivity options, including 2x DP 1.4, 1x HDMI 2.1, 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) Type-B upstream port (Rear), 2x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) Type-A downstream port (Rear), 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) Type-C downstream port, which supports BC1.2 power-charging, and 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1 (5 Gbps) Type-A downstream port.

Alienware just released a 27-inch 4K display that gives gamers the best of both worlds and has the potential to land on our best gaming monitors list. The AW2725QF has two modes: a native 4K mode with 3840x2160 resolution and a 180Hz panel, and a native FHD mode (1920x1080 resolution) with a 360Hz refresh rate. This allows you to enjoy immersive games with smooth animations, and with a push of a button, you can also gain the upper hand in competitive games with the competitive 360Hz refresh rate.

The Alienware monitor can achieve this kind of refresh rate by combining four pixels into one in the FHD/360Hz mode. But aside from its sharp resolution and ultra-high refresh rate, the AW2725QF also covers 95% of DCI-P3 with a Delta E<2 accuracy straight out of the box for nearly lifelike colors. It also has Dolby Vision and is VESA DisplayHDR 600 certified, making it the ultimate display for both entertainment and creative work.

This display is also Nvidia G-Sync compatible and is certified with VESA AdaptiveSync. This guarantees that you won’t experience tears and stutters while gaming, and its 0.5ms gray-to-gray response time means you’ll have minimal ghosting and blurring that could throw off your aim.

With its dual HDMI 2.1 ports and single DisplayPort 1.4 connector, this dual-resolution gaming monitor can be used with your preferred gaming platform. It also has a single USB-B 3.2 Gen1 upstream port that gives you three USB-A ports and one USB-C port on the display, making it convenient to attach your peripherals.

But despite all these features, Alienware is doing one thing right: the monitor is just $599.99 — a great deal for those looking for a display that will give them everything they need in the professional and gaming worlds.

If you're on the hunt for a new main monitor and centerpiece for your gaming battle-station setup then you probably want something special that has the latest features, plenty of screen real estate, and the performance needed to display your games with the optimal visual acuity. Today's deal should satisfy all of those needs and with a tasty $200 knocked off of the MSRP price of this monitor, it's less strain on the finances.

This is certainly not a budget-oriented monitor, you're looking at a halo product that uses the latest OLED display tech for a gaming monitor. If you pop on over to the Dell Alienware website you can find the Dell Alienware AW3225QF curved 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor for $999, saving $200 off the original $1,199 MSRP price.

With its 4K resolution and ample pixel density on a 32-inch QD-OLED screen, the Alienware AW3225QF is a great piece of kit. The screen also features a 1700R curve for more immersive gaming, a blisteringly fast 240Hz refresh rate, adaptive sync, HDR10, and Dolby Vision.

The input panel of the AW3225QF includes one DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, two HDMI 2.1, USB 3.2 (one upstream and three down), and a USB-C port. We've had the chance to review the Alienware AW3225QF, and we were impressed with its performance in our benchmark testing. We awarded the monitor 5 stars and gave it an Editor's Choice award, noting how the monitor produced a stunning image with broad contrast and rich color, excellent OLED color volume compared to most other OLEDs we'd tested, and 110% DCI-P3 color gamut.

Today we have one great deal that turns into two when you take up a bundle offering and save yourself a whopping $700 with both offers combined. If you like the look of a new Alienware Aurora R16 gaming PC, then check out this deal that not only saves you $300 off of the cost of a new gaming rig, but if you add the 34-inch Alienware AW3423DWF to your order you can save 44% ($400) off of the listed price of this fantastic curved QD-OLED monitor as well. 

If you take a look at this deal on the Alienware Aurora R16 for $1,599 at Dell, you can then see the offer for the Alienware AW3423DWF 34-inch curved QD-OLED gaming monitor for just $499 - if you add it to the order. When combined you save that $700 and get yourself a mighty impressive gaming battle station for a total price of $2,098. If you don't need a new monitor, the deal for just the Alienware Aurora R16 gaming desktop on its own is still worthwhile. 

Inside the Alienware Aurora R16 are some great hardware components for crushing any game you want to play. Powering the graphics is an Nvidia RTX 4070 Super with 12GB of GDDR6X VRAM, an Intel Core i7-14700F processor, 16GB of DDR5 RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage for your OS and games library. 

The Alienware AW3423DWF is one of our favorite gaming monitors and a 5-star Editor's Choice award winner. Take a look at that review of the Alienware AW3423DWF for more information on the Quantum Dot OLED display and how this gaming monitor stood out with its exceptional motion clarity, inky blacks, and picture quality.

Together, these two products make an awesome setup that will let you play your favorite games in insane fidelity with jaw-dropping colors popping from that QD-OLED screen.

Though many factors besides resolution contribute to a premium gaming experience, users still gravitate towards pixel count as a decider when shopping for a monitor. There is no shortage of 4K monitors available and a big reason for that is the advent of inexpensive consoles that play 4K with HDR at 120 Hz. But the real fun happens north of 200 fps. Motion resolution is the key to smooth play and quick response when it comes to the best 4K gaming monitors.

With 8.3 million pixels to move around the screen, most 4K monitors live at 144 Hz, but a few 240 Hz models have come across my desk. Now that OLED panels have ascended to the mainstream, it’s only logical to want a 4K OLED that can run at 240 Hz. Alienware obliges with the AW3225QF. It’s a 32-inch QD-OLED panel with a 1700R curve, 4K, HDR10, Dolby Vision, 240 Hz, Adaptive-Sync and a very wide color gamut. Let’s take a look.

Alienware AW3225QF Specs

The AW3225QF is one of two new Alienware offerings that feature a fast-refresh Quantum Dot (QD) OLED panel. The 360 Hz QHD AW2725DF was recently covered here, and it proved to be a level-up display, earning a five-star Editor’s Choice rating thanks to its stellar image and incredible gaming performance.

The AW3225QF is a mere 240 Hz, but with 4K resolution, it has the goods to deliver an incredible image. It has unmeasurable black levels and sports the same broad contrast as any OLED monitor. Thanks to a premium Samsung panel part, it adds significant color gamut volume with a QD layer. According to my tests, this and its 27-inch stablemate cover around 110% of DCI-P3.

HDR10 is supported, and there’s a rarely seen feature here, Dolby Vision. This HDR standard has dynamic metadata which means content will alter its tone mapping to fit the display it’s viewed on. HDR10 has fixed metadata, so it’s left to the monitor to map the difference between the mastered level, usually 1,000 nits, and the actual max output level.

If you’re looking for maximum brightness, OLED won’t deliver the high output of a Mini LED monitor. The AW3225QF tops out at just over 250 nits for SDR and 450 for HDR. While this may sound weak compared to the 1,000-plus nits a Mini LED is capable of, it’s more than enough to deliver a bright and sharp image.

An equally big draw here is the 240 Hz refresh rate. 4K monitors are often seen topping out at 120 or 144 Hz, which is logical given the current state of consoles like the PlayStation 5. But PC gamers with powerful video cards can go much faster. The AW3225QF has Display Stream Compression for its DisplayPort 1.4 input and in my tests, I could sustain 240fps in 4K at Doom Eternal’s max detail setting. The difference in motion resolution between this and 120fps is visibly significant. The higher frame rate also affords lower input lag. The AW3225QF manages that feat as well.

As a premium display, the AW3225QF includes a full suite of gaming aids, aiming points, timers and a frame counter, along with LED lighting in the back with colorful effects behind an Alienware logo and a giant “32” denoting the screen size. There are plenty of USB ports, including USB-C and two HDMI 2.1 inputs. Build quality and styling are in keeping with Alienware’s high standards as well. And the price, while not low, isn’t as dear as you might think, $1,200 at this writing.

Assembly and Accessories

Like all Dell and Alienware displays released in the past few years, the AW3225QF comes in fully recyclable packaging made from molded pulp rather than crumbly polystyrene foam. The three pieces, panel, upright and base, are very well protected. They assemble without tools to create a solid package that exudes quality. Extras in the box included DisplayPort, HDMI, USB, and IEC power cables, along with a snap-on cover for the input pack.

Product 360

If you’ve ever looked at OLED and LCD monitors side by side, you can always tell the OLED by its deep black screen. The AW3225QF accentuates this with a glossy top layer. While optically pure, it won’t reject harsh reflections, so some care is required when setting up. Keep bright lights and sunny windows behind it, and you’ll be fine. The bezel is narrow all around, with flush mounting and a small Alienware logo at the bottom center. The power button glows at the lower right and can be programmed for different colors in the OSD.

In the back, large white surfaces announce styling by contrast with the panel, which sits proud of a component bulge. The black-and-white theme is something you’ll see in most Alienware products, including PCs. It’s a strong brand visual. The LEDs light up behind an Alienware head and a large “32.” They can be controlled in the OSD, and each logo can be a different color if you wish.

The stand is a solid affair with a plastic finish over a metal core. Ergonomics include 4.3 inches of height, 20 degrees swivel and 5/21 degrees tilt. The panel can sit just high enough for a vertical placement which is always my preference for curved monitors. The AW3225QF isn’t extremely curved, 1700R for 16:9 is relatively subtle. But there is enough wrap to enhance gaming realism just a little. And there is no image distortion when working in productivity apps like word processors or spreadsheets.

The input panel is up and under the left side of the AW3225QF and includes one DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, two HDMI 2.1, USB 3.2 (one upstream and three down) and a USB-C. The latter is there for peripherals like headphones, since there’s no 3.5mm jack, and BC 1.2 compliant charging.

OSD Features

Reach under the center of the AW3225QF and you’ll find the OSD joystick. Click or press it and you’ll see a quick menu that can take you straight to picture mode or brightness. Press it again to see the full OSD.

The Game menu starts with 12 picture modes, Standard is the default, that cover popular game types. Creator lets you select either DCI-P3 or sRGB color gamuts along with gamma. Custom Color has a two-point white balance control and hue/saturation sliders for all six colors. The AW3225QF is accurate in its Standard mode with no need for calibration. However, in Custom Color, I was able to achieve visible improvement. The sRGB Creator mode is also accurate enough for critical applications.

Game Enhance Mode is where you’ll find timers, a frame rate counter, and display alignment marks. If you can afford two or three AW3225QFs, they can easily line up precisely. If you’re looking for aiming points, they are in the AlienVision menu, which also has night vision and other enhancement windows in its option list.

The lighting on the AW3225QF’s backside and the power button can be configured for each logo. You can use different colors for each element or turn them off.

The HDR modes are in the Display menu, with six possible options. Desktop is the default, but I found a better image using DisplayHDR True Black. It conforms closely to industry standards for grayscale tracking, EOTF and color saturation in both DCI-P3 and Rec.2020 spaces. HDR Peak 1000 gives you more output in small highlight areas. But when I measured 25% window patterns, I saw the same 453 nits. More on that later.

In the PBP/PIP menu there are 13 different ways to display two video sources at once, either as windows in the corners of the screen or in a side-by-side layout. The OSD joystick can be programmed for quick access to different monitor functions. This is especially handy if you want to use the AlienVision enhancements. You can turn them on and off with just a couple of clicks.

Finally, in the Others menu, there are two panel maintenance features, Pixel Refresh and Panel Refresh. Pixel refresh is an orbiter that shifts the image while you’re working or playing. You won’t see it in operation. Panel Refresh runs a routine to equalize pixel usage while the AW3225QF is in standby. A panel health indicator in the status menu lets you know when it’s time to refresh.

Alienware AW3225QF Calibration Settings

In the AW3225QF’s Standard mode, you don’t need to calibrate, and all content will be shown using the full native gamut, which covers almost 110% of DCI-P3. Few users will complain about such a colorful image but if you’d rather use sRGB for SDR content, the Creator mode has selectable gamuts that are very accurate. To get the best possible image, I went to Custom Color and adjusted the RGB gain sliders for a visually perfect picture. My SDR settings are below.

In HDR mode, DisplayHDR True Black is the best choice. HDR Peak 1000 is a tiny bit brighter in specific highlight areas of the image, but it crushes black detail and has somewhat flat-looking mid-tones.

Gaming and Hands-on

Right off the bat, I wondered what I could do with the AW3225QF’s Dolby Vision support. Only a handful of computer monitors can do it and unfortunately, only a handful of PC games have it. On the console side, you’ll need an Xbox One. For my tests, I plugged an Apple TV 4K to stream content from Netflix. Some of the best examples are shows like Formula 1, Drive to Survive and Locke and Key. Watching in Dolby Vision up close was nearly a cinematic experience. Without built-in speakers to provide the sound, I donned a pair of AirPods Max and enjoyed the Dolby Atmos spatial audio.

In fairness, I am a home theater buff, and usually, I watch movies in a dedicated room with a projector and surround sound. The idea of a personal theater is highly appealing and the AW3225QF is an ideal display for this. I sat three feet back and was nearly as immersed as I am in a cinema environment. The combination of OLED magic, Dolby Vision, a large slightly curved screen and premium audio provided something that was instantly addictive.

The AW3225QF offers three Dolby Vision modes, Bright, Dark and Game. Bright worked well in my well-lit office, while Dark was best, well, in the dark. Game was similar to Bright, but I noticed a bit of edge enhancement and crushed highlight detail. The monitor switched between SDR and Dolby Vision automatically and quickly. It also switched seamlessly to HDR10 mode for Amazon content like Making the Cut and The Grand Tour. With its dynamic tone mapping, Dolby Vision was the clear winner, but HDR10 looked pretty awesome too.

On to gaming, the AW3225QF excels there as well. It is one of the very best gaming monitors I have experienced to date. Not only is image quality unparalleled, but it also responds as if I were a Force-wielder. Low input lag and movement completely free of blur or hesitation, contributed to gameplay that I have not found in any LCD panel. My GeForce RTX 4090-based PC had no trouble keeping frame rates at or near 240 fps. At no time did I see it drop below 230. Coupled with the 139ppi pixel density, infinite contrast and vivid color, the virtual environment was as real as its creators could make it.

Back in the real world, I spent some time writing and editing graphics and found the AW3225QF perfectly suited for it. The curve is almost unnoticeable in productivity applications and there is no hint of image distortion. In terms of feel and perception, it is no different than a flat monitor. The broad contrast made everything look sharper, down to the smallest type or detail.

I noted that a firmware update was required, dated March 18, 2024. This adds an option to turn off Dolby Vision, which locks itself on once it is engaged. You can download it from Dell here.

Takeaway: I found no issues to complain about when working or playing on the AW3225QF. It served only to strengthen my position that OLED is the best video display technology that currently exists, and this monitor is a standout example. Gaming is more realistic, more responsive and more addictive. Productivity is made easier with the stunning image and its rich color. It’s hard to imagine how it could get much better.

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To compare the AW3225QF’s performance, I rounded up an all-OLED group from my testing data. We have Alienware’s AW2725DF, Samsung’s OLED G8, Asus’ PG49WCD and Philips’ 42M2N89 and 34M2C8600.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

Test Takeaway: If OLED is considered the king of gaming monitor tech, then the Alienware AW3225QF and AW2725DF are the kings of kings. Nothing is as smooth or responsive in my experience, and that includes LCDs running at 360, 500 and 540 Hz. The only caveat is that the AW3225QF’s 4K resolution will demand more from your gaming system. You’ll need a premium video board to see its full capabilities

In my experience to date, the two Alienware screens are the fastest OLEDs you can buy. Though they run at different refresh rates, 240 and 360 Hz, their response times are the same 4ms. As OLEDs, they achieve smoother motion than an LCD that responds in 4ms. And there is no overdrive or strobing in play here, so that you won’t see any artifacts or reduction in light output. Motion resolution is visually identical to static resolution. Alienware also boasts the OLEDs with the lowest input lag at 19 and 22ms, respectively. If you want ultimate performance, the AW2725DF is it with 360fps capability and 19ms of total lag. But the 240 Hz AW3225QF isn’t far behind. Only the most skilled players will perceive a difference. This is phenomenal performance that can’t be replicated by any LCD.

Viewing Angles

Looking over photos of other OLED monitors, they are all superior to the best LCDs, but they aren’t quite perfect. QD-OLED has a slight advantage though in that its color shift at 45 degrees horizontal is very subtle, almost imperceptible. You can see a slight red tint if you’re looking for it. There is no change in brightness or gamma though which makes the AW3225QF very shareable. At 32 inches, it will undoubtedly see more than one user sitting in front of it. The top view retains gamma well and only dims by 10% with a more visible red shift. This is definitely a “gather ‘round” monitor.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

My AW3225QF sample fared extremely well in the uniformity test. I measure a 10% field pattern for OLEDs because black fields are unmeasurable. 3.42% is well below the threshold of visibility. There are no hotspots anywhere on the screen and all field patterns, in all colors, are perfectly uniform from edge to edge.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The AW3225QF isn’t super bright, but its SDR peak output of 259 nits is enough for the average indoor space. If you have a lot of sunlight coming through a window, you’re better served by a Mini LED screen, but then you’ll give up that OLED contrast. As usual, it’s unmeasurable. Oh wait, there’s an exception here. The Philips 42M2N89 doesn’t completely shut off its pixel array when a black pattern is displayed. This is the only OLED I’ve seen that does this. Its contrast ratio of 27,726.9:1 is still far greater than any LCD, but among OLEDs, it lags.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Setting the AW3225QF to 200 nits proved challenging. There is no option in the OSD to toggle variable brightness. This is a technique employed by OLEDs to maintain high brightness in small highlights without overdriving the panel. The AW3225QF employs this to a subtle degree. I had to shut off the OSD to let brightness settle before taking a measurement. I set 200 nits for testing purposes but in practice, I would lower the slider another 10 clicks or so to prevent eye fatigue.

Black levels are unmeasurable whether the pattern is full field or an ANSI checkerboard. This is why OLEDs look so much better than LCDs. When it comes to dynamic range, there is simply no comparison.

Test Takeaway: The AW3225QF has all the brightness and contrast of the best OLED panels currently available. In this regard, it is no better or worse than the competition, but as you’ll see later, it has a significant advantage in terms of color volume.

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The AW3225QF ships in its Standard picture mode which is accurate enough to be used without calibration. It uses the full native color gamut, which covers 109% of DCI-P3, for all SDR content. If you want sRGB, it is available in the Creator mode.

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.

Out of the box, the AW3225QF puts up a solid grayscale and gamma chart. There are no visible grayscale errors and gamma is nearly all on the 2.2 reference line. There is a slight hump at 80 and 90%, which represents lower output values, but you’ll have a hard time seeing this in actual content. This is excellent performance.

In Custom Color mode, you get RGB gain and bias sliders that are very precise. I only adjusted the gains to achieve pro-level numbers. Gamma went a tad light with a dip at 90%, but again, this is hard to spot in actual content.

The sRGB option in Creator mode has excellent grayscale tracking, but gamma is a little wonky. The 10% step is too light, making shadow detail more visible but less impactful. The range between 30 and 80% is a tad dark, but that is forgivable given the AW3225QF’s high contrast. You can compensate by turning up the brightness a click or two.

Comparisons

OLEDs in general have solid out-of-box accuracy in my observation. The AW3225QF is a bit behind the pack, but visually, it is the same as the top screens. The Samsung is a definite over-achiever with its 0.50dE default result.

After calibration, the AW3225QF improved to second place at 0.49dE. Obviously, the G8 should be left alone since its error level increased with calibration. But these are very fine and ultimately invisible differences. OLEDs are premium products, and as such, they deliver high accuracy and fidelity.

In the gamma tests, the AW3225QF shows a tight range of values, but the dip at 90%, which I noted earlier, pulls its average further from 2.2. A 2.27% deviation equates to an actual value of 2.15, which is not bad but not as good as the others.

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 color gamut tests, the AW3225QF leaves no cause for complaint. In Standard mode, you can see that it goes past the triangle perimeter for all colors and is slightly over-saturated overall. Tracking is linear, which results in a very colorful and natural image. The errors are small enough to be invisible. Only slight hue issues remain in cyan and magenta.

My grayscale calibration fixes the secondary colors and leaves saturation points unchanged. The improvement is more measured than visible. No one will complain about an uncalibrated AW3225QF.

The Creator mode offers a spot-on sRGB option with a low error level of 1.79dE. This is professional grade accuracy. You can’t adjust grayscale in this mode but there are gamma presets that work well.

Comparisons

It doesn’t get much better than the AW3225QF’s 1.33dE color score unless you’re a 42M2N89 or an OLED G8. Those differences are visible to the color meter but not to the naked eye. You can choose any of these screens and enjoy excellent performance.

Besides its blinding speed, the AW3225QF’s biggest selling point is its large color gamut. It’s roughly equal to the AW2725DF and a few points shy of the current OLED record holder, Asus’ PG49WCD. With the lowest volume here being 95.26%, you won’t be unhappy with any of these monitors. However, the Quantum Dot technology has a clear advantage. Whether you use DCI-P3 or sRGB, the AW3225QF is qualified for color-critical applications.

Test Takeaway: You won’t find many monitors more colorful than the AW3225QF. Among OLEDs, only the PG49WCD has greater volume. That color is accurate right out of the box and can be made slightly better with calibration. There is nothing to complain about here. It won’t get better until Rec.2020 monitors are available to consumers.

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

The AW3225QF supports HDR10 signals with an automatic switch and six additional picture modes. It defaults to Desktop, but I found the best image and accuracy with DisplayHDR True Black option. I didn’t measure the Dolby Vision mode, but I confirmed its correct operation using content and disc-based test patterns.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

OLED panels don’t produce impressive brightness levels for HDR like Mini LED monitors but trust me, they look far better. The AW3225QF is on par with its competition for peak brightness and black levels. For indoor environments, 453 nits peak is more than enough output to create bright and impactful images. As I noted earlier in the SDR tests, the Philips 42M2N89 doesn’t shut off its pixel array completely, so it has a measurable black level. With over 20,000:1 contrast, the difference between it and the others is mostly subtle.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

The AW3225QF’s True Black mode achieves visually perfect grayscale tracking and a decent EOTF curve. Luminance runs a tad dark up to the 45% level, but not enough that detail is obscured. You can compensate in most cases by adjusting the HDR black levels in the game’s menu. This is a minor error. I measured the Peak 1000 mode and found the same peak brightness but more severe crushing of shadow detail. I don’t recommend this mode for gaming.

In the HDR gamut tests, you can see a little over-saturation in general, but because it’s linear, you won’t see any masking of detail in mid-tone areas of the image. Like in SDR mode, the points go past the DCI-P3 triangle perimeter just a bit, but not enough to cause a visible problem. In the 2020 test, the AW3225QF meets or exceeds the targets until it runs out of color at around 90% for red and 80% for green. Blue comes up shy at 95%. This is typical performance for any wide-gamut monitor, but the AW3225QF covers more volume than most.

Test Takeaway: There is no better monitor for HDR content than an OLED. The AW3225QF delivers the same true blacks and high impact as any other OLED but goes a bit further with greater color volume and Dolby Vision support. The extra saturation can be seen in a side-by-side comparison. Given its other positive attributes, it’s hard to say anything other than that it’s the best HDR monitor I’ve yet reviewed.

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In my experience with OLED monitors, I’ve found that they all perform exceptionally well, with only minute differences between them. In other words, I have yet to see a bad one. I would be happy to put any of them on my desk or in a media room for gaming. This bodes well, given that the category is still premium-priced. There are no truly inexpensive OLEDs yet but if you take the plunge, you will absolutely get what you pay for and more. Once you’ve gamed on a fast example like the AW3225QF, you won’t care what it costs.

The Alienware AW3225QF is the second fastest OLED in my test database behind the AW2725DF. Its motion processing is perfect with no blur or hesitation of any kind. Input lag is on par with a 360 Hz monitor even though it runs at 240 Hz. Though all the OLED screens I’ve tested deliver superb gameplay, the AW3225QF is noticeably better.

It also shares the crown with the AW2725DF for image quality. Though its contrast and black levels are the same as any OLED can boast, it has a larger color gamut that covers 109% of DCI-P3. That’s another area where OLED has a general advantage over nearly all LCDs but the two Alienware monitors are more colorful than all the other OLEDs I’ve reviewed except for Asus’ PG49WCD.

It’s a stretch to attach the term value to the AW3225QF, but at $1,200, it really isn’t super expensive. Perhaps it’s a harbinger of the future where OLEDs don’t cost more than LCDs. OK, we’re not there yet, but things are moving in the right direction.

The Alienware AW3225QF is a superb monitor in every respect and receives my highest recommendation. If you have a console or gaming PC itching for the best image quality available, definitely check it out.

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If you're looking to purchase a computer for a family member, or don't know much about building and constructing your own desktop computer, then a prebuilt computer from a company that offers a competent warranty and customer service offers peace of mind. It's not always the cheapest option, but, you're paying for the complete service and not just a box of components. 

Saving a rather tasty $500 off MSRP, you can pick up the Dell Alienware Aurora R16 for only $2.699. That is still a pretty hefty price tag, but for the money you're getting a powerful Nvidia RTX 4080 Super GPU, 14th Gen Intel Core i9-14900KF CPU, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, and 2TB of PCIe NVMe SSD storage inside. 

With such a powerful graphics card and processor, you will have no issues cranking up the graphics settings in your favorite games or any of the very latest AAA games on the market. The Nvidia RTX 4080 Super will give you access to powerful ray tracing capabilities and the latest DLSS-3 frame enhancement software for super-smooth gameplay.

Another bonus of this desktop PC is a large 32GB of DDR5 5600MHz RAM. That is more than ample for heavy gaming and browsing, and combined with the 2TB SSD, there's also plenty of room for installing your games library. So if you're looking for a mean gaming rig in a compact and attractive chassis, then you should take a look at this deal. See our review of the Alienware Aurora R16 for more information on this PC.

In my early days as a display reviewer, I waxed fantastically about the idea of a desktop OLED monitor. The landscape in 2013 was far different than today. Then, the hot tech was IPS, and things like G-Sync and fast refresh rates were rare. I spoke about contrast, which is still the most important thing, and imagined that we would never see anything better than 1,000:1 from an LCD panel.

I don’t often eat my words, but today, I’m enjoying them with a nice remoulade. Desktop OLEDs are not just here; they’re available in force. I’m looking at my recent reviews and those I’ll be writing soon, and they’re almost all OLEDs. My fantasy has become a reality, as OLED computer monitors offer many advantages. Not only do they have true blacks, but they also deliver large color gamuts and the smoothest motion processing of any display technology. They’re literally a dream for gaming and productivity alike, making them popular among the best gaming monitors.

If you’re looking for a flat 27-inch 16:9 screen, Alienware makes a splash with its AW2725DF. It doesn’t break ground with its QHD resolution, Adaptive-Sync, HDR or wide color gamut. But it does set itself apart with a 360 Hz refresh rate. And as you’ll soon see, it’s one of the fastest monitors I’ve ever tested.

Alienware AW2725DF Specs

Speedy QHD OLEDs are fairly common, but the ones I’ve covered have topped out at 240 Hz. That’s plenty fast, and when compared to a 240 Hz LCD, the OLED is much smoother. The AW2725DF’s 0.03ms response time delivers perfect motion resolution without needing strobing or overdrive. Even a 540 Hz LCD like the Asus PG248QP won’t impart a feel and response quite like this. And here’s the best part: nearly every OLED can do this. There's no going back once you’ve seen a fast OLED in action.

The AW2725DF runs at 360 Hz without overclock. Though its QHD resolution presents a lighter workload than a 4K screen, you’ll still need a quick video card to realize its full potential. Whether it is worth the extra coin over a 240 Hz screen may be a point to consider, but there’s something else here. The AW2725DF has a significantly larger color gamut than the other 27-inch QHD gaming monitors I’ve tested, including Mini LED models.

Like any OLED, the AW2725DF isn’t super bright, but it is bright enough, with around 250 nits available for SDR content and 450 in HDR mode. Color accuracy is excellent out of the box, without needing calibration. And there’s a usable sRGB mode for those needing gamut control.

Gaming is clearly the focus here with the aforementioned 360 Hz and Adaptive-Sync. The AW2725DF hasn’t been certified by Nvidia at this writing but should be by the time you read this. It runs FreeSync from 48-360 Hz through its two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs. You also get HDMI 2.1, which works up to 144 Hz and is perfect for consoles and VRR.

Convenience is addressed with five total USB ports, including USB-C, two of which are easily accessed from the front. Internal speakers and a headphone jack are missing. There are multiple sniper modes and aiming points, plus a suite of timers and display alignment marks for multi-screen setups. Attractive LED lighting appears around the back with a large Alienware logo that plays a variety of colors and effects. Build quality is firmly in the premium category.

I have yet to find an Alienware product or an OLED screen I didn’t love, and the AW2725DF looks to carry on that tradition. Let’s take a look.

Assembly and Accessories

The AW2725DF comes in Dell’s molded pulp packaging rather than crumbly foam. The screen, upright and base assemble without tools to create a solid unit. The base seems a bit small, but the panel is light enough to remain stable. The power supply is internal, so you get an IEC cord along with DisplayPort, DP-to-USB-C and USB-AB. There is no HDMI. You also get a soft cloth to clean the screen, a pictorial setup guide, a plastic input cover and a factory calibration data sheet whose data I verified in testing.

Product 360

If you’re sorting OLED screens by their method of glare reduction, the AW2725DF is in the glossy category, like nearly all the OLEDs I’ve reviewed. Since it’s relatively small, finding a good spot that avoids reflection isn't too hard, but you’ll want to be thoughtful. If you have specular light sources like a sunny window or a backlit keyboard, you might see these things reflected on the screen. The upside is that it’s optically pure, which means the picture is razor-sharp. This is enhanced by the AW2725DF’s tremendous contrast and highly saturated color. The bezel is flush and thin, with just a small Alienware label and a glowing power LED at the right.

The back is smooth, with a bulge for internal components that is ventilated around its perimeter. The lighting is diffuse, with an Alienware logo and “27” in large numerals. The stand can be removed to reveal a 100mm VESA mount for aftermarket arms. The upright features full ergonomics, with 5/21 degrees tilt, 20 degrees swivel, and a 4.3-inch (110mm) height adjustment. Controls consist of a backlit power button at the right and a joystick/button underneath the center.

The input panel is up and under, and once you’ve made connections, it can be concealed by a snap-on cover for a clean look. There are two DisplayPort 1.4 and one HDMI 2.1. The former supports QHD resolution up to 360 Hz, while the latter tops out at 144 Hz with VRR support for consoles. There is a USB-C port, but it does not appear in the input list; it only supports charging and peripherals. Additional ports include one upstream and three downstream, version 3.2. There are no internal speakers, nor is there a traditional headphone jack. But you can plug USB-C cans into the port at the front, just to the left of the joystick.

OSD Features

Pressing the AW2725DF’s joystick brings up a quick menu that shows signal info at the top of the screen and a few quick options at the bottom. These can be programmed by the user. The full OSD appears with an additional up-click.

Apologies for the large number of photos but there is a lot going on here. The Game menu starts with 12 picture modes. Standard is the default and the basis for the AW2725DF’s calibration data sheet. It is very accurate out of the box and does not require adjustment. If you want to tweak, a Creator mode includes selectable gamma curves and color gamuts. That’s where you’ll find a very accurate sRGB option. Custom Color has two-point white balance and color management functions for an even more precise image. The Game Enhance Mode includes timers, a frame rate indicator and alignment marks. The aiming points and sniper aids are found under AlienVision.

AlienFX Lighting refers to the LEDs in the back and allows control of each logo and the power button. You can specify any color and a variety of effects. In the Display menu are the HDR modes called Smart HDR. The DisplayHDR True Black mode is the best-looking and most accurate. More about that on page five.

You can view two video sources simultaneously using PIP or PBP functions. The PIP window, available in two sizes, can be in any corner, and there are five screen portioning options for PBP. If you want to program the joystick directions, the Personalize menu has that ability. You can also create one-key access to the AlienVision modes. This lets you toggle sniper or aiming aids with a single click.

Finally, the AW2725DF includes full panel and pixel refresh routines to fight burn-in. I have not experienced this phenomenon with my LG television or any of the OLED monitors I’ve reviewed. A panel health indicator in the OSD lets you know when it’s time to run the maintenance.

Alienware AW2725DF Calibration Settings

The AW2725DF’s Standard picture mode is accurate enough not to require calibration. You will see the full native gamut for all content, which covers over 110% of DCI-P3. That’s well past the SDR's sRGB spec, but most users will be happy for the extra color. If you want sRGB, choose the Creator mode and specify that gamut. Note that the other option there, DCI-P3, is the theater spec which has a very green white point. It is unsuitable for gaming or video unless the content is mastered to the actual DCI standard. My advice is to stick with Standard or Custom Color or sRGB. Recommended SDR settings are below. In HDR mode, the True Black option shows the most detail and is the most color-accurate for all HDR content.

Gaming and Hands-on

Since the AW2725DF is my first look at a 360 Hz OLED, I wanted to know what frame rates were possible using the GeForce RTX 4090 in my testbed PC. Playing Doom Eternal on max detail put enough demand on the system that it couldn’t quite sustain 360fps, but I never saw anything below 320. Even though QHD resolution presents an easier load than Ultra HD, you’ll still need some horsepower to drive the AW2725DF over 300fps.

You’ll want to do that because its smoothness and response at those speeds are simply amazing. I was sure the AW2725DF had raised my midi-chlorian count because I seemed to be able to mow down enemies with little to no effort. Input lag is perceptually non-existent, and no matter how quickly I moved, detail remained perfectly rendered. There is absolutely no softness or motion blur, regardless of the situation. Taken purely as a gaming monitor, the AW2725DF has few, if any, equals.

The image was stunning in every respect. I know that’s something I say about all OLEDs, but that doesn’t make it untrue. No LCD technology can deliver the deep blacks, broad contrast and perceptual color saturation of an OLED like the AW2725DF. Its larger than average color gamut showed up in everything I did, HDR and SDR. SDR games like Tomb Raider were extremely colorful, almost too much so since that title is mastered in the sRGB space. But I can’t bring myself to say there’s too much color, even when there is. I never felt the need for the sRGB mode when playing SDR games.

It was handy when returning to the workday, though. Photo and graphics editing is easier when you have a usable sRGB mode available. The AW2725DF’s is spot-on at reference level. The Creator mode is a handy tool. If your work extends to the film industry, the DCI-P3 mode matches the cinema spec and can be used for post-production. While most pros will have a high-end mastering monitor available for this, it’s nice to know you can get much the same performance from the $900 AW2725DF rather than something like SmallHD’s 4K 27-inch OLED that costs $11,999.

Mini LED screens might have higher brightness, but in practice, the AW2725DF had more than enough light output for my office and its sunlit window. I had to take some care to place it where the screen would not pick up reflections but other than that, there is no reason I couldn’t use this display every day for any task. It’s a great productivity tool that happens to be one of the best gaming monitors out there.

Takeaway: When considering 27-inch flat gaming monitors, I can’t imagine anything better than the AW2725DF. It delivers a stunning image for SDR and HDR and has otherworldly smoothness and response. It does everything well thanks to superb sharpness, contrast and color saturation.

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The AW2725DF brings my 27-inch QHD OLED total up to five, so I added a Mini LED screen for comparison, Cooler Master’s GP2711. It’s VA so it has a fighting chance in the contrast tests. The other monitors are Corsair’s 27QHD240, Acer’s X27U, AOC’s AG276QZD and Asus’ PG27AQDM.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

I’m betting many of you have skipped to this section to see if 360 Hz is better than 240 for an OLED. The answer, according to this data, is “barely.” It’s interesting to see the response times vary so much, but remember that OLEDs refresh multiple times per cycle, which is why their motion is so smooth. Looking at the bottom two, the AOC and Cooler Master screens have the same 6ms time, but the AOC OLED is visibly smoother. At the other end, the AW2725DF is super smooth, as in visually perfect. Blur Buster’s patterns running at 960 pixels per second are flawless. Every detail is as visible as if the image were static. It truly can’t get better than that.

In the lag test, 360 Hz ties for the win with two of the 240 Hz screens. I am not sufficiently skilled to perceive the difference between 26 and 19ms, but better players might be. So, if you want the fastest possible OLED, the AW2725DF is currently it. If you’re wondering about the Asus PG248QP 540 Hz monitor, it has a 2ms measured response and the same 19ms of total lag. So, it isn’t faster than the AW2725DF.

Test Takeaway: The AW2725DF is fully qualified for competition with one of the lowest total lag scores I’ve recorded, tied with the X27U and the PG27AQDM. The record still belongs to Alienware’s AW2524H 500 Hz IPS monitor at 15ms. But it won’t be as smooth as any of the OLEDs. I’ve said it before and will continue to say it: OLED is the best panel tech for gaming, thanks to its visually perfect motion processing. The AW2725DF’s 360 Hz helps lower input lag, and its enormous color gamut and incredible HDR further strengthen its position as one of the finest gaming monitors I’ve yet seen.

Viewing Angles

My comments on the AW2725DF’s viewing angles are the same as they are for any OLED. The image is nearly identical at 45 degrees off-axis as it is on-center. There is no light output or gamma change, but you can see a slight shift to red. This is easier to see in test patterns than in content. The top view washes out slightly with a 10% reduction in output and no perceptible color shift.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

OLEDs don’t typically have screen uniformity issues like bleed or glow. The AW2725DF is the best yet, with a tiny deviation of 2.39% from the center zone. There is no chance that anyone will see an issue when viewing the 10% field pattern I measured or any other pattern. Color and brightness are visually perfect from edge to edge.

To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

If you need a super-bright monitor, OLED isn’t there yet. Mini LED is currently the highest output technology, with some screens topping 1,000 and even 2,000 nits. The GP2711 takes this contest with its 633-nit score in SDR mode. The AW2725DF musters 257, which seems low, but this is at a constant brightness. There is no means to turn this off, but that only limits the peak number. Contrast is still unmeasurable, thanks to the zero black level. Pixels are completely shut off when a 0% signal is present. The GP2711 is capable of infinite dynamic contrast, but its native panel measurement is 3,349.9:1, which is a typical VA performance.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration lowers the Cooler Master’s score, but the OLED screens are still unmeasurable. This is why you buy an OLED. ANSI contrast also cannot be measured, which is typical of all OLED panels. The AW2725DF is on par with its competitors in this regard.

Test Takeaway: You can’t get better than true black and infinite contrast. OLEDs like the AW2725DF represent the pinnacle of performance in a video display. It isn’t the brightest example, but it is bright enough.

I have found most OLEDs to be more color-accurate than their LCD counterparts. This is as much a product of their status as premium displays as it is a feature of the technology. The AW2725DF fits into this category with a factory-certified calibration for both full gamut and sRGB color.

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.

With no visible grayscale errors, the AW2725DF is well within the boundaries of calibration-not-required in its default Standard picture mode. Gamma tracking has minor anomalies at 10-20% and 90%, where the values are slightly light in tone. Thanks to the panel's high contrast, this is hard to spot in content.

I availed myself since the option to calibrate is present in the Custom Color mode. The gain is certainly visible on the chart, but content and test patterns look the same to the naked eye. You can see a nice improvement in gamma tracking with the previous errors now removed. This is pro-level performance.

The sRGB option in Creator mode has visually perfect grayscale tracking but gamma errors at 10 and 90% brightness. This makes some highlight and shadow details look a little flat, but it is a minor issue.

Comparisons

By the numbers, the AW2725DF’s grayscale tracking improves by almost 200% with calibration. Since those values indicate visual perfection, the actual result is insignificant. It looks great and easily meets the standard with or without adjustment. This is how it should be for any premium screen. The AW2725DF fulfills that promise with ease.

Calibration does improve gamma enough to make a tiny visible difference. Tracking becomes tighter thanks to eliminating errors at 10 and 90% brightness, the sweet spots for shadow and highlight detail. It is therefore worth doing. The top three screens all have the same deviation of 0.91%, which equates to a gamma value of 2.18.

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.

Not only is the AW2725DF very color accurate, but its gamut is also very large. You can see the extra saturation in green and red. Blue is right on point. Only some tiny hue errors in cyan and magenta would inspire me to tweak.

The grayscale calibration I performed in Custom Color mode tightens up those secondaries for a minuscule improvement. This is more about ego than anything else. Ultimately, you’ll be hard-pressed to see any change.

The sRGB option in Creator mode is right on target. There’s a small amount of under-saturation in red, but not enough that you’ll see it. This option is ideal for photographers and graphics pros who need a smaller gamut. I didn’t show it here, but the DCI-P3 option conforms to the cinema standard, which has a 6000K white point, 2.60 gamma, and different saturation targets. It is also accurate enough for professional use.

Comparisons

The AW2725DF’s fifth-place finish in the color test is not a negative. All the monitors here perform at the pro level. At this point in time, you won’t find a bad OLED monitor. They have proven to be color-accurate in my experience so far.

The AW2725DF excels in the gamut volume test, covering over 110% of DCI-P3. I’ve only tested one other OLED with as much color, the 49-inch Asus PG49WCD. Though the other screens come close to 100% and are extremely colorful, the Alienware is just a bit more so. Since it equals or exceeds the rest in other test criteria, the large color gamut is a good reason to choose it over others.

Test Takeaway: The AW2725DF delivers visually perfect color out of the box and has the largest gamut volume of any 27-inch QHD OLED I’ve tested. It meets professional standards for DCI-P3 and sRGB and can be enjoyed without calibration. These reference level results contribute to a stunning image.

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

There is no better display technology for HDR content than OLED. While some may argue that Mini LED with its higher brightness is superior, a side-by-side comparison will quickly dispel that notion. The infinite blacks of OLED cannot be duplicated by any other means and the AW2725DF carries on this tradition. It switches seamlessly between SDR and HDR and offers six HDR picture modes.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

When comparing the six HDR picture modes, I found edge enhancement in four of them that eliminated them from consideration. Of the remaining two, DisplayHDR True Black looked the best peaking at around 460 nits when measuring a 25% window pattern. While the AW2725DF isn’t the brightest OLED out there, it is bright enough to deliver high-impact HDR. Only a Mini LED is significantly brighter.

All the screens, including the Mini LED GP2711, shut off their pixels when displaying a 0% black pattern. This means no instrument can discern the black level. In practice, the Cooler Master is excellent for HDR imagery, but the OLEDs have just a little more punch. No one would be disappointed to have the GP2711 on their desk, but the OLED screens all deliver superlative HDR contrast and depth.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

I got similar grayscale tracking results when measuring the AW2725DF’s HDR luminance. There are no visible errors. The True Black mode is the best choice because it preserves all shadow detail clearly. You won’t have any trouble spotting enemies hiding in the dark.

The HDR gamut charts show very accurate hue tracking and the slight over-saturation seen in most HDR monitors. While not strictly accurate, it gives extra punch to HDR images that no one will complain about. The AW2725DF’s extra gamut volume shows up in the Rec.2020 chart. It covers more of that gamut than any other OLED except the Asus PG49WCD.

Test Takeaway: There has yet to be an OLED that I don’t like for HDR. The AW2725DF, like its competition, was made for high dynamic range content. Alienware has done a precise job tuning color, grayscale, and luminance tracking in the True Black mode to create a reference-level display. In practice, the image is literally jaw-dropping. Don’t be seduced by Mini LED’s high brightness. OLED is still the king of contrast.

After reviewing many OLED monitors, I’m starting to see a pattern. There isn’t a bad one in the bunch. Admittedly, this is a simplification because, currently, OLEDs are all part of the manufacturers’ premium lines. You won’t find one in the budget category, so it’s no surprise they’re all good. Blacks will always be perfect because the pixels turn off completely, meaning contrast will always be tremendous. Unless improperly configured, this will universally be true.

The separators then come down to refresh rate and color gamut volume. While some may say peak brightness is a decider, I disagree. If an OLED panel can top 400 nits for highlights, it is bright enough. Then it is how much speed and color can you afford? If you can spend $900 on a 27-inch gaming monitor, the Alienware AW2725DF delivers the most color and the fastest refresh rate of any example.

With over 110% coverage of DCI-P3, the AW2725DF beats the next most colorful 27-inch OLED by 10%. That’s a difference you can see with the naked eye. That color is accurate for both DCI-P3 and sRGB with no need for calibration. And selectable gamuts increase versatility for both gaming and productivity.

OLEDs make more of a given refresh rate than an LCD because they don’t need overdrive or strobing to achieve perfect motion resolution. 240 Hz is enough to completely eliminate motion blur but 360 delivers a little quicker response. If you’re looking for every advantage, the AW2725DF’s extra Hertz are worth paying for.

As a premium product, the AW2725DF includes every bell and whistle. Even though it’s priced accordingly, you’re getting everything needed for great gameplay and more. The only things I missed were internal speakers and an analog headphone jack. But with plenty of USB-C headphones available, it’s easy to plug into the convenient port in front. You can also enjoy the AW2725DF’s premium build quality. It will certainly last through many years of use.

I can’t overstate how good desktop OLED monitors look and feel. They are a revolution in display technology, and I can’t imagine a reason not to buy one. The Alienware AW2725DF is one of the best small screens yet and receives my highest recommendation. If you have the budget for a premium monitor and are limited in space, definitely check it out.

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For those who want a massive desktop replacement that mostly lives on their desk, 18-inch notebooks are in vogue. And if a behemoth of a portable PC is the best gaming laptop for you, you have some choices. There are often downsides, including price for the most powerful models. The Alienware m18 R2 ($1,899.99 to start, $3,449.99 as tested) can get pricey, but also offers powerful performance, plenty of upgrade opportunities down the line (don't pay full price for storage upgrades!) and strong build quality.

The m18  is a bit heavy, even for its size, but that's not necessarily a huge problem if you're leaving it on your desk all of the time. You'll have to decide if you can deal with the fact that the 18-inch display is useable, but not as bright and vivid as some of the competition.

Otherwise, a mix of fit and finish and configuration options — including a mechanical keyboard that is worth the added expense — make the m18 R2 a strong choice for a gargantuan laptop for your gaming needs.

Design of the Alienware m18 R2

Alienware's flagship 18-inch laptop is a behemoth. They don't call these desktop replacements for nothing. That being said, as far as massive obelisks go, the Alienware is about as smooth and inoffensive as they come. The lid is a solid, gray slab of anodized aluminum (Alienware calls this color "dark metallic moon") with an 18 embossed in the corner and a glowing, RGB alien head on top.

The back of the laptop has a protrusion (a bit of a "butt," if you will) with a majority of the ports, as well as an RGB light ring and some honeycomb-shaped venting.

That rear shelf has a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports, a USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A port, HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, and a full-width SD card slot. On the left side, there is an Ethernet jack, two more USB-A ports, and a 3.5 mm headphone jack, while the right side has a single USB Type-C port.

With the lid open, the 18-inch screen looks massive. The bezel is a bit thick on the bottom but otherwise isn't terribly intrusive. The honeycomb theme follows through to fans positioned near the keyboard. The deck is covered in a soft-touch material that felt pleasant against my wrists and the bottoms of my hands. 

At 8.63 pounds, the Alienware m18 R2 is certainly the heaviest of the bunch. It's also quite large, at 16.15 x 12.59 x 1.05 inches. The weight is noticeable, as is the size — I couldn't close my backpack over this laptop. The MSI Titan 18H HX is 7.93 pounds (though thicker at 1.26 inches), the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 is 6.61 pounds (1.21 inches thick), and the Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 — a 16-inch laptop —  was comparatively svelt at 5.51 pounds and 0.89 inches thick.

Alienware m18 R2 Specifications

Gaming and Graphics

With a 175-watt Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 and an Intel Core i9-14900HX, we expected plenty of power out of the Alienware. The 32GB of RAM our system came with should be plenty, and 2TB of storage can store a handful of games.

I played the demanding Alan Wake 2 on the Alienware m18, on a "quality" render resolution of 1707 x 1067, using DLSS upscaling (but not frame generation) and the game's high quality preset and ray tracing set to medium. The game ran between 42 and 50 fps as I navigated as Saga Anderson through some dense woods in Bright Falls. The game ran slightly faster in the main stretch of town, which isn't filled with tons of detailed plants.

All of our competitors here are using RTX 4090 laptop GPUs. The Alienware, MSI Titan, and Asus ROG Strix Scar all pack the Intel Core i9-14900HX, while the Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 has a Core i9-13980HX in a significantly smaller chassis. The Alienware and Asus both have 2560 x 1600 screens, but with the Titan going up to 3840 x 2400 and the Legion's uncommon 3200 x 2000 resolution, 1920 x 1080 is still the great equalizer for comparisons.

On Shadow of the Tomb Raider's highest settings, the Alienware hit 170 fps at 1080p and 116 fps at its native 2560 x 1600. It was competitive with the Scar (167 fps / 118 fps), though the Titan was the fastest at 1080p at 190 fps.

Cyberpunk 2077 on ray tracing ultra is challenging, but at 1080p, each system played over 60 fps. The Alienware and Asus both hit 61 fps, but dropped down to 36 and 37 fps, respectively, at 1600p. The Legion and Titan both tied at a higher 69 fps at 1080p.

The Alienware and Strix continued their tangle in Red Dead Redemption 2 on medium settings. The Alienware hit 122 fps at 1080p and 80 fps at 2560 x 1600. The MSI won out here, with 135 fps at 1080p and 42 fps at 3840 x 2400.

On Far Cry 6 (ultra settings), the Alienware stumbled, playing the game at 105 fps at 1080p and 95 on 1600p. That's plenty playable, but more than 10 frames behind the Strix in each case.

Lastly, on Borderlands 3's "badass" preset, the Alienware beat the Asus at 1080p, with 159 fps compared to 141 fps. At 1600p, though, they were more similar. The Titan continued its domination.

We stress-tested the Alienware by running Metro Exodus on the RTX preset for 15 runs, which takes about half an hour. The game ran at an average of 114.27 frames per second, dipping from an initial 122 fps as the test started and leveling out in later runs. The CPU's performance cores ran at an average of 3.85 GHz, while the efficiency cores averaged 2.39 GHz. The CPU package measured an average of 79.1 degrees Celsius. The GPU ran at an average of 2,139.62 MHz and 60.68 degrees Celsius.

Productivity Performance on the Alienware m18 R2

Intel's Core i9-14900HX along with the 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage in the Alienware m18 R2 we reviewed proved to be a potent mix for productivity. When an 18-inch laptop is taking over your desk, you're going to use it for some work eventually.

We compared the Alienware to two other laptops with the same CPU and RTX 4090 GPUs - the MSI Titan 18 HX and Asus ROG Strix Scar 18. The Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8 is a smaller, 16-inch notebook that also houses a 4090, but with a last-gen Core i9-13980HX.

On Geekbench 6, the Alienware achieved a single-core score of 2,868 and a multi-core score of 18,035. Its single-core score was in line with the Titan and Legion, but the Strix Scar was slightly higher. On multi-core, the Alienware took the crown at 18,035.

On our 25GB file transfer test, the Alienware copied files at a rate of 2,304.52 MBps, coming in just ahead of the Strix Scar. Both the Titan and Legion proved ever so lightly speedier.

When we used the systems to transcode a 4K video to 1080p on Handbrake, the Alienware and Titan tied at 2:32. The Legion took 2:44, while the Scar took last place at 2:48.

Display on the Alienware m18 R2

The 18-inch screen on the m18 is good, but it's not using the high-end mini-LED tech we've seen on some other high-end (but pricier) notebooks. Still, the 2560 x 1600 resolution and 165 Hz refresh rate should be flexible enough for most gamers' needs.

I used the Alienware to watch the trailer for The Penguin, which is a challenging one, as it's dark. Even though the Alienware doesn't have the brightest screen (see below), I didn't need to have it boosted to 100% brightness, but it didn't hurt. The reds in the trailer, including a ruby ring, fiery explosions, and red text were all quite vibrant, as well as a few flashes of characters in blue lighting.

A dark forest in Alan Wake 2 appeared beautiful, but not as lush, with darker leaves than I'm used to seeing in this game.

The Alienware's screen covers 111.5% of the sRGB gamut and 79% of the DCI-P3 color gamut, putting it just ahead of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (which does use Mini-LED). But the MSI Titan and Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8's mini-LED panel were on another level when it came to color reproduction.

Unfortunately, the Alienware is the dimmest of the bunch at 260 nits. The Scar reached 402 nits, the Titan measured 559 nits and the Legion hit an astounding 667 nits.

Keyboard and Touchpad on the Alienware m18 R2

The Cherry MX low-profile mechanical keyboard is worth the extra $50. The keyboard is amazing both to type on and has keys that pop right back up for repeated pressing while gaming. It's noisier than a membrane, but for comfort, I'm willing to make that trade-off. On the monkeytype test, I hit 114 words per minute at 98% accuracy, which is about as good as I tend to do.

Every key on the keyboard is mechanical, which is a better implementation than what MSI did on its Titan, which used membrane keys on modifiers and number keys. I much prefer to have the unified feel. The right shift key is a little short and the right arrow key juts into the number pad, but that's nothing I couldn't get used to.

The touchpad is big enough for work when you aren't gaming, though I am starting to feel like it's time for Alienware to make the switch to haptics. The mouse works fine and it recognized my gestures as I worked in Windows 11, but it's easily the cheapest feeling part of the experience, with bits of friction here and there and a click that doesn't feel totally satisfying.

Audio on the Alienware m18 R2

When I used the m18 R2 in one of our lab testing rooms, Death Cab for Cutie's "An Arrow in the Wall" filled it with sound. The song's vocals, steady drumbeat, synths and maracas were all clear, but the bass was slightly lacking. Playing around in the Dolby Access settings didn't do much good, so I left everything at the defaults.

Alan Wake 2 is heavy on dialogue, which sounded nice and clear as I talked to witnesses to a crime as Agent Saga Anderson. While much of the game is quiet, small musical flourishes were appropriately quiet under the talking. The fans will blast over this, though, so you may want to invest in one of the best gaming headsets.

Upgradeability of the Alienware m18 R2

One of the benefits of big gaming PCs is that they have room for customization and repair after the fact.

The Alienware m18 R2's bottom has eight Philips head screws (Dell's maintenance manual recommends a size 0 driver, which works great). Six of these are removable, and the other two — at the corners of the palm rest — are captive and only need to be loosened. From there, use a pry tool starting at the bottom left and work your way around, until you can lift off the base cover, including the ring that allows air through the vents.

With that off, you'll notice that the m18 has four fans inside, which might explain some of the fan noise. 

After that, you'll see a wide array of repairable and replaceable parts. The battery can be removed, the RAM is slotted (underneath some protective shielding), and you can remove the Wi-Fi card and the SSD.

There was a single m.2 2280 SSD in our review unit, but the system has room for three more drives. Two of those slots are shorter 2230 SSDs, which have grown increasingly common as the Steam Deck and other handhelds have launched. (Many of the best SSDs for the Steam Deck would work great here, too.) The other slot is labeled 2230, as that's what would fit directly on the board, but a further post labeled "2280" will support a full-length drive.

We expect to see at least a replaceable drive and RAM in a system this big. Having all the extras is a welcome bonus.

Battery Life on the Alienware m18 R2

You didn't expect an 18-inch desktop replacement to last long on a charge, did you?

The Alienware m18 R2 ran for 3 hours and 17 minutes on our test, which browses websites, runs OpenGL tests, and streams video, all with the display set at 150 nits.

While that's shorter than both the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 and Lenovo Legion 9i Gen 8, which tied at 4:23, it's longer than the Alienware m18 R2 (2:40).

Heat on the Alienware m18 R2

We took some heat temperatures while running Metro Exodus on the m18. The system kept the spots you touch relatively cool.

The keyboard, between the G and H keys, reached 97 degrees Fahrenheit, while the touchpad was a cooler 73 F. The hottest spot was on the bottom, at 104 F.

Webcam on the Alienware m18 R2

The 1080p webcam on the Alienware m18 is usable, but it's not excellent. Some details, like my hair and beard, were a bit blurry. Color accuracy wasn't perfect, and my red and blue flannel-checked shirt appeared to show paler hues than it did in real life.

The webcam has infrared sensors that support Windows Hello, which allows you to log in with facial recognition.

Software and Warranty on the Alienware m18 R2

Alienware has a fair amount of software preinstalled on the m18 R2. Parent company Dell may want to consider slimming it down.

Alienware Command Center is the go-to application for system performance, game launching, and adjusting RGB lighting effects. This app, which is useful, shouldn't be mixed up with My Alienware, a separate piece of software that has some warranty information and easy access to your service tag, but otherwise doesn't do much. This should be built into Command Center. Alienware Customer Connect is designed to feed customers surveys, and Alienware should just get rid of it.

Alienware Update and Alienware Digital Delivery round out the list with ways to, well, update your system and download software that came with your machine.

Software from IntelliGo is on board for AI acoustic adjustment, including making sure certain sounds like doorbells or baby cries don't go through your microphone.

Of course, Windows 11 still comes with some app shortcuts in the Start Menu, including Grammarly, Luminar Neo, and Spotify.

Dell sells the Alienware m18 R2 with a one-year warranty that can be extended to four years for an additional cost.

Configurations on the Alienware m18 R2

We tested a mighty $3,449.99 version of the Alienware m18 R2, with an Intel Core i9-14900HX, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090, 32GB of RAM, 2TB of storage, an 18-inch, 2560 x 1600 display at 165 Hz, and a Cherry MX low-profile mechanical keyboard.

The cheapest you can get the m18 R2 is for $1,899.99, which gets you a Core i7-14650HX, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, a standard membrane keyboard and the same display as our review unit.

Dell, Alienware's parent company, has quite a few customization options in between (and beyond). If you prefer a faster screen to a high-res one, a 1920 x 1200, 480 Hz display is a $50 upgrade. If you want to switch from the standard keyboard to the excellent Cherry mechanical option, that's also an extra $50. (in this price range, the keyboard is $50 well spent).

RAM goes up to 64 GB, and the jumps up are a bit rough ($100 from 16GB to 32GB, another $200 to get to 64GB), but since the RAM isn't soldered down, you could replace it yourself with aftermarket kits for less. Storage goes up to 8TB, and can also be replaced later.

Bottom Line

The Alienware m18 R2 is a tank of a gaming laptop meant to live on your desk. It's built solid, and the large chassis allows for plenty of upgrade and repairability options down the line, including a ton of storage.

The gaming performance with the RTX 4090 laptop GPU we tested offered powerful gaming performance, on par with the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18. Sure, the MSI Titan 18 HX did better, but that machine is over $5,000. As of this writing, the Alienware is a few hundred bucks more than a Strix. My recommendation is to get whichever is cheaper unless you want to ensure a brighter display, which Asus offers or a mechanical keyboard, 1080p display and solid audio which Alienware has.

If you do get the Alienware, opt for the Cherry mechanical keyboard. This thing is expensive, and the extra $50 is worth it.

The Alienware m18 R2 is a strong pick if you want an 18-inch machine. It's pricey, for sure, but also powerful, and I appreciate how much you can update later on. If you can deal with the fact that the screen is merely usable, not beautiful, it makes it an easier pick.

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Today at Best Buy, you can find the Alienware AW3423DWF for the lowest price we've seen for this gaming monitor since it first launched. This huge, 34-inch gaming screen was released at a price of $899, but right now you can pick it up for just $749. According to the produce page, this discount is scheduled to expire by the end of the day. At the time of publishing readers still have over half a day to grab this deal.

We had the opportunity to review the Alienware AW3423DWF back in 2022, and were overwhelmingly pleased with our experience, rating it at 5 out of 5 stars. Everything from its physical design to the image quality and performance stands out and makes for a seriously winning combo.

The Alienware AW3423DWF features a 34-inch Quantum Dot OLED panel with a gently sweeping curvature of 1800R. It's AMD FreeSync Premium Pro certified and has a WQHD resolution (3440 x 1440 pixels) which is more or less the pixel density sweet spot for a screen of this size and type. The refresh rate can get as high as 165 Hz and the response time can get as low as 0.1ms.

Apienware's OLED monitor covers 99.3% of the DCI P3 color gamut and is illuminated up to a maximum possible brightness of 250 Nits in SDR mode. That figure may seem low, but the true blacks of the OLED panel help boost image contrast and clarity. Moreover, this monitor has an HDR 1000 mode. There are multiple video inputs to choose from including two DisplayPort inputs and one HDMI port. You must use the DisplayPort to reach the maximum possible refresh rate, as the HDMI port caps out at 100 Hz. There are USB ports available for external peripherals and a 3.5mm jack for audio devices.

Visit the Alienware AW3423DWF product page at Best Buy in the US or Canada for more details and purchase options.

Otherworldly looks are the norm for Alienware laptops, but not the new m16 R2 ($1,849.99 as tested.) It looks more mainstream than previous Alienware laptops for a wider appeal; this is a gaming laptop that you can use every day.

The m16 R2 is overall very well-balanced, combining excellent build quality, comfortable input devices, plenty of connectivity, and a good screen at a reasonable price. It doesn’t offer an Nvidia RTX 4080 like some laptops in this class, but its price reflects that.

Design of the Alienware m16 R2

Alienware is known for edgy designs, so the m16 R2’s almost mainstream styling comes as a surprise. Gone is the LED-lit rear thermal shelf of the previous model, replaced with, well,  nothing. Alienware says it was able to shrink the internals and maximize the thermal capabilities of this new model to make the protrusion unnecessary.

This R2 model is indeed noticeably trimmer at 14.33 x 9.81 x 0.93 inches compared to the outgoing model’s 14.5 x 11.41 x 1 inches. It’s also a lot lighter, at 5.75 pounds versus 7.17 pounds. The Asus ROG Strix G16 isn’t as wide but is deeper than the m16 R2, at 13.94 x 10.39 x 0.89 inches, and slightly lighter at 5.51 pounds. Another competitor, the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 8, is 14.3 x 10.25 x 1.05 inches and 5.6 pounds.

Sans the thermal shelf, the m16 R2 brings over many styling elements from the previous model, including the metal lid with “16” imprinted on it and the RGB-lit alien head logo.

Other RGB lighting elements include the keyboard and the touchpad border, but that’s all. The Alienware Command Center app lets you change colors and set up profiles. The lighting can also be turned completely off.

I’m a fan of the m16 R2’s new look. It’s not polarizing like many previous Alienware laptops, and while it won't pass as a business machine, it’s subdued enough to not attract undo attention, especially with the lighting disabled.

The m16 R2’s build quality is also excellent; the chassis is rigid and there's a luxurious soft-touch coating on the top. The laptop feels solid and inspires confidence when it’s picked up. The metal lid is also quite stiff.

Port selection on the right edge includes a micro SD card reader and two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, the one furthest back supports PowerShare to charge devices while the laptop is turned off.

Left ports include Ethernet and a 3.5 mm universal audio jack.

Finally, there are two Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI 2.1 video output, and the barrel-style AC power jack on the back. Internally, the m16 R2 sports a new Intel Wi-Fi 7 + Bluetooth 5.3 networking card.

Alienware m16 R2 Specifications

Gaming and Graphics on the Alienware m16 R2

Our Alienware m16 R2 review unit has an Intel Core Ultra 7 155H processor, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 Laptop GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. This is a high-end configuration that should have no trouble with today’s games.

For benchmark comparison, we’re including the Asus ROG Strix G16 (Core i9-13980HX, RTX 4070 140W), the smaller 14-inch ROG Zephyrus G14 (Ryzen 9 8945HS, RTX 4070 90W), and the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 8 (Core i7-13700HX, RTX 4060 140W). The ROG Strix G16 and the Legion Pro 5i Gen 8 have the same GPU wattage (140W) as our Alienware, though both use a more powerful Core HX-class CPU. Meanwhile, the ROG Zephyrus G14 is a lighter-weight system with a Ryzen HS CPU and an RTX 4070 with much less wattage, but is similar in mission to the m16 R2 in that it doesn't look so much like a gaming PC.

I played through Shadow of the Tomb Raider at 2560 x 1600 at the game’s Very High preset, pushing a few of the settings beyond that preset’s defaults to make the game as demanding as possible. It didn’t phase the m16 R2; I saw 110 to 125 fps going through caves and around 100 fps in jungle scenes. The game played extremely fluidly.

We’ll be using the 1080p numbers in the charts below for comparison, but we also included native resolution numbers. Our Alienware and the Legion use 2560 x 1600, the ROG Strix G16 is 1920 x 1200, and the ROG Zephyrus G14 is 2880 x 1800.

In Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Highest detail preset), the Alienware narrowly missed the top spot at 1080p, with 113 frames per second to the ROG Strix G16’s 116 fps, though it dropped to just 68 fps at native resolution. The Legion wasn’t far off those numbers despite using an RTX 4060, with 107 fps at 1080p and 62 fps at native.

We just started running Cyberpunk 2077 (Ray Tracing Ultra), so we only have numbers for the Alienware and the ROG Zephyrus G14. The numbers were surprisingly close, though the Alienware doesn’t have as many pixels to push at native resolution (22 versus 16 fps).

Far Cry 6 (Ultra) wasn’t the Alienware’s best showing, where it outperformed only the ROG Zephyrus G14, with 89 fps at 1080p and 71 fps at native. The ROG Strix G16 managed 98 fps at 1080p and the Lenovo 94 fps.

Red Dead Redemption 2 (Medium) remains a difficult title to run. The Alienware didn’t keep pace, hitting 65 fps at 1080p compared to the ROG Strix G16’s 72 fps and the Lenovo’s 70 fps. Even the ROG Zephyrus G14 did better, with 67 fps.

In our last test, Borderlands 3 (at the game’s “badass” detail preset), the Alienware finally eked out a victory, with 102 fps at 1080p to edge out the ROG Strix G16’s 100 fps and the Lenovo’s 90 fps.

As our numbers show, running games at the Alienware’s 2560 x 1600 native resolution is not a cakewalk even with the RTX 4070, so getting fluid playability in some games, such as Red Dead Redemption 2, may require using lower detail settings, or you could simply lower the resolution to 1080p. It would be nice to see Alienware offering a 1080p/1200p panel for esports and especially considering the base GPU is the RTX 4050, which isn’t going to be well-suited for 2560 x 1600.

We stress-tested the m16 R2 running the Metro Exodus benchmark 15 times at RTX settings to simulate 30 minutes of gaming. During the test, the m16 R2 averaged 81.9 fps across all runs with minimal variation between runs; the minimum fps was 80.35 and the highest was 82.77. The Core Ultra 7’s P-cores ran at an average frequency of 3.6 GHz and an average temperature of 73 degrees Celsius, the E-cores 2.6 GHz and 70 degrees, and the LPE-cores 1.1 GHz and 66 degrees. The GeForce RTX 4070 had an average core clock of 2,380 MHz and an average temperature of 68 degrees.

Productivity Performance on the Alienware m16 R2

Our Alienware m16 R2 review unit has a Core Ultra 7 155H processor, 16GB of DDR5-5600 RAM, and a 1TB SSD. Everyday tasks and more demanding apps should be no problem for a laptop of this caliber.

The Core Ultra 7 chip in our Alienware is unlikely to match the older Core HX-class chips in the ROG Strix G16 and the Lenovo, though it should outperform the ROG Zephyrus G14’s Ryzen 9 HS.

The Alienware started at the back of the pack in the cross-platform Geekbench CPU benchmark; its 1,797-point single-core showing was the lowest in the group, with the Lenovo being the next slowest (1,852 points) and the ROG Strix G16 being the fastest (2,067 points). It also predictably didn’t match the ROG Strix G16 and the Lenovo in multi-core, with 12,382 points to their respective 18,227 and 14,967 points.

The Alienware surprisingly came back in our Handbrake video transcoding test, in which it converted a 4K video to 1080p in 3 minutes and 54 seconds. The ROG Strix G16 fell behind here (5:05) and only the Lenovo did slightly better (3:39).

The Alienware also impressed in our 25 GB file transfer test with a 2,014.58 MBps transfer rate. The Lenovo was in a distant second place with 1,792.63 MBps while the ROG Strix G16 was the slowest (1,238.04 MBps).

Display on the Alienware m16 R2

The m16 R2 has a 16-inch IPS display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a 2560 x 1600 resolution. I appreciated that its matte surface kept reflections from ambient and overhead lighting to a minimum. The picture is well saturated and has ample brightness; creatures and landscapes in BBC’s Planet Earth III looked lifelike. Likewise, running through the lush jungles in Shadow of the Tomb Raider was an immersive experience. The gameplay was extremely smooth thanks to the display’s 240 Hz refresh rate and Nvidia G-Sync framerate smoothing.

The Alienware’s screen didn’t impress on brightness; its 280-nit peak matched the ROG Strix G16 (279 nits) but was well off the Lenovo’s 349 nits. The ROG Zephyrus G14 was far brighter (392 nits), but its screen is much smaller. Color-wise, the Alienware's 70% DCI-P3 and 99% sRGB coverages were the least impressive in the group; the Lenovo’s 83% DCI-P3 and 117% sRGB were the highest.

Keyboard and Touchpad on the Alienware m16 R2

The Alienware’s keyboard has a rubbery but sure feel; I managed 108 words per minute with 99% accuracy in the MonkeyType online typing test, a good result for me. The keystrokes also sound subdued so you won’t feel self-conscious typing away in a quiet place.

Layout-wise, all keys seem to be where they should be. I give Alienware a thumbs-up for including full-size arrow keys, though the cluster is forced into the main keyboard area and truncates the right Shift key. Pressing Fn + the right Windows key disables both Windows keys. There are volume and microphone control keys down the right edge. The F2 through F6 keys are user-programmable shortcuts in the Alienware Command Center app, which also controls the per-key RGB backlighting. The backlighting is bright and vibrant.

The m16 R2’s touchpad ranks as one of my favorites in recent memory. The pad is rightly sized for the 16-inch screen, and the RGB lighting around it defines its border well. My fingers glided over its smooth surface. Physically clicking by pressing the pad has a precise feel.

Audio on the Alienware m16 R2

The m16 R2’s side-firing speakers under its palm rest are above average. The vocals and guitar in All Time Low’s “Monsters” came through clear and distortion-free even at maximum volume, which is enough to entertain a few people around a table, and there’s sufficient bass to prevent the sound from being tinny. The Dolby Atmos equalizer in the Dolby Access app greatly helps the sound quality; the Balanced preset sounded best to my ears. This also held true while I played through Shadow of the Tomb Raider; the Balanced preset perks up the high frequencies a little, so it’s easy to hear enemy footsteps.

Upgradeability of the Alienware m16 R2

Eight Philips-head screws secure the m16 R2’s bottom access panel. All are fortunately equal length, though the two at the front (palm rest) corners are retainer-style and don’t come out. The panel doesn’t pop free once the screws are removed, but the retainer screws create a gap when loosened where you can wedge a plastic pry tool or credit card to run down the edges and pop the clips free. The panel is hinged at the rear, so I popped the front edge free before doing the sides.

The m16 R2 has excellent upgradability, with two DDR5-5600 SODIMM slots and two M.2 2280 PCIe slots. The M.2 2230 wireless card and the battery are also serviceable.

Battery Life on the Alienware m16 R2

Gaming laptops aren't known for long battery life, and many still don’t last long away from a charger. But this Alienware lasted 6 hours and 13 minutes in our test, where we have laptops browse the web, stream video over Wi-Fi and run OpenGL tests with the screen set to 150 nits of brightness. The ROG Strix G16 lasted considerably longer (8:49) but it did much better than the Lenovo (4:54).

Heat on the Alienware m16 R2

We measure the surface temperatures of gaming laptops while running the Metro Exodus benchmark at RTX settings. During the benchmark, we measured 73 degrees Fahrenheit on the m16 R2’s touchpad, 99 degrees between the keyboard G and H keys, and 104 degrees on the underside. The laptop felt warm to the touch but never hot, so Alienware appears to have the heat under control.

Fan noise is noticeable while gaming in a quiet room; the sound is essentially air running through the cooling fans rather than motor noise. While not gaming, the laptop can run essentially silent or close to it using the Quiet profile in the Alienware Command Center.

Webcam on the Alienware m16 R2

I found it m16 R2’s 1080p webcam to be average at best, with a pixelated image and overly softened details. It also doesn’t have a privacy shutter or a webcam kill switch. At least it has an infrared sensor so you can use Windows Hello facial recognition to log into Windows, which is your only biometric option since there’s no fingerprint reader.

Software and Warranty on the Alienware m16 R2

The m16 R2’s most important app is Alienware Command Center. The System section lets you switch performance profiles; our unit was set to Performance by default, which made for a lot of fan noise at idle. Switching to the Quiet or Balanced profile really toned down the fans. The app also has a section for AlienFX RGB lighting for the power button, alien head lid logo, and touchpad border. You can save your preferences in presets.

Dolby Atmos is another important app to switch between sound profiles and set equalizers. It also provides Dolby Vision controls.

No trial software is installed, and even many of the usual apps included with Windows, such as Spotify, weren’t present on our review unit. It’s an overall clean Windows installation.

The m16 R2 has a one-year warranty, with options to upgrade to four years.

Alienware m16 R2 Configurations

The base Alienware m16 R2 includes a Core Ultra 7 155H processor, a GeForce RTX 4050 GPU, 16GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD for $1,499.99. A 2560 x 1600 240 Hz screen is standard across all models with no upgrade options. Our $1,849.99 review model bumps the GPU to the highest option, an RTX 4070, but leaves everything else the same. Other available upgrades include a Core Ultra 9 185H, 64GB of RAM, and dual SSDs up to 8TB of total storage.

Alienware doesn’t offer an RTX 4080 as do some laptops in this class. Nonetheless, the m16 R2 seems to be competitive on price as we reviewed it. I saw the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 8 for $1,424.99 on Lenovo.com, though it only had a four-zone keyboard (not per-key RGB like our Alienware) and Wi-Fi 6E, not Wi-Fi 7. On the other hand, the Asus ROG Strix G16 was much more expensive, commanding $2,299.99 from Asus directly. That price nets a more powerful Core i9-14900HX CPU, but you get just a 720p webcam.

Bottom Line

Alienware’s m16 R2 is a winner. This laptop has no real weaknesses and does well almost everywhere. Its toned-down looks relative to previous Alienware laptops are an improvement in our view, allowing this laptop to have a wider appeal and superior everyday usability.

Other high points include strong build quality, comfortable input devices, ample connectivity, a gaming-ready screen, and above-average speakers. It even gets good battery life and can be easily upgraded after purchase.

The m16 R2’s pricing is competitive as we tested it with the RTX 4070 next to the Lenovo Legion Pro 5i Gen 8 and especially the Asus ROG Strix G16. It’s less competitive in its base RTX 4050 model, which is steeply priced at $1,499.99 when the Legion with that card is around $1,000. The sweet spot for this model is when it’s configured with the RTX 4060 or RTX 4070. No RTX 4080 is offered.

Overall, the m16 R2 is a step forward for Alienware and ranks highly as a notebook you can use for gaming, and plenty else.

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The Windows Report claims to have leaked every product that Dell is set to unveil at CES this upcoming January, including Alienware gaming laptops equipped with Meteor Lake CPUs. Dell's choice to use Intel's next generation CPU is a vote of confidence for its gaming performance, though Meteor Lake won't be powering every upcoming Alienware laptop according to the leak.

Core Ultra H CPUs, such as the Core Ultra 7 155H and Core Ultra 9 185H, will feature in the m16 R2 and the x16 R2. The Windows Report didn't specify which exact CPUs would be present in the laptops, though we can expect at minimum Core Ultra 5 chips (equivalent to Core i5s) as that's the branding's lowest tier. Of course, Dell wouldn't likely replace the Core i7s and Core i9s in the current m16 and x16 with i5 equivalents, so we can probably expect the company to use Core Ultra 7 and 9 CPUs.

However, the top-end m18 R2 will not use Meteor Lake but instead a 14th Gen CPU, presumably a Core i9. The leak doesn't explain why Raptor Lake Refresh got the job instead of Meteor Lake, but it's probably because Raptor Lake chips outperform Meteor Lake at a higher power draw, which this laptop is likely to have. That's also probably one of the reasons why Meteor Lake isn't coming to mainstream desktop PCs either.

These upcoming Alienware laptops will also stick with Nvidia RTX 40 series GPUs as current models have. The m16 R2 is also noted as getting a chassis and cooler redesign; the Windows Report doesn't say one way or another whether the x16 R2 and m18 R2 are getting a new design too. One new feature that all these laptops get is Stealth Mode, which is supposed to disable all the Alienware gamer features, making a user's laptop more suitable for professional environments.

Meteor Lake is also making its way to the XPS line-up, though we already got a hint of that with a leaked Core Ultra 7 155H benchmark that was apparently run on the XPS 13. The report doesn't mention any 14th Gen CPUs being used for the next generation of XPS laptops, so presumably they all use Meteor Lake. That's another indication that Meteor Lake is great at lower power, but doesn't scale particularly well with more watts.

Intel's Arc A770 may be one of the best midrange graphics cards for gamers on a budget, but it's not the best choice for demanding gamers. Which is why Dell's decision to make the Arc A770 the default option for its older Alienware Aurora R15 gaming desktop raises eyebrows. 

The base model of Dell's Alienware Aurora R15 featuring Intel's Core i7-13700F and Arc A770 16GB graphics board comes with a starting price of $1,949 in the U.S. and $2,699 in Canada, which is not exactly cheap. Dell's new offering marks a significant stride for Intel as this is one of the first gaming machines from a top 3 PC maker that packs both an Intel CPU and Intel graphics. 

But that doesn't mean people will be buying it. Dell offers an option to switch to an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070 for just $50 extra. While the RTX 4070 has 12GB of memory, 4GB less than the Arc A770 16GB, it is widely recognized as a superior option for gaming. Furthermore, Dell's Alienware Aurora R15 with Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4060 Ti costs $1,899 and this option might also be better than an Arc A770. 

The pricing strategy for the R15 is... interesting. The cheapest GeForce RTX 4060 Ti costs $359, while the cheapest Arc A770 16GB is priced at $289, so it is odd to see that the RTX 4060 Ti option is cheaper than the Arc A770 option.

Another question is which Intel Arc A770 graphics card Dell is using. Typically, large PC vendors buy boards directly from GPU developers or order AIBs from their manufacturing partners among contract makers of electronics. Intel itself discontinued its Arc A770 Limited Edition card a few months ago, so, it looks like Dell ordered a product from one of the electronics manufacturing service providers. That means the company has some degree of confidence in Intel's GPUs, which is at least good news for Intel.

Of course, the R15 is an older model to begin with: Dell has already moved on with the more streamlined Alienware Aurora R16.

Alienware recently crafted a monstrous 16-foot-long fully-functional mechanical keyboard and mouse, and to demonstrate its functionality, they even had a professional eSports team play a few competitive DOTA 2 matches with the behemoth, with all five members required to operate the setup.

The keyboard and mouse are based on the Alienware AW420K mechanical keyboard and AW720M gaming mouse, and the company constructed the project by scanning the peripherals and upscaling them to a 14:1 scale, with each key being one foot long with an actuation travel distance of 4 inches. Naturally, some parts had to be hand-built.

The Method Behind the Madness

The AW420K is a tenkeyless mechanical keyboard that uses Cherry MX switches. With this 14x monstrosity, the team had to make their own custom linear-like mechanical actuation using PVC pipe shafts for each switch. The PVC pipe interfaces with a normal-sized mechanical switch connected to the keyboard, and the shaft uses an internal rubber band mechanism to create the mechanical keyboard-like actuation. They also used copper pipes for stabilizers, including the space bar. It is unknown if Alienware used the r/MK's preferred Krytox 205g0 lubricant.

Each switch creates the tell-tale mechanical key click sound via a piece of metal measuring tape that's mounted at the bottom of the shaft. 

All 84 switches are 3D printed, and the space bar weighs almost 20 pounds and took three days to print. That's a lot of filament! The Alienware AW720M mouse is also functional, including the click switches and a scroll wheel.

Suffice it to say this keyboard and mouse requires multiple people to operate. Alienware roped in its Team Liquid's DOTA 2 team, ranked #3 in the world, and the five members worked together to operate the keyboard and mouse while playing a match. 

The training was tricky. Since the mouse needs at least two people to move and actuate the keys, the team of five was divided into two groups. They first tried to practice with non-gaming applications like trying to draw in MS Paint and a typing test. The team first managed to get a score of six words per minute with 94% accuracy on the first try and later 14 WPM with 88% accuracy. Team Liquid later played a match in DOTA 2 with bots. After several attempts, the team was able to achieve a win.

As with most of these sorts of efforts, the massive keyboard and mouse aren't meant to be practical, but Alienware did score a few marketing points with the endeavor — the YouTube video currently has 150,000 views. 

AMD is launching the first laptop GPU based on a chiplet design. The Radeon RX 7900M will debut exclusively in the Alienware m18, which will be available in conjunction with AMD's Ryzen 7000 series laptops as an AMD Advantage design.

The Radeon 7900M has 72 AMD RDNA 3 compute units and 16GB of GDDR6 VRAM, second-generation ray tracing accelerators, and two dedicated AI accelerators per CU. It also supports AV1 encode and decode. AV1 encode support is enabled in OBS for streamers. The media engine uses machine learning from Xilinx to create high quality text in lower resolution or low-bitrate streams.

AMD is positioning the RX 7900M as a laptop GPU for fast gaming at 1440p, and is suggesting it's an alternative to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 Laptop GPU. Based on its selection of games, AMD claims the 7900M is 7% faster than the RTX 4080, and AMD claims its GPU gets even faster when you factor in AMD Hypr-RX and FSR 3.

The GPU will use a lot of power, though, with AMD claiming it goes up to 180W of TGP. In its materials, Alienware suggests the graphics card can range from 160W to 200W with SmartShift Max. I've seen Nvidia's RTX 4090 Laptop GPUs use 175W, providing more performance for less power.

The AMD Advantage Alienware m18 launches today, starting at $2,799 with be a Ryzen 9 7945HX, Radeon 7900M, 32GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and the 480 Hz, 1920 x 1200 display. (That 1920 x 1200 display despite AMD's claims of its GPU being a 1440p powerhouse.) Other configuration options will include going up to 64GB of RAM, bumping up to anywhere between 2TB and 8.5TB of storage, and either a standard Alienware or CherryMX keyboard.

Existing configurations, including both Intel and AMD CPUs and Nvidia GPUs, will also remain on the market. The laptop will be available on Dell's website, followed by certain Best Buy stores and Best Buy's website later on.

This Alienware m18 is in the same chassis as the one we reviewed earlier this year — it's not an entirely new system, just a new configuration. That means you still get a heavy, 18-inch laptop, and get many of the same options for displays in varying configurations (165 Hz, 2560 x 1600 or 480 Hz, 1920 x 1200), memory (up to 64GB), and storage (including up to 8.5TB with three SSDs). 

As with other AMD Advantage laptops, the combination of the company's CPUs and GPUs allow for the use of AMD Smart Technologies. Those include AMD SmartShift Max, which moves power between the CPU and GPU to based on your workload; SmartAccess Graphics to automatically switch to the discrete GPU for gaming; Smart Access Memory, granting access to to Ryzen processors to the Radeon's graphics memory; and AMD SmartAccess Video, which separates the encoding and decoding workloads between the CPU and GPU.

When Alienware announced the redesigned Aurora R16 back in August, it was a rare mid-term refresh, using existing Intel CPUs and only a selection of Nvidia GPUs. Today, Dell's gaming arm is announcing that its reduced-size mid-tower is getting an upgrade with options including 14th Gen Intel CPUs and a range of Nvidia GPUs up to the RTX 4090.

The new processor options include the Intel Core i7-14700KF, a 20-core chip ranging from 2.5 GHZ to 5.6 GHz, and the Intel Core i9-14900KF, a 24-core processor that goes from 2.4 GHz to 6 GHZ. These will sit atop the existing configurations, which start at a Core i9-12900F and also include the Core i7-13700F and Core i9-13900F. That means this one desktop will span three generations of Intel  processors, though only the 14th Gen chips will be using unlocked "K" variants.

On the graphics side, the R16 launched in the US with only the Nvidia RTX 4070. It's adding the RTX 4090 with this launch, putting the most powerful Nvidia consumer GPU into the machine.

The new Alienware Aurora R16 parts will be available October 17, starting at $2,199.99 for the new 14th Gen configs ($2,649.99 in Canada).

A high-end configuration with a 14th Gen Intel Core i9-14900KF, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090, 32GB of DDR5 RAM, 2TB of PCIe SSD storage, and a 1,000W platinum-rated PSU, will cost $3,499. In August, the version we reviewed an $1,899.99 model with a Core i7-13700F, 32GB of RAM, an RTX 4070, plus a 1TB SSD for $1,899.99, and it seems that will remain an option. 

In our initial review, we praised the Aurora's smaller chassis and ports on the front, as well as solid pricing for the pre-built market (at least, back when we tested it.) We didn’t love the proprietary motherboard, which isn't changing here, so we'll see if any potential performance differences make it worth it when we finish our testing on our updated Alienware rig.

Editor's Note: We have updated this review to feature a second configuration of the Alienware Aurora R16, with a 14th Gen Intel Core i9-14900KF and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090. Comparisons have been placed throughout, but the score has not changed. 

Love or hate the prebuilt scene, Alienware's design, with hints of spaceships and future tech have always stood out, bringing a bit of sci-fi to the traditional black boxes you can grab off of a store shelf. With the Alienware Aurora R16 ($1,299.99 to start, $1,999 and $3,499 as tested), Dell's gaming arm has opted for a more conservative — albeit familiar — approach, keeping the RGB lighting but moving towards a more compact black mid-tower.

But looks are only skin deep. While the redesign changes airflow a bit and makes the R16 easier to fit on your desk, the internal design is still largely the same as past Alienwares, limiting upgrade opportunities if you're using the desktop to get into the PC building hobby.

The specs aren't bad for the price (in the land of prebuilts, anyway, and you could easily spend far more for similar specs, especially if you want to jump up a level in terms of graphics). But higher-end configurations are still pricey, though not as much as similar configurations from the previous generation.

If you're an Alienware loyalist or want a small mid-tower, this offering will fit for those who prefer to buy rather than build. It has plenty of ports and the difference in size is noticeable.

Design of the Alienware Aurora R16

The external design of the Alienware Aurora R16 is the biggest change in this generation. Gone is the sci-fi inspired spaceship design for something that looks more like a traditional computer. While the internal volume of the case hasn't changed, at 25.2 liters, the desktop is 40% smaller.

All of this is to say, the Aurora R16 looks more like a desktop PC than previous versions; It's rectangular with rounded corners. There's still an alien schtick, including the oval RGB light from its laptops being moved to the left side of the front panel to serve as an air intake. There's still exhaust out of the top and a mix of intake and exhaust vents on the glass side panel, an idea that debuted on the Alienware Aurora R15 last year (and, frankly, isn't a great aesthetic choice. If you're gonna have a glass window, let me see the whole PC!).

Unlike previous Auroras, the R16 only comes in "basalt" black. The new size, at 18.05 x 16.5 x 7.76 inches is far easier to sit on a desk than the previous generation. Beyond being smaller, Alienware claims that the new design makes the desktop 20% quieter and lets it run 7% cooler. This did not keep me from seriously noticing the noise as I ran our Metro Exodus stress test, in which the fans noticeably whirred the entire time.

This black box does have a few flourishes. The power button is an RGB Alien logo (some things don't change), and there's a cutout in the front for some ports. The left side features a clear window (on some models) and the RGB light ring that doubles as air intake.Though it faces away from you most of the time, I think the oval on the rear side of the case should also light up to add some panache. I also note a lack of lighting inside the PC - only the rear case fan brings any RGB lighting inside the chassis.

While the air still largely exhausts out the top, Alienware claims that this new chassis has a larger surface for exhaust (probably because it's not rounded and covered in excess plastic). But for the most part, this system really is lacking for flair compared to Alienware's prior desktops. One might even call it safe. I'm fine with safe, personally; I prefer practicality and will be spending most of my time looking at the display, anyway. But several of my colleagues looked at this desktop and thought it was boring compared to Alienware's previous designs.

There are four fans in the system: one in the front (that's what pulls air through the RGB ring), one in the rear, and, on our model, two on the 240 mm liquid cooler (the larger cooler was also introduced on the R15). I'd like to see another fan in the front for more intake.

There are no heatsinks or shields here. The RAM, SSD and Wi-Fi are unprotected, and you can even make out all of the labels and barcodes just by looking through the clear side panel. Nevermind keeping components cooler — it would make the whole system look better aesthetically to add that.

On the RTX 4090 version, you see more cables through the windows, thanks to the more complex power connector attached to the power-hungry graphics card.

The Aurora has shed some mass since we reviewed the previous model, the R15. That one was bigger on all sides at 20.8 x 20.1 x 8.86 inches. Lenovo's Legion Tower 7i (Gen 8), a more conventional box, is 19.37 x 18.27 x  8.31 inches, which is still bigger than the R16 but not tremendously. Maingear's MG-1 is 19 x 16.88 x 8.13 inches.

Alienware Aurora R16 Specifications

Ports and Upgradeability on the Alienware Aurora R16

While the change may be dramatic on the outside, less has changed here than I would like. Alienware is still using a proprietary motherboard that severely hampers major upgrade options down the line. While most people buying a pre-built just want something that will run their games now, those using it as a springboard into the greater hobby won't be able to keep using this PC with new processors once the Intel LGA1700 socket is outdated.

Alienware has offered myriad reasons for its board design over the years. The ports are on the top and bottom, and the I/O board is physically attached, which helps eliminate some wires. That may help Alienware build the PC, but isn't great for future-proofing it. Alienware does like to boast about 12-phase voltage regulation on its boards, however, and I can't blame it for that.

The four front ports are in a small indent. They include a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a generous two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, and a single USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C port.

On the back, the ports are largely attached to the motherboard. Those include four USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, two USB Type-C ports (one Gen 2, the other Gen 2x2), an Ethernet jack, and your usual audio, microphone and SPDIF ports.

To get into the system, you have to loosen a single screw on the back of the system, where a small handle can be used to pop off the glass side panel. (Once this is loosened the first time, you can really leave it that way, unless you plan to travel with the desktop). With the glass off, you can see a slight mess of cables that is obscured by the honeycomb-shaped cutouts on the glass, largely connecting the GPU to the power supply. 

Attached to the bottom fan is a plastic bracket that clips onto a metal piece attached to the GPU. Alienware tells me that this is to keep the GPU stable during shipping, and while you can remove it if you please, the company recommends leaving it there. (There's room for another fan at the front and I wish Alienware used it).

While that motherboard can't be replaced (and, likely, the CPU  on the 14th gen models), there is still access to the two RAM slots, the SSD, hard drive cage, and graphics card. The power supply, like previous Alienware desktops, appears to be one meant for servers, so that's yet another area that's not quite easy to upgrade. I do appreciate that there's an extra PCIe SSD slot to fill later with more storage.

To remove the back panel, you give it a good yank and it comes off. But there's just a bit of very clean wiring here. I will give the new design this: getting both side panels back on is far easier than it was on the previous spaceship versions.

Whether or not you like the Aurora's external design (I find it inoffensive), I think it's actually the internals that need an overhaul. I'm not asking Alienware to do what MSI or iBuypower or Maingear do and use nothing custom, but back in 2020 HP, one of Dell's biggest rivals, jumped to bog-standard, name-brand components for most of its Omen builds. Heck, HP even sells its cases separately. If HP can do it, so can Alienware, and when Alienware announced a redesign, I hoped it would also mean that there would be easier repairability and upgradeability. Sadly, that's not the case this time around.

Gaming and Graphics on the Alienware Aurora R16

We initially tested the Alienware Aurora R16 with an Intel Core i7-13700F and Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. We're updating this review with a more powerful configuration using a Core i9-14900KF, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090, 32GB of RAM and a pair of 1 TB SSDs.

I took the cheaper Aurora R16 for a spin with Control, still to my mind one of the best PC games of the past few years. At 2560 x 1440 with DLSS on, using the high quality preset and high ray tracing preset, the game ran great. As I dodged Hiss soldiers in a computer lab in the Oldest House's communications department, catching fire that I returned by throwing office supplies with a kinetic charge, the game ran between 82 and 91 frames per second during heavy combat. While exploring, the game typically ran closer to 98 fps.  With the 14th Gen/RTX 4090 configuration, the game ran consistently over 100 fps — often as high as 120 fps, while exploring the Oldest House, In combat, it ran between 106 and 114 fps. 

We actually haven't seen another prebuilt pass through our labs with a 4070 yet — most vendors have opted for expensive, top-end RTX 4080 and 4090 GPUs. So here, we've compared the Aurora to one system that's more expensive and more powerful (the Lenovo Legion Tower 7i with a ​​Core i9-13900KF and RTX 4080) and one that's cheaper and weaker (the Maingear MG-1 Silver, with a Core i5-13400F and an RTX 4060), giving you an idea of what the first Aurora configurations in the United States offer between them. We've also added the more expensive configuration with the 14th Gen i9 and a 4090, and added the previous generation R15, with a 13th Gen i9 and 4090, for comparison's sake. But spoiler alert — the 14th Gen Intel chip doesn't make any truly significant strides in gaming over the 13th Gen one.

The RTX 4070-powered Aurora always came in the middle of its primary rivals in our testing. Don't think of these as a direct comparison, per se, but rather showing the differences between what's available on the market related to the Aurora. You may note that while the 4070 passed muster in 4K, the 4060 did not in several cases; You would need to lower the settings. 

On Shadow of the Tomb Raider's built-in benchmark on the Highest settings preset, the 13th Gen Aurora R16 ran at 161 frames per second at 1080p and 54 fps at 4K. The 14th Gen version, with the more powerful GPU, hit 257 fps at 1080p and 131 fps at 4K.

Grand Theft Auto V (very high settings) is more CPU intensive. Here, the 13th Gen Aurora reached 147 fps at 1080p and 37 fps at 4K, while the 14th Gen model hit 186 fps at 1080p and 85 fps at 4K.

Meanwhile, Far Cry 6's benchmark on ultra settings ran at 108 fps at 1080p on the 13th Gen Aurora, while it dropped to 63 fps at 4K. The 14th Gen version with RTX 4090 hit 191 fps and 80 fps, respectively.

The Aurora with 13th Gen and a 4070 also ran Red Dead Redemption 2 (medium settings) at 108 fps at 1080p, but that game played at 33 fps at 4K. The 14th Gen/RTX 4090 Aurora hit 191 fps at FHD and 80 fps at 4K.

On Borderlands 3's built-in benchmark at the "badass" preset, the 13th Gen/RTX 4070 Aurora ran the game at 144 fps at 1080p and 52 fps at 4K. The 14th Gen/RTX 4090 model hit 261 fps at 1080p and 130 fps at 4K.

To stress test systems, we run the Metro Exodus 15 times at 1080p using the RTX preset, simulating about half an hour of gameplay. On the cheaper of the two Aurora R16 models we tested, the Core i7-13700F's eight performance cores averaged 4.69 GHz, while the eight efficiency cores ran at 3.53 GHz. The CPU package averaged 49.25 degrees Celsius. The RTX 4070 ran at 2,478 MHz and averaged 68.13 C. On the more expensive version, the Intel Core i9-14900KF's performance cores ran at 4.8 GHz, while the efficiency cores hit 3.82 GHz, and the CPU package measured 65.23 degrees Celsius. The RTX 4090 ran at 2,267.68 MHz and averaged 53.84 degrees Celsius.   

Productivity Performance on the Alienware Aurora R16

We also put the Core i7-13700F and Core i9-14900KF, each with 32GB of RAM through their paces in a series of productivity tests.

On Geekbench 6, a synthetic, CPU-heavy test, the Aurora earned a single-core score of 2,529 and a multi-core score of 16,687. Unsurprisingly, that's lower than the Core s i9-13900KF in the Legion and higher than the Core i5-13400F in the Maingear (these patterns will follow throughout). If you're only gaming, though, the Core i9 may be overkill. Speaking of Core i9, the i9-14900KF topped the chart at 2,910 and 18,933.

The 14th Gen Alienware had the fastest SSD of the bunch, copying 25GB of files at a rate of 1,923.65 MBps, just ahead of the Legion. It's a far superior SSD to the Maingear (489.65 MBps).

Intel's 14th Gen i9 actually came a few seconds behind the 13th Gen i9 in the Lenovo Legion transcoding a video from 4K to 1080p in Handbrake, but enough that I'd call it insignificant. They both beat the 13th Gen i7.

Software and Warranty on the Alienware Aurora R16

The most important piece of software preloaded on the machine is Alienware Command Center, now on version 6, which is also available on several Alienware (and Dell Gaming) laptops. It's gotten a nice fresh coat of paint and a new user interface, but most of the features are still the same. You get at-a-glance computer utilization stats (you can also see these in an overlay while gaming), overclocking controls and presets, a game library, and Dolby Atmos integration. For those who like their RGB lighting, there's AlienwareFX control in the app as well, which can adjust the lighting not just on the desktop, but also on connected Alienware peripherals and monitors.

While Command Center does a lot, Alienware still has more. None of it is as useful. My Alienware has warranty and system details, but also houses a bunch of simplistic how-tos and links you to Alienware's store to buy more gear. There's also Alienware Customer Connect, which exists to ask you to take surveys, as well as apps for updating your PC (this seems duplicative, Windows does this fine most of the time) and downloading digital content.

Alienware's reach has also extended into the Edge browser, with a folder of links to Alienware and Dell's website, as well as to McAfee Security.

Windows 11 comes with its own bloat (or links to the Microsoft Store) in the Start Menu, including Spotify, WhatsApp, Prime Video, Netflix, Instagram, Facebook Messenger, and Sudoku.

Dell sells the Alienware Aurora R16 with a one-year warranty.

Alienware Aurora R16 Configurations

The Alienware Aurora R16's configurations cover a wide range of prices and performance. The starter version is $1,299.99 with a 13th Gen Intel Core i7-13700F, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB of RAM, a 1TB SSD, a 500W Platinum-rated PSU and air cooling.

Our cheaper review system was almost identical, but bumped up to 32GB of RAM and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4070, 1000W PSU and liquid cooling, with a $1,999.99 price tag. (This has increased by $100 in price since we reviewed it earlier this year.)

The R16 spans three generations of Intel CPUs. As an upgrade over the Core i7-13700F in some configurations, Alienware offers the 12th Gen Core i9-12900F as a $50 upcharge.

The more expensive version we tested has a top-of-the-line Intel Core i9-14900KF (unlike the 13th Gen chips, this one is unlocked), and an RTX 4090. Ours had 2TB of storage (two 1TB drives) and 32GB of RAM, for a grand total of $3,499.99. Parent company Dell told me this is cheaper than an equivalent R15 with a 13th Gen Gore i9, and that is true — while you'd get a slightly higher capacity PSU, the closest I could come spec-wise still cost $4,349.

Bottom Line

Anytime something iconic (or at least attention-grabbing) changes, it's bound to create some strong feelings. Me? I think I prefer Alienware's more compact, traditional mid-tower shape, even if it loses some of the brand's bombast and attitude. It's easier to fit on a desk, easier to open, and, for better or worse, looks more like other options on the market.

What Alienware didn't change was the internals. Most people who buy this, I imagine, just want a working gaming PC that's ready to play out of the box. Alienware delivers on that here. But with proprietary parts, including an oddly shaped motherboard and a server-style PSU, there's limited room for upgrades. For those who get the 1,000W power supply, I hope that will be enough for at least a couple of GPU upgrades. (Though if you get the RTX 4090 model, you should be OK there for a bit.) 

The design continues to have some pluses, including plenty of ports in the front so that you don't have to reach behind your PC. But it also doesn't do much for noise, at least to my ear.

This all adds up to an atypically safe redesign for Alienware. It's one that's functional and will work for those who simply want to buy a PC, boot up Steam or Epic Games and get started playing with powerful performance. But I hope Alienware's next design finally works on those internals, which are in dire need of a refresh.

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When shopping for a gaming monitor, it’s easy to get caught up in the many specs and features used to market them. If you have the budget for a premium display, you can get everything – high resolution, high speed, high contrast, high performance, lots of color and the latest bleeding-edge tech. But if you are looking for value, it’s best to prioritize the features you desire.

The gaming experience hinges mainly on panel speed and response, so spending money on a fast refresh rate is wise before considering screen size or resolution. AOC has just the ticket with its C27G2Z. This 27-inch VA monitor has a curved screen with a 3,000:1 contrast ratio along with 240 Hz, Adaptive-Sync and wide-gamut color. And it sells for $200 at this writing.

AOC C27G2Z Specs

While high pixel density adds to the sharpness and clarity of an image, you won’t be disappointed in a 27-inch FHD panel. It sports 82ppi, just enough to produce a picture without visible pixel gaps when viewed at a three-foot distance. The C27G2Z also has a 1500R curvature which is a nice value-add. The subtle curve adds a slight immersive effect without any noticeable distortion.

240 Hz and Adaptive-Sync are the specs of greatest interest. High frame rates are the surest ticket to smooth motion resolution and fast response. Now that 360 and 500 Hz monitors are available, 240 Hz should be considered a starting point for competitive gaming. The C27G2Z achieves this rate without overclocking. It also supports FreeSync and G-Sync from 48 to 240 Hz. It hasn’t been certified by Nvidia, but I can confirm that it runs G-Sync just fine.

Image quality is enhanced by a VA panel that met its claimed 3,000:1 contrast ratio in my tests. The C27G2Z does not process HDR10 signals, but it does include three HDR emulation modes that tweak gamma to produce a little more punch to the image. Either way, the deep blacks and saturated color promised by VA technology are fully present here.

The feature set is pared down, as expected at this price point. There are no integrated speakers or USB ports. And there is no LED lighting. You get an aiming point and a frame counter in the OSD, fairly accurate color, and good results from calibration. The performance needed for both gaming and image fidelity is there. The C27G2Z seems like a decent value, so let’s take a look.

Assembly and Accessories

The C27G2Z arrives packed in crumbly foam in its three components: base, upright and panel. They assemble without tools into a reasonably solid and lightweight package. The power supply is internal, so you get an IEC cord along with HDMI and DisplayPort cables.

Product 360

The C27G2Z has a bit of red trim, reminiscent of AOC’s Agon line, to offset the black panel and silver base. There isn’t any LED lighting, but the trim is bright and creates a good effect. The monitor’s design intent is clearly game-focused.

The stand features good ergonomics with 5/23 degrees tilt, 30 degrees swivel and a 130mm height adjustment. You can just get the screen to a center eyepoint in the vertical position. This is my preference for all monitors, especially curved models. Setting the panel this way gives you the full potential of the curve’s immersive effect.

The input panel has two HDMI 2.0 ports and a DisplayPort 1.2. All will run at FHD resolution at 240 Hz, but you’ll need to use DisplayPort for G-Sync. FreeSync works through all three inputs. If you’d like to use headphones or powered speakers, a 3.5mm audio jack is provided. There are no built-in speakers, nor are there any USB ports.

If you look closely at the tiny white power LED at the lower right, you’ll see molded-in symbols for the five control keys. One toggles power, and I accidentally turned the monitor off a few times when reaching for the key that activates the OSD. The first three buttons provide quick access to input selection, game mode and the aiming point.

OSD Features

The C27G2Z’s fourth control key opens the ribbon-like OSD on the bottom of the screen. It is the same menu I’ve seen from AOC for the past decade, and it is relatively intuitive though a little clunky to navigate with buttons. I would rather have a joystick.

The Luminance menu includes seven picture modes that correspond to different activities. Standard is the default and best mode as it gives users access to all other picture and gaming options. Also here are three gamma presets, dynamic contrast and the HDR emulation modes. There are three options that look similar but add different levels of edge enhancement. Their approximation of HDR is just OK, but since the C27G2Z already has excellent contrast, I didn’t find that they improved the image, only made it look different. There is no actual HDR support here.

In Color Setup, you’ll find four color temp presets plus a user mode with RGB sliders. The C27G2Z doesn’t need calibration, but a small improvement is possible with a few tweaks. This is a wide-gamut display so if you want sRGB, it’s one of the color temp options and is quite accurate.

Picture Boost is something unique to AOC monitors. It lets you create a bright section on the screen that can be sized and moved about. Within it, you can adjust brightness and contrast to set it off from the surrounding area. It’s a great way to highlight something like a graphic or part of a gaming environment.

The OSD can be moved around the screen if you don’t like its default position at the bottom center. This menu also has the DP version toggle and volume control.

In Game Setting, there are six additional picture modes for different game types. My advice, leave that off to avoid confusion. If you start combining Eco and Game modes, it’s easy to become lost in the options. Also here is a three-level overdrive which I found too coarse in operation. I couldn’t find a setting free of either black or white ghosting artifacts. This menu also has the Adaptive-Sync toggle and a frame rate counter. If you turn off Adaptive-Sync, a motion blur reduction slider becomes visible. This is a backlight strobe with 20 brightness levels. Darker settings reduce blur further, but past level 10, the phasing artifact common to this feature becomes too distracting. I recommend leaving this off and sticking with Adaptive-Sync. 

AOC C27G2Z Calibration Settings

The C27G2Z delivers decent accuracy out of the box. It benefits from calibration, but it’s not strictly necessary. The grayscale errors are barely visible in content and gamma tracks very well. The color gamut is wide, covering over 88% of DCI-P3. If you want the smaller sRGB space, that option is available in the color temp menu. For my tests, I calibrated the user color temp using the RGB sliders. Gamma was fine on its default setting of 1. If you want a lighter look, choose 2; darker, choose 3. You can also experiment with the three HDR emulation modes; the C27G2Z doesn’t support HDR10 processing. Below are the settings I used for all content.

Gaming and Hands-on

I’ll get the question of resolution answered first. 27 inches is the largest FHD monitor I would care to use, but the C27G2Z’s 82ppi is enough to get the job done for both work and play. Unless you plan to sit less than two feet away from the screen, you won’t see the pixel structure, even in finely detailed images. Clarity is aided here by the panel’s prodigious contrast which is around 3,200:1.

I spent time using the C27G2Z before and after calibration and found the small adjustments required are worth doing. Yes, the picture looks fine out of the box. But the calibrated image is a little better.

The only issue I noted with productivity is that at 100% font scaling, you’ll have to scroll a bit more to see websites or to edit long documents. But this is a minor point that only someone accustomed to large high-res screens will experience. There is enough resolution here for whatever one wishes to do.

When taken in the context of a budget gaming monitor, the C27G2Z excels. It’s snappy and responsive with the reasonably smooth motion one would expect from a 240 Hz panel. Input lag was imperceptible to me and my average skills. A more talented player might benefit from a 360 Hz display or a 240 Hz QHD model. But with the FHD resolution in use here, frame rates are easy to maintain. You won’t need a premium video card to hit 240fps.

Picture quality is top-notch thanks to the C27G2Z’s excellent contrast and wide-gamut color. Accuracy is apparent with or without calibration, as everything looked natural and correct. Shadow detail is rich with deep blacks, and I saw bright highlights that added to the sense of dimension. Doom Eternal was well-detailed with good clarity. The overdrive artifacts I observed in test patterns were less evident during actual gameplay. I recommend avoiding the HDR emulation modes. They add a distracting level of edge enhancement that only reduces clarity.

Overall, the C27G2Z is a solid value among gaming monitors and affords a bit more speed and performance than a 165 Hz display of the same resolution. Since it is priced below 27-inch QHD monitors, it will certainly fill the bill for gamers seeking value.

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To compare the C27G2Z’s performance, I’ve selected monitors ranging in speed from 165 to 360 Hz. We have Dell’s S2422HG, ViewSonic’s XG2431, the HyperX Armada from HP, NZXT’s Canvas 27F and Alienware’s AW2523HF. 

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

As you can see, 240 Hz monitors are not created equal. The C27G2Z lags a bit in panel response with a 6ms result. This means motion is a tad less smooth than the others. It is visibly better than the 165 Hz Dell though. When testing the overdrive options, I noted that no setting was free of artifacts. I could either choose black or white trails behind moving objects. The MBR option is a little better but then you have to give up Adaptive-Sync.

Overall lag is only 1ms quicker than the Dell. The takeaway here is that the C27G2Z only performs slightly better than a typical 165 Hz monitor. So, it is qualified for competitive gaming but there are faster screens available. Of the 240 Hz monitors in the group, the AOC costs the least.

Viewing Angles

The C27G2Z’s off-axis image quality is just fair. An IPS screen would fare better though these photos show typical VA performance at this price point. At 45 degrees to the side, the image loses around 30% brightness and takes on a red tint. Gamma stays consistent, so you’ll still see full detail. The monitor is almost completely dark from the top. For this reason, you’ll want to be precise in how you place it relative to your eyepoint. A perfectly vertical position is best. 

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

Even value screens show good uniformity when measuring the latest models. The C27G2Z acquits itself well, with no visible bleed or glow in my sample. The meter shows slight elevations down the center of the screen, but I could not see this with the naked eye in either test patterns or content. There are no panel quality issues here.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The C27G2Z is bright enough for any indoor environment or intended use. Only the most sunlit room will need a peak level of over 350 nits. I noted a slightly higher level when using the HDR emulation of 373 nits. That is a tiny, almost imperceptible difference.

With super low black levels, the C27G2Z cracks the 3,000:1 contrast barrier with a 3,205.6:1 score. In this group, only the Dell boasts better and only by an infinitesimal amount. You can see that the IPS screens are strong performers relative to that technology but don’t even come close to VA in contrast. This is a difference that can easily be seen in actual content.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Calibration has little effect on the C27G2Z’s contrast, which is good. I had to lower the contrast slider three clicks to correct the 100% grayscale step, which bodes well. It is well ahead of even the very best premium IPS monitors in this test.

Again, the IPS panels here do well in the ANSI test, but the Dell and AOC are far superior. Contrast is king and unless you put an OLED on your desktop, VA is the best way to achieve maximum image depth with true black levels and saturated color.

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I tested the C27G2Z in its default Standard picture mode, which provides access to all image controls. Other modes lockout different options.

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.

The C27G2Z shows only slight grayscale errors in the 70 to 100% brightness range. The chart indicates a purple tint, but it is tough to spot in both test patterns and actual content. The C27G2Z does not need to be calibrated. Gamma tracking is spot on with values that measure a tad light but look great in practice.

Calibration tightens up grayscale tracking to professional levels with all errors under 1dE. Gamma measures a tad lighter than before. The overall look is slightly better, so the adjustment is worth doing if you have the means or would like to try my settings from page one.

Choosing the sRGB mode from the color temp options renders that gamut but creates a light gamma value at 10% brightness. This translates to fully detailed shadow areas but a bit lighter in tone than before. This minor issue is offset by the C27G2Z’s extremely accurate sRGB color gamut.

Comparisons

The C27G2Z’s default grayscale error of 3.01dE is completely acceptable for any gaming monitor, and certainly for one at this price point. It finishes mid-pack behind three more-expensive screens. After calibration, it takes the crown in a group of very accurate displays. Once adjusted, there are no visible errors from any of them.

Gamma tracking is very tight with a small 0.11 range of values, good enough for second-best, and a 2.73% deviation from 2.2. The actual gamma average is 2.14. If you choose the gamma 3 preset, it gets darker, with an average of 2.31. You can get away with this when the panel has high contrast, like the C27G2Z. Some users will prefer this, so I suggest trying all three gamma settings to find your preference.

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.

The C27G2Z’s color gamut accuracy eliminates any real need for calibration. With an out-of-box average of 2.16dE, color is visually flawless. Like most wide-gamut screens, green is a tad under-saturated, but all other colors are fully covered. This is impressive performance for a $200 monitor.

Calibration tightens up the cyan and yellow secondaries a bit, but visually, there is no difference. Overall, calibration has a greater impact on grayscale tracking than color. We’re talking about minute changes here. The C27G2Z looks great whether you tweak it or not.

If you need an accurate sRGB gamut for photo grading, the C27G2Z delivers with a tiny 1.47dE average error. That’s pro monitor territory. This makes it fully qualified for color-critical applications.

Comparisons

The C27G2Z finishes fifth in the color comparison, meaning this is one impressive group of monitors. None of them have visible color errors. Again, the AOC costs less than all the rest except the Dell, which is around $170 but has a smaller screen.

When you consider color volume, the C27G2Z comes out on top with just a tad more coverage than the S2422HG. Can you see the difference between 88.76% and 88.49%? Unlikely. But it’s easy to see the top two screen’s advantages over the rest. These VA screens are defeating all comers here, and they cost the least. The C27G2Z is a tad undersaturated in green but fully covers the rest of the DCI-P3 gamut.

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If one prioritizes their needs for a gaming monitor, a lot of performance can be found for relatively little money. The gaming experience is most affected by speed and response so a high refresh rate and Adaptive-Sync are a must. Even players of average skill will benefit when a game runs consistently at 240fps.

To achieve this without putting an expensive video card in your PC, FHD resolution is the smart choice. Up to 27 inches, there is enough pixel density to render a detailed image. A refresh rate of at least 240 Hz ensures smooth motion resolution and low input lag.

By using a VA panel, AOC’s C27G2Z achieves solid picture quality thanks to high contrast and saturated color. Among budget screens, it boasts one of the largest color gamuts I’ve measured. With over 3,200:1 contrast, it delivers deep blacks and bright highlights. And its 240 Hz refresh rate maintains clarity when gaming action heats up. The overdrive has room for improvement because it doesn’t have an ideal artifact-free setting. But that is a minor point when the asking price is $200. The value-adds are a 27-inch panel with a 1500R curvature. Add a flexible stand and solid build quality and you won’t miss the USB ports or internal speakers as much. Though there is no HDR support, the emulation modes exist for those who like to experiment.

If you’re on a budget but want something bigger than a 22 or 24-inch screen, AOC’s C27G2Z is a great choice. It prioritizes speed over other factors and delivers a solid gaming experience for the price. Value-conscious users should keep this monitor on their shortlist.

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ThundeRobot, a Chinese-based laptop manufacturer is launching a new PC console — according to IT Home — that looks like a copycat of Alienware's Steam machine from several years ago. The console, called the MIX, will feature Intel and Nvidia's latest CPU and GPU hardware including a 13th Gen Core CPU and a RTX 4060. The new console will launch on July 21st presumably to the Chinese market.

You probably have not heard of ThundeRobot before, but the name is very popular in Asia, being China's 3rd largest consumer supplier of notebooks and gaming peripherals. The company shares many similarities with Asus or Razer, selling its own custom-branded gaming notebooks, gaming monitors, keyboards, mice, monitors, and gaming controllers.

The console ThundeRobot is releasing is a highly-compact gaming device that is nearly 60% smaller than an Xbox Series S. The exact specifications for the new console have not been mentioned, however, Thunderobot confirms the console will feature one or more of Intel's new 13th Gen Raptor Lake HX-series mobile CPUs and Nvidia's GeForce RTX 4060 — which could also be a mobile variant or it could be the full-blown desktop counterpart; we don't know.

If the consoles look familiar, the design language is strikingly similar to the Steam Machine that Alienware built several years ago, when Steam Machines were still a thing. The ThundeRobot console definitely looks more modern, but the matte black finish and the triangular indentation to the front right look suspiciously similar to the Alienware counterpart, almost as if the developers took direct inspiration from Alienware's console PC (which could be the case). (It also helps that the ThunderRobot helmet logo looks almost identical to the Alienware logo as well.)

Either way, the console has a clean finish that should look good with almost any gaming setup.

The console's ultra-compact design is definitely the overarching highlight of the device and will allow gamers to play PC games in tighter areas such as dorm rooms or an RV. With a size of just 1.7 liters, it makes more popular consoles like the Series S look like behemoths in comparison, though the extremely small size is definitely compensated by the integration of mobile parts. We suspect if ThundeRobot went with a larger design, say similar to a Series S, it could have used desktop parts which would be noticeably more performant.

According to IT Home, the price is expected to be around 6000 Yuan, which translates to roughly $830. Though the console will launch in just a few days on July 21st in China, we don't expect it to hit the United States anytime soon if ever.

 Alienware is a name synonymous with gaming hardware, and this year the company is upgrading its laptops with the Legion 3.0 design language. The newly released x14 and x16 feature magnesium alloy chassis designs and aluminum lids. Our review unit is a nicely equipped x16 with an Intel Core i9-13900HK processor, 32GB of LPDDR5-6000 memory, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU and a 1TB SSD.

Other features include a 16-inch QHD+ display (2560x1600) and something that I’ve never encountered before on a laptop: an RGB touchpad. While Alienware has offered this feature in the past, the x16 offers more customizable settings. Alienware packs all these features into a relatively thin and lightweight laptop, but is it enough to place it among the best gaming laptops on the market?

Alienware x16 Specifications

Design of the Alienware x16

You won’t mistake the x16 for anything other than an Alienware laptop, and that’s a good thing for fans of the brand. The lid is made of aluminum and features a prominent alien head logo, while a large “X” is positioned in the lower right of the lid. The hinge area of the x16 is finished in a light gray plastic, which to my eyes, clashes with the aluminum finish. Alienware should have either finished the hinge in aluminum like the lid or at least painted the plastic to match. As it stands, it just looks oddly unfinished.

The x16’s bottom chassis plate is also made from aluminum, while a rounded, rectangular ring serves as the “feet” for the laptop, allowing airflow for the numerous honeycomb-style vents. The rectangular ring is a lighter shade of grey plastic.

The left and right sides of the x16 don't have any ports,but feature vents to aid cooling. All the x16’s external ports are on the back panel. There you’ll find a 3.5 mm headphone jack, a microSD slot, one USB 3.2 Type-C port, one Thunderbolt 4 port, an HDMI 2.1 port, two USB 3.2 Type-A ports, a mini DisplayPort and a proprietary barrel-style power port.

Opening the lid puts the 16-inch QHD+ display front and center. The bezels are minimal along the sides and top. A larger bezel resides below the display and carries Alienware branding. Despite the large 16-inch frame, the x16 forgoes a dedicated number pad and instead features fan intake grills on either side of the RGB keyboard. A relatively small touchpad sits below the keyboard, featuring RGB lighting (more on that later). The keyboard deck is dark gray, with a shimmering “moon dust” effect that is primarily noticeable under direct light.

The x16 measures 14.36 x 11.41 x 0.73 inches and weighs 5.67 pounds. The MSI Raider GE78 HX measures 14.97 x 11.73 x 1.13 inches, making it quite a bit thicker than the x16, and it weighs 6.83 pounds. The Gigabyte Aorus 15X measures 14.1 x 10.8 x 0.78 inches and weighs 5.79 pounds, while the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 tips the scales at 6.83 pounds with dimensions of 15.71 x 11.57 x 1.21 inches.

Gaming and Graphics Performance on the Alienware x16

The x16 uses a Core i9-13900HK processor, 32GB of DDR5-6000 memory and a GeForce RTX 4080 GPU. That’s a potent punch for this 16-inch display with a 2560 x 1600 resolution. However, we should note that the Core i9-13900HK in the x16 is at a disadvantage to the “HX” processors in this grouping due to fewer performance and efficiency cores (and a lower TDP), which can affect gaming performance.

However, the x16 had no trouble handling Cyberpunk 2077 in my hands-on testing, averaging around 78 frames per second at native resolution (2560 x 1600) with Ultra settings, ray tracing enabled and DLSS set to Quality. Turning off ray tracing saw the framerateincrease to 90 fps, but who would do that in a game this gorgeous?

We pitted the x16 against the MSI Raider GE78 HX (i9-13950HX, RTX 4080, 1600p), Gigabyte Aorus 15X (i9-13900HX, RTX 4070, 1440p) and the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 (i9-13980HX, RTX 4090, 1600p) in all our tests.

In Shadow of the Tomb Raider (Highest), the x16 ranked behind the similarly-specced Raider GE78 HX at 137 frames per second versus 177 fps at 1080p. However, the difference was much smaller at 1600p, with the x16 hitting 101 fps versus 107 fps for the Raider GE78 HX. Not surprisingly, the ROG Strix Scar 18 was the top performer, with 181 fps at 1080p and 124 fps at 1600p.

Grand Theft Auto V (Very High) saw the RTX 4080- and RTX 4090-equipped systems clustered close together at 1080p resolution; the x16, Raider GE78 HX and ROG Strix Scar 18 were all within a few fps of each other. However, the ROG Strix Scar 18 flexed its muscle at 1600p, where its RTX 4090 allowed it to score roughly 50 percent higher fps than its closest rivals at 132 fps.

In Far Cry 6 (Ultra), the Raider GE78 HX zoomed to the top, hitting 121 fps at 1080p and 104 fps at 1600p. The x16 was well behind, achieving 97 fps and 86 fps, respectively. The ROG Strix Scar 18 wound up in a head-scratching second place with 107 fps at 1080p and 94 fps at 1600p.

Red Dead Redemption 2 (Medium) saw a return to form for the ROG Strix Scar 18, which topped all competitors with 123 fps at 1080p and 85 fps at 1600p. The Raider GE78 HX and x16 settled into their respective second and third positions, with the latter touching 100 fps at 1080p and 63 fps at 1600p.

It was more of the same with Borderlands 3 (Badass), with the ROG Strix Scar 18 leading the field with 165 fps/112 fps (1080p/1600p). The Raider GE78 HX again took second, with 153 fps/100 fps (1080p/1600p). The x16 took third with 137 fps at 1080p and 93 fps at 1600p.

On the Metro Exodus benchmark, the x16 averaged 87.14 fps throughout 15 runs at 2560 x 1600 with the RTX preset. During our benchmark testing, the Core i9-13900HK performance and efficiency cores averaged 3.61GHz and 2.43GHz, respectively, with a package temperature of 88.16 degrees Celsius (190.7 Fahrenheit). The GPU clocked in at 2.1GHz at 81.67 C (179 F).

Productivity Performance on the Alienware x16

The Alienware x16 comes equipped with an Intel Core i9-13900HK processor, 32GB of DDR5-6000 memory and a 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD.

Starting with Geekbench 5, the Core i9-13900HK immediately has a disadvantage due to its “HK” processor. That used to be the top end, but now that's been ceded to the newer "HX" chips. The Core i9-13950HX in the Raider GE78 HX has eight performance cores and 16 efficiency cores compared to the six performance cores and eight efficiency cores in the x16’s Core i9-13900HK. This is reflected in the x16 performing worse than its “HX” peers with a 14,919 multi-core score (1,929 single-core). For comparison, the Aorus 15X hit 2,007 for single-core and 18,129 for multi-core, while the Raider GE78 HX led all contenders with scores of 2,121 and 21,063, respectively.

However, the x16 eked out a win in our 25GB file transfer test, hitting 1,913.59 MBps versus 1,885.81 MBps for the second-place ROG Strix Scar 18 and 1,721.37 MBps for the Aorus 15X.

The x16’s core disadvantage once again reared its head in our Handbrake benchmark, which involves transcoding a 4K video to 1080p. Here, the x16 finished in four minutes and 50 seconds compared to four minutes and eight seconds for the Raider GE78 HX. However, the ROG Strix Scar 18’s took just two minutes and 49 seconds to perform the same task.

Display on the Alienware x16

The x16 uses a 16-inch IPS panel with a 2560 x 1600 (QHD+) resolution and a 240 Hz refresh rate. Alienware uses an anti-reflective coating on the display to reduce unsightly reflections outdoors or indoors under bright lights.

At 300 nits as measured by our lightmeter the x16’s display wasn't as bright as the Raider GE78 HX (412 nits) and the ROG Strix Scar 18 (402 nits). That’s not to say I had a subpar experience with the display. It was quite the contrary, as I had no trouble enjoying the display indoors with copious overhead LED lighting or outside on my front porch with mid-day sunlight beaming down.

According to our colorimeter, the x16 covers 75.3 percent of DCI-P3 and 106 percent of the sRGB color gamut. These figures closely mirrored the Aorus 15X and ROG Strix Scar 18. However, the Raider GE78 HX surpassed those, reaching 115.4 percent for DCI-P3 and 163 percent for sRGB.

To test out the display, I queued up Throttle House’s comparison test of the BMW M2 versus the Porsche Cayman GTS and Volkswagen Golf R. My eyes were immediately drawn to the Cayman GTS, which was painted in Python Green. I had previously watched the video on my desktop Dell S3221QS 4K monitor, but the x16’s display breathed new life into the color.

While the green looked somewhat duller and flatter on my Dell monitor, the x16 gave it a deeper, more rich green that is truer to what it looks like in real life (yes, I’ve seen Porsche’s Viper Green up close and in person on more than one occasion, usually on 911s). Little details stood out clearly and accurately, like the bright red stitching along the interior doors and the GTS stitching on the seat headrests.

I also spent plenty of time playing Cyberpunk 2077 and Overwatch 2. I spent most of my time in the bright and airy Colosseo map while playing Overwatch 2 and hanging around the dark, desolate despair of Vista Del Rey in Cyberpunk 2077. Both games looked good on the x16 in just about every possible situation.

Keyboard and Touchpad on the Alienware x16

Our review unit came equipped with an AlienFX mechanical keyboard with per-key RGB backlighting. The clicky keys and the sound they generate is like music to my ears. It reminds me of my younger days using classic IBM Model M keyboards in middle and high school.

Despite the 16-inch form factor of the x16, Alienware opted not to include a number pad. Instead, you’ll see nicely spaced-out keys and vents on either side of the keyboard covering one of the system’s four cooling fans.

Using my go-to typing speed website, keyhero.com, I achieved 90.51 words per minute with 98.81 percent accuracy. For comparison, I mustered just 75 wpm and 90.61 percent accuracy with the similarly sized Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra and 67.81 wpm and 97.1 percent accuracy with the Asus ROG Strix G16.

While RGB keyboards are nothing new, the RGB touchpad was something that I haven’t yet encountered on a laptop. The edge-lit RGBs add a colorful touch to an otherwise mundane touchpad. I opted for the Rainbow Wave effect, which lasts roughly 10 seconds after you last used the touchpad before it turns off on the High duration setting. The touchpad measures just 4.4 x 2.6 inches, which is a bit small to me for a 16-inch laptop. While you're better off using one of the best gaming mice for play time, it's nice to have a full-sized touchpad for actual work.

Audio on the Alienware x16

The Alienware x16 has no shortage of speakers. There are two 2-watt tweeters located towards the back of the chassis and four 3-watt speakers right up front under the palm rest. These speakers can get very loud, easily filling my upstairs home office. Even with the sound cranked to 100%, distortion is not discernable, although my ears begged for mercy at that volume.

Gunfire and ambient noises were clear and crisp in Cyberpunk 2077, with gunshots reverberating throughout my office. It was a similar experience in Red Dead Redemption 2, with the clear sound of horseshoes hitting the pavement and flesh being torn apart when shooting an enemy in the chest at close range.

I also pulled up one of my favorite tracks from Keane, “Black Burning Heart.” Tom Chaplin’s voice soars on the track, and you can even make out the subtle gasps of air he takes before each verse starts. It’s something that I’ve always noticed with Tom’s vocals (across multiple albums) while listening to tracks with headphones on, but it’s one of the few times that I could make out that peculiarity from laptop speakers.

Upgradeability of the Alienware x16

The x16’s bottom panel is held in place by six Philips head screws and detaches easily. Once removed, the battery and dual M.2 SSD slots are easily accessible (one of which is occupied by the system’s 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD). The Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo card is also within reach to the left of the M.2 slots.

Unfortunately, the memory is soldered onto the motherboard, so there are no future upgrades in store once you’ve selected your memory configuration at purchase time.

Battery Life on the Alienware x16

The x16 uses a 90-kWh battery, leading to good battery life versus the competition. The x16 managed to endure for five hours and 37 minutes on our battery test, which included browsing the web, streaming videos and running OpenGL tests with the screen to 150 nits.

The Aorus 15X was the next-closest competitor at five hours and 20 minutes, while the Raider GE78 HX lasted just two hours and 32 minutes during the test.

Heat on the Alienware x16

We can only assume that Alienware went with the fewer cores of the Core i9-13900HK to cut down on the heat output in this thin chassis. However, the heat levels are still high, even with four cooling fans exhausting air from the chassis. While gaming, my legs got uncomfortably hot from the heat being transferred to the aluminum bottom panel. Heat also poured out from the area above the keyboard where the two rear fans are located.

Our testing showed that temperatures measured 96.1F (35.6 C) between the G and H keys while running the Metro Exodus benchmark. The touchpad measured 78.4 F (25.8 C), while the bottom aluminum panel measured 116.8 F (47.1 C). However, the hottest points measured were on the underside near the rear exhaust vents at 129.7 F (54.3 C).

Webcam on the Alienware x16

The x16 features a 1080p RGB+IR webcam with Windows Hello support, and overall image quality was excellent. It’s a clear step up from the shoddy 720p webcams we’ve been subject to over the years. In this case, the camera has remarkably low noise levels, even in low-light conditions. Details were easily picked up by the camera, and colors were well represented. At first, my skin color was skewing slightly red, and there were some weird halos around my overhead lights – then I realized that a thin piece of protective tape was still in place over the sensor. With that removed, the crisis was averted.

As I peered closer into the webcam, I clearly noticed that it was time to get my electric shaver out to tackle this balding head. The x16 doesn’t have a physical privacy shutter or keyboard shortcut to turn off the webcam, but a white LED does come on when the camera is active.

Software and Warranty on the Alienware x16

The x16 is loaded with four Alienware-specific apps: Alienware Command Center, Alienware Customer Connect, Alienware Digital Delivery and Alienware Update. Alienware Customer Connect and Alienware Update are pretty much self-explanatory. Alienware Digital Delivery is where you’ll find the software you purchased with your system.

However, most of your time will be spent in Alienware Command Center. This is where you can monitor system performance/vitals, set power profiles, and control AlienFX lighting (among other things).

Other installed apps included Dolby Access for adjusting Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision settings along with the Killer Intelligence Center for monitoring the Wi-Fi 6E card and network traffic. There are also several installed shortcuts for things like WhatsApp, ESPN, Instagram and Spotify.

The Alienware x16 comes with a one-year manufacturer warranty.

Configurations of the Alienware x16

The x16 is available with a Core i7-13620H, i7-13700H or i9-13900HK processor paired with 16GB or 32GB of DDR5-6000 memory. The full range of Nvidia Lovelace GPUs are available, ranging from the GeForce RTX 4050 to the RTX 4090. Likewise, customers can choose from 512GB to 4TB of internal storage and 165Hz or 240Hz refresh rate options for the 16-inch QHD+ display.

A base system with a Core i7-13620H processor, 16GB of DDR5, 512GB SSD, RTX 4050 and 120Hz QHD+ panel costs $1,999. A fully decked out system with a Core i9-13900HK, 32GB DDR5, 4TB (2x 2TB in RAID-O), RTX 4090, 240Hz QHD+ display and an AlienFX mechanical keyboard costs $4,149.

Our review unit is specced with a Core i9-13900HK, 32GB of DDR5, 1TB SSD, RTX 4080, 240Hz QHD+ display and the AlienFX mechanical keyboard. It's priced at $3,349.

Bottom Line

The Alienware x16 is a bit of a mixed bag when it comes to performance, and that’s due to the choice of the Core i9-13900HK processor versus the “HX” offerings in the competing laptops that we tested. This processor selection allows the x16 to come in at just 5.67 pounds with a frame that is just 0.73 inches thick.

Compared to the MSI Raider GE78 HX with a Core i9-13950HX and RTX 4080 at the same resolution, the x16 came up with the short end of the stick nearly every time. In addition, the chassis of the x16 gets uncomfortably hot in your lap while gaming and even the top portion of the keyboard deck gets noticeably hot. The Raider GE78 HX’s advantage in performance comes at the cost of a thicker chassis that weighs roughly a pound more.

But the biggest detractor is the price, which as tested, came in at $3,349. You can get the much faster but admittedly heavier Raider GE78 HX for $2,999. You’ll have to decide if the slightly slimmer profile and lower weight of the x16 are worth having the RTX 4080 handicapped by its processor.

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Right now at Dell, users can find the Alienware M15 R7 gaming laptop for one of its best prices yet. This RTX 3070 Ti-powered gaming laptop usually goes for around $2,149 but right now it’s marked down to $1,399. Using promo code GAMING15 at checkout will take the final price down to $1,189.

This is a high-powered gaming laptop with plenty of good specs for most modern titles. When we reviewed the Alienware M15 R7 in 2022, we greatly appreciated its performance. Although it’s not top-of-the-line, there’s still plenty to get excited about. Under the hood, you’ll find an AMD Ryzen 7 6800H processor alongside an Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti graphics card.

The AMD Ryzen 7 6800H has a base clock speed of 3.2GHz. With max boost enabled, it can reach up to 4.7GHz. The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti mobile GPU features 8GB of GDDR6 and outputs to a 15.6-inch display with a resolution of 2560 x 1440. This screen can reach a maximum refresh rate of 240Hz. Memory-wise, it comes with a 1TB internal M.2 2280 SSD for storage and 16GB of DDR5-4800.

There are a few ports available including three USB Type-A ports, one USB Type-C port, a Thunderbolt 4 port and an Ethernet jack. For video output, users have both a DisplayPort and HDMI output to take advantage of. As far as audio support goes, it comes with two integrated 2.5W speakers and a 3.5mm headset jack for external audio peripherals.

Visit the Alienware M15 R7 gaming laptop product page at Dell for more details and purchase options. Be sure to use promo code GAMING15 at checkout to get the full discount.

Now, this is interesting. I recently reviewed the new Philips Evnia 34M2C7600, a 34-inch curved VA Mini LED gaming monitor. And this is a review of the Evnia 34M2C8600. Only one number is different, so why are we here? Because the monitors are so incredibly different. They may look identical on the outside, but the 8600 has a slightly shinier screen coating because it features a QD-OLED panel. OLED gaming monitors can look good with their infinite blacks and bright colors. In addition, their smooth gaming performance delivers superb motion quality without the need for super high frame rates.

Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 Specs

The Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 brings the best technologies from OLED and LCD to bear. It is an OLED in that its pixels, 3440x1440 (WQHD), are self-emissive. And they can be turned off individually to produce perfect, as in unmeasurable, black levels, and therefore, infinite contrast.

Philips adds a quantum dot layer from the LCD world that accomplishes two things. It boosts light output and widens the color gamut. With VESA DisplayHDR 400 certification, the 34M2C8600 isn’t exactly a light cannon, but small highlights can be as bright as 1,000 nits. The bigger enhancement, though, is color. I’ve reviewed QD-OLEDs from Alienware, and though they boast large gamuts, the Philips covers over 108% of DCI-P3. Only a few monitors have broken the 100% barrier in my tests. With these technologies in play, you can expect a superlative image.

I’ve been impressed with the gaming prowess of every OLED monitor that’s crossed my test bench, and the 34M2C8600 is no different. OLEDs deliver smoother motion from lower framerates than LCDs, and they don’t need overdrive or strobing to achieve it. The 34M2C8600 runs at 175 Hz but looks as good as a 240 Hz screen in practice. Of course, Adaptive-Sync is included for FreeSync and G-Sync platforms and VRR-capable consoles. HDMI inputs are limited to 100 Hz, but you can run the full 175 Hz through DisplayPort or USB-C. The 32M2C8600 has not been certified by Nvidia, but it runs G-Sync without restriction.

Besides the OLED panel, this monitor is identical in appearance and features to the 34M2C7600 I recently reviewed. It includes Philips’ Ambiglow lighting, which is useful because it can function as a bias light rather than just being there for show. And it’s distinctively styled in white, cables and all, to set it apart from the sea of black displays we’re so accustomed to. At $1,299, it’s priced competitively. Let’s take a look.

Assembly and Accessories

The 34M2C8600 comes out of its crumbly foam packing in three pieces. The panel is heavy, so take care when removing it; you don’t want to mar that shiny screen coating. It doesn’t come with a peel-off film like most OLEDs, so be wary of fingerprints. The base bolts onto the upright then the stand snaps into a slim socket-like fitting. It’s the only weak point here, as it allows a bit of wobble. But it seems sturdy enough for the long haul, and the rest of the chassis is stout. The included cables are all white, and the power supply is internal, so, no brick to find a spot for.

Product 360

If you put the 34M2C8600 and the 34M2C7600 side-by-side, the only hint that something’s different is the 34M2C8600’s shinier screen coating. It isn’t as glossy as a typical OLED TV but will pick up more reflections than an LCD. Nevertheless, it isn’t too hard to find a good spot for the monitor unless you have it near a sunlit window.

The bezel is flush and relatively narrow, with the white plastic backing just visible in front. A silver trim strip on the bottom is faceted to create a chiseled look. If you turn on the Ambiglow lights underneath, they cast a soft glow on the desktop. More lights are in the back, where a multitude of effects and colors are possible. I like to use Ambiglow as a bias light by shining a white light on the wall behind the monitor. The glow around the screen increases the perception of sharpness and contrast. There is science behind this, and it truly does work. I use bias lights with a projection screen and the OLED TV in my living room.

The stand is very solid and made from cast aluminum. The base is also metal with a plastic covering. The package is well built except for the panel’s attachment point, which is a bit narrow for the weight it carries. That allows for some wobble when making adjustments. You get a 150mm (5.9 inches) height range plus 20 degrees swivel and 5/20 degrees tilt.

Philips hasn’t skimped on the 34M2C8600’s sound quality. A pair of five-watt speakers are integrated along with DTS sound modes. They alter phase and frequency response to create different effects. You can also adjust a five-band eq if you like. In practice, they sounded much larger than the confines of the screen, which almost suggest a surround feel. There isn’t a ton of bass, but they play loud without audible distortion.

Underneath, you’ll find two HDMI 2.0 inputs and one DisplayPort 1.4. A USB-C port supports peripherals, charging and provides an additional DisplayPort 1.4. One upstream and four downstream USB 3.2 ports enhance a KVM feature where you can bind USB and video ports together. That lets you control multiple sources with a single keyboard and mouse. It’s all programmable in the OSD. Finally, if you’d rather plug in headphones, there’s a 3.5mm jack.

OSD Features

The 34M2C8600’s OSD is summoned by clicking a tiny joystick, the only control, on the back right corner. The menu is graphically styled for gaming with seven sub-menus and status info across the bottom.

The 34M2C8600 has 10 picture modes suited to different game types, but the best choice is the default, Standard. It comes close to the mark for grayscale, gamma and color. You can dial down the gamut by turning on the sRGB option. It’s reasonably accurate if you want the correct color values for SDR content. There are five gamma presets and eight color temp presets. Unusually, there are no RGB sliders for fine tweaking. But the Native, Preset and 6500K options are close to D65.

Gaming options include an Adaptive-Sync toggle, DarkBoost for shadow detail, a zoom window for sniping, and a cool adaptive crosshair feature. You can have a colored crosshair if you want, or turn on Smart Crosshair and watch it change color to keep it in contrast with the background. It is always visible, no matter what’s happening in the game. Dynamic DarkBoost will vary low-end gamma to help shadow detail remain visible. Since the 34M2C8600 has such deep black levels, some users may want to turn this on to avoid being surprised by enemies in dark places. Sharp Shooter creates a window in the center of the screen with extra magnification, like a sniper scope.

Ambiglow has enough options to keep one busy for hours. You can run the lights in every spectrum color and turn on different effects. Or run the show in concert with your on-screen content. It creates an extension of the image that is great for impressing your friends. You can also turn on a fixed white light at a low intensity to act as a bias light. This will improve the perception of sharpness and contrast if you have a neutral-colored wall about two or three feet behind the 34M2C8600.

The DTS-tuned audio plays from two five-watt internal speakers that are better than those typically integrated into gaming monitors. The sound modes vary phase and frequency response to create sound stages of varying size. For example, Shooting & Action creates a believable surround effect. If you’d rather tweak it yourself, a five-band eq is provided.

The USB ports can be bound to video inputs using the 34M2C8600’s KVM feature. That lets the monitor operate as a hub for a single set of peripherals.

OLED Panel Care has several options to keep burn-in at bay. All OLEDs are susceptible to it though not as acutely as the plasma TVs of old. The orbiter is invisible in operation and shifts the image minutely to prevent static pictures from using the same pixels for too long. Screen Saver dims the picture after a few minutes of inactivity. Pixel Refresh can be run in the 34M2C8600’s standby mode every few hours to condition the panel further. I use similar features with a two-and-a-half-year-old LG OLED TV and it shows no image retention artifacts.

Philips Evnia 34M2C8600 Calibration Settings

Like the 34M2C7600 VA monitor, the 34M2C8600 cannot be calibrated in the traditional manner. There are no RGB sliders, only fixed color temps and gamma presets. Fortunately, the monitor is accurate enough not to require fine adjustment. Three of the color temp options, 6500K, Preset and Native, all match the D65 standard. And the 2.2 gamma preset is indeed 2.2 with only slight variation. The native color gamut is large, over 105% of DCI-P3, and remains in play for both SDR and HDR content unless you use the sRGB option. It reduces saturation appropriately and is useful for photo editing or any other application that requires sRGB or Rec.709.

HDR signals unlock four additional picture modes. The default is HDR Game, but I found better quality using True Black. It also delivers the highest output and the most accurate color & luminance tracking. It is not adjustable but proved accurate in testing. My recommended settings are below.

Gaming and Hands-on

There are some monitors that just spoil you, 360 Hz for sure; even many 240 Hz screens make it hard to go back below 200 fps. But an OLED, even running at just 175 Hz, is a serious spoiler.

Of course, the benefits of infinite contrast to image quality cannot be overstated. Yes, Mini LED comes close. But OLED is the best, and the 34M2C8600 is a shining example. SDR games like Tomb Raider could almost pass for HDR. In fact, it looks better played here than HDR games played on an LCD with an edge backlight. I went back and forth with the sRGB option to give it due diligence. The extra color, though not strictly accurate, is a good thing for gaming. The 34M2C8600 doesn’t overblow its hues when using the full gamut for SDR content. And this remained true when watching a video. sRGB is there if you need it for photo editing or color grading tasks.

HDR is where the real fun begins. I spent hours playing Doom Eternal because the 34M2C8600 does everything well. It looks stunning, enough so that you’d swear it’s Ultra HD. The pixel density is 110ppi, the same as a 27-inch 16:9 QHD screen. Ultra HD is in the 130s for most desktop monitors, so yes, it is potentially sharper. But the 34M2C8600’s OLED contrast more than makes up for it.

Gaming feel is off-the-charts fun as well. 175 Hz won’t deliver this level of smoothness from any LCD panel. But OLED keeps the fastest motion tack-sharp at 175 fps. You won’t need a GeForce RTX 4090 here, as you would with an Ultra HD monitor. There’s no overdrive in play, so ghosting is absent. And you won’t have to give up Adaptive-Sync to turn on a backlight strobe either. The 34M2C8600 does its thing perfectly with no enhancements required.

I used Ambiglow as a bias light and tried the follow video/audio feature. Bias lighting is something I use in other viewing scenarios, so it is a familiar effect. The follow option varies the light and color according to what’s happening on the screen. I’ve used it with other Philips displays, and it seems to work better in the 16:9 aspect ratio. The ultra-wide format fills more of my peripheral vision, so I didn’t notice the LEDs as much unless I turned off all the room lights. It’s fun to play around with and you won’t find it on any other brand.

Productivity is entirely natural with the 34M2C8600. The panel curve is benign in that it neither enhances nor detracts from document editing. There is no image distortion in text-based apps like Word or Excel. Photos and videos look the same as they do on a flat screen. Except, of course, there’s that OLED contrast. It makes text pop and dials up the sharpness to where, again, you’d swear it’s 4K.

If you’re concerned about image retention, Philips has provided a complete kit of panel maintenance options in the OSD. I can’t speak to the 34M2C8600 long-term prospects as it would likely take many months of abuse to cause a problem. My LG OLED TV is about two-and-a-half years old and used for several hours daily. It has no burn-in of any kind.

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To compare the 34M2C8600’s performance, I’ve lined up an almost-all-OLED group that consists of Corsair’s Xeneon Flex, Asus’ PG27AQDM, Alienware’s AW3423DW and AW3423DWF, and as a control, the Philips 34M2C7600 which is a VA Mini LED with similar specs.

Pixel Response and Input Lag

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

Higher refresh rates mean higher frame rates and smoother motion. But when comparing OLEDs, there is little difference between 175 Hz and 240 Hz. Two LCDs running at those speeds are more obviously different. This is because OLED processes motion better and keeps objects sharp at lower speeds. I have observed this to be true of all the OLEDs I’ve tested.

If input lag is your most important metric, the PG27AQDM is the current king, but the 34M2C8600 isn’t far behind at 27ms total. This difference might be too much for professional gamers, but most players won’t be disappointed at the Philips’ feel or performance. It is very responsive and smooth in all types of gameplay. However, you’ll notice the other Philips is a bit lower in the ranking thanks to its 165 Hz refresh rate. And it is much less smooth than all the OLEDs.

Viewing Angles

Aside from “it’s awesome'' there isn’t much else one can say about the 34M2C8600’s off-axis image quality. This is one of OLED’s major advantages over LCD. The degree of light polarization is far lower, meaning you won’t see any reduction in brightness and just a minimal color shift. You can see a bit of red in both angle shots, horizontal and vertical. But this will be hard to spot in actual content. The 34M2C8600 is very shareable by two users.

Screen Uniformity

To learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.

Screen uniformity doesn’t get much better than 2.10% deviation. The 34M2C8600 produced one of the lowest values I’ve ever recorded. None of the OLEDs here have any visible glow, bleed or variation, so as a technology, it is more consistent in this test than LCDs. In practice, any number below 10% is visually perfect.

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To read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.

Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight Level

The one place where OLED lags behind LCD is in peak brightness. Some LCD monitors can render over 1,000 nits in a full-field white pattern, where OLEDs can show around 300-400 nits. But they get brighter when the white zone takes up less of the screen.

The 34M2C8600 peaks at 226 nits in SDR mode which is bright enough for any indoor environment. That’s a full-field white number. A 25% window pattern measures just over 400 nits. There’s enough light here for any application. With an unmeasurable black level, contrast is theoretically infinite. As impressive as the 34M2C7600 is, with almost 4,000:1, it can’t compare to any OLED.

After Calibration to 200 nits

Since there are no RGB sliders, calibration of the 34M2C8600 is just setting brightness to 200 nits. I used a full-field pattern to create a fairly bright image. Some users may want to tone this down if their room is darker than mine. The 34M2C7600 maintains strong performance when compared to other LCD panels.

ANSI contrast cannot be determined for any OLED as the black squares are unmeasurable. The 34M2C7600 is a good performer but the OLEDs are on another level. This is a difference that can be seen in content during side-by-side comparisons.

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The 34M2C8600 ships in its Standard picture mode and it is close enough to spec that one can simply set brightness to taste. No RGB sliders are available, but three of the color temp presets render D65.

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.

By default, the color temp is set to 6500K with gamma at 2.2. Tiny errors at 60, 90 and 100% are nearly invisible in both test patterns and content. Gamma is slightly light at the 20% step and a bit dark at 90%, also a minor error. This is excellent out-of-box performance.

I’ve included the grayscale and gamma run as a post-calibration result, but the only adjustment is a reduction in the brightness slider. That tightens up gamma a bit, but no other changes have occurred.

Turning on the sRGB option shrinks the gamut and leaves gamma and grayscale the same. And that is how it should be.

Comparisons

The other monitors, save the 34M2C7600, can be calibrated to a high standard. Visual differences here are tiny but nit-pickers may take issue with the 34M2C8600’s lack of RGB controls. However, in my experience, it didn’t lessen the gaming experience. Gamma, at any rate, is tight with a small 0.13 range of values and a minor 1.36% variation from the 2.2 reference value.

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.

Aside from a bit of red over-saturation, the 34M2C8600 renders all, and then some, of DCI-P3. Most importantly, it hits all the green points, which most wide-gamut monitors cannot do. The errors are tiny and not visually significant. You’ll see a bit of bonus red in some content but not enough to cause a complaint. You can see that changing the brightness value does not alter the gamut test result.

The sRGB gamut rendering is interesting. Red is quite over-saturated, but blue is under. This is unusual in my experience. The overall error level is low, but in content, you’ll see the extra red and blue will look a little pale. The 34M2C8600’s version of sRGB is superior to that of the 34M2C7600, but neither monitor is really qualified for color-critical work in the sRGB color space. If DCI-P3 is on the menu, you’re fine.

Comparisons

The 34M2C8600’s 1.58dE color error is hard to beat by any monitor except an OLED. The screens I’ve tested so far are all more color-accurate than typical LCDs. At 2.66dE, the 34M2C7600 isn’t far behind though. I’m splitting hairs here.

One of the main promises of quantum dot OLEDs is greater color saturation. You can see that in play from both the 34M2C8600 and the Alienware screens which also have QD layers. But the Philips wins the day by a nose. It is extremely colorful, and that’s something that clearly translates to gaming and productivity. The image is stunning in every respect. Note that even the least colorful screen isn’t far below 100% coverage. That’s well above the norm, which is closer to 90%.

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

If HDR brightness is important to you, a Mini LED screen is the better choice. Some of them can exceed 1,400 nits. But dynamic range is the most important thing to me and anyone else seeking maximum image depth. That’s where OLED is unchallenged.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The 34M2C8600 meets its DisplayHDR 400 certification when measuring a 25% window pattern. Philips specs it at 1,000 nits with a 3% window, but I could not verify this with my equipment. I have no complaints whatsoever. And like any OLED, black levels can’t be measured so the contrast is infinite. I observed the same behavior from the Mini LED 34M2C7600.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

I measured the 34M2C8600’s four HDR modes and settled on True Black as the best. The default setting, HDR Game, is just OK. It rises out of black too quickly, where True Black sticks closer to the reference. This provides a much more dramatic effect. HDR looks amazing here with flawless grayscale and near-perfect luminance tracking. It doesn’t get better than this.

HDR color is over-saturated in the red and green primaries, but the other colors follow their targets closely. The 34M2C8600 tracks better than many of the HDR monitors I’ve tested. This translates to sharp detail, natural hues and content that just looks right. Similar behavior can be seen in the Rec.2020 test, where the red primary almost hits 100%. There is a ton of color here and it shows in everything, games, video, still photos, even the Windows desktop. 

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Philips has come out of the gate swinging with its new Evnia monitors. I was impressed with the Mini LED 34M2C7600, but the 34M2C8600’s QD-OLED panel is simply on another level from any LCD gaming monitor I’ve reviewed. OLED's look and feel will dominate the desktop monitor market as prices move downwards. If you can invest in bleeding-edge display technology, OLED is it.

The 34M2C8600 delivers infinite contrast and a huge color gamut, one that covers more than 108% of DCI-P3, thanks to its Quantum Dot layer. That puts it among the most colorful monitors currently available. Like all OLEDs, its pixels can be turned off to create true blacks. Mini LED has up to 1,196 dimming zones, but a WQHD OLED panel has 4,953,600. So which do you think will look better? And with 1,000-nit highlights in HDR mode, there’s plenty of brightness to spare.

The gaming feel of OLED panels has spoiled me. After playing on many 240 and 360 Hz monitors and even a 500 Hz screen, I have observed that an OLED running at 165 or 175 Hz delivers a similar level of smoothness. The high refresh panels have lower input lag as their only true advantage.

It should be noted that the 34M2C7600 costs the same as the 34M2C8600 at this writing. With identical features and styling, the difference is simply OLED versus VA/Mini LED. Both monitors look amazing, but I’ll choose the OLED every time. Of course, if you need searing brightness, the Mini LED wins. But for the ultimate gaming experience, OLED is king. Those wanting to add a superlative monitor to their gaming system should check out the Philips Evnia 34M2C8600.

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Dell’s Alienware brand may be a household name in PC gaming, but its track record with peripherals is... well, let’s just say “not the best.” The brand’s newest gaming mouse, the Alienware 620M, is a dual-mode wireless mouse with a 26,000 DPI sensor, three lighting zones, and 140 hours of battery life. It has a contoured, ergonomic right-handed form factor that’s very similar to the Logitech G502 X Plus and the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro, so if you’re looking for a budget-friendly alternative to the flagships on our list of best gaming mice, this might be the mouse for you. THe 620M comes in black and white colorways and retails for $99.99.

Design and Comfort of the 620M

The 620M is a large, contoured wireless gaming mouse. It comes in two colorways: “lunar light” (white) and “dark side of the moon” (black); our review unit was white. The mouse has an ergonomic right-handed design with a moderate, slanted hump and a contoured thumb rest.

It’s comfortable but large — it measures 5.2 inches (132mm) long by 3.1 inches (78.7mm) wide, and it’s 1.6 inches (40.6mm) high at its highest point. It has a similar form factor and size as the Logitech G502 X Plus (5.17 x 3.12 x 1.62 inches / 131.3 x 79.3 x 41.2 mm) and the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro (5.11 x 2.96 x 1.67 inches / 130 x 75.2 x 42.4 mm). The 620M is slightly lighter than both of those mice, however: its listed weight is 3.52oz (99.8g), but our review unit weighed just 3.17oz (90g), while the G502 X Plus weighs 3.74oz (106g) and the Basilisk V3 Pro weighs 3.95oz (112g).

The 620M has a plastic chassis with a smooth, satiny finish, which feels nice but is, unfortunately, very slippery. The mouse has what Dell calls “tactile grip zones” on either side. Tanslating the marketing speak, that’s light, dimpled texturing that does basically nothing to help with grippiness. I was able to pick this mouse up and move it — very quickly — across my desk, but it didn’t feel comfortable or secure. Also, this only worked when I was using a palm grip, because it was the mouse’s contoured thumb channel that kept the mouse stuck to my hand. Needless to say, this is not a good mouse for fingertip or claw grips, even briefly. I’d also skip it if you sweat even slightly while gaming — I don’t sweat at all, and I had trouble keeping the 620M from slipping in my grasp.

The 620M has seven programmable buttons: left click, right click, two thumb buttons, the scroll wheel click, and a dual-click DPI switch under the scroll wheel. The scroll wheel is notched and covered in a textured, rubbery material. It feels pretty standard — moderately-spaced notches with mild resistance. It’s not a tilt wheel, but the scroll wheel click can be activated from the left side (but not the right) as well as from above. I’m not sure if this is on purpose — the right-side click feels like a discrete click but it isn’t (meanwhile, clicking from the right side feels like trying to tilt-click a non-tilt wheel).

On the bottom of the 620M, you’ll find a power switch as well as PTFE feet at the top, bottom, under the thumb rest, and surrounding the sensor. The feet are relatively large and fairly thick, and the 620M glided decently well over a variety of surfaces, though its movement wasn’t otherwise noteworthy.

The mouse comes with a 6.6-foot (2m) USB-C to USB-A cable, a 2.4GHz USB-C dongle, and a USB-C to USB-C extender. The cable is a flexible, lightweight paracord — it’s not quite as flexible as Razer’s SpeedFlex cable, but it’ll do in a pinch. The mouse does not open up or have anywhere to store its dongle, though I suppose you can plug it into the mouse’s charging port. I started testing this mouse while I was traveling, and keeping track of the tiny dongle was definitely a challenge.

Specs

Performance of the 620M

Dell doesn’t disclose the 620M’s exact sensor beyond calling it “a leading edge sensor,” but it has a maximum sensitivity of 26,000 DPI, a maximum speed of 650 IPS, and can handle up to 50 Gs of acceleration. 

It has optical switches, which are rated for 70 million clicks, with “patent-pending magnetically sprung, independent L/R keyplates that are faster, stiffer, and more durable than traditional spring mechanisms,” whatever that means. The switches felt good — clicky, consistent, and slightly stiff (but not too stiff). The dual-click button next to the scroll wheel was easier to press than most scroll wheel-adjacent buttons, because it’s more of a switch that moves laterally rather than a button that needs to be pressed from above. 

I didn’t have any issues with mis-clicks or phantom scrolling during my testing, but I’ve only been using this mouse for a couple of weeks. My colleague, Matt Safford, said that after about six months of intermittent use, the scroll wheel on the Alienware 720M started malfunctioning — specifically, about one out of every six or so turns in one direction, it would register one or two of the scrolls as going in the opposite direction. “For me that was mostly a pain for scrolling through long documents or web pages,” he told me. “But if I were gaming and trying to, say, get to a pulse rifle in the heat of battle only to have a shotgun thrown back in my hands instead, I would probably take the closest actual weapon I have at hand and put it out of my misery.” The 620M appears to have the same sensor and scroll wheel as the 720M, so we’ll have to check back in six months. 

Gaming with the 620M was, for the most part, fine. The sensor is accurate, responsive, and has no problem tracking over a variety of surfaces; clicks are consistent and feel satisfyingly clicky; and the auxiliary buttons are all easy enough to press. It’s a comfortable mouse overall, so it works well in MMOs and RPGs, but it doesn’t really have enough programmable buttons for MMORPGs (like my ride-or-die, The Elder Scrolls Online). It’s speedy and responsive enough for FPS gaming, but it’ll depend on the type of FPS gaming you’re doing — I don’t pick up my mouse very often, but I pick it up enough when I’m playing competitive online games like Overwatch 2 and Valorant that the 620M’s slipperiness frustrated me. 

Again — for the most part, it’s fine. But when it comes to performance, the 620M doesn’t particularly stand out as a must-have in the gaming mouse category. 

Features and Software of the 620M

The 620M works with Dell’s Alienware Command Center, which auto-installs on your PC when you first connect the mouse. Like most peripheral software, the Alienware Command Center tries too hard to do too much and takes up too much space when all you really want to do is program some buttons and adjust your DPI, but let’s ignore that for now.

In the FX section of the Alienware Command Center, you can create and edit “themes,” each with their own mouse settings, button programming, and RGB lighting colors and effects. You can assign each theme to a specific game, if you want — if you don’t want, you’ll still need to edit the default theme to change the mouse’s settings, remap buttons, and customize lighting colors and effects. The “Settings” section offers a handful of device settings as well as DPI settings (there are five DPI steps; adjustments can be made in increments of 10) and lift-off distance (1 - 2mm). There’s also an update section where you can restore the device to factory settings or update its firmware. 

While you can save multiple "themes," or profiles, within the Alienware Command Center, you can only save one profile to the mouse's hardware. 

Button programming takes place in the “Macros” section. On the left side, you’ll see a list of macros (initially it will only contain a handful of actions, such as ‘left click,’ ‘right click,’ and ‘disable button’), from which you can drag and drop actions onto the corresponding buttons. For more actions, you’ll need to create your own: clicking “create new macro” opens up a menu that lets you create macros, as well as keystroke actions, textblocks, and shortcuts for opening folders, files, programs, or websites.

The 620M has built-in RGB lighting, and it’s pretty nicely-implemented — Dell has done a good job of putting it in places that aren’t completely covered when you’re using the mouse, and I really like the way the alien logo glows on the palm rest. The mouse’s RGB is separated into three zones, which you can customize in the Alienware Command Center. While I often criticize peripheral software for giving users far too much creative freedom (and basically zero guidance) when it comes to creating RGB lighting effects, the Alienware Command Center certainly does not fall into that trap.

Actually, lighting customization for the 620M is surprisingly limited, considering how much thought clearly went into the physical lighting aesthetic. You can program different effects for each of the mouse’s three zones, but you’re limited to five effects: “morph,” “pulse,” “color,” “breathing,” and “spectrum.” “Pulse,” “color,” and “breathing” are all single-color effects: “Pulse” blinks one color off and on, “color” displays a static color, and “breathing” is like pulse, except it fades the color off and on (instead of blinking). “Spectrum” cycles through the spectrum, fading from one color to the next — you can adjust the speed with which it cycles through, but you can’t create your own custom spectrum or anything. “Morph” fades between two colors, and is the only mildly customizable lighting effect (but it’s still only two colors).

Wireless Experience and Battery Life of the 620M

The 620M has two forms of connectivity — 2.4GHz wireless and wired (via USB-C). It does not have Bluetooth, which isn’t necessary for gaming but is convenient for traveling and mobile devices. It’s an interesting choice, though perhaps not too unexpected — the similar G502 X Plus also does not have Bluetooth. Unlike the G502 X Plus, the 620M’s 2.4GHz dongle is USB-C, so you can use it with laptops and mobile devices that have USB-C ports.

Dell rates the 620M’s battery life at 140 hours (over 2.4GHz wireless, as the mouse has nothing else) with the RGB lighting turned off. This is excellent for a wireless mouse, albeit not unheard of: The MSI Clutch GM51 Lightweight Wireless also gets 140 hours, as does Alienware’s own 720M — and the 720M also has Bluetooth, over which it gets a whopping 420 hours. Still, most premium gaming mice top out at closer to 80 - 90 hours over 2.4GHz wireless, so the 620M’s battery life is still admirable. The 620M also features quick charging — just five minutes of charge time will get you up to 10 hours of gameplay.

Bottom Line

If you love the contoured feel of mice like the Logitech G502 X Plus or the Razer Basilisk V3 Pro, the Alienware 620M has virtually the same form factor, save for the slippery sides — both the G502 X Plus and the Basilisk V3 Pro have rubberized side panels. The 620M is also more budget-friendly than its $160 competitors (it’s still $100, though — not that budget-friendly), and it boasts an impressive 140-hour battery life. But it lacks several premium features that more premium gaming mice have, including Bluetooth support, multiple onboard profiles, a free-scrolling tilt wheel, and optional wireless charging. And while its performance is decent, it doesn’t particularly stand out as a gaming mouse you need to buy.

Alienware’s new m18 is among the largest laptops we’ve ever reviewed, with a display measuring 18 inches diagonally. But it’s not just the display that’s larger than life; the chassis is massive, thick, and heavy, while the keyboard is nearly the same size as a desktop counterpart.

Looking inside, the m18 R1 is loaded with flagship components, including up to an Intel Core i9-13980HX Raptor Lake mobile processor and an Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 discrete GPU. But Alienware doesn’t stop there; an optional panel on the 18-inch display has a 1920 x 1200 resolution with a dizzying refresh rate of 480 Hz. That’s a new high watermark for laptop displays, and the RTX 4090 is up to the challenge of driving that display.

The Alienware m18 R1 starts at $2,099, but our review unit rings in at $3,599. It is an absolute benchmark powerhouse, as you’ll see, and easily ranks among the best gaming laptops.

Design of the Alienware m18 R1

The Alienware m18 R1 is larger than life, and its immense dimensions bear that out. It measures 16.15 x 12.59 x 1.05 inches (410.3 x 319.9 x 26.7 mm) and weighs a hefty 8.9 pounds (4.03 kg). This is strictly a desktop replacement that you'll be unlikely tolug around.. However, it’s not too far off in size from the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18, which measures 15.71 x 11.57 x 1.21 inches, though that is significantly lighter at 6.83 pounds (3.09 kg).

Alienware’s new Legend 3.0 design language (which is an evolution of Legion 2.0 seen in our Alienware m15 R7 review) is on full display with the m18 R1, with honeycomb-style vents above the keyboard, an RGB alien head power button and an oblong RGB lighting element on the rear I/O panel. There’s also a second RGB alien head logo in the top-center of the lid, while an “18” is embossed on the lid’s lower right corner.

The overall build quality of the m18 R1 is excellent, with minimal flex in the chassis and no creaks, as you’d expect from a premium laptop. However, the black soft-touch finish on the keyboard deck is easily scratched. Somehow, I managed to scratch it just below the touchpad within minutes of taking it out of the box. It’s likely a result of my fingernail scraping it as I opened the lid, but keep this in mind if you manhandle your laptops.

Given the massive footprint of the m18 R1, Alienware had ample space to load the laptop up with ports. As a result, you’ll find a single USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-C port on the laptop's right side, while a headphone jack, two USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports, and a 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet port reside on the left side. However, the real party is on the back panel with two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A, HDMI 2.1, mini-DisplayPort, an SD card slot, and a proprietary barrel-style connector for power input. The power cord for the m18 R1 is among the thickest I’ve seen for a laptop, coming in at over a quarter of an inch thick. The power brick itself weighs two and a half pounds and is rated for 330 watts.

Alienware m18 R1 Specifications

Gaming on the Alienware m18 R1

Undoubtedly, the Alienware m18 R1 comes to the table with some impressive hardware credentials. Our review sample included a Core i9-13980HX processor, GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, and a healthy 32GB of DDR5-4800 memory.

When playing Overwatch 2, I saw frame rates hover between 400 and 460 frames per second during online gameplay with the Ultra graphics setting toggled to try to take advantage of the blazing fast display. Gameplay was fast and fluid, although the advantages that I could have extracted with this high-performance display were wasted, given that I’m an average first person shooter player at best. I, more often than not, find myself on the receiving end of a well-placed bullet.

The m18 R1 finds itself pitted against a trio of Raptor Lake / GeForce RTX 40 Series-equipped rivals from Asus, including the ROG Strix Scar 18 (Core i9-13980HX, RTX 4090, 1600p), MSI Raider GE78 HX (Core i9-13950HX, RTX 4080, 1600p) and the ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 (Ryzen 9 7945HX, RTX 4090, 1600p). We can confidently say that the m18 R1 was an absolute beast in our gaming benchmark suite. It took top honors across the board in the 1080p and 1200p tests.

In Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the m18 R1 (192 fps) edged out the ROG Strix Scar 18 (181 fps), while the ROG Zephyrus Duo 16, which also has an RTX 4090, could only muster 151 fps at 1080p. The MSI Raider GE78 HX, with its RTX 4080, was just a few paces back at 181 fps at 1080p. All of the rest of the competitors in this field have 1600p screens, which is why you see such a steep falloff on the chart compared to their performance at 1080p due to them pushing a lot more pixels. For example, the m18 R1 has a minimal drop to 163 fps at 1200p, while the ROG Strix Scar 18 hit 124 fps at 1600p.

The m18 R1 continued its 1080p winning streak in Grand Theft Auto V, where it recorded 181 fps, and stepped down just slightly to 175 fps at 1200p resolution. The MSI Raider GE78 HX and ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 weren’t far behind, coming in at 157 fps and 158 fps, respectively, at 1080p. However, both machines saw a more substantial drop at 1600p resolution, with the former hitting 88 fps. 

Far Cry 6 again saw the m18 R1 (123 fps) open a wide lead over the second-place ROG Strix Scar 18 (107 fps) at 1080p. While the m18 R1 saw a small drop to 121 fps at 1200p, the relative drop in performance at 1600p wasn’t excessive for the competition.

We witnessed the m18 R1 charge ahead again in the Red Dead Redemption 2 benchmark at 135 fps at 1080p resolution, blowing past the ROG Strix Scar 18 at 123 fps. Unfortunately, the ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 pulled up last place with 107 fps at 1080p; the Ryzen 9 7945HX didn’t have enough to push the RTX 4090 into contention with the 18-inch big boys.

Finally, the Alienware m18 R1 took on all challengers in Borderlands 3, and emerged victorious with 186 fps at 1080p, and an equally impressive 176 fps at 1200p. The ROG Strix Scar 18 also showed strong promise at 1080p with 165 fps, dropping to 112 fps at 1600p.

Our Metro Exodus stress test puts systems through 15 runs at 1080p using the RTX preset. The m18 R1 averaged 114.23 fps, which was consistent across all the runs. The Core i9-13980HX’s performance cores averaged 4.39 GHz, while the efficiency cores ran at 3.05 GHz and the CPU package measured 95.3 degrees Celsius. As for the GeForce RTX 4090, it averaged 2,220.13 MHz at 64.15 C.

Productivity Performance on the Alienware m18 R1

With a Core i9-13980HX processor and GeForce RTX 4090 at the helm, along with 32GB of DDR5 memory and a 1TB SSD, our Alienware m18 R1 configuration was no slouch in our productivity benchmark suite.

In the synthetic CPU benchmark, Geekbench 5, this gaming laptop group is closely clustered in both the single-core and multi-core scoring. The MSI Raider GE78 HX took top honors in the single-core benchmark (2,121), while the m18 R1 landed first place in the multi-core benchmark (21,005).

The file transfer test, which involves copying 25GB of files, saw the ROG Zephyrus 16 (1,947.37 MBps) edge out the second-place ROG Strix Scar 18 (1,885.81 MBps). The Raider GE78 HX came in third place at 1,521.53 MBps, while the m18 R1 pulled up the rear at 1,521.53 MBps.

The Handbrake test again saw a neck-and-neck race between the m18 R1, ROG Strix Scar 18 and ROG Zephyrus Duo 16. The m18 R1 secured first place with a time of two minutes and 39 seconds, while the Raider GE78 HX came in last place at four minutes and eight seconds.

Display on the Alienware m18 R1

The Alienware m18 R1 is available in two display configurations. The base configuration is an 18-inch QHD (2560 x 1600) 165 Hz IPS panel, while an FHD+ (1920 x 1200) 480Hz IPS panel is a $50 upcharge. Our review unit came with the latter.

Measuring 18 inches across, the m18 R1 is the true definition of a desktop-replacement gaming laptop. To reach the magic 480 Hz refresh rate, Alienware had to “settle” on a lower 1920 x 1200 resolution, but it’s perfectly fine for desktop use and gaming. In addition, the matte finish does a great job of minimizing reflections.

On our tests, the display was about average in brightness at 336 nits, putting it behind all the competitors in this field. However, the ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 was the runaway winner here with an eye-searing 684 nits maximum brightness from its mini LED panel.

The Alienware m18 R1’s display covers 109 percent of the sRGB color gamut and 77.4 percent of the DCI-P3 gamut. While both figures aligned with the IPS-based competition, they fell short of the ROG Zephyrus Duo 16 with 121 percent sRGB and 85.5 percent DCI-P3 coverage.

Keyboard and Touchpad on the Alienware m18 R1

The Alienware m18 R1 has a relatively large keyboard to go along with its colossal chassis. The keys are nicely spaced, and there was plenty of room to fit a number pad off to the right. Our review unit's optional, CherryMX ultra-low-profile mechanical keyboard has smooth and silent key presses. Per-key AlienFX RGB effects are enabled here, although I settled on the default blue for the entire keyboard during my testing.

My go-to for testing keyboards is keyhero.com, and I cruised through at 77 words per minute with 94.42 percent accuracy. For comparison, I hit 75 words per minute with 90.61 percent accuracy on the Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra and 59.29 words per minute with 87.13 percent accuracy on the Gigabyte Aorus 15X.

Given the size of the m18 R1, its touchpad is a bit underwhelming. It measures just 5.1 x 3.1 inches. And while I had no trouble mousing around with the touchpad, I missed the comically large 6 x 4.2-inch touchpad that I tested on the smaller Samsung Galaxy Book 3 Ultra. This won't be as big a deal when gaming with a mouse, of course.

Audio on the Alienware m18 R1

The Alienware m18 R1 features a pair of 2-watt speakers mounted near the front of the keyboard deck, where your palms rest. While the speakers produce clear sound at maximum volume level, they are sorely lacking in bass and depth.

I honestly expected more from a laptop with a price approaching $3,600. And given how large the chassis is, it seems like it would have been trivial to throw in another pair of high-quality speakers. I played “King of May” by Natalie Merchant, and her angelic vocals fell flat with the default audio settings. I opened the Dolby Access app and switched the Dolby Atmos setting from Music to Dynamic, which enhanced the vocals slightly, but wasn’t enough to make a drastic difference.

Explosions in games also lacked any meaningful impact and landed with a lifeless “thud” in Overwatch, while gunfire in Grand Theft Auto V was muddled. However, most gamers are likely going to put on a pair of headphones while gaming for a more immersive experience and to avoid the four howling fans inside the chassis.

Upgradeability on the Alienware m18 R1

Accessing the inside of the Alienware m18 R1 is accomplished by removing eight Philips head screws from its bottom panel. Once the screws are removed, the bottom panel lifts off, providing direct access to a bevy of user-replaceable components.

The battery can be swapped out after removing a few screws, and there are two M.2 slots (one already occupied by the 1TB SSD) for expanding storage. The Killer Wi-Fi 6E card is to the left of the SSD, and directly to its left are the two DDR5 SO-DIMMs (2 x 16GB in our review unit). You’ll also see two unused 2230 slots beside the memory.

Battery Life on the Alienware m18 R1

Given that the Alienware m18 R1 is a huge gaming laptop with a massive, ultra-high refresh rate display a flagship processors and high-end GPU configuration, we weren’t expecting much battery life. So we weren’t too surprised to see the m18 R1 last just two hours and 39 minutes during our battery test, which consists of browsing the web, streaming videos and performing OpenGL tests while connecting to Wi-Fi with the display dialed in at 150 nits.

The m18 R1’s endurance came about an hour and a half short of the Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 and about 25 minutes short of the ROG Zephyrus Duo 16, which is based on an AMD processor. On the other hand, the m18 R1 did last s6 minutes longer than the MSI Raider GE78 HX.

You’ll want to keep the m18 R1’s hefty power brick close by if you decide to venture away from your desk to game.

Heat on the Alienware m18 R1

With a heat-spewing Core i9-13980HX and GeForce RTX 4090 under the hood, the Alienware m18 R1 can get toasty. In addition, its fans spin up rapidly to expel the excess heat to keep the system cool.

We measure multiple places on the chassis during the Metro Exodus stress test to see how laptops handle heat. While running the test, we measured 36.5 degrees Celsius (97.7 degrees Fahrenheit) between the G and H keys. Moving down, the touchpad measured 22.7 C (73 F), while the underside of the chassis was a balmy 38.6 C (101.5 F). The hottest point we measured was at the top of the keyboard, which registered 51.7 C (125.1 F).

Webcam on the Alienware m18 R1

Like a growing number of premium gaming- and business-oriented laptops that have recently launched, the Alienware m18 features a higher resolution 1080p webcam instead of the 720p relics from years past. In addition, the camera has good overall quality with minimal artifacts and good color representation.

The webcam captured enough detail to pick up the stubble of my beard and what few strands of hair I’m hanging on to on top of my head.

Software and Warranty on the Alienware m18 R1

The Alienware m18 R1 comes with a minimal amount of installed, which are limited to Alienware Command Center, Alienware Customer Connect, Alienware Digital Delivery and Alienware Update. Alienware Digital Delivery allows you to access software purchased with your m18 R1, while Alienware Update downloads the latest drivers, BIOS updates, and firmware for your system.

However, you’ll probably spend the most time inCommand Center, which allows you to monitor your system vitals, adjust power plans, and configure AlienFX lighting (among other things).

Other preinstalled apps include two intelliGo apps for the onboard microphones, the Killer Intelligence Center, and the Realtek Audio Console. You’ll also find shortcuts for the usual Windows 11 staples like TikTok, Disney Plus, and Spotify.

The Alienware m18 R1 comes with a one-year manufacturer warranty.

Alienware m18 R1 Configurations

We tested the Alienware m18 R1 with an Intel Core i9-13980HX processor, Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 GPU, 32GB DDR5-5800 XMP memory, 1TB PCIe 4.0 SSD, and an 18-inch Full HD 480 Hz display. Our config carries an MSRP of $3,599.

Soon after publication, Alienware alerted us that it isn't currently selling the m18 with our RAM configuration, but that it may come down the line. Here's the official statement:

"The Alienware m18 review unit you received came configured with an Intel Core i9-13980HX CPU, NVIDIA GeForce 4090 graphics card and XMP 5800MHz DDR5 RAM. The m18 is currently available with the i9-13980HX CPU, NVIDIA GeForce 4090 graphics card and 4800MHz DDR5 RAM. We are working to add 32GB XMP 5800MHz DDR5 RAM as an option after it completes our stringent quality assurance procedures."

The base configuration has a Core i7-13700HX, GeForce RTX 4060, 16GB DDR5-4800, 512GB SSD, and an 18-inch QHD 165 Hz display with a price tag of $2,099. There are various configurations in between, with options for 512GB and 2TB SSDs, and GeForce RTX 4060 or GeForce RTX 4080 GPUs. You can even purchase the laptop with up to 64GB of DDR5-4800.

Bottom Line

There’s no question that the Alienware m18 R1 is an impressive beast. Its optional Core i9-13980HX processor, GeForce RTX 4090 and 32GB of DDR5 clobbered the competition in the gaming benchmarks and was equally impressive in our productivity suite.

The machine is well-built, with nary a creak and minimal chassis flex. The 480 Hz display is a game-changer for eSports fanatics looking for every possible competitive edge, while the mechanical keyboard is comfortable to type on (and game with) for extended periods. We also like that Alienware included various ports and the highly configurable AlienFX lighting effects.

On the flip side, the speakers are subpar, given the $3,599 price tag of our review unit and the soft-touch finish on the top deck is easily scratched. The immense dimensions and hefty weight are to be expected given this category; however, nine pounds is still a lot to lug around when you need to transport the laptop. Also, consider the short battery life of under three hours, making you heavily dependent on the massive power brick if you decide to take a break from your desk.

The Asus ROG Strix Scar 18 is probably the closest competition for the m18 R1 regarding performance and has a higher resolution display (2560 x 1600). However, that laptop tops out with a 240 Hz display and is also priced $300 higher as reviewed.

For the money, the Alienware m18 R1 is the fastest gaming laptop we’ve ever tested and is the ultimate power play for any enthusiast wanting to have the best tool for destroying any competitor that enters the playing field.

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Framework massively expanded its lineup of repairable laptops at an event in San Francisco today, updating its existing Framework Laptop to 13th Gen Core Intel, adding an AMD Ryzen option with 7040 series chips, and previewed a new 16-inch laptop with modular dedicated graphics.

Framework Laptop 16

The Framework Laptop 16 only got a preview at the event, but it made the biggest splash, with far more customization options and repairable features than the existing 13-inch laptop. Beyond the existing expansion cards, there are two new systems that Framework is playing with: "Input Modules" and the "Expansion Bay" (all these expansion systems are going to get very confusing very quickly!). For me, the Expansion Bay is the most exciting update. This is Framework's attempt to add upgradeable graphics to a laptop. (Framework states that this is delivering on a dream that many have given up on," which feels like a shot at Dell, which was sued over limited upgradeability on the Alienware Area-51m).

Framework hasn't said who it's partnering with on graphics, but we know that the graphics modules will include fans and connect over a PCIe x8 interface (Framework tells me the interface should support PCIe 4.0 "at a minimum") at the back of the laptop that Framework will open source, and that these modules can allow the laptop to expand to accommodate thermal and mechanical needs. You won't have to open the notebook to get the GPU out. Framework says it's working on other non-graphics-focused Expansion Bay cards, like a dual M.2 SSD card that can add 16TB of storage for those who can get by on integrated graphics. Notably, Framework seems to be fairly deliberate in not calling this a gaming laptop or a workstation, but rather pushing it as meeting whatever needs you want to use it for.

The Framework Laptop 16 is also getting a new "input module" system, which lets you hot swap between configurations of touchpads, keyboard and numpads. They come in different sizes (small and medium for numpads, large for keyboards), so you can customize what aspects you want on your keyboard deck. Framework says that it is working on keyboards in many languages and with RGB backlighting, and that "in addition to numpads, secondary displays and macro pads are workable." Many of the input modules use the open source QMK firmware running on a Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller. You can still use the same Expansion Card system from the Framework Laptop 13. With the bigger laptop, you can use three ports on each side, rather than two per side on the smaller notebook.

We don't yet know the price or specs for the Framework Laptop 16 — those will come when pre-orders open later this spring — but the significantly increased number of swappable parts has me cautiously optimistic. The laptops are set to ship in "late 2023," but Framework is open sourcing design documentation to let others get started on making their own modules.

Framework Laptop 13 - Intel and AMD

The regular Framework Laptop is now called the Framework Laptop 13. Intel is updating it to 13th Gen Intel Core P-series processors or, for the first time, AMD Ryzen 7040 series chips. (Existing Framework laptop owners can even buy new mainboards with these chips to install into their existing Framework Laptops).

The 13th Gen Core lineup includes the Core i5-1350P, Core i7-1360P and Core i7-1370P with vPro, all using DDR4-3200 RAM and a louder 80 decibel speaker kit that was first seen in last year's Framework Chromebook. The Core i5 will stick to the 55 WHr battery, while the i7 models are set to use a larger 61 WHr cell. Both the AMD Ryzen kits will use the existing speaker kit, but offer faster DDR5-5600 RAM. The Ryzen 7 model will get the bigger battery. All of the new laptops have a new matte display (with the same resolution and performance) and new upgraded hinges designed to be easier to open. (The new batteries and displays will be purchasable on the Framework Marketplace for use with existing laptops.)

There will be port differences between Intel and AMD. While they'll use all the same modules, the Intel version has four Thunderbolt 4 ports, while the Ryzen options will have two USB 4 ports, one USB 3.2 port with DisplayPort, and one single USB 3.2 port, so they're not all functionally the same.

Framework has already had multiple bezel options, but you had to buy them separately. The company now says that it is working on new bezel colors and that you'll be able to pick the bezel and keyboard colors on the DIY edition when you order later this year. These new Framework Laptops are available for pre-order today with a $100 deposit and are set to ship in May. Prebuilt options will start at $1,049 with Windows 11 preinstalled, while a DIY Edition will launch at $849 so you can add your own RAM, storage and OS. That's a slight increase over previous DIY editions, which I'm told is due to the cost of materials. Framework says the Fedora 38 and Ubuntu 22.04 will be fully supported on both the new Intel and AMD options, with further testing for Manjaro and Mint in progress.

Cooler Master Case

We've seen plenty of projects using Framework Laptop mainboards outside of clamshell designs, and Framework already has a case you can 3D print. In the spring, Cooler Master is going to release the Mainboard Case, a $39 chassis designed to turn the laptop mainboards into desktops when you upgrade the PC.

I’ve been reviewing monitors long enough that occasionally, I have a “remember when” moment. Remember when all monitors refreshed at a fixed 60 Hz? Remember when the 144 Hz Asus VG248QE was the bleeding edge with its TN panel and fixed refresh rate? You could also buy a $200 board to add G-Sync to it.

We’ve come a long way since then, and I now have the privilege of testing the world’s first 500 Hz monitor, Alienware’s AW2524H. It uses an IPS panel running at FHD resolution with G-Sync, Nvidia Latency Analyzer, HDR400 and something most super-fast monitors lack, high contrast and an extended color gamut.

Alienware AW2524H Specs

One thing that hasn’t changed since the VG248QE is the FHD resolution. The fastest monitors still employ a smaller pixel count to keep frame rates high. In a 25-inch panel (24.5-inch viewable), that means a density of 90ppi. That’s not bad, but you will see the pixel structure if you sit closer than three feet away. The extra motion resolution afforded by these high frame rates means the picture always stays sharp, no matter how fast one pans the camera. Motion blur is simply not an issue over 200fps.

How much will you gain with the AW2524H’s 500 Hz over a 360 Hz display? It’s enough to see a difference, but the the main draw is almost non-existent control lag. Alienware has produced the fastest monitor I’ve yet tested, and in practice, it delivers an advantage. In fact, the panel response is so quick that I wish I could turn off the overdrive; it just isn’t necessary. It includes the latest G-Sync module and the Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer, but these enhancements are also unnecessary. At frame rates over 400fps, you will never see a frame tear or motion blur. And yes, you’ll need a serious gaming rig to achieve those numbers.

Picture-wise, the AW2524H doesn’t cut corners. Unlike other panels in this category, it has a bit of extra color. There’s not enough to call it a DCI-P3 display, but it’s certainly more than a 360 Hz monitor. HDR has been given good attention as well. The backlight is an edge array that employs zone dimming to increase contrast. You can use the dimming in both SDR and HDR modes; in the latter, it produces dynamic range of over 82,000:1. That is also a huge advantage over any 360 Hz screen currently available. Color proved accurate in my tests with no need for calibration in the monitor’s default picture mode.

The AW2524H will sell initially for $830, which is nearly double the price of the AW2523HF that I reviewed in October 2022. The AW2524H is better in every way, but is it twice as good? Let’s take a look.

Product 360

Alienware’s familiar shapes and accents adorn the AW2524H without drawing too much attention. The front view is all business with a super thin 5mm bezel and “500Hz” displayed on the bottom strip. A soft glowing light rings the power toggle at the right. In the center, underneath, is a joystick that controls all monitor functions.

You’ll find the lighting feature in the back: an Alienware head logo and the number 25. You can choose from multiple colors and effects or turn the whole thing off. It’s not too bright and shouldn’t distract you even in a darkened room.

The stand is a solid piece that snaps in place. Underneath is a 100mm VESA mount with fasteners included. Adjustments include 4.3 inches (110mm) of height, 5/21 degrees tilt, 20 degrees swivel and a portrait mode where you can rotate the panel in either direction. Movements feel firm and of the high quality that befits a monitor at this price point.

Inputs include a single DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.1 and USB ports on the main jack panel and underneath the bezel. You get one upstream and four down. One is labeled for the Nvidia Reflex Latency Analyzer, where you would plug in a compatible mouse. A headphone jack is also found under the bezel. The HDMI ports are limited to 240 Hz but include VRR for consoles.

Speaking of headphones, a hook pops out from the upper left side and is beautifully damped in its movement. This is a small feature, but the attention to detail here is impressive.

OSD Features

Pressing the AW2524H’s joystick brings up a quick menu at the bottom of the screen and a status window at the top. A click up opens the full OSD, which includes many options for picture control and video processing.

We begin our journey in the Game menu, where you can choose from 12 picture modes. Standard is the default and is accurate enough to be used without calibration. G-Sync Esports engages the G-Sync Processor, which I’ll discuss in a moment. The three Game modes allow six-color adjustments and custom setting of the overdrive and dark stabilizer. Custom Color has RGB sliders for precise grayscale calibration and is the mode I used for testing.

Game Enhance is where you’ll find timers, a frame rate counter, and display alignment marks for multi-screen setups. There are no aiming points included.

To run at the full 500 Hz, turn on the overclock. The panel’s native rate is 480 Hz, which delivers the same performance to my eyes. Response Time is the overdrive, and I quickly found that it is completely unnecessary when frame rates exceed 400fps. In fact, it caused slight ghosting on its lowest setting, and I was sad that I could not simply turn it off. Here also is the variable backlight with three levels that effectively increases contrast. In SDR mode, it went from around 1,000:1 to over 8,000:1. HDR contrast is over 82,000:1 in Mode 1, which is impressive.

AlienFX lighting can be used to control the behavior of the power button and the two graphics on the back of the panel. Each can have a different color and you can change the effects to your liking.

The G-Sync Processor offers Nvidia’s Reflex Latency Analyzer. When paired with the correct mouse, it shows real-time input lag on the screen. You can also engage ULMB, a blur-reducing backlight strobe, at refresh rates of 360 Hz and below. You must first turn off G-Sync to make the controls available. Then, you can vary the pulse width to find a balance between blur reduction and brightness. Less blur means lower brightness. As I said earlier, this is unnecessary at frame rates over 400fps. Even 300fps is so smooth you wouldn’t be motivated to turn on ULMB.

There are five shortcuts in the quick menu to set to user preference. This makes jumping right to things like brightness or picture modes easy. Though there is a volume control, there are no integrated speakers. That slider controls only the headphone output.

Alienware AW2524H Calibration Settings

You can enjoy the AW2524H right out of the box without adjustment in its Standard picture mode. If you want a slight improvement, reach for Custom Color as I did and tweak the RGB sliders. There are no gamma options though I measured excellent tracking there. It would be nice to have options, but you can change the dark stabilizer if you have difficulty seeing fine shadow detail. Below are the settings I used for SDR. HDR locks out all picture controls except for contrast, but I recommend leaving that alone. The AW2524H is very accurate in HDR mode as well.