Alienware 34 AW3425DW Gaming Monitor Review

On the front disclosure: I am a loser of 34-inch ultra-right monitors, I think they are still a sweets for reasonable games. With this in mind, one might think that the newly updated 34-inch OLED monitor with ultraze. Alienware 34 AW3425DWAre there a chance for a very high result.

In the end, we loved OG Alienware 34-inch Ultrawide, Alienware 34 AW3423DW. The lower siblings, Alienware 34 AW3423DWF, was even better thanks to the shiny panel. The recent AW3425DW rises at the level with an update to 240 Hz from 175 Hz and 165 Hz its predecessors, maintaining the same price of USD 800 as the venerable “F” (it is really available for 770 USD on the Dell website when I knock these words). What not to like?

As it turns out, the recent Alienware is a bit more tough to love than its progeniors. In part, because it is a bit too familiar, because it is on the same first generation, Samsung QD-Oleed Tech, as older AW3423DW, which started over three years ago.

So it basically has the same performance characteristics, except for increased refresh rate. It even has the same curvature of the 1800R panel and fortunately the same shiny panel coating as the venerable model “F”. According to many resources, it’s all good. Pixel response 0.03 ms did not require improvement, as did the lighting control of all OLED monitors. It is much better than any LCD monitor in this respect, even one with the most advanced local dimming equipment.

However, there is also no improvement in the full screen or peak HDR brightness. The latter is probably sturdy enough for 1000 rivets. But the full brightness of 250 rivets is more suitable than excellent, especially in the knowledge of the recent technology of the OLED panel both from Samsung and LG, which promises to hit a range of 350 to 400 Nit in the near future.

Transfer panel technology also means that various problems remain. At the beginning it has the same non -optimal structure of the subpixel, which means that the fonts suffer from low fringed and lack of transparency. Then there is an ordinary QD-OLEED problem with the lithe of the surroundings.

As with all other QD panels from Samsung, especially in relation to models with shiny panel coatings, such as this, there is a tendency to look a bit purple and gray in a sturdy surroundings. If you ever operate it only in a room with a constrained lithe lithe, this is not a problem. But if your desk is near a gigantic window, the result may be a violation of black levels and contrast.

“QD” of QD technology, in particular quantum dots, probably also contributes to the known color temperature of all these panels. When we first experienced QD game monitors, such minor flaws were basic to overlook in exchange for an amazing reaction and HDR performance. But three years later the expectations are inevitably higher.

A wider set of functions is also similar. For example, you get DisplayPort and HDMI data, but without USB-C. On the bottom frame is USB-C with USB. But this is part of the USB center for peripherals. This is not the display input, so there is no one -abbreviations for laptops.

What exactly has changed, except for the convexity of the refreshment? The physical project is the most obvious. Alienware used the same AW30 aesthetics as Alienware 27 AW2725Q, which I reviewed in March.

Implemented to celebrate 30-year Alienware equipment, it is said that it is inspired by extraterrestrial phenomena and Aurora Borealis. And he abandons black and white plastics used for previous foreign monitors in favor of a shadowy blue shade known as “indigo interstate”.

When I reviewed the 27-inch aspect of 16: 9 AW2725Q, I said: “curved, organic shapes at the back of the chassis, as well as a stand and base are definitely a departure for a stranger and give it a slightly outdated atmosphere of the 90s.” This applies to the same in relation to this ultra -right model. This is of course a subjective call, but I prefer an venerable look.

When it comes to actual browsing, you are mostly trying to distinguish it from Alienware 34 AW3423DWF (the original AW3423DW is slightly different thanks to the matt screen). Certainly smoothness is slightly improved by refreshing 240 Hz (provided you have a decent graphic processor that can push the frames quickly enough). But too sultry color temperature is also immediately evident.

Picture 1 With 5

Of course, just like general life. This is a fairly sturdy monitor, despite the relatively modest brightness of the full screen. QD-Oled colors really zing. Alienware has implemented ABL or automatic brightness limiter in SDR mode, which means that the brightness remains constant and, for example, does not immerse after opening a gigantic, white application window.

The content of SDR is actually a bit brighter in HDR mode, but a certain variability of clarity is evident, though only. Fortunately, this is not terribly distracting. As for HDR in games, the peaks are quite starred.

Let’s say you play the game scene. The most critical information, such as lithe sources or explosions, really jump on a shadowy background, especially in HDR 1000 mode. No LCD monitor is close. The hook is that HDR 1000 mode is noticeably darkened for brighter games outdoor scenes compared to DisplayHDR 400 mode, which provides more pop up outside, while slightly limiting this peak HDR downtoping. In compact, there is no one perfect HDR mode that is a bit frustrating.

In general, I am slightly less convinced by this general form of form when I follow the OLED games I used to be. First of all, a modest resolution of 3440 to 1440 on a 34-inch panel means that the density of pixels is not great, especially not now when OLED 4K can be in 27-inch and 32-inch factors.

The impact of this goes beyond the rendering of the text. Visualizations in the game lack details and sharpness compared to the 4K alternative. What’s more, increasing technologies such as DLS NVIDIA do not work when mapping on such a relatively low resolution.

Upscaling in quality mode on the 4K or 3840 resolution panel is fundamentally the basic resolution by 2560 to 1440, which is comparable to the native resolution of this monitor. In the case of this foreign, the basic resolution will be much below this, even in quality mode and shows. Of course, the lower resolution greatly facilitates the native effect on this panel and obtaining numbers of frames per second comparable to high quality 4K monitors, but you do not get comparable image details.

In any case, the overall result is that I felt only the influence of class 1440p resolution even more with this recent Alienware 34 AW3425DW than its predecessors. I prefer the 34-inch ultra-form coefficient offered here, but I also want the excellent density of 4K alternative pixels.

In other words, when I thought that the modest pixel density was problematic on the desktop, but in order to games, now I also start to feel it in games, thanks to the unflattering comparison with the stunning detail offered by 4K OLEDS. Now I had this crunchy 4K OLED experience, I can’t see it. So, I went from being a very pro 34-inch ultrawides to slightly less convinced.

As I understand, LG and Samsung have 34-inch OLED panels with a height of 5K2K in works that will have the same pixel density as a 27-inch 4K monitor. In the meantime, all 34-inch Ultrawide OLED game monitors have the same 3440 at 1440 resolutions as Og Alienware offered in 2022.

Despite this, if you are generally sold in the perspective of a 34-inch OLED 1440P monitor, it is very attractive. This may be the first generation QD technology, but it is still spectacular. I think it is a bit tough sales when you can get a 32-inch 24K Hz 4K model for similar money, and even cheaper if you give up several Hz.

All this means that if the whole thing 1440p compared to 4K does not resonate with you, straightforward enough, here is the lower line: this is a compact update of a really good OLED monitor. You get a higher refreshment at basically the same price. The hook is that the market has moved in the last few years, and this means that Alienware 34 AW3425DW has a decent value, but now it is not a star offer.