Dell Alienware AW3425DW 34" 240Hz Assessment

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The brand new Dell Alienware AW3425DW arrives with a transparent mission: enhance on one of the crucial in style ultrawide gaming screens of the previous few years with out reinventing the wheel. For a very long time, the AW3423DW and its lower-cost sibling, the AW3423DWF, have been standout picks – providing premium efficiency at a worth many avid gamers might justify.

Working example, the 25DW is the successor to the gaming monitor I've personally been utilizing for the final three years. Dell persistently presents nice efficiency at an excellent worth, b ut know-how strikes shortly, and the PC big is hoping this yr's replace will preserve the road aggressive.

At first look, not a lot has modified. The AW3425DW nonetheless depends on a well-known 34-inch, 3440 x 1440 QD-OLED panel – the identical era of Samsung Show tech that powered the sooner fashions.

The headline upgrades are a bump in refresh fee from 165Hz to 240Hz and a refreshed design that brings it in keeping with the remainder of Alienware's 2025 lineup. This is not a next-gen leap in OLED tech, however it's a good refinement of a confirmed components.

Dell additionally appears to have realized from the errors of its rivals. Competing screens with this similar 240Hz panel launched final yr at steep costs – $1,100 in some instances – making them robust to advocate over the older AW3423DWF, which frequently dipped to $700 or $800. Now Dell's personal replace hits the market at simply $800, with reductions already bringing it right down to $770. That is a bit of dearer than the lowest-ever worth for its predecessor, however nonetheless fairly affordable for a brand-new show.

Design and Ports

Most facets of the design are utterly completely different on this new Dell Alienware QD-OLED 2025 model in comparison with the unique. The panel itself on the entrance is similar, as is the 1800R curve, however almost every thing else has modified. The largest shift is to Dell's new "AW30" industrial design, celebrating the model's thirtieth anniversary.

This features a new deep blue end that the corporate calls "interstellar indigo." It is the identical color and style we noticed on the AW2725Q earlier this yr. We expect this shade appears nice; nevertheless, for those who had been anticipating a impartial black to match a largely black setup, that is extra of a blue-tinted black.

The rear of the show has been simplified right into a single, sleeker plastic panel that's each thinner and extra spectacular than the unique. The stand pillar is extra rounded, and the bottom is now a small sq. as a substitute of a medium-sized V. This makes it extra compact for desk setups and extra usable, as you may place objects on prime of it. This new stand design is not as sturdy however retains top, tilt, and swivel adjustability – and it is barely taller. The general construct high quality stays glorious, persevering with to be a power of Alienware screens.

The port choice is straightforward: one DisplayPort 1.4 with DSC, two HDMI 2.1 48 Gbps ports, and a two-port USB 5 Gbps hub with each a Sort-A and a Sort-C connector. The location of those USB ports is great, as they're alongside the underside edge and simply accessible, somewhat than tucked away with the opposite ports on the rear. The Sort-C port solely helps knowledge and 15W of energy supply; it might probably't be used as a show enter. There is not any KVM swap included.

The OSD is almost similar to that of the DWF mannequin. It is managed by a directional toggle alongside the underside edge, slightly below the Alienware brand. Inside, you may discover a good vary of options, together with all the same old shade controls, a timer and body fee show, shadow boosting choices, and "AlienVision," which offers crosshairs and different picture manipulation modes.

Our essential criticism is that there are not any customizable OLED care choices, suggesting that every one burn-in mitigation options are at all times enabled. That is a bit disappointing, as manufacturers like MSI provide extra person customization. If a specific function is annoying, you may disable it (with some danger) or make sure settings extra aggressive to assist prolong the panel's lifespan. On the AW3425DW, the one OLED care possibility is a guide run of the pixel refresher.

Display Coating, Subpixel Format and Burn In

Textual content readability is similar to different 34-inch 3440 x 1440 QD-OLED shows, as this panel nonetheless makes use of first-generation QD-OLED know-how with the unique triangle RGB subpixel format. Whereas this can be a newer monitor with the next refresh fee, the panel itself basically makes use of the identical know-how, and in areas like textual content readability, it presents the identical expertise.

In comparison with different OLEDs, this panel ranks decrease for textual content high quality, because it lacks the subpixel upgrades seen in newer 27-inch 1440p and 4K fashions. There may be some pink-green fringing alongside the higher and decrease edges of textual content that you simply would not see with equivalent-resolution LCDs. That mentioned, the textual content readability of this 34-inch QD-OLED panel remains to be typically higher than that of competing WOLED panels.

The display composition and coating stay unchanged from different 34-inch QD-OLED ultrawides: it's nonetheless shiny, which is a double-edged sword. The primary profit is elevated sharpness and readability in comparison with matte coatings, with out coating grain or mild diffusion that may impression obvious distinction.

The downsides are mirror-like reflections, that are effectively managed on this panel in comparison with another shiny finishes, and QD-OLED ambient mild reflection. In brighter environments, QD-OLED panels can seem grey as a substitute of black when displaying black, as ambient mild displays by the panel and prompts the quantum dot layer.

This reduces black depth in well-lit rooms and diminishes the black-level benefit you count on from OLED. The problem may be mitigated by protecting your room dimly lit, with mild sources positioned behind the show. Whether or not QD-OLED's shiny end is best for you is determined by your private preferences and utilization surroundings.

OLED panels of all varieties are additionally vulnerable to everlasting burn-in. You will not get burn-in from gaming or watching movies, however the panel can burn in over time when displaying static content material for lengthy durations. This makes OLED much less appropriate for productiveness duties the place static desktop apps stay on display for prolonged durations – and you'll try our ongoing OLED burn-in sequence to see how real-world productiveness use impacts longevity.

Occasional static app use is ok, so don't fret about doing a little net looking between gaming classes; we simply would not advocate OLED as a monitor for lengthy hours of labor. Dell offers an industry-standard three-year guarantee that covers burn-in.

Response Time Efficiency

Response time efficiency is great on this WOLED monitor, as it's for different OLED shows we have examined up to now. OLED presents lightning-fast response occasions, across the 0.3ms mark in any respect refresh charges, and efficiency does not change at decrease refresh charges – one of many many advantages of OLED for variable refresh fee avid gamers. This ends in a single overdrive mode expertise the place you needn't alter settings relying on the refresh fee you are utilizing.

Dell Alienware AW3425DW - 240Hz, 120Hz, 60Hz

Response time efficiency is great on this QD-OLED monitor, as it's for different OLED shows we have examined up to now. OLED presents lightning quick response occasions, across the 0.3 ms mark in any respect refresh charges, and efficiency does not change at decrease refresh charges, one of many many advantages of OLED for variable refresh fee avid gamers. This ends in a single overdrive mode expertise the place you needn't alter settings relying on the refresh fee you are utilizing.

There may be successfully no distinction in response time efficiency between this QD-OLED and different OLED screens, together with WOLED variants. OLEDs are a lot quicker than even the quickest LCDs we have examined, and that is true whether or not we have a look at the most effective efficiency or common efficiency throughout the refresh fee vary. Not solely are OLEDs quick, in addition they don't have any overshoot artefacts, which may be a problem with some LCD fashions.

When viewing cumulative deviation outcomes, we are able to see that OLEDs get a lot nearer to ultimate response time behaviour and, typically, provide efficiency an order of magnitude higher on this metric than LCDs. In observe, this results in round a 1.5x benefit in readability at a given refresh fee, so 240Hz QD-OLEDs provide the same expertise to 360Hz LCDs.

Other than comparisons to LCDs, the primary factor you want to pay attention to when shopping for an OLED for movement is that readability on these panels is immediately tied to refresh fee. On the similar refresh fee, two completely different OLED screens will look principally the identical, so the precise refresh fee you may be utilizing is extra necessary than the utmost refresh fee of the monitor. If you happen to evaluate two OLEDs, one with a 165Hz max refresh, and one with a 240Hz max refresh, however each are enjoying video games at 120 FPS with a 120Hz refresh fee, they are going to look the identical and provides the identical expertise.

The place larger refresh fee OLEDs turn into a profit is while you use the very best refresh fee capabilities. Working an OLED at 240Hz produces a clearer picture than at 165Hz, with higher smoothness and responsiveness. That is the important thing profit this new Alienware monitor brings. This has benefits when gaming at excessive body charges, for instance multiplayer video games or video games with body era enabled. However the next refresh OLED solely has a bonus while you exceed the refresh fee of a decrease refresh mannequin: on this instance, the 240Hz AW3425DW will likely be higher than the 165Hz AW3423DWF when gaming at anyplace between 166 and 240 FPS with variable refresh enabled. Something at or under 165 FPS, there will likely be no distinction, so preserve this in thoughts when purchasing between OLED ultrawides.

We expect today having the additional headroom of 240Hz is welcome on this kind of panel, as a result of 3440 x 1440 is getting simpler to run as GPU {hardware} improves. Additionally, with applied sciences like body era turning into extra widespread in trendy video games, having the next show refresh fee permits you to profit extra from body gen. On a 165Hz panel with 2X body gen, the utmost render fee you may obtain is 82 FPS with out exceeding your monitor's refresh and introducing tearing. On a 240Hz panel, that render fee jumps to 120 FPS, which is a greater and extra responsive expertise.

Enter latency is great, providing a sub-1 ms processing delay in each SDR and HDR modes. Mixed with quick response occasions and an honest refresh fee, this OLED feels very snappy to make use of, solely overwhelmed by absolutely the highest refresh fee fashions in the marketplace.

Energy consumption is considerably decrease on the brand new AW3425DW in comparison with earlier fashions, dropping to 75 watts to show a full white picture, in comparison with 86 watts on the AW3423DWF and 101 watts for the AW3423DW, although the unique DW mannequin did use a power-hungry G-Sync module which is now not getting used on the brand new mannequin. Energy consumption on this check was round 5 watts decrease than the Corsair mannequin that makes use of the identical panel.

SDR Coloration Efficiency

Coloration Area: Dell Alienware AW3425DW - D65-P3

All QD-OLEDs that we have examined up to now provide the same shade house. Within the case of the 25DW, we're 99.4% DCI-P3 protection, in addition to 98% Adobe RGB protection, sturdy outcomes for viewing HDR content material or working in these shade areas. In complete, we noticed 81.6% protection of Rec. 2020, which is an effective end result for a QD-OLED monitor and gaming screens typically.

Default Coloration Efficiency

Dell Alienware AW3425DW - D65-P3, examined at native decision, highest refresh ratePortrait CALMAN Final, DeltaE Worth Goal: Beneath 2.0, CCT Goal: 6500K

Grayscale, Saturation and ColorChecker

The 25DW has nice manufacturing unit calibration. Default greyscale efficiency is sort of correct with an honest shade temperature, flat gamma and low deltaE ITP common. Out of the field, colours are oversaturated, and that is particularly noticeable as a result of large shade gamut of QD-OLED panels; nevertheless, that is no completely different from different QD-OLEDs.

In comparison with different merchandise, the 25DW really manages to outperform the already excellent 23DWF in greyscale, making it one of the crucial correct merchandise in the marketplace on this space. ColorChecker efficiency is common.

Default ACM Coloration Efficiency

Dell Alienware AW3425DW - D65-P3, examined at native decision, highest refresh ratePortrait CALMAN Final, DeltaE Worth Goal: Beneath 2.0, CCT Goal: 6500K

Grayscale, Saturation and ColorChecker

There are a few methods to enhance SDR sRGB / Rec. 709 efficiency. One is utilizing Home windows 11 Auto Coloration Administration, which improves deltaE ITP averages to under 4 throughout the board, in order that's a really stable possibility. Dell has accomplished an excellent job of reporting shade primaries, so on this configuration you get 99.8% protection of sRGB.

sRGB Mode Coloration Efficiency

Dell Alienware AW3425DW - D65-P3, examined at native decision, highest refresh ratePortrait CALMAN Final, DeltaE Worth Goal: Beneath 2.0, CCT Goal: 6500K

Grayscale, Saturation and ColorChecker

The opposite means is utilizing the sRGB mode, which could be very correct. Coloration temperature and gamma are each higher on this configuration than the default configuration, pushing the greyscale dEITP common under 3. Saturation and ColorChecker outcomes are glorious as effectively, making this mode extra correct than utilizing ACM.

In comparison with different screens, the 25DW retains its spot in the direction of the highest of our grayscale accuracy chart within the sRGB mode, although the 23DWF was ever so barely superior. Each of those fashions are an improve over the unique 23DW. In ColorChecker, the brand new 2025 mannequin is great, coming in among the many prime group of shows. Whereas the sRGB mode does lock some choices like white stability, this is not too large of a deal because the included calibration is so sturdy you might as effectively use this mode and neglect about it.

Calibrated Coloration Efficiency

Dell Alienware AW3425DW - D65-P3, examined at native decision, highest refresh ratePortrait CALMAN Final, DeltaE Worth Goal: Beneath 2.0, CCT Goal: 6500K

Grayscale, Saturation and ColorChecker

It's attainable to barely enhance efficiency by a full calibration, however in our opinion with this monitor it actually is not that needed within the SDR mode. We might both use ACM or the sRGB mode and know that efficiency is excellent.

Brightness, Distinction, Uniformity

Most SDR brightness is unchanged in comparison with different QD-OLED ultrawides, at 246 nits full display. Dell continues to make use of a uniform brightness configuration within the SDR mode, so brightness doesn't change with completely different window sizes. Minimal brightness of 20 nits is nice, although once more unchanged from earlier fashions.

Viewing angles are additionally principally the identical as different QD-OLED panels, so they're glorious, making this panel simple to view. The one actual limiting issue right here is the 1800R curve, which basically forces you to view it from the middle for the most effective expertise. Uniformity is powerful with no soiled display impact when viewing darkish greys, and good central uniformity with solely a negligible quantity of falloff alongside the left and proper edges.

HDR {Hardware} Efficiency

The AW3425DW is effectively suited to HDR from a {hardware} perspective. OLED panels, together with QD-OLED, immediately emit mild and have particular person pixel management, which makes them ultimate for displaying HDR content material. This function permits every pixel to independently range from absolutely switching off to displaying vibrant highlights, giving us deep zero-level blacks and per-pixel native dimming. The extent of management OLEDs present minimizes blooming in excessive distinction eventualities and permits for clear distinction between vibrant and darkish areas which might be shut collectively. In comparison with LCDs with a multi-zone backlight, OLEDs have far fewer ugly illumination artefacts, that are most noticeable when displaying troublesome eventualities like starfields or subtitles, and there are not any zone transitions as vibrant objects transfer across the show.

With per-pixel management as its essential benefit, OLEDs are finest at displaying excessive distinction scenes with wealthy shadow element, which is a key facet of an excellent HDR presentation. Darker content material interspersed with dazzling vibrant highlights brings out the most effective in OLED shows, as does HDR content material with quick movement. For avid gamers particularly, enter latency on most OLEDs is low within the HDR mode.

The weak point to the HDR presentation on an OLED is general brightness. Whereas peak brightness may be excessive in the most effective instances, full display brightness is low, and this limits the punch in vibrant daytime scenes. LCDs might not have per-pixel management, however zoned backlights can merely get considerably brighter in vibrant scenes. Relying on what you need out of an HDR monitor, your desire might swing extra in the direction of LCDs or extra in the direction of OLEDs, however usually talking, OLEDs are an excellent alternative that ship a incredible HDR presentation.

Dell presents a spread of various HDR configurations, however the two of most curiosity are the DisplayHDR True Black mode and the HDR Peak 1000 mode – these function in the identical means as different QD-OLED shows with related modes. There are a number of different choices like "Desktop" and "Sport HDR," however these are simply minor variations with small adjustments to brightness rolloff. What additionally impacts rolloff is the Console Mode and particularly the setting Supply Tone Mapping – with this enabled, EOTF monitoring is extra correct; with it disabled, rolloff is extra mild. This setting is greyed out when utilizing the monitor with a PC, producing habits that is similar to having the Console Mode enabled with Supply Tone Mapping on.

HDR Configurations and Accuracy

Of the primary modes, the True Black mode is probably the most correct. Other than a small bump in brightness within the sub-1 nit vary, EOTF monitoring on this configuration is excellent in all situations, so that you get the proper stage of brightness in each darkish and vibrant scenes – no panel dimming to be seen right here. Nonetheless, peak brightness is capped at simply 450 nits, so in darker scenes with vibrant components you do not get as a lot punch and a few objects lack element in vibrant areas.

The Peak 1000 mode removes the brightness cap, and peak brightness now hits 1,000 nits in darker scenes, so there's much more punch in components like fires and lights. EOTF monitoring accuracy is powerful for smaller home windows and decrease scene APL, once more with the small bump in sub-1 nit brightness. However in brighter scenes, this mode has panel dimming, which drops brightness throughout your entire display regardless of the panel in any other case being able to this stage of brightness. This impacts EOTF monitoring and isn't correct.

This problem with panel dimming within the Peak 1000 mode can be discovered on different QD-OLED gaming screens, so it isn't distinctive to this Alienware. We're nonetheless able the place you may't obtain the very best peak brightness in darker scenes with out bizarrely dimming brighter scenes. For the most effective expertise, you may want to alter HDR modes relying on whether or not you're enjoying principally brighter or principally darker content material. Alternatively, you may set and neglect the mode you are most serious about optimizing for.

HDR Brightness

HDR brightness is similar to different QD-OLED screens. In these charts, different screens are listed utilizing their brightest configuration that preserves accuracy, and you may see principally no distinction at numerous window sizes. This confirms there is no such thing as a actual improve in QD-OLED panel brightness between the older 165Hz fashions and this new 240Hz mannequin.

In actual scene brightness, the outcomes are near what we often see. The True Black mode has no panel dimming; the Peak 1000 mode does. The True Black mode has larger brightness in mid to excessive APL content material however is capped to 450 nits. The Peak 1000 mode can attain over 900 nits in real-world scenes however is not as vibrant in larger APL scenes. There is not any substantial distinction between the DWF and 25DW fashions.

In HDR calibration, the AW3425DW is without doubt one of the higher screens due to good EOTF monitoring and powerful greyscale efficiency. That is additionally true in ColorChecker. Coloration quantity is excessive as effectively, although basically unchanged from different QD-OLED panels.

HUB Necessities Guidelines

The ultimate part of this evaluation is the HUB Necessities Guidelines. Dell does an excellent job of promoting this monitor with a comparatively detailed spec sheet that features correct numbers for probably the most half. Within the function assist matrix, the AW3425DW additionally scores effectively, particularly in areas regarding distinction and movement. The primary misses listed below are RGB stripe stage textual content readability, superior USB-C performance, Dolby Imaginative and prescient, a KVM swap, and passive cooling. There's a small fan inside this show which is successfully inaudible throughout regular operation.

What We Discovered

The Dell Alienware AW3425DW is a comparatively simple replace to the favored AW3423DWF. It bumps the refresh fee from 165Hz to 240Hz, updates the design to match different 2025 Alienware merchandise, retains almost all of the options and efficiency of the earlier model, and is available in at the same worth level. To us, that appears fairly stable.

Since that is largely a refreshed model of an present monitor that makes use of a QD-OLED panel we first noticed over a yr in the past, there are not any surprises, but in addition no groundbreaking developments.

Brightness, for instance, is precisely the identical as different QD-OLED gaming screens, for higher or worse. HDR traits and configurations are additionally principally unchanged from what we have seen from QD-OLED for a while now.

That also means the AW3425DW delivers an excellent gaming expertise. It's extremely quick – now even quicker due to the 240Hz refresh fee – with extra headroom for aggressive gaming, body era, and future GPU upgrades. It has nice distinction, deep blacks, per-pixel dimming, and low enter lag. HDR scenes look nice on this show, and it is also very usable for different duties.

The 34-inch ultrawide dimension remains to be a stable alternative, and the decision is completely acceptable. There are not any actual efficiency regressions right here; in reality, if something, this new model is extra shade correct than the final, which already set a excessive bar.

We do suppose this new Alienware QD-OLED ultrawide is clearly higher than the earlier model; nevertheless, it hasn't superior issues all that a lot, three years after the debut of the unique. That is nonetheless a first-gen QD-OLED panel when it comes to panel composition, ambient mild reflectivity, brightness traits, panel dimming, subpixel construction, and ensuing textual content readability. It is basically the identical mannequin with the identical weaknesses – now operating at 240Hz. For any actual enhancements, we'll want the newer panel from Samsung Show.

Proper now although, in our opinion, and regardless of the shortage of main enhancements, that is nonetheless the most effective 34-inch ultrawide OLED panel you may get. The primary competitor is the 34-inch 3440 x 1440 WOLED, which has a much less interesting 800R curve, matte display coating, and worse textual content readability. WOLED alternate options are additionally usually dearer, which makes them tougher to justify.

Talking of worth, the AW3425DW debuting at $800 places it in an excellent place. It is across the similar worth as its predecessor, possibly as much as $100 extra within the worst instances, for the next refresh fee model. Given the AW3423DWF was beforehand obtainable at an excellent worth, we expect it is a stable step in the proper route to get a good higher monitor in 2025 for the same worth. It is also a really aggressive worth while you have a look at different 240Hz OLED ultrawides, most of that are priced at $850 or larger.

The primary competitors to the Dell AW3425DW is the Gigabyte MO34WQC2, which makes use of the identical 240Hz QD-OLED panel and has steadily dropped in worth this yr from $800 to as little as $660. This makes the Alienware a tad dearer, however for that you simply obtain a greater design and construct high quality, higher HDR efficiency, higher tuning, and a extra correct SDR mode. So we'd pay the additional cash to get the brand new 25DW, and we expect Dell has accomplished sufficient right here to retain the crown of finest 34-inch OLED ultrawide.