TechRadar Verdict
Alienware’s AW3225QF is nothing short of an epic gaming experience, particularly on PC. If you’re looking for a 4K 240Hz, super-slick OLED monitor, the AW3225QF hits all the right notes. It’s vibrant, fast, and has perhaps one of the cleanest designs out there right now. It’s not cheap by any means, and if you are gaming on PC, you do have to put up with Windows’ still janky HDR settings along with an armada of built-in monitor profiles as well (honestly, you’re better off disabling it), but otherwise, for an OLED panel, at this price, it’s unlike anything else.
Brilliant image quality, detail, and clarity
Outstanding pixel response times
Broad saturation and color depth
Fantastic build quality
HDR modes can be confusing
Windows poor HDR handling holds it back
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Alienware AW3225QF: Two-minute review
QD-OLED4Kgaming screens these days are becoming more numerous. That can make it particularly difficult to pin down a model that’s just right for you, with the right spec, at the right price. Fortunately, Alienware’s AW3225QF might well be thebest gaming monitorof the bunch, certainly today. It’s not cheap, but the build quality, image quality, specs, warranties, and overall design do give it a considerable edge in contrast to some of its competition, and go a long way to justify its price tag.
Top-line stats are out of this world. The true panel size actually falls at around 31.6 inches, giving you a pixel density of 139.87 dpi. Combine that with a 240Hz max refresh rate, broad color depth thanks to that impressive individual illuminated QD-OLED tech, and a solid 250-nits brightness on SDR content, plus a 2.1 ms MPRT response time, and this thing soon becomes a top-tier choice rather rapidly.
If you’ve got the graphical horsepower to drive it at 4K, gaming it on is unlike anything else. Even withoutHDR, titles likeThe Witcher3,Elden Ring, andCyberpunk 2077look and feel exceptional. Textures are crisp and sharp, anti-aliasing smooth as butter, and that refresh rate combined withG-Sync (or FreeSync)just delivers an event unlike any other. Is this thebest gaming monitormoney can buy? On PC, it’s a close bet.
Still, that price tag is a lot to swallow, and for some, the 32-inch 16:9 form factor can be particularly difficult to adapt to, especially if you’re used to the 21:9 or ultrawide aspect ratios. While the 240Hz refresh rate takes it beyond what the modern consoles can achieve, it’s still a belter of aPS5 monitororXbox Series X monitor; it will automatically pivot to 120Hz and you still get that brilliant image quality, colors, curved immersion and everything else the monitor offers.
Alienware AW3225QF: Price and availability
You can buy Alienware’s AW3225QF both in the US and the UK right now and it’s readily available at parent companyDell. It’s based onSamsung’s QD-OLED panel tech, as a result, there are five total models out there from different brands and manufacturers, all with effectively the same screen at their core.
Alienware’s is the second most expensive offering with both the Gigabyte Aorus FO32U2P and Asus ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM coming in joint first, for typically an extra $100 / £100 added on top.MSI’s MPG 321URXQD-OLED is the cheapest of the bunch, but again only by $50-100 so not exactly bank-breaking, and you do get a worse stand if you’re going that route.
Otherwise, top-line specs remain the same, 3840x2160 resolution over a 31.6-inch panel, 240Hz max refresh rate, and 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time, all packed into a 16:9 aspect ratio. Alienware’s stand and cabling solution does look the slickest out of the lot, and it’s opted for a curved screen, giving it a unique edge over the competition.
Alienware AW3225QF: Specs
Alienware AW3225QF: Design and features
Straight out of the box, the AW3225QF is a thing of beauty to behold. General construction is a breeze, the stand comes in two parts, the main neck, and the base. You attach those two together and secure them with a single thick screw at the bottom. Then with the panel carefully placed on a table or desk, you slide and click the stand into place behind it and you’re done. There’s a release button on the back, and that’s about it. Super fast, super easy. At the base of the panel itself, there’s a removable cover to hide all your cable management, and a hollowed-out segment of the stand helps run your cables and keep everything hidden and out of the way behind the monitor.
The stand is seriously sweet, with a wide-based stance, decked out in a matt white plastic that does give it somewhat of an imperial empire vibe, but it works really incredibly well for an aesthetic. On the rear of the panel, Alienware’s baked in some fairly minimal RGB lighting. It’s okay, and not particularly bright, which feels like a bit of a misstep, certainly with the amount of RGB LED ambient lighting solutions out there right now.
But let’s be clear here, it’s the panel on this4K gaming monitorthat’s the show stopper. It’s a beautiful design, with thin bezels and a slight curve to it (1700R) with a 31.6-inch radius and a gloss finish. There’s some Alienware branding at the very bottom of the screen, but once again in no way is it distracting or even that visible.
Still, it’s the top-line spec of the thing that really draws you in. The AW3225QF packs in a 3840x2160 resolution into that 31.6-inches, complete with 240Hz refresh (DSC enabled) and a 0.03ms gray-to-gray response time (2.1 ms MPRT in testing). The panel itself is actually Samsung Display’s QD-OLED third gen, which was showcased first at CES in January 2024. Compared to second-gen, it features a Quantum Enhancer AI processor that’s bespoke for each panel directly, Samsung claims this should increase panel durability by a factor of two, along with providing improved brightness and power efficiency over the last-gen models. Samsung’s also using a new Pico-inkjet printer technology to produce a higher quality quantum-dot layer (the part of the panel that applies the color to each pixel), which is now more accurate and efficient, making it cheaper and easier to mass produce the screen tech. That means we should see the price of these panels fall dramatically over the course of the year.
On top of that barrage of specs there, the AW3225QF also features G-Sync certification, Free-Sync support, and Vesa’s AdaptiveSync certification eliminating screen tearing, alongsideHDRsupport for Dolby Vision and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400.
Alienware AW3225QF: Performance
I’ve been testing gaming and professional monitors since I started in tech journalism many years ago, and I can wholeheartedly say that this screen is something else.
240Hz refresh rate, combined with a 4K resolution and that super low 2.1 ms MPRT, it’s just outstanding. There’s not a moment in game, certainly on PC, where you’re not impressed by it. Going from 60Hz to 120 or 144Hz feels good, really good. It’s smooth, but you can tell there’s still judder there. Going to 240Hz though, it’s like frames become incomparable at that point. It’s as close to real life as it gets, in how fluid it is, as long as your graphics card can drive it at that refresh rate, and that is going to be the bigger challenge.
We do have tech to help alleviate some of those issues. DLSS and FSR, along withNvidia’s Frame Generation tech make a massive difference here. Still even with the very best of that tech-enabled, and in its lowest configuration, if you take something like an RTX 4080 Super, and runCyberpunk 2077with DLSS in its Ultra Performance mode (and put up with the terrible anti-aliasing as a result) you’re still not going to max out that 240Hz refresh rate. AAA titles require a seriously beefy graphics card. That said, if you’re playing older games, or less graphically intense titles that don’t have 200 rays bouncing around the environment, it’s unlike anything else, and arguably becomes one of thebest high-refresh gaming monitorsas a result. Ghosting is non-existent, every test I ran it through I couldn’t spot any of it, but that is a tell-tale trait of a good OLED panel after all.
As for general content streaming. Netflix,AmazonPrime. It’s equally such a joy to use, the HDR support is rich and vibrant, and impeccably immersive, the colors are deep and saturated where they need to be, and it’s truly tantalizing. There are problems, however, and that mostly comes down to how Windows handles HDR in particular. On desktop, It’s still a mess, with a cornucopia of settings, and if you don’t get it right it looks and feels washed out in general day-to-day web browsing, and underwhelming on video content. Likewise, Alienware also included an arsenal of HDR profiles and settings on the display itself to further add to the confusion, with some profiles working well in one bright scene, only to fall foul in a darker scene two seconds later. It’s problematic, but still more of a general issue in HDR on PC anyway, with less to do with the actual display itself.
Similarly, there’s a total of 12 different preset modes by default even for SDR content. All of which slightly tweak brightness, contrast, and color warmth. In my opinion, SPORTS or Standard modes are the way to go out of the box.
There’s not a noticeable difference between gaming on PS5 and PC with the Alienware AW3225QF. It provides beautiful imagery, excellent gaming performance, and one of the best monitor companions you can get for the current-gen consoles. The only caveat is that, naturally, as it’s built with a PC focus, you won’t be able to get all the benefits of its top-draw specs, like the maximum refresh rate. If you’re you’re looking for the absolute best monitor to team with a PS5 or Xbox Series X or gaming on a dual PC and console setup, then it’s perfect for you. However, it is worth bearing in mind that you can probably save a few bucks elsewhere for a PS5 monitor if you’re savvy in choosing the right spec combination.
Alienware’s AW3225QF is ultimately an exceptional screen. If money is no option, it may well be one of the best gaming monitors out there right now. It’s fast, crystal clear, with low latency, and a beautiful color depth and brightness that really does give it an edge over the previous generations of OLED. Better yet it’s leaps and bounds ahead of anything that even the best LCD panel can muster. If you’re after the absolute best of the best, the AW3225QF is it.
Should you buy the Alienware AW3225QF?
Buy it if…
You want the best 4K gaming experience availableWith a super sharp resolution and an outstanding refresh rate, combined with low latency and phenomenal color breadth, the AW3225QF is on another level when it comes to 4K gaming on PC or current-gen console.
You’re concerned about OLED burn-inNot only do Samsung’s third-gen OLED panels come with an enhanced AI chip to double the life expectancy, Alienware’s also include a three-year burn-in warranty as well.
Don’t buy it if…
You’re looking for a wallet-friendly QD-OLED modelIt’s the second highest priced QD-OLED of this generation, with Asus and Gigabyte models pipping it to the post, but only just. There are cheaper options out there.
You want simple HDRHDR in Windows is complicated enough, but multiple HDR profiles don’t help on Alienware’s AW3225QF.
Also consider
If the Alienware AW3225QF isn’t quite for you then consider these great alternatives of different screen resolutions to widen your search.
MSI MPG271QRX
Looking for something a little slimmer, easier to drive with your gaming PC, but still packs in that impressive QD-OLED high refresh punch with primo color accuracy? The 271QRX is a good pick, and with a 360Hz refresh rate, it’s truly outstanding to behold.
Read our full review of theMSI MPG 271QRX here.
Samsung Odyssey OLED G9
There’s something to be said for that what twin 27-inch screens side-by-side offers. Samsung cut out the middle bezel and combined two OLED panels into one with the G9, and it is faultless if you’re after a 32:9 gaming behemoth.
Read our full review of theSamsung Odyssey OLED G9 here.
How I tested the Alienware AW3225QF
To put the AW3225QF through its paces I used it as my primary office monitor for three weeks before testing, and the write-up. I used it side-by-side next to a Viewsonic VP3268a-4K, a professionally calibrated artwork and creative 100% sRGB display.
I tested the AW3225QF through a multitude of different content types, including gaming acrossThe Witcher 3,Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree, andTotal War: Warhammer III. I also streamedYouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime on it, with both SDR and HDR content. Additionally, I tested it using a Playstation 5, and took advantage of Blur Busters array of tests to diagnose any ghosting, or MPRT issues too.
Read more about how we test
First reviewed August 2024
Zak is one of TechRadar’s multi-faceted freelance tech journalists. He’s written for an absolute plethora of tech publications over the years and has worked for Techradar on and off since 2015. Most famously, Zak led Maximum PC as its Editor-in-Chief from 2020 through to the end of 2021, having worked his way up from Staff Writer. Zak currently writes for Maximum PC, TechRadar, PCGamesN, and Trusted Reviews. He also had a stint working as Corsair’s Public Relations Specialist in the UK, which has given him a particularly good insight into the inner workings of larger companies in the industry. He left in 2023, coming back to journalism once more. When he’s not building PCs, reviewing hardware, or gaming, you can often find Zak working at his local coffee shop as First Barista, or out in the Wye Valley shooting American Flat Bows.
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