Alienware AW3426DW assessment: Most monitor bang in your buck

Alienware has lengthy been a frontrunner in QD-OLED ultrawide displays. It was first to hop on the development in an enormous means with the Alienware AW3423DW, launched in 2022, and it has persistently launched updates as new QD-OLED ultrawide panels have been launched. The AW3426DW is the newest, and it has Samsung’s five-layer tandem QD-OLED. Nevertheless, with this launch Alienware has reduce on options to supply a beautiful $799.99 MSRP. Does that make it a winner, or is it a bit too reasonably priced?

Learn on to be taught extra, then see our roundup of the very best displays for comparability.

Alienware AW3426DW specs and options

The Alienware AW3426DW falls in step with its new technique for QD-OLED displays. As a substitute of attempting to pack them with options, because it has previously, Alienware focuses extra on delivering robust core picture high quality at a cheaper price than options.

• Show dimension: 34-inch 21:9 ultrawide
• Native decision: 3440×1440
• Panel kind: 5-layer Tandem QD-OLED
• Refresh price: 280Hz
• Adaptive sync: Sure, VESA Adaptive Sync, Nvidia G-Sync Appropriate, AMD FreeSync Premium Professional
• HDR: HDR10 and Dolby Imaginative and prescient, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 Licensed
• Ports: 2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 1x USB-A downstream with 5Gbps knowledge, 1x USB-C downstream with 5Gbps knowledge and 15 watts of energy, 1x USB-B upstream with 5Gbps knowledge
• Audio: None
• Guarantee: 3-year burn-in protection
• Worth: $799.99 MSRP

At a look, Alienware is profitable. The monitor lacks a number of options I typically prefer to see, akin to USB-C with Energy Supply. It doesn’t have audio system and even an audio-out jack, both.

What it does have is a five-layer QD-OLED panel with a refresh price as much as 280Hz at an MSRP of $799.99. Related displays, such because the MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36, are typically $100 costlier at MSRP.

Alienware AW3426DW design

The Alienware AW3426DW makes use of the corporate’s “Alienware 30” design language, which consists of swooping curved surfaces, minimalist branding, and a single darkish blue-black colorway. I don’t prefer it practically in addition to the intense, daring retro-future design that preceded it. Nonetheless, it appears fantastic.

Alienware’s minimalist streak means you gained’t see shiny, daring RGB-LED lighting right here. The Alienware emblem is technically RGB-LED backlit, however it’s small and dim, so it gained’t add a lot to your desktop ambiance. Personally, I don’t thoughts this, however avid gamers who desire a daring, loud look ought to contemplate Asus, which tends to supply the very best RGB-LED lighting, although solely in some high-end displays.

This can be a curved monitor, however the curve radius is simply 1800R. A decrease quantity means a extra aggressive curve, so that is comparatively tame. The curve is noticeable however shortly begins to fade into the background whereas utilizing the monitor.

Seems to be apart, Alienware’s design is practical. It features a compact stand (although not as compact because the MSI MPG 341CQR) that measures only a few tenths of an inch thick. The stand additionally helps a superb vary of top, tilt, and swivel adjustment. A 100x100mm VESA mount is supported, so you’ll be able to connect the monitor to a third-party stand or arm.

Alienware AW3426DW connectivity

Connectivity, very similar to the Alienware AW3426DW’s design, is saved to a minimal.

Video connectivity consists of two HDMI 2.1 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4. All of those can assist the monitor’s most decision and refresh price. This can be a typical configuration for a contemporary gaming monitor.

Nevertheless, the AW3426DW lacks a USB-C port with DisplayPort and Energy Supply. Which means you’ll be able to’t take pleasure in a simple, single-cable video energy connection to a laptop computer. The dearth of USB-C is a significant distinction between the AW3426DW and the MSI MPG 341CQR QD-OLED X36, which has a USB-C port with 98 watts of Energy Supply.

The AW3426DW isn’t fully missing USB connectivity, however it’s restricted. The monitor has a single USB-B upstream port, which might drive two downstream ports: one USB-C with 15 watts of energy and one USB-A. All of those ports assist knowledge as much as a mere 5Gbps, though that’s typical for a gaming monitor.

You gained’t discover a 3.5mm audio-out jack, both. That is considerably unusual for a monitor, however prior Alienware displays have additionally ditched this port. Players with wired headphones might want to join on to their PC, as a result of audio passthrough shouldn’t be an possibility right here.

Alienware AW3426DW menus and options

The Alienware AW3426DW has an easy-to-use joystick centered behind the entrance bezel. It offers fast and easy accessibility to watch options. Alienware additionally offers Command Middle, an app that permits you to change monitor options inside Home windows. I feel the app is among the many better of its sort, proper alongside Asus.

Nevertheless, as is true with different components of the show, the menu choices are stripped down. The monitor doesn’t actually supply coloration temperature. There’s a Heat and Cool mode, however these are broad picture high quality presets, not particular person changes that can be utilized in any picture preset. Gamma is out there, however solely within the Creator preset. The monitor does present coloration achieve, offset, hue, and saturation adjustment, although just for RGB.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

One other characteristic you may miss is a KVM swap. As a result of this monitor solely has one USB-B enter, there’s no means to make use of the monitor as a USB hub for a number of units. And which means a KVM swap is out.

Gaming options are a bit extra sturdy. You’ll discover options like a darkish stabilizer, which makes foes simpler to see in darkish scenes, and Alienware’s personal Alien Imaginative and prescient modes, which alter picture high quality in numerous methods to attempt to give gamers a aggressive benefit. The monitor also can restrain the show space to emulate a 25-inch display, which you may want in sure esports titles.

Alienware AW3426DW audio

The Alienware AW3426DW doesn’t embody audio system. That is typical for a 34-inch gaming ultrawide. Most don’t embody audio.

Alienware AW3426DW picture high quality

As you might need observed by now, the Alienware AW3426DW isn’t a monitor that defines itself primarily based on all kinds of options. As a substitute it tries to supply the core capabilities related to gaming alongside stable picture high quality at a worth that undercuts the options. So…is it profitable?

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Alienware will get off to a powerful begin in brightness, because the AW3426DW offers a most sustained SDR brightness of 321 nits. Because the graph exhibits, that is on the higher finish of what present QD-OLED gaming displays can present.

The monitor has a shiny end, nevertheless, so you’ll be able to count on to see reflections in case you use the monitor in a shiny room. It gained’t be a problem in lots of conditions, however if in case you have a shiny supply of sunshine close to you, like a sunlit window, you’ll want to tug down a shade for a great expertise.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

Distinction is a big benefit for all OLED displays. They will attain a minimal luminance of zero nits, which blows out the distinction ratio and offers a much more immersive and reasonable picture than a typical LCD show.

That is excellent news for the AW3426DW, which advantages from wonderful distinction. Nevertheless, the identical is true for all related OLED displays, so this isn’t a bonus over Alienware’s opponents.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

I can say the identical for coloration gamut. Whereas many QD-OLED displays can be found, all of them use panels produced by Samsung. Consequently, all QD-OLED displays are inclined to cluster round related coloration gamut outcomes: often 100% of sRGB, 98 % of DCI-P3, and 93 to 95 % of AdobeRGB. The AW3426DW isn’t any totally different on this regard.

Nonetheless, a coloration gamut that spans 98 % of DCI-P3 and 94 % of AdobeRGB is great. It offers a vivid, saturated picture in video games and films, and it’s adequate for many artistic work, too.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The Alienware AW3426DW additionally offers nice coloration accuracy with a mean coloration error of 0.78. Something under a coloration error worth of 1 is great, so yea, it is a super outcome. It’s not, nevertheless, a lot totally different from opponents. QD-OLED displays are typically extraordinarily good on the subject of coloration accuracy.

I measured a default coloration temperature of 6500K, which is true on the right track. I additionally measured a gamma curve of two.3, which is somewhat off the goal of two.2, and means the picture can look barely darker than meant. It’s a small distinction, nevertheless, and customarily arduous to note.

Sharpness is mediocre. The AW3426DW has a local decision of 3440×1440 on a 34-inch panel, which works out to a pixel density of about 110 pixels per inch. That’s not unhealthy, however it’s not that prime for a show in 2026. A 27-inch 4K show offers about 163 pixels per inch; a 15-inch 1080p show offers 146 pixels per inch.

Alienware AW3426DW HDR picture high quality

The Alienware AW3426DW helps HDR10 and in addition Dolby Imaginative and prescient. The latter is extra uncommon, and although I’d argue it’s not an enormous deal for a PC monitor (as most sources shall be HDR10) there are some console titles that assist Dolby Imaginative and prescient.

Alienware additionally boasts VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 certification and has a peak claimed brightness as much as 1,300 nits. I wasn’t capable of push the AW3426DW to that degree, however because the graph under exhibits, the AW3426DW’s HDR brightness is spectacular and in direction of the highest of the pack.

Matthew Smith / Foundry

The AW3426DW can attain a peak HDR brightness of as much as 1,197 nits when a small portion of the show is lit. It additionally achieves better-than-average brightness when massive parts of the show is lit. On the entire, then, it’s an especially vivid HDR show and may present loads of element in brightly lit scenes.

True to the development of reducing options, the AW3426DW doesn’t present menu choices to vary the HDR brightness curve to your preferences, which is somewhat annoying. In some conditions HDR can look too shiny on a monitor, and it’s good to have the choice to tame brightness if desired.

Alienware AW3426DW movement efficiency

The Alienware AW3426DW has a most refresh price of 280Hz. That’s not unhealthy, in fact, however it’s additionally not that spectacular for a contemporary OLED monitor. Refresh charges have shot into the stratosphere just lately: 360Hz shouldn’t be arduous to seek out, and a few displays go as much as 500Hz or extra, although often not in an ultrawide format.

With that stated, 280Hz continues to be a wonderful refresh price. When you’re coming from an older monitor with a 120Hz or (Gasp! Horror!) 60Hz refresh price, effectively, you’re going to be shocked at how good the movement readability appears. It’s additionally price remembering that OLED offers low pixel response instances, which reduces ghosting. Consequently, an OLED just like the AW3426DW will look sharper in movement than an LCD even at decrease refresh charges.

Whereas the AW3426DW’s refresh price doesn’t set information, the monitor does present adaptive sync and official assist for VESA Adaptive Sync, G-Sync, and AMD FreeSync. So, adaptive sync ought to work with nearly any PC that you’ve related to the monitor.

Is the Alienware AW3426DW price it?

Like different latest Alienware displays, the AW3426DW isn’t all that spectacular, however it’s sensible. The monitor largely lacks gee-whiz options that bolster its spec sheet. There’s no USB-C with DisplayPort and Energy Supply, no backlight strobing mode, and the refresh price isn’t the best.

Nevertheless, the AW3426DW has a practical minimalist design, a five-layer tandem QD-OLED with nice picture high quality, and it undercuts the options on worth with an MSRP of $799.99. So, if you need the newest QD-OLED panel at a extra reasonably priced worth, the AW3426DW is difficult to beat.