Review Alienware AW3423DW Gaming Monitor Review: QD-OLED Impresses

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Why only 250 nits in SDR mode? Is there a way to get the ~450 nits of the full window HDR mode but restricting the monitor to 256 brightness steps? Playing game at 250 nit peak brightness is too dull even in dark environments
 
Having and OLED for my home theater I was impressed with the overall ratings of this monitor for my office/game computer. I have already ordered one from Dell. I'm excited about the color accuracy and speed.
 
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It would have been nice if you mentioned the non-standard triangle RGB subpixel layout (green on top, red and blue on bottom)..
Because OS's and rendering tools are not built around this layout, you will get text and window border fringing.
 
This looks to be an outstanding display and I, like others, would love to have one. The price is much lower than initially expected and while that's great, it's also caused an issue with regard to availability. Checking the Dell site before posting this, the delivery is currently June 15th and that's with it being expedited (and at additional cost). That pretty much sucks for someone looking to spend money and get it soon, but I guess this is the way it goes for wanting to be on the bleeding edge... along with everyone else.

Looks like I'll have to "suffer" on with my HP OMEN 27 for the time being. It's TN and not as pretty, but it was priced nice when I got it and does the job with full G-Sync.
 
Checking the Dell site before posting this, the delivery is currently June 15th and that's with it being expedited (and at additional cost). That pretty much sucks for someone looking to spend money and get it soon, but I guess this is the way it goes for wanting to be on the bleeding edge... along with everyone else.
This at least springs hope that if you order now, you'll get one eventually. Or Dell doesn't want to an indefinite "sold out" button.

Either way, they won't charge you until the order actually ships, so there's that.
 
I will stick with my 49 incher from Samsung for $1000 and what is basically two 1440p monitors without a bezel. $1300 is just a lot to ask for this bad boy.
 
How is this a review on a monitor if it doesn't mention the aliasing and fringing issues due to the subpixel layout? While amazing monitor for people doing video content creation or video games, it is not adequate for day to day productivity use if you are coding or writing word docs 8 hours a day. The hardware unbox video is the only frank assessment I've read so far from the popular reviewers. Disappointing from tomshardware.
 
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How is this a review on a monitor if it doesn't mention the aliasing and fringing issues due to the subpixel layout? While amazing monitor for people doing video content creation or video games, it is not adequate for day to day productivity use if you are coding or writing word docs 8 hours a day. The hardware unbox video is the only frank assessment I've read so far from the popular reviewers. Disappointing from tomshardware.
It's almost like Alienware makes products for gamers.
 
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Why only 250 nits in SDR mode? Is there a way to get the ~450 nits of the full window HDR mode but restricting the monitor to 256 brightness steps? Playing game at 250 nit peak brightness is too dull even in dark environments
If you'd read the review, you'd know that there is nothing "dull" about this monitor. Movie theaters run at around just 50 nits, so 250 is more than enough in a dark room. And True Black HDR 400 will temporarily blind you during bright flashes like explosions.

Not a single review- and I believe I've read them all - has complained about the brightness of this monitor. I currently own the AW3418DW and it's only rated at 300 nits. I've never turned the brightness or contrast above 60% in any situation, and it's plenty bright. For gaming in the dark , I drop those numbers to 40% contrast and 25% brightness.

You should base your thoughts on first hand experience, not a spec sheet. I've ordered this monitor and can't wait for it to arrive. It will be single biggest upgrade to my rig that I've ever made! 😉
 
gotta make sure I get the extended warranty and financing. Wait are you interested in the extended warranty and financing? ltt enjoyers :)
Dell doesn't offer an extended warranty. Maybe if you buy it from a third-party they will have something to offer.

The warranty included is already 3 years with a zero dead pixels policy and overnight cross-shipping for replacements. Pop the bad panel in the box that the replacement came in, slap on the prepaid return shipping label, and send it away.

Hands down it's the best warranty (service-wise) in all of the electronics world. Can't wait for mine to show up on June 9th. These are selling like hotcakes!
 
If you'd read the review, you'd know that there is nothing "dull" about this monitor. Movie theaters run at around just 50 nits, so 250 is more than enough in a dark room. And True Black HDR 400 will temporarily blind you during bright flashes like explosions.

Not a single review- and I believe I've read them all - has complained about the brightness of this monitor. I currently own the AW3418DW and it's only rated at 300 nits. I've never turned the brightness or contrast above 60% in any situation, and it's plenty bright. For gaming in the dark , I drop those numbers to 40% contrast and 25% brightness.

You should base your thoughts on first hand experience, not a spec sheet. I've ordered this monitor and can't wait for it to arrive. It will be single biggest upgrade to my rig that I've ever made! 😉
My existing monitor is 350 nits and I would say it is almost perfect brightness for gaming in the dark. 250 nits would be too dim. Just because you like for your monitor to be dim and limited contrast in the dark does not mean that is correct, it’s just your opinion. It is my opinion that my monitor should provide the appropriate brightness of different objects in the scene compared to how an object looks in real life. No mater if my room is dark or bright, the sky during a high noon scene should present the same brightness as real life (or as close as I can get it with limited display technology) It’s called immersion.
 
It's almost like Alienware makes products for gamers.

He isn't wrong and you are not either.

Yes its a gaming orientated product, however there are many professionals that will do double duty on their screens and will play games on their spare time. So if someone fits this use case the issue hardware unboxed pointed out are valid. If you only play games and do nothing else they can be ignored.
 
So every monitor should fail your standards, because if you can look at the sun in a game and you're not blinded, then it's not reflecting real life.
Well if you take my comment in context yes but I stipulated “or as close as I can get it with limited display technology” with my 350 nit panel I am reasonably satisfied with the result however, 250 nits I would not. I shouldn’t have used the sun as an example.
 
Why only 250 nits in SDR mode? Is there a way to get the ~450 nits of the full window HDR mode but restricting the monitor to 256 brightness steps? Playing game at 250 nit peak brightness is too dull even in dark environments

250 is dull in a dark room? Man my eyes just hurt thinking about that lol.

My LCD can do 300 nits, but as I use it in a dark room I have calibrated it for 120 nits which I find looks great and not dull at all.

Contrast doesn't change when you lower the peak white, but the black floor does at least.

I have this monitor on order, but for SDR I don't think I would run it any brighter than I am used to for SDR content. For HDR I will definitely use the HDR400 mode though.

How is this a review on a monitor if it doesn't mention the aliasing and fringing issues due to the subpixel layout? While amazing monitor for people doing video content creation or video games, it is not adequate for day to day productivity use if you are coding or writing word docs 8 hours a day. The hardware unbox video is the only frank assessment I've read so far from the popular reviewers. Disappointing from tomshardware.

I mean Toms is mostly catering to gaming hardware no? At least this is an Alienware gaming monitor.

Why would you even buy an OLED for coding or writing word docs 8 hours a day lol. Sounds like a good way to burn it in and seems like a colossal waste of money to me.
 
250 is dull in a dark room? Man my eyes just hurt thinking about that lol.

My LCD can do 300 nits, but as I use it in a dark room I have calibrated it for 120 nits which I find looks great and not dull at all.

Contrast doesn't change when you lower the peak white, but the black floor does at least.

I have this monitor on order, but for SDR I don't think I would run it any brighter than I am used to for SDR content. For HDR I will definitely use the HDR400 mode though.



I mean Toms is mostly catering to gaming hardware no? At least this is an Alienware gaming monitor.

Why would you even buy an OLED for coding or writing word docs 8 hours a day lol. Sounds like a good way to burn it in and seems like a colossal waste of money to me.
Wow, I guess my eyes are just not that sensitive to light cause I game in the dark at full 350 nit brightness and it doesn’t bother me at all. Maybe it’s because I calibrate my monitor with argyl software and I’m too busy marveling at the realistic color? (Side note: It takes 15 hours to complete calibration on Argyl’s highest accuracy settings lol but omg does my panel look good now) That’s why I say it is opinion whether 250 nits is enough. If 120 nits is good enough for you then more power to you and honestly I’m still thinking about buying this monitor (maybe the 0.0000 nit black noise floor makes up for decreased top end brightness and I will simply love it!)
 
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