Now into 2023, the monitor was not really being tested-the gateway was being crossed. The first OLED gaming display for Engadget, the LG 27GR95QE, was never viewed as an upgrade; it was way beyond that. Cast your mind back to an IPS LCD monitor, and it sure felt like leaving an old skin behind. The WOLED panel of the LG would paint worlds with blacks so deep that one could almost fall into them. Suddenly, HDR on-the-go gaming on the PC was tied not to specifications but to warm-blooded experience. Yet, this monitor, being a wonder of its own and the pioneer of its kind, certainly harbored a few oddities.
The early OLED monitors promised visual nirvana, but reality bit. Ghostly fringes around text hampering productivity, flickering away like a broken strobe light now that G-Sync came into the picture. With great reluctance, I recommended the LG 27GR95QE in my guide; however, I personally remained unimpressed. For two years, the OLED siren song tempted me with high prices being the last nail in the coffin. If a screen of $800+ comes into my hands, “almost perfect” just isn’t a good enough phrase in my vocabulary. I want it impeccable.
At last, the OLED monitor nails it with a loudly pronounced, “Yes!” Not only am I recommending Alienware’s AW2725QF, but I am itching to buy one myself. This is not just any other display; it is a gateway to gaming nirvana. With a crisp 4K resolution, screaming-fast 240Hz refresh rate, and impeccable image quality in both SDR and HDR, the AW2725QF elevates visuals above mere sights. If you have the GPU in tow, consider the alternate term for “bliss” when enjoying your games. And perhaps most extraordinarily, it does so for less. So, if you’re out for the ultimate top-tier gaming monitor, you’ve just found it.
Alienware / Engadget
Alienware AW2725Q
Not only does this monitor render games; it simply detonates them. Prepare to witness cracking crisp defined by fluid verbiage that spells nearly indisputably OLED for a thousand dollars, putting a raindrop of doubt in what you’ve known regarding gaming monitors. Sublime image perfection meets almost instant response time, while the HDR presentation hits you with blindingly vibrant color. This cannot even be called a mere upgrade it is an ascension.
Pros
- Exceptional image quality
- Understated design
- Glossy coating
Cons
- No DisplayPort 2.1 connection
- Limited to 15W USB-C charging
- Coating prone to harsh reflections
$830 at Amazon
Design
Igor Bonifacic for Engadget
Put garish aside. Alienware’s AW2725Q is cloaked in understated cool, heralding a whole new design direction: AW30 series. I had let it lie a little while, and the fear of a mower sitting on my desk suddenly ceased to exist. This “Interstellar Indigo” finish is hardly black; it goes a long way beyond the banal competition to make a subtle, sophisticated statement. Logo-wise, it is kept to minimal and tasteful. The alien emblem on the back glows faintly while a very discreet badge sits on the front. Set the LED backlight to any color you like, or turn it off entirely, through the OSD-time to choose.
More than just a spectacle, the Dell AW2725Q is a hub of connectivity. Dual HDMI 2.1 ports are awaiting connection, one with eARC to add a soundbar to the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S. No need to fuss over dongles; three USB-A ports and a 15W USB-C charging port will keep your peripherals snug. Underneath the Dell’s elegant surface nefariously sits the same prized Samsung QD-OLED panel adorning the ASUS PG27UCDM for $1,200 and the MSI 272URX for $1,100-the crème de la crème of display technology.
Dell has cut out the bulk and few features to make the monitor carry the alluring tag of $900. Most infamous omission? A DisplayPort 2.1 output. Instead, you remain tethered to the older 1.4 standard. This, of course, forces the Alienware AW2725Q to employ Display Stream Compression (DSC) in order to achieve that glorious 4K resolution at a punishing 240Hz. Does that deter you? Not at all. DSC is a compression scheme in theory, but practically, it is an invisible one. Kind of digital wizardry “visually lossless.” Until you’re staring at some pixels with a magnifying glass, you probably won’t be: (a) actually there; or (b) able to spot any difference from a breathtaking uncompressed DisplayPort 2.1 signal. Secondly, who in their right mind would–except if forced by a weapon of dinosaur wrath by NVIDIA or AMD–exploit DisplayPort 2.1 to the fullest?
Aside from the OLED glow, the AW2725Q calls for a few compromises. The MSI and ASUS counterparts can deliver a strong 98W and 90W respectively via USB-C, enough to charge your laptop fast. But the AW2725Q leaves you wanting. The ASUS also features a KVM switch; a clever trick for controlling more than one PC from a single keyboard and mouse. Are these deal-breakers? Not really. They are just the sprinkles on top of the sundae, not the actual ice cream. I wouldn’t pay that extra $200-$300 for these features when I want pure gaming supremacy.
Display
Igor Bonifacic for Engadget
If I were to say that the AW2725Q is any different thing in the ocean of OLED monitors, it would hold truth. Samsung’s QD-OLED tech is indeed supper-rare fare, but this isn’t just another pretty picture. This is thefirsttime a 4K resolution has been utilized out of a 27-inch display. Too much? Maybe. But get ready for some spoiled eyeballs.
Consider the pixel density of 166ppi on the AW2725Q; it’s not just a mere number but a revelation. Finally, we do have an OLED computer monitor without fuzzy text! Remember those early days of the OLEDs when you got distracting text fringing and could never use them seriously for work? Those days are gone with AW2725Q. It’s not just great for gaming; it’s a phenomenal monitor for everything else.
DCI-P3 coverage is at 99% in the AW2725QF; visuals pop with intensity and vibrancy. A slight green tint threatened to steal the show right out of the box. DisplayCal endeared itself quickly by suppressing this tint, allowing the monitor to express its true capability. This allowed colors to have a little more pop without going overboard. On the professional design end, Dell provides a very precise sRGB clamp available in the monitor’s OSD menu itself. The OSD navigation is white-glove service, robust enough to jingle the finger in frustration or annoyingly to keep you from accidentally making adjustments.
Igor Bonifacic for Engadget
The glassy finishing of AW2725Q is not simple color display; rather, it bombs colors into space. Blacks grow to infinite pools of ink, while colors generate heat and energy that appear tangible. In the absolute silence of my gaming den, the image seems to rise above mere projection, acquiring a near-holographic depth. Going back and playing old favorites-even those made in SDR-was gratifying. I could see brushstrokes, subtle details, and artistic choices that hadn’t been apparent with lesser displays. The mirror finish does command respect. Reflections may intrude-the price for such clarity-and the QD-OLED panel is just like a grumpy artist: sometimes, in brightly lit conditions, it will let out a smidgeon of gray where there’s supposed to be true black. At first, I resented this. Then, harnessing the sun through some blind adjustments revealed the full potential of this display. Like any masterpiece with an OLED heart, the AW2725Q will evolve into something far more rewarding with managed lighting.
I should have forgotten my refresh rate preconceptions. I really thought that going from 165Hz to 240Hz wouldn’t offer much. Plugging in the AW2725Q suddenly meant more immersion and fewer degrees of competitive advantage. Nothing small about that: it was not a mere refresh rate bump; it was an epiphany. Even my trusty-but-aging NVIDIA RTX 3070, which groans under pushing frame rates for hard-to-run titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Space Marine 2, was no match for this. No blur, no smears, and pure, pure fluidity from the pixel response time of 0.03 ms. Let me tell you, overdrive serves no purpose here. OLED clarity washes over any GPU stress. I have detected some VRR flicker while G-SYNC is enabled, but it is a quiet whisper compared to the harsh strobing of the older LG 27GR95QE-style OLEDs. In short, this is much more than a monitor; it can actually upgrade your entire gaming experience.
Igor Bonifacic for Engadget
SDR is just the prelude. The true power of the AW2725Q was unleashed by way of HDR. The display has been certified with VESA True Black 400, not just for showing the darkness but forconjuringit. Step insideDead Space‘s oppressive corridors or the eerie woods ofAlan Wakeand watch the scene come alive. The AW2725Q offers true black levels at a near-infinite contrast ratio, thereby redefining your immersion. The inky blackness stands in stark contrast to the washed-out gray of these IPS displays, with shadows deepening the atmosphere and drawing you more deeply into this eerie world. Feel the ambience the designers intended to be felt, with breathtaking fidelity.
I don’t have the gear to be precise about measuring peak brightness and panel uniformity, but Rtings and Monitors Unboxed hold the AW2725Q in high regard. The monitor was taken down to just 220 nits in SDR mode and gave a respectable 260 nits across the full screen in HDR. If you’re coming from an LCD, the colours will almost certainly wow you, for at least with this monitor not quite mind-bogglingly bright in the way the other OLEDs might be.
Burn-in protection
Weeks are not enough to check out the burn-in on the AW2725Q; however, initial signs point toward longevity while serviced well. Dell has equipped this monitor with all the tools needed to banish image retention. Think of it as a digital spa for your pixels. A pixel refresh cycle refreshes the entire panel to stop pesky stuck images. You can do it manually through the on-screen display, or better yet, leave it to the native AW2725Q, which performs that immediately after the PC goes down to sleep or shuts down, taking about five minutes for completion. Besides this, further CV-internal self-testing enables the prognosis of the panel and the cooling fans for ailing long-term health and giving maximum performance.
That rather odd pricing defies logic. Advertised as a $1,200 monitor, it is Dell’s cheapest model: that is, cheaper than any of the other monitors offered in the same price category. The AW2725Q is definitely a piece of hardware and, with burn-in warranties, this gives a serious peace of mind for a lot of users. In a market where the longevity of OLED displays is under question, Dell stands apart, risk-free. It is not just a mere monitor, but an investment against burn-in, making the AW2725Q a compelling option for the long haul.
Wrap-up
Igor Bonifacic for Engadget
The product review ends with a sigh of relief as the monitor is boxed up, eager to return to something I’ve come to trust. I’m a cautious buyer; I give value to every single purchase. But with Alienware AW2725Q, I’m actually dreading the day I will have to say goodbye to it. Indeed, this display is not merely meeting my expectations; it has made my favorite hobby much more exciting. To think that such a visual experience comes at $900? That’s a pleasant surprise!
Buyers investing in its 4K OLED awesomeness have to equate the AW2725Q to the fitness underdog; all it loves is to being kicked a few good times in the wallet more than a normal IPS display can demand from you. The only thing standing between you and this great beauty of a monitor is your hungry appetite for something with a hefty 32″ screen to swallow away on your desk.
Thanks for reading Alienware AW2725Q review: An exceptional OLED gaming display
