Alienware's new 34-inch AW3425DW QD-OLED monitor, featuring a lightning-fast 240 Hz refresh rate and a revamped design aesthetic, has made its descent to our planet.
The Alienware AW3425DW QD-OLED gaming monitor has recently been released in the United States, priced at $799.99, and it's already making waves in the gaming community. This latest model from Alienware offers several key improvements over its predecessor, the AW3423DW.
One of the most significant enhancements is the increased maximum refresh rate. Where the AW3423DW maxed out at 175 Hz, the AW3425DW takes it up a notch to an impressive 240 Hz. This higher refresh rate provides smoother and more responsive gameplay, particularly beneficial for competitive gaming.
Another notable upgrade is the improved HDMI support. The AW3425DW features HDMI 2.1, unlike the AW3423DW which only had HDMI 2.0 ports, limiting the refresh rate over HDMI to 100 Hz. This change allows for higher refresh rates and better compatibility with modern gaming consoles and GPUs via HDMI.
The AW3425DW also boasts a refreshed design, aligning with Alienware’s 2025 aesthetic, while retaining most of the features of its predecessor. Additionally, the newer model is more color accurate than the AW3423DW, which already had a high standard for QD-OLED panels.
Both monitors use first-generation Samsung QD-OLED panels, so they share great contrast, deep blacks, per-pixel dimming, low input lag, and rapid pixel response times. HDR performance and brightness levels remain similar. The AW3425DW comes with a 3-year warranty, and it weighs 17.95 pounds.
The AW3425DW has a screen size of 34 inches and a 21:9 aspect ratio, with a resolution of 3440 x 1440. It features an 1800R curve and an anti-reflective coating. The monitor also includes an integrated hub with 5 Gbps USB-A and USB-C ports, with the USB-C port supporting 15-watt charging.
In terms of connectivity, the AW3425DW has one DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.1 ports. It also has one USB-B upstream, one USB-A downstream, and one USB-C downstream port. The monitor's native color depth and gamut are 10-bit and DCI-P3 respectively, and it has a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits in HDR mode.
The AW3425DW supports variable refresh rate technology, including FreeSync and G-Sync Compatible. With its graphene-infused heatsink for better heat dissipation, this monitor promises a smooth and efficient gaming experience. Overall, the AW3425DW builds on the AW3423DW by delivering a substantial boost in refresh rate and modernized connectivity, while maintaining the excellent OLED panel qualities that made the predecessor popular.
In the realm of modern technology, the AW3425DW joins the lineup of smart-home devices and gadgets, showcasing groundbreaking advances in gaming monitors. Unlike other gadgets that may only focus on a singular aspect, the AW3425DW excels in both performance and compatibility, offering an improved HDMI support with HDMI 2.1, enabling better compatibility with modern gaming consoles and GPUs via HDMI.