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When Alienware has announced a $349 QD-OLED gaming monitor I mentioned earlier this year that assuming it lives up to its budget promises, it will almost certainly become one of the most popular options. Until the AW2726DM, most OLED gaming monitors were around $500 when they weren’t on sale.
Eager to try it myself, I grabbed a review unit that has been front and center on my desk for about a month now. I use it for gaming of course, but also during the day I use it for some photo editing and general work.
I’ve been a PC gamer for as long as I can remember, and with ten years of experience reviewing hardware for Windows Central, I have a good idea of what’s good and what’s lagging behind.
How much is the Alienware AW2726DM?
The biggest draw of the Alienware AW2726DM is its thinness $349.99 price tag. No deal or discount is required to bring that price down, and it’s not out of the realm of possibility that it could drop one day.
In comparison, the HyperX OMEN OLED 27q, which uses the same Samsung panel as the Alienware, it normally costs about $500, but often drops to $400.
Dell’s next most affordable QD-OLED gaming monitor, the Alienware AW2725D, It costs $500.
Here’s a comparison of two Alienware monitors to give you an idea of what you’re working with.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Alienware AW2726DM |
Alienware AW2725D |
|
Size |
26.7 inches |
26.7 inches |
|
Panel |
QD-OLED, anti-reflective |
QD-OLED, anti-reflective |
|
Resolution |
2560 x 1440 (QHD) |
2560 x 1440 (QHD) |
|
Refresh Rate / Response Time |
240Hz / 0.03ms |
280Hz / 0.03ms |
|
Adaptive synchronization |
Compatible with AMD FreeSync Premium, VESA AdaptiveSync, G-Sync |
AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, NVIDIA G-Sync compatible, VESA AdaptiveSync |
|
Brightness |
200 nits (SDR) / 400 nits (HDR) |
250 nits (SDR) / 1000 nits (HDR) |
|
Ports |
2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 3.5mm audio output, lock slot |
2x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, USB-B up, USB-A down, USB-C down, lock slot |
Dell has provided Windows Central with a review unit of the Alienware AW2726DM. He had no access to and had not seen the content of this review prior to publication.
Sleek, simple design at budget prices
Unboxing the Alienware AW2726DM, I was immediately struck by how thin and light it is. It’s only 1.65 inches at its thickest point, stacked toward the center of the screen vent and stand/VESA mounting base.
The stand is attached to the monitor with included screws, a more sophisticated approach to the conventional mounting method I’m used to. The stand is fairly basic, but has decent swivel, tilt, height and swivel capabilities.
After testing the stand, I attached the monitor to my VESA 100x100mm desk mount without issue.
It’s certainly a brilliant monitor, but that’s partly due to the lack of a few features you’d find on more premium monitors.
One, there is no built-in speakers. Instead, there is one 3.5 mm audio input easily accessible at the bottom of the screen. I don’t know anyone who uses the built-in monitor speakers for gaming anyway, but I miss it a bit for work purposes.
It is another missing element RGB lighting. On the back of the monitor is a simple Alienware logo; there is no buzzing light on the stand, no lighting. You got it. For some players who need a lot of light, this may seem simple, but I appreciate that it can adapt to professional conditions.
It’s a missing feature that I think most people will miss USB hub. I am not talking about a complete person Thunderbolt dock like some premium monitors. Instead, the Alienware AW2726DM offers only two HDMI 2.1 ports and one DisplayPort 1.4.
Comes with a monitor AMD FreeSync Premium and VESA AdaptiveSync. Although this has not been officially confirmed NVIDIA G-Synccompatible and I had no problems using it with RTX GPUs.
HDMI 2.1 and DP 1.4 capabilities on the Alienware AW2726DM
Monitor HDMI 2.1 supports ports 120Hz VRR on consoles and includes HDCP 1.4/2.3 protection standards. He also supports HDR.
For PC gamers, you’ll want to stick with it DisplayPort 1.4 (also with HDCP 1.4/2.3 protection standards). Provides full support 240Hz refresh rateand it includes HDR support and Screen Stream Compression (DSC).
All monitor controls stem from a joystick
The AW2726DM doesn’t come with a ton of buttons on the remote or the monitor itself. Everything is controlled from a joystick on the back right side of the panel.
The quick settings on the screen are simple. You can quickly adjust brightness and contrast, as well as volume for the 3.5mm audio jack. Game Enhance mode can be changed for additional screen overlays, and you can choose from 10 different image presets.
Dell offers a respectable three-year warranty that covers burn-in.
Inside the full menu are a few more customization options that let you change what each shortcut on the joystick does.
in terms of OLED care — always important when there is a risk of burns — the monitor has one Pixel Update feature enabled by default.
Great QD-OLED picture for less than the rest
Alienware’s AW2726DM uses a Samsung-developed Quantum Dot (QD) OLED panel. TFT Central’s always useful QD-OLED generation chartIt belongs to the period of 2024.
Is this a bad thing? Not really, especially at the asking price. While you may miss out on higher HDR True Black ratings and higher refresh rates, what the Alienware AW2726DM delivers is more than enough for the average gamer.
It’s not noticeable what input lag there might be.
A 2560×1440 (QHD) the resolution spans more GPUs than 4K, and it has sizzle 240Hz refresh rate to keep up with more powerful performance hardware. As always with OLED, the screen presents a fast 0.03ms gray to gray response time.
I don’t have a tool that can accurately measure input lag, but I can say that after a few hours of fast FPS gameplay, it’s not noticeable what input lag there might be.
Does the Alienware AW2726DM have good color and contrast?
Image 1 of 2
OLED displays are well known for delivering deep contrast. With a contrast ratio of 1,500,000:1, the AW2726DM is no different. Blacks are actually black, whites are actually white, and there’s no lighting to spoil the picture.
I tested stock color reproduction using my SpyderX Pro colorimeter and found 100% sRGB, 95% AdobeRGB, and 98% P3, all excellent results that will be useful, especially if you use the monitor for work during the day.
Is the Alienware AW2726DM bright enough?
Dell advertises 200 nits maximum brightness When I measured with SDR content and with my colorimeter, I saw that the value checked out 215.2 nits. This is slightly lower than other OLED panels of the same generation, but you still have to consider the cost.
HDR10 support is included despite the monitor not having any HDR certification, and the monitor goes up to about that level 400 nits when active.
The AW2726DM sets a new standard for affordable QD-OLED gaming monitors
Is it bright enough for office use? Absolutely. The anti-reflective finish picks up a lot when the sun is behind me, but I don’t find it too distracting even when gaming.
Burn-in is always a scary prospect when you’re dealing with OLED. As I mentioned, the monitor has Pixel Refresh enabled by default, and Dell offers a respectable one three year warranty involves burning.
Should you buy the Alienware AW2726DM?
You should buy this if…
✅ You currently have a VA or IPS gaming monitor and want to upgrade to OLED without spending too much.
✅ You have a powerful enough gaming PC to take advantage of QHD resolution and 240Hz refresh rate.
You should not buy this if…
❌ You already have an OLED gaming monitor that you are very happy with.
❌ You have some extra cash to spend and want to get some high-end features that the AW2726DM lacks.
If you have $350 to spare for a new 27-inch gaming monitor, my easy recommendation is the Alienware AW2726DM. I don’t know of any other QD-OLED display for this price, and while the AW2726DM isn’t perfect, it will absolutely rock your world if you’re coming from IPS or VA.
Color and contrast are excellent, the QHD resolution works for many gamers, and the 240Hz refresh rate is good for competitive games or casual gaming.
I have to give it to Alienware; The AW2726DM sets a new standard for affordable QD-OLED gaming monitors, and if you’re okay with some of the drawbacks, you’ll have a good time.
Alienware
AW2727DM
It may not have the same high-end specs found in more expensive alternatives, but the $349 Alienware AW2726DM QD-OLED gaming monitor is an easy recommendation for anyone who doesn’t want to spend too much for great color, contrast, and overall performance.
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