Dell Alienware 32-inch 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor AW3225QF review: a near-perfect gaming monitor

No device is perfect. As reviewers, we constantly aim to dig out issues with devices to inform users about what they’re getting themselves into. When you’re putting your hard-earned money into a new electronic device, you should be aware of what you can and cannot do with it. Since we get access to some of the most coveted devices in the market, it becomes our responsibility to ensure that we do not mislead you by giving false titles to any product. Mindful of all this, I would still like to say that Dell’s Alienware 32-inch 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor (AW3225QF) is probably the closest a gaming monitor can get to the title of ‘perfect’ in the current market.

Before I get into the nitty-gritty, I want to give a heads-up that this is not a monitor for the masses. With a premium price tag of Rs 1,05,000, this gaming monitor is meant for enthusiasts, specifically those who don’t want to compromise on any front. Now that I have shared this disclaimer, let’s dive into what makes this Alienware monitor so special.

Design and ports

The AW3225QF comes with the distinctive aesthetics that you would typically associate with a high-end Alienware monitor. You get a predominantly plastic body with a mixture of matte black, white, and Aqua blue colours at the back. With the 3-zone customisable AlienFX lighting, the monitor gives you the flexibility to choose the exact aesthetic that you need from your gaming setup. In a dark room, the Aqua Blue lighting looks incredible. The display comes with a 1700R curvature and a display size of 31.6 inches (80.26cm). At the back, the ports and the wires can be neatly tucked beneath a white cover that ensures the cable management is neat and clean.

Without the stand, the monitor measures 421.92 x 715.56 x 106.44mm. With the stand, these dimensions go up to 472.77~ 582.77 (Compressed and Extended) x 715.56 x3 05.72mm. The monitor offers a -5/+21 degrees tilt and a -20/+20-degree swivel. The monitor weighs 6kg (panel only) but can be easily pulled out of the box and installed by A single person.

Alienware 32-inch 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor (AW3225QF) ports

I recently reviewed the Gigabyte AORUS CO49DQ and while I loved that monitor, admittedly, the 49-inch panel gets a bit too much for a daily driver (unless you are used to a multi-monitor setup). On the flip side, I use a 27-inch monitor on a daily basis and I often think I need a bigger panel. The 32-inch panel on the AW3225QF feels like an ideal fit between the two, especially with the 1700R curve that ensures the panel caters to your field of view properly. 

With a 16:9 aspect ratio, the AW3225QF supports both PC and console games without any black bars on the side. This is a notable upside in comparison to the ultrawide and super ultrawide monitors with a 21:9 or 32:9 aspect ratio. Console gamers prefer not to buy ultrawide monitors because of this specific aspect ratio issue as both the PS5 and Xbox Series X do not support ultrawide gaming.

As this is a QD-OLED panel, the AW3225QF comes with an impressive contrast ratio of 1 million: 1 in both SDR and HDR. The display comes with a peak HDR brightness of 1000 cd/m² (typical) and a response time of 0.03ms. Notably, this is the first QD-OLED monitor in the market to support up to 240Hz refresh rate in 4K resolution, which makes it a dream buy for most players. 

Thanks to the NVIDIA G-SYNC and VESA AdaptiveSync support, this monitor gives you a stutter-free gaming experience with no tearing issues. The monitor offers 99.0 percent of DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage, which allows it to be ideal for editing video/images as well as watching movies. With a pixel density of 140ppi, the image quality is impeccable. I tested the AW3225QF in various use cases and this is how my experience was:

• I first played Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on PlayStation 5 with HDR toggled on. The vibrant colours combined with rich blacks provide a delightful and smooth gaming experience. I switched on the frame rate feature on the monitor and toggled on the 120Hz performance mode in the game. As a result, I ended up with an average refresh rate of between 60Hz-80Hz in my gameplay session.
  
  
  
• I also played Tekken 8 with HDR enabled and the experience was similar in that it was fluid and there was no lag or stutter.
• After this, I connected the monitor to my PC and played some FPS games to check out the response time and performance. I played Call of Duty: Warzone, Valorant, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, and Fortnite. As much as I would like to take credit for my performance in these games, the truth is that the AW3225QF provides you with the competitive edge that automatically reflects in any game. Whether it is response time or high refresh rate, you know at all times that there are no limitations in terms of hardware with this monitor, only your own skills.
  
  
• I also watched some 4K HDR movies and TV shows on the monitor to check how it holds up on that front. I must say that I was impressed with the colour accuracy out of the box. This monitor covers around 78 percent of the BT.2020 colour gamut, which is particularly impressive. Watching the latest episode of House of Dragon on this monitor was a captivating experience indeed.
• As this is a QD-OLED panel, the viewing angles were extremely impressive. With the anti-reflection coating, the panel does a fairly decent job at handling light sources but I would still say that it will be best for rooms with controlled lighting.
  
  
  

The display offers you the option to reduce blue light with the ComfortView Plus feature. For panel protection against burn-in, the brand has included both Pixel Refresh and Panel refresh options. The former function should be activated after 4 hours of cumulative usage and the process takes around 6 to 8 minutes. The Panel Refresh option can be used if a static image is left on your OLED panel for several hours. This is a more comprehensive process and takes around an hour to complete. Notably, Dell offers a 3-Year Advanced Exchange Service and Premium Panel Exchange (Including coverage for OLED burn-in) for the monitor.

Verdict

The Dell Alienware 32-inch 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor (AW3225QF) is an absolute treat for gamers. This is quite possibly the best gaming monitor you can buy unless you are the sort of person who absolutely needs a 360Hz panel. As most pro players play at 240Hz, I would say that this QD OLED monitor should even suffice their needs easily. While this monitor is also available in 27-inch and 34-inch sizes, in my opinion, the 32-inch panel is ideal for all kinds of uses from gaming and video editing to watching movies. With inky blacks, near-instant response time, high contrast ratio, and support for NVIDIA G-SYNC and VESA AdaptiveSync, this monitor gives you an unparalleled gaming experience free of tear and stutters. The only crucial aspect where this monitor falls behind is the lack of built-in speakers. Otherwise, you simply can’t go wrong with this monitor, provided you have the money for it. 

Editor’s Rating: 8.5 / 10 

Pros:

• 4K QD OLED panel is impeccable
• Almost instant pixel response time 
• Up to 240Hz refresh rate
• AlienFX lighting

Cons:

• No built-in speakers
• Hefty price tag