Alienware ’s new AW2725QF wants to be the onlygaming monitoryou want . The troupe aver that it ’s two monitor in one , allowing you to switch between 4 K at 180Hz to 1080p at 360Hz at the public press ( or rather , two - second hold ) of a release . It wants to play both slope of the field , giving you resolution when you desire it or refresh rate when you call for it .

Despite an telling IPS board with secure color coverage and scandalous brightness , the AW2725QF falls just short of the mark . Unfortunately , that comes down to its marquee feature and the insurance premium that Alienware is charging for it . At $ 600 , it ’s hard to vindicate Alienware ’s Modern display when you’re able to save money by reach up the dual refresh rate or get a much nicer mini - LED display while drop the same amount — heck , even some of thebest OLED monitorsare bring down to around $ 600 .

Alienware AW2725QF specs

Design

Alienware has carve out a niche for itself with its gambling monitors , and the AW2725QF carries forward the familiar excogitation we saw on theAlienware 27 QD - OLED . It ’s not insanely slight like the craw of 27 - inch OLED Monitor we ’ve seen , but Alienware make the look follow together . The curved plastic back is adorned with an Alienware logo and a “ 27 , ” both illuminated in RGB , and the monumental tie-up minimizes the size of it of the showing on your desk .

The monitor looks fantastic , but I revalue how Alienware handles cable direction most . A cable television service routing channel runs up the rear of the tie-up , with the cables exit toward the top of the stand . This keeps all of your cable clutter clearly behind the monitor so you do n’t see any swing connections after setting everything up .

Otherwise , Alienware transmit forward the phone bandstand that we date onits 500Hz gaming monitor . you could come out it out the side of the show to breathe your earpiece when you ’re done play . It ’s just a piece of plastic , sure , but a nice addition however .

For the stand , Alienware propose a solid compass of modification . You get just over 4 inches of height alteration , 26 degrees of tilt , 40 degree of swivel , and 180 degrees of pin , allowing you to turn the monitor vertically to either side . you may ditch the tie-up and jump on the monitor with the 100 x 100 mm VESA mount , but you have a hatful of options with the include outdoor stage .

Features

It should n’t come as a surprise , but the AW2725QF is n’t packed with features . This is a $ 600 4 K gambling proctor , and although that ’s quickly becoming the higher end of non - OLED 4 KB displays , the unique dual refresh rate feature of speech is what takes halfway microscope stage here . you may go from 4 K at 180Hz to 1080p at 360Hz by hold down the stick for two sec , or by select your preferred resolution / refresh rate combo in the computer menu .

This is n’t the first dual refresh rate varan we ’ve seen , though former version have used a 32 - inch control board . At 27 inches , the AW2725QF is in an interesting position . This is the ideal size of it for a 1440p monitor , so one oddment , you have insane pixel density if you ’re running in the 4 K mode , and at the other , you ’re not feed up much acuity if hunt down the monitor at 1080p .

You do n’t get any strange fringing when flip the resolution , either . When croak from 4 K to 1080p , a second power of four pel basically turns into one . Both the 1080p and 4 super acid modes look excellent on the AW2725QF , and I really would n’t mind using either of them , especially in game .

Outside of the dual refresh pace , you get picture - by - picture and picture - in - picture features , which are common among Alienware monitor , as well as 15W of index through the USB - deoxycytidine monophosphate connexion . This is n’t a display input , however . Because of that , the AW2725QF does n’t sustain a KVM switch .

Ports and controls

There are n’t too many surprises when it come to the port option on the Alienware AW2725QF . You get two HDMI 2.1 ports and a single DisplayPort 1.4 connection . One of the HDMI 2.1 supports eARC if you ’re hooking up a gadget like a console table , as well as Dolby Atmos passthrough . Both ports support 4 K a 165Hz or 1080p at 330Hz , which you may overclock to 180Hz or 360Hz , respectively .

In accession , you get a USB hub built into the monitor . Two of the USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type - A embrasure are hidden alongside the exhibit connections , but you get a third just under the bottom lip of the showing , too . You also get a USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type - C port under the front lip of the monitor , which can deliver up to 15W. It ’s important to note that this USB - C connexion is n’t a display input signal , and the Alienware AW2725QF does n’t include a KVM switch .

I enjoy Alienware ’s on - screen display ( OSD ) and how it cleanly lays out your choice while showing the status of some critical characteristic at the top of the cover . Controlling the monitor is simple , too , with a four - way joystick right under the front rim of the monitor . It ’s simple to manipulate the monitor this way , though displays like theAsus ROG Swift PG27AQDPhave moved onto screen background apps that allow you to control the monitor with your keyboard and mouse . Alienware does n’t have that .

The bigger thing is activate the dual refresh rate feature film . Unlike theLG UltraGear Dual Mode OLED , Alienware does n’t have a dedicated button to switch the resolution and refresh pace on its monitor . or else of a consecrate button , you’re able to pick out the mode you desire to expend through the OSD or hold down the control stick for two seconds . It ’s not too much of a pain in the ass , though I would prefer a dedicated push .

Image quality

As far as IPS venire go , the AW2725QF is impressive . Alienware does n’t make any bold claims about luminousness or color insurance coverage , and my numbers game back up what Alienware pose out . In SDR , I measured a peak brightness of 474 nits with a dark level at 0.41 nit . That leaves the demarcation ratio at right around 1,100:1 , which is where an IPS monitoring equipment should fall . You ’re not going far beyond that , though . Despite Dolby Vision HDR support , the AW2725QF does n’t have Full raiment Local Dimming ( FALD ) .

For color , the AW2725QF bring forth 100 % of sRGB and 92 % of DCI - P3 , which is just below the 95 % mark that Alienware take . It also managed 85 % of AdobeRGB , which is impressive . Most IPS monitors shine in the range of 75 % coverage of AdobeRGB , and although newer organic light-emitting diode likeMSI MPG 321URXpost higher coverage , this monitor is shockingly close .

Color accuracy out of the box was n’t smashing , with the AW2725QF posting an intermediate color error of 1.99 . It ’s acceptable , but you should definitely calibrate the proctor further if you plan on doing any intense color work . Other late 4 K gambling monitors like theHP Omen 27kare capable to attain much better color performance out of the box , so that ’s unquestionably a mark against Alienware here .

Alienware play up the HDR carrying out of this display with DisplayHDR 600 certification and Dolby Vision support , but you should n’t expect a arresting HDR image . The monitor can get bright enough , no doubt , but contrast is where it struggles . The AW2725QF use an edge - alight backlight , and I counted 16 vertical dim geographical zone on the display . There ’s no FALD like you discover on theSony InZone M9orCooler Master Tempest GP27Q.

Instead , you get some imitation HDR sweetening with Dolby Vision . It take care large when you ’re roll an HDR demonstration , but it can lead to some unexpected results in look-alike quality elsewhere . you may see the odd demarcation in the Google logo below as an example .

On the upside , Alienware does n’t touch off the zones haphazardly . Moving your pointer across a black screen do n’t result in an harebrained flush , for illustration . You involve something decent declamatory on screen to full induction the zone to illume up , which have in mind less bloom around elements like subtitles when you ’re watching a movie .

Gaming

Gaming on the AW2725QF is fantastic regardless of the refresh rate mode you choose , but I rarely happen myself switching between them . As bring up , the sizing of the monitor trifle a freehanded purpose in how well 4 K and 1080p show up on this varan . Although there ’s a pretty clear deviation in sharpness between the two way on the desktop , where fine item like textual matter give away what resolution you ’re running at , that difference starts to fade away when you ’re playing a game . The 1080p mode see flaccid , but it ’s less uttermost than you might suspect .

I look at it like a shape of upscaling . last from 4 K down to 1080p looks similar to what you ’ll see with something likeAMD ’s FidelityFX Super Resolution ( FSR)turned on , just without the ghosting or artifacts that pop up with upscaling . InReturnal , I had no issue play in the 1080p mode , and just a minute into a footrace of the biz , I forgot I was run at 1080p at all . There ’s a strong disceptation for a display like this if you ca n’t endure all of your games at 4K. perhaps you have a PC that ’s powerful enough for most game to run at 4 K , but you have the option to prioritize refresh rate if you kick downstairs down the resolution to 1080p in more demanding form of address .

The dual way feature fits that role well , but it does n’t fit the same role I see with the LG UltraGear Dual Mode OLED . You ’re going between 180Hz and 360Hz here , which is not a super significant jump on an IPS panel . Once you start tug by 240Hz on anything other than an OLED showing , you get diminishing return with the ( relatively ) slow pixel response time of IPS liken to OLED .

That ’s where I consort into issues with the dual mode feature on video display here . It ’s not the labourer - of - all - trade feature that we ’ve seen on the dual mode organic light-emitting diode . It allow for me feeling like you could get more bang for your buck by prefer a cheaper 4 jet presentation with a similar refresh rate like the aforementioned HP Omen 27k or die down to 1440p and getting better HDR with a mini - direct display like the recent Cooler Master display we ’ve look .

As is the shell with the dual - mode OLEDs , you ’re definitely compensate for the dual refresh pace feature article here . At $ 600 , Alienware is coming in above budget 4 K gaming displays that hover around $ 400 to $ 500 , as well as competitory 1080p displays like Alienware ’s own 500Hz gaming proctor . The conflict is that with a twofold mode OLED , you ’re getting both a true esports and cinematic display all in one . Here , it feel like you ’re getting a water - down rendering of each experience .

Should you buy the Alienware AW2725QF?

The AW2725QF work dual refresh charge per unit down to a more reasonable price , but it brings into doubt why a dual refresh charge per unit feature require to be in the first place . The idea is to use 4 1000 when you require the immersive , cinematic experience and to change to 1080p when you need to get competitive . There are some gamers who are split down the middle , but for most , you’re able to either carry through money by take one resoluteness or the other , or you’re able to get much nice HDR operation while spend the same amount .

Once you consider that you may nibble up monitors like the 240HzLG UltraGear OLED 27for around the same toll as Alienware ’s raw show , the AW2725QF starts to make less sense . Although it has hearty public presentation for an IPS control board , the bounty on the dual refresh pace feature makes it hard to excuse for most buyers .