All new technologies come with a learning curve. With the wildly acclaimed new Alienware 32 AW3225QF, we’re definitely learning some lessons about OLED as a display solution for PC gaming.
In fact, this isn’t the first of the bold new 4K OLED generation we’ve sampled. A few weeks ago, I threw my beaded, dried peepers into the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM. This is another 32-inch 4K panel running Samsung’s latest QD-OLED technology, albeit in a flat option where Alienware opts for curved. And how surprising it was.
But as we clock up the clock with this new format, the wow factor is accompanied by increasing familiarity. And with that comes a slightly more solid idea of what these monitors offer gamers. This is an incredible show. But like Asus’ rival, this Alienware is an elusive concern, a notch or three away from perfection. These 4K OLED panels are a bit complicated to live with.
But let’s start with the basic speeds and progressions. We’re talking 32-inch 4K QD-OLED glory again. This is important because until these new panels came along you couldn’t have both OLED visuals and nice, tight pixel density. Previous OLED monitors were derived from relatively low DPI TV panels.
Alienware 32 AW3225QF features
Screen size: 32 inch
Resolution: 3,840 x 2,160
Brightness: 250 nits full screen, 1,000 nits maximum HDR
Color coverage: 99% DCI-P3
Reaction time: 0.03ms
Refresh rate: 240Hz
HDR: DisplayHDR 400 True Black, Dolby Vision
Features: Samsung QD-OLED 3rd Generation panel, Adaptive Sync, 1x DisplayPort 1.4, 2x HDMI 2.1
Price: $1,199 | £989
For this 4K option, Samsung leveraged a new inkjet printing technique to pack 4K into a 32-inch panel. LG has its own 32-inch 4K, but the retail availability of monitors using that panel is several months behind Samsung QD-OLED. Watch this space for coverage of the LG alternative.
Anyway, despite the new production technique, the specifications look familiar. Response is 0.03ms, peak HDR brightness is rated at 1,000 nits, full-screen brightness is rated at 250 nits, and color coverage covers 99 percent of the DCI-P3 gamut. These are all virtually identical to existing QD-OLED monitors based on previous low-DPI panel stock, such as the 34-inch ultrawide Alienware AW3423DWF.
The subpixel structure also remains the same. In other words, this is still a triangular RGB arrangement, not a traditional RGB strip. This was important for clarity and font rendering in the past because Windows treated monitors assuming RGB striping.
But with the increased 140 DPI density of this new 32-inch 4K OLED class, this is no longer an issue. Yes, if you look very, very closely, you can see some text borders. However, it disappears with normal use. Fonts look nice and clear.
The other headline feature is of course 240Hz refresh. Obviously, you’ll need a GPU to feed all those pixels at 240Hz. It’s worth noting that LG is promising a 1080p 480Hz mode for its 32-inch 4K panel, which uses integer doubling to achieve pseudo-native quality 1080p pixel definition on a 4K panel. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, but all previous attempts to double the integer to achieve lower resolutions ultimately did not deliver the claimed “native” experience.
Other notable features include DisplayPort 1.4 plus two HDMI 2.1 connections and a USB hub. What you don’t get is USB upstream for video input or laptop charging. There’s also no audio output for connecting headphones or speakers, which is a bit of a strange omission. It likewise lacks the KVM switch of its Asus competition.
The familiar Storm Trooper-style white finish on the back of the case combines with the usual AlienFX RGB lighting and Alienware’s signature aesthetic. I’m not a big fan of the look. But it’s nicely put together and a bit more resolved than the tough, old and teenage Asus alternative.
If this covers the appearance of the hardware, what about the image quality itself? No surprise, this is a stunner. The triple wonder of pixel-perfect OLED lighting with 4K pixel density and glossy panel finish is to die for.
To get the brightest SDR results, you actually need to enable HDR.
There is no brightness variability, especially in SDR mode. You can move or resize windows as much as you want; brightness remains constant at the same 250 nits. This is good because the variability on some OLED panels can be very distracting. Early LG OLED monitors suffered really badly, with a drop in brightness if you dared to maximize a mostly white browser window, for example.
However, the Alienware 32 AW3225QF attracts even more attention in HDR mode. This also applies to SDR content. To get the brightest SDR results, you actually need to enable HDR and then increase the SDR brightness to maximum in the Windows display settings tool.
Once you achieve this, you’ll notice some panel brightness variability when resizing windows and the like. But it’s very subtle and you really have to look for it to notice. Anyway, that’s not the only little weakness you need to know about.
The Alienware 32 AW3225QF delivers very, very different results depending on which of at least nine HDR modes you choose. There are three Dolby Vision HDR modes, as well as six what you might call traditional HDR modes.
On the contrary, calibration feels even more effective here from the same QD-OLED 4K technology in the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM.
Frankly, it’s all a bit confusing. Worse still, the display may re-synchronize with your computer when switching between some, but not all, HDR modes. For beginners, this takes time, making it difficult to compare and choose between modes. It also returns you to the desktop if you’re in a game, which can cause some games to crash. What a great conversation.
For example, there’s the fact that HDR 400 mode looks best for outdoor scenes but suppresses detail for darker indoor and night gaming scenes, while HDR 1000 mode looks extremely gorgeous for the latter but rather dull for brighter images.
In other words, there is no single optimum setting for HDR. This depends on the game you’re playing and even the scene in question. This is probably true for any screen. Here the situation is much more acute.
All that said, this panel still rocks positively. On the contrary, calibration feels even more effective here from the same QD-OLED 4K technology in the Asus ROG Swift OLED PG32UCDM. I don’t even mind the slight panel curve, which normally seems unnecessary at 16:9, unlike an ultrawide monitor.
As if all this wasn’t enough, you also have to deal with the OLED burn-in problem. Alienware protects the panel from burn-in for three years. So, that’s a good piece of reassurance. But you still have to put up with the occasional burn-in mitigation warnings, and often have to stress about whether you need to change the “Pixel Refresh” or “Panel Refresh” protection algorithms.
Put it this way, life was a lot easier with an SDR LCD monitor, that’s for sure. The good part, of course, is the visuals that no LCD display can match, not even the latest and greatest IPS models with full-array local dimming.
The contrast this Alienware offers is truly amazing. There’s a scene in Cyberpunk 2077 with an underground bar covered in neon strip lights and signs. On this monitor, those neon lights really look real. They absolutely pop off the panel, while the pixels around them remain effortlessly black.
Then there’s the insanely fast pixel response. These OLED displays have a clarity of motion that LCD panels can only approach with flashing backlights. And backlight flickering does terrible things to brightness and colors.
If you buy…
✅ You want the combined glory of 4K vibrancy and OLED lighting: Perfect illumination per pixel, incredible OLED speed and 4K pixel density are an incredible combination.
Do not buy if…
❌ You want a simple life: Even with all the HDR settings and OLED panel management, life is not easy in the 4K OLED world.
So this is undoubtedly an eye-opening gaming experience. It’s as good as 16:9 gaming gets right now. The increased pixel density means that, alongside Asus’ nemesis, it’s also the first OLED gaming option, providing an excellent all-round PC monitor. Pixel density is finally available, as is full-screen brightness.
Of course, if you prefer the ultra-wide gaming experience, and we’re here for you if you do, then the 16:9 aspect ratio may seem a bit outdated. For example, you can buy Samsung’s epic 49-inch ultrawide OLED G9 panel for less money. It’s not a very versatile monitor, but it feels like a lot of value for the money.
In an ideal world, there would be a 5K2K ultrawide OLED option. At this point you can arguably leave the whole gaming monitor thing aside. The latest roadmaps show it’s getting really close. But here and now, despite slight complications, this is as good as OLED gaming can be.