Alienware 4K OLED Gaming Monitor Review: Sleek Design & Performance
This text is a benchmark review of the Alienware AW3226Q monitor, focusing heavily on its color accuracy, gamut coverage, and HDR performance.
Here is a summary of the key findings:
Color Accuracy and Calibration
Initial State: The monitor starts at 1.75dE, but adjusting it in Custom Color mode reduces the average error to 0.55dE, which is noted as among the very best.
Gamma and Linearity: The gamma test showed a very tight range of values (0.08 separation), indicating tight linearity. The reviewer notes that the gamma is “a tad light” out of the box, and they wished for finer adjustments in gamma control.
sRGB Coverage: The monitor achieves 97.16% coverage of the sRGB gamut, which is considered nearly ideal for color-critical work.
Overall Accuracy: The monitor exhibits excellent out-of-the-box accuracy in grayscale and color tests.
Color Gamut (DCI-P3)
The monitor fully covers the DCI-P3 gamut, with a slight bonus in blue.
The reviewer found that the monitor has “a little less color volume than some of its competitors” but still covers more than 101% of the DCI-P3 gamut.
HDR Performance
HDR Modes: The AW3226Q supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 with an automatic mode switch.
Peak Brightness: The Peak 1000 Bright mode was highlighted, measuring 402 nits in a 25% window, confirming its VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black certification.
Grayscale/Contrast: In HDR grayscale tests, slight blue errors were noted at high brightness, but no visible issues appeared in actual content.
Color in HDR: In the color test, inner points were slightly oversaturated, which is typical for many HDR displays tested.
Comparison and Takeaway
OLED Comparison: Compared to high-end OLEDs, the AW3226Q sacrifices screen curvature, some color volume, and 75 Hz for a lower price.
Gaming Experience: Despite minor motion blur noted at 165 Hz versus 240 Hz, the input lag was excellent, making the gaming experience fun once adapted to.
Final Verdict: The monitor is deemed excellent overall. The primary drawback mentioned is the lack of granular control over the gamma settings. The reviewer concludes that the AW3226Q is a worthwhile purchase.
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