I’ve never seen a gaming monitor like Alienware’s latest

By Jacob Roach Published August 14, 2024

alienware dual mode 4k gaming monitor announcement aw2725qf awr16 aw720h awkeyboard awmouse ecosystem shot upscayl 2x ultrami — Alienware

Alienware is cooking up something interesting. The brand already produces some of the best gaming monitors you can buy, including the legendary Alienware 34 QD-OLED, but now it’s diving into uncharted territory. The AW2725QF is a 27-inch 4K gaming monitor that comes with a dual refresh rate feature, allowing you to switch between 4K at 180Hz and 1080p at 360Hz at the press of a button.

We’ve seen this feature before on the LG UltraGear Dual Mode OLED, but Alienware’s take is different. For starters, it’s available on a 27-inch monitor — LG’s is a 32-inch monitor — and it’s switching between 180Hz and 360Hz. The size plays a big role here, too. Given that the Dual Mode OLED is 32 inches, the drop down to 1080p is very noticeable. On the AW2725QF, the switch between 4K and 1080p shouldn’t be as drastic given the smaller size of the screen.

Recommended Videos

Although Alienware is taking dual refresh rate tech in a different direction, it’s important to note that this isn’t an OLED monitor. It’s an IPS monitor, so you shouldn’t expect the exceptional color and infinite contrast you get out of an OLED display. Thankfully, that means the AW2725QF comes in at a much cheaper price — Alienware is asking $599 for the display.

Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming

We don’t know if the monitor uses any local dimming, but Alienware says it achieved DisplayHDR 600 certification. That means it can handle basic HDR, though we’ll have to wait until the monitor is here to see if the quality holds up. In addition, the monitor is certified with Dolby Vision HDR and VESA’s Adaptive Sync for variable refresh rate.

A high refresh rate is focused on PC gaming, but Alienware didn’t forget about consoles. You get two HDMI 2.1 ports — alongside a DisplayPort 1.4 connection — that can handle 4K at 120Hz for consoles. Alienware also includes a dedicated Console Mode color profile, which it says “optimizes color performance and customization,” whatever that’s supposed to mean.

Alienware is launching its new monitor in China first on August 15. It’s rolling out to the rest of the world, including the U.S., on September 12. It shouldn’t be long before we’re able to see if it holds up.

Topics

Lead Reporter, PC Hardware

Jacob Roach is the lead reporter for PC hardware at Digital Trends. In addition to covering the latest PC components, from…

Computing

Samsung reveals details on its glasses-free, 3D gaming monitor

The Samsung Odyssey 3D monitor placed on a desk.

Samsung’s new Odyssey 3D monitor was a hit at CES earlier this year, showcasing a comfortable and immersive 3D gaming experience -- all without the need for special glasses. But details were scarce.

Now, it's being shown off again along with the new game announcements Gamescom to drum up more interest -- and revealing some of the juicy details behind the tech.

Computing

I’ve never played a PC game as demanding as Black Myth: Wukong

A character gearing up for battle in Black Myth: Wukong.

Black Myth: Wukong is an anomaly. The game is already shattering Steam records, which is a pretty big accomplishment for a game that has seemingly been a glorified tech demo for the past four years. It doesn't help that the game comes with some of the most demanding requirements we've ever seen out of a modern game. Black Myth: Wukong can push your PC to its limits, but if you're smart with your graphics settings, you don't need one of the best graphics cards to run it.

For the past week, I've been poking and prodding every corner of Black Myth: Wukong to understand how the PC version works, what it's capable of, and where the easy performance gains are. This game will push your PC to its limits, and it's sure to become a staple in PC hardware reviews. And that's because it manages to push an insane level of visual fidelity while still being a game that you can, well, play.
Graphics tweaks are a must
If you were hoping to jump into Black Myth: Wukong, toggle to the highest graphics preset, and be on your way, I have bad news for you. Even with an RTX 4090, I'm not able to jump into the game will all the sliders maxed out. There's a lot of room in the graphics options to optimize your performance, and ignoring the graphics settings will only hurt your experience in the game. Similar to Alan Wake 2, Black Myth: Wukong looks beautiful, even if you need to turn some settings down to Low.

Computing

Asus’ 480Hz OLED gaming monitor is cheaper than expected

The Asus 480Hz OLED set up at CES 2024.

Asus is finally sharing more details about its upcoming ROG Swift PG27AQDP, which looks to earn a slot among the best gaming monitors. We first saw this monitor at the beginning of the year, where it stood out as the first OLED monitor ever to reach at 480Hz refresh rate at 1440p. Since originally showing it off, Asus has been quiet about the display -- until now.

The PG27AQDP officially launched at Gamescom, and it's arriving at a shockingly low price of $1,000. That's not cheap for a gaming monitor, or even an OLED monitor, but it's much lower than the competition. The Acer Predator X27U F3, which matches Asus' display in terms of specs and is due out any week now, could cost as much as $1,600, Acer says. It's possible Acer will make a last-minute pricing adjustment in the face of the PG27AQDP.

nproxy.org