Latest news with #AlienwareAW3425DW
Tom's Guide
22-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
One of our favorite gaming monitors just got slashed by $130 at Amazon — get it before it's gone
I've reviewed a lot of gaming monitors over the years, and one that stands out the most is the Alienware AW3423DWF. While it's been updated with the Alienware AW3425DW, the original model is still one of the best gaming monitors. The good news is that you can buy it now at a nice discount. Right now, Amazon is selling the Alienware AW3423DWF gaming monitor for $649. This is the same price we saw during Prime Day, which saves you $130. Even if this isn't the latest model, it can still deliver an overall excellent gaming experience. Here's why you should seriously consider buying the Alienware AW3423DWF. As I said in my Alienware AW3423DWF review, this is one of the best gaming monitors for playing the best PC games. It's also perfect for the best PS5 games and best Xbox Series X games. You get excellent contrast levels and boosted brightness thanks to the monitor's superb OLED quantum dot panel. The curved 21:9 aspect ratio and sharp 3440 x 1440 resolution help draw you into the games you're playing. You also get performance to match the picture quality. The fast 165Hz refresh rate and low 0.1ms response time enable games to run smoothly and with no perceptible input lag. The new AW3425DWF has a faster 240Hz refresh rate and a lower 0.03ms response time, but you might not be able to tell the difference (unless you're a professional gamer). The only drawback with the Alienware AW3423DWF is that it might be too big for some folks' gaming or office setups. Other than that, this is a gaming monitor I can still wholly recommend to just about any gamer looking for an upgrade.
Tom's Guide
10-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
My favorite gaming monitor of 2025 is on sale right now at an all-time low price for Amazon Prime Day
The best gaming monitors can be very expensive, but thanks to Amazon Prime Day, we're seeing reduced prices on these devices. One of these deals is for my absolute favorite gaming monitor of 2025. Right now, the brand-new Alienware 34 QD-OLED is on sale for $679 at Amazon. While this monitor was already reasonably priced at $799, this sale saves you $120. I was already recommending this monitor to my fellow gamers, but it's even easier doing so now, thanks to this awesome sale. Let me tell you why you need the new Alienware 34 QD-OLED in your gaming life. The Alienware AW3425DW is a fantastic update that offers a streamlined design, vibrant image quality and smooth performance. Though its HDR isn't the brightest, its slew of excellent features and sub $1,000 price make it one of the best curved gaming monitors available. Like I said in my Alienware 34 QD-OLED review, this gaming monitor has everything that made the original great, along with several key updates. This includes a flat stand that takes up less space and a sleek new 'interstellar indigo' chassis. Thanks to these design updates, Alienware's latest looks equally great in a gaming den or office. As before, you get a lovely 1800R curved panel with an ultrawide 21:9 aspect ratio. This creates a highly immersive gaming experience that places you right in the middle of the action. In terms of performance, the Alienware can run at a fast 240Hz refresh rate and has a low 0.03ms response time. Combine that with the sharp 1440p resolution and vibrant colors, and you get a visually stunning display that can run games smoothly and with no perceptible input lag. The only qualm I have is that this monitor doesn't have the brightest HDR. While that's expected for a gaming monitor of this kind, it's still somewhat disappointing. Despite that, you'll still be able to see everything clearly. If you're looking for an overall excellent gaming monitor that won't break the bank, then I highly suggest you take advantage of this Alienware 34 QD-OLED deal while it lasts! For more deals, check out our Amazon Prime Day deals live blog right now.
Tom's Guide
29-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
This $159 Acer Nitro KG272 monitor is a game-changer for budget PC setups — and it's now my favorite affordable display
If I told you to check out a monitor with a 100Hz refresh rate with limited brightness at 1080p resolution, you'd probably laugh and point me toward other options on our best gaming monitors list. Understandable, so why would I recommend the Acer Nitro KG272 E anyway? A look at its $159 / £129 price tag says it all. High-end monitors like the $1,099 MSI MPG 272URX QD-OLED and $799 Alienware AW3425DW keep up with the latest in gaming hardware to deliver splendid visuals. But for those with budget setups, that's a lot of pennies going down the well. Instead, the Nitro KG272 E answers the call of value with its entry-level specs that surprisingly deliver smooth, clear visuals in real-world views, even though it may not come across as well on paper. But it also goes a step beyond with its adjustable tilting for a better viewing angle 100 x 100 VESA mountable compatibility. Despite many gamers who would make the most of far greater refresh rates and quality, those who are perfectly fine with entry-level stats or need a capable secondary display will find the Acer Nitro KG272 E to be a solid bet. Could it fit the bill as one of the best monitors on a budget? Considering its cheap price, yes, but those who opt for it will also have to temper their expectations. Let's dive into it all. Specs Acer Nitro KG272 E Price $159 / £109 Display 27-inch Resolution FHD 1920 x 1080 Aspect ratio 16:9 Refresh rate 100Hz Response time 1ms Panel type LCD Color depth 10-bit Backlight LED Inputs 1x HDMI 1.4, 1x VGA, 1x 3.5mm audio jack Wall mountable VESA Mount Compatible (100 x 100) Dimensions 24.1 x 17.7 x 9.1 inches (with stand) Weight 11.9 pounds (with stand) No premium frills here, but the Acer Nitro KG272 E exceeds expectations once it's put into action. It makes for a decent display for gaming and a second monitor for productivity — something the best laptops for students can take advantage of. With displays sporting top-of-the-line features like 240Hz refresh rates on OLED panels with 0.03 response rates, along with multiple display modes geared for specific games, it's easy to write off the Nitro KG272 E as a monitor that can't keep up. But not everyone needs to take advantage of all these specs, and sometimes, a simple screen can go a long way. That's exactly what the Nitro KG272 E offers, and I was impressed by the color accuracy, clarity and smoothness it boasts. In our tests, the KG272 E produced the lowest numbers we tested, but not by much. And considering the price of the other monitors it's matched up with, it does an admirable job. Although it still falls behind another budget banger: the Lenovo L27i-4B ($109 / £159). Acer Nitro KG272 E Lenovo L27I-4B MSI MPG 272URX Alienware AW2752Q sRGB 110.1% 126% 131% 182.5% DCI P3 78% 89.3% 97% 129.3% Delta-E (lower is better) 0.17 0.05 0.15 0.06 Despite its numbers, the screen can still pull off detailed colors during work and play, as in real-world testing, nothing looked washed out. I watched "28 Weeks Later" on Netflix in anticipation of "28 Years Later," and it comfortably presented the vicious infected running down the hill after our understandably freaked-out lead, Don (Robert Carlyle). This is at 1080p on a 27-inch LCD display, so it's not the clearest of details out there, but I still was terrified by the bloody, rage-induced faces of the infected. Even in more recent, visually stunning shows like "KPop Demon Hunters," it captured the bright gold and deep purple of the Honmoon barrier, keeping the human and demon worlds apart. I also used it as my main monitor, plugging it into my 13-inch MacBook Air M3, and it reflected exactly what I'd expect to see on the MacBook's display. Using its "Normal" color mode (there's no specific "Mac" display mode), details, smoothness and color accuracy were on point. Lenovo's L27i-4B also manages to offer some impressive visuals for its price, but the Nitro KG272 E one-ups it in one area... The Nitro KG272 E may only have a 100Hz refresh rate, but it still offers a super-fast 1ms response rate and AMD FreeSync for virtually zero-lag, tear-free gameplay. That works in favor of both fast-paced multiplayer titles and single-player games. I tested out The Finals, Doom: The Dark Ages and Cyberpunk 2077, and despite the Asus TUF Gaming A18 with an RTX 5070 that can pump out over 200 FPS at high settings on its 1600p resolution display, the Nitro monitor could still deliver smooth frame rates with fine details (if only a tad dark in some areas and without those real crisp textures, but more on that later). While demolishing walls in The Finals, with settings set to Epic at 1080p resolution and Nvidia's multi-frame gen at x4, I could easily nail headshots and manage my way through the madness of all the destruction around me. Even in a frantic, fast-paced game such as this, I never felt I was at a disadvantage. I didn't get the same visual spectacle of the demon-torn landscape in Doom: The Dark Ages as I would in other displays. It was a tad grainy, but it could keep up with the bloody action of tearing down hulking beasts with Doom Guy's chainsaw shield. Even visual cues, such as the green orbs you can parry back at enemies, were clear. Cyberpunk 2077 pulled off better lighting reflections and neon-infused visuals of Night City's skyline, and with brightness on the monitor at max, I was happily cruising through the streets. It's not something I see often on budget gaming monitors, but the Nitro KG272 E comes with some adjustability. There's no way to swivel or change the height of the display, but it does have some tilt action. It has a vertical and horizontal viewing angle of 178 degrees, but this can be adjusted by tilting it up or down. This makes it easier to get the right angle when setting it up on a desk, as there's nothing worse than having a fixed monitor that's slightly off viewing angle-wise and there's nothing you can do to change it. It helps that the Nitro KG272 E is relatively light, too. It only weighs 11.9 pounds with the stand (compared to the 24 pounds of the MSI MPG 272URX), so it's light enough to shift around to get the right angle. Better yet, it looks sleek with its nearly bezel-less borders. The Acer Nitro KG272 E may triumph due to its price, but it falls into the usual pitfalls of being budget. That includes low brightness and just passable speakers. If your PC setup is in a room that's filled with sunlight, the Nitro KG272 E will struggle to show a lot on its display. Generally, it's best to keep a monitor out of sunlight's way, but the Nitro's max 196.2 nits of SDR brightness (no HDR here) can also make darker elements in games or shows harder to see. Acer Nitro KG272 E Lenovo L27I-4B MSI MPG 272URX Alienware AW2752Q SDR Nits (brightness) 192.6 231.8 254 250.4 It isn't surprising that it falls behind its pricier competition, but even the Lenovo L27I-4B offers a wealthy number of nits to offer acceptable viewing. This isn't a deal breaker, especially in darker rooms that I usually find myself in, and I was able to comfortably play games without it being a hassle. That said, in certain games such as Doom: The Dark Ages, trying to find hidden passages to crash through to find secrets was tricky in darker tunnels or hallways (I had to fire off a few rounds to illuminate the areas). Finding speakers on a monitor is always a win, but they don't usually offer the best sound. That's certainly true of the dual speakers of the Nitro KG272 E. While they do just fine if you're watching shows in the background, it's far from an immersive experience or being able to let you hear the footsteps of foes in competitive multiplayer games. They can sound hollow without that oomph from the bass, and it makes shots fired out of guns in The Finals, Doom and Cyberpunk sound weak. You won't be blown away by the audio it fires, so you may want to get one of the best gaming headsets instead. There are some premium, ultra-fast gaming monitors out there sporting jaw-dropping visuals on OLED panels, but all that comes at a high price. The Acer Nitro KG272 E strips down those features for a pocket-friendly price. For those who don't need the full spectacle of stunning details at sky-high frame rates, especially for entry-level or casual gamers with budget systems, the Nitro KG272 E is a fantastic shout for its budget price. Just keep in mind that it won't keep up with the latest in PC or console hardware, along with its low brightness, and this gaming monitor will shine. It's now my favorite budget gaming monitor to use, as I believe it even surpasses the cost it's set at from what I get out of it. But if you have the funds to get something flashier, our list of the best gaming monitors will point you in the right direction.
Tom's Guide
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
Whoa! Amazon just slashed $130 off one of my all-time favorite gaming monitors
I review the best gaming monitors for a living, and one of the monitors I'd place in the "legendary" category is the Alienware AW3423DWF. While it's since been updated with the Alienware AW3425DW, the original model is still great. And guess what? It's on sale at a fantastic price. Right now, Amazon is selling the Alienware AW3423DWF gaming monitor for $649. That's not the lowest price we've seen for this device, but you're still saving $132. If you want an immersive gaming experience or need the extra screen real estate a curved ultrawide monitor offers (or both), then this is a deal I highly recommend. (For more deals, check out our guide to the best early Prime Day deals). This amazing display is one of the best gaming monitors you can buy. Its 21:9 aspect ratio gives you a wider field of view in games — particularly useful for first-person shooters — and ultrawides remain great for productivity tasks, too. In our Alienware AW3423DWF gaming monitor review, we said contrast, color reproduction and screen uniformity on this Alienware are all first class, and you really can't beat OLED when it comes to black levels. Just bear in mind you're going to need a pretty big desk to accommodate this sensational screen. Like I said in my Alienware AW3423DWF review, this is an awesome gaming monitor for playing the best PC games. It delivers stunning contrast levels thanks to its impressive OLED black levels and the boosted brightness of its quantum dot panel. Games are not only bright and colorful, but you get a wider field of view thanks to the 21:9 aspect ratio. The curved panel is also very immersive, as is the sharp 3440 x 1440 resolution. This monitor also delivers performance that's as good as its picture quality. The 165Hz refresh rate and 0.1ms response time help games move smoothly and with no perceptible input lag. While the new AW3425DW offers a faster 240Hz refresh rate and lower 0.03ms response time, you likely won't be able to tell the difference unless you're a professional gamer. There aren't many drawbacks with this monitor, but it has one big potential flaw. Thanks to its 34-inch curved panel and wide stand, the AW3423DWF can take up a lot of space on your desk. If you have a smaller desk, this is something you'll need to take into account. Though its latest model is an improvement, the Alienware AW3423DWF is still a great device for most gamers. At this discounted price, it's even better. Make sure to get this gaming monitor while the deal lasts.
Tom's Guide
22-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
I review gaming monitors, but I prefer playing games on my LG OLED TV — here's why
I've been a gamer for most of my life, and I've almost exclusively played games on a TV. This hasn't changed, even now that I review the best gaming monitors for a living. While these devices are specifically designed for playing games at the best possible resolution, refresh rate, and response time, I still default to playing on my current LG OLED. That's not to say I haven't seriously considered switching to a gaming monitor. Devices like the Alienware AW3425DW, LG UltraGear 32GS95UE-B, and Samsung Odyssey OLED G9 have tempted me. But while those gaming monitors offer better performance and lower response times, I'm not making the leap from TV to monitors for gaming. I currently own a 55-inch LG CX OLED TV, which I purchased back in 2020 for playing PS5 and the best PC games. Despite being outclassed by better TVs like the LG C5, this older TV still provides the bare minimum I need for gaming. This includes an OLED display, HDR10 support, 4K resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, HDMI 2.1 support, and a 1ms response time in gaming mode. I typically get new TVs when a new gaming generation starts, so I'll likely keep this TV until the PS6 launches. I'm not writing this article to change anyone's mind. If you prefer playing games on a gaming monitor, then you're arguably getting the better overall gaming experience. However, if you're like me and like playing games on a TV, I'm here to tell you that you're not alone. Here's why I prefer playing games on my LG OLED TV. Introduced in LG's 2025 TV lineup, the new LG C5 OLED is here as the value pick of the year. Offering a slew of features, like a range of HDR certifications and gaming specs for the PS5 Pro crowd, the C5 proves a major improvement over its predecessor. 48" for $1,39655" for $1,596 65" for $2,296 77" for $3,29683" for $5,296 Gaming monitors larger than 34 inches used to be rare, but that's no longer true thanks to giants like the 45-inch LG UltraGear 45GX950A-B and the even larger 57-inch Samsung Odyssey Neo G9. That said, monitors like these are generally curved and ultrawide. These gaming monitors can make gaming feel more immersive and are also fantastic for productivity. However, they don't always make for the best gaming experience. The main issue I have with ultrawide gaming monitors is that not all games, especially console titles, support ultrawide aspect ratios. PS5 games generally have a 16:9 aspect ratio, for instance. Because of that, you'll have empty space on the sides if you're connected to a 32:9 monitor. This is also true for the majority of video content. While playing games with an ultrawide aspect ratio can be extremely immersive, that's only for select games with ultrawide support. Though I purchased and primarily use my TV for gaming, I prefer its standard 16:9 aspect ratio and flat panel since it's ideal for most games and video content. Again, ultrawide curved gaming monitors are fantastic, but they're not the best for most of the games I play. Most of the gaming monitors I've tested don't have speakers. When they do, the sound quality isn't exactly ear-pleasing. Because of that, you'd need to use one of the best gaming headsets. While I have a handful of headsets myself, I only use them when in a game chat session with friends. Most of the time, I'm getting sound from my TV's speakers. Yes, headsets deliver better sound quality and can be more immersive, but I don't enjoy wearing them for longer than two hours. Since I'm not an audiophile and don't want to wear something on my head for too long, I'm fine with my TV's speakers. If I had a gaming monitor, I'd be forced to wear a gaming headset to get better sound, or sound at all. And since I'm sure some of you will ask, I don't use one of the best soundbars since I live in an apartment and don't want to annoy my neighbors. No matter how loud I turn up my TV's speakers, they won't match a soundbar's output. I only started playing PC games around ten years ago when I purchased my first true gaming rig. Before that, I only played on gaming consoles ranging from the original NES all the way to the PS4. Sitting in front of a TV with a controller in hand is my ideal experience, so when I began playing PC games, I made sure to replicate the console experience. Right now, I have my gaming and work PC connected to my LG CX. When I want to play a PC game, I simply select my TV as a display option, fire up a game, and play using one of the best PC game controllers. While there are more steps involved than when I play on PS5 or Nintendo Switch 2, the actual act of playing PC games is effectively the same as the console experience. You might wonder what I do when I want to play RTS or MMORPGs, which have control schemes generally designed for the best gaming keyboards and best gaming mice. The answer is that I don't play those genres. Remember, I come from a console gaming background, so I didn't grow up playing games like Command & Conquer or EverQuest. And while I appreciate mouse and keyboard controls, they still feel alien to me, even for games that are designed for them. If I could only play PC games while at my desk, I wouldn't be a PC gamer. I'll explain why in a bit, but regardless, when I play games on any platform, I want to do it the way I always have — in front of my TV as if I'm playing on a console. If you're a competitive gamer, then you absolutely need a gaming monitor. That's because they offer high refresh rates for smoother gameplay and lower response times to improve (or virtually eliminate) input lag. For example, monitors like the Alienware AW2524H can achieve an absurd 500Hz refresh rate and super-low 0.5ms response time. This is something unheard of for TVs. While higher refresh rates and low response times can help some people play better, the majority of folks won't notice an appreciable difference. I'm not saying that playing a game on a 240Hz and 0.03ms capable monitor won't make a difference in gaming. If you're a professional gamer, you might be capable of discerning between 240Hz and 480Hz. That's awesome, but I'm just a normal gamer and don't have that ability. Because of that, I don't need the performance a gaming monitor provides. This is the last point, but it's actually the main reason I prefer gaming on my TV over a gaming monitor. It's also a sentiment that many of my fellow gaming friends and colleagues also share. After spending 8+ hours a day at my desk, the last thing I want to do is remain at my desk to play video games. I live in a studio apartment, so designating different 'rooms' is important, even if they're artificial separations. Sure, I only move a few feet to the right when going from my desk to my TV, but doing so tells my brain that it's time to relax. If I were to stay at my desk to play games, I'd still think I was working. That might sound weird, but if you've ever lived in a studio apartment or small space, you'll understand. I sit about eight feet away from my TV, which is a good distance that allows me to comfortably see everything without straining my eyes. When working, my eyes are about an arm's length away from my monitor(s). I don't get eye strain during a typical 8-hour work day, but my eyes definitely feel worn out when I have to work longer. I can only imagine the kind of eye strain I'd have if I also played games at my desk. There are probably things I could do to minimize this, but why do that when I can just leave my desk to play games on my TV? Playing video games on a gaming monitor is arguably the best way to do so since that's what they're designed for. As a gaming monitor reviewer, I will always recommend these devices to serious gamers. As much as I love testing gaming monitors and appreciate what they can provide, I'd still rather play on my LG OLED. Not only does it deliver everything I want/need when gaming, but it gets me away from my work desk so I can truly relax. I'm not saying I'll never switch to a gaming monitor, but for now, I'm going to continue playing games the way I always have — on my TV.
