Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Alienware AW3426DW: Two-minute review
There’s a new 34-inch ultrawide powerhouse in town, with the brand-new Alienware AW3426DW QD-OLED. After testing it with several games and movies, it’s clear to me that this monitor stands well above its predecessors in terms of quality.
Unlike its predecessor, the Alienware AW3425DW, this display uses 5th-gen tandem OLED technology, delivering significantly higher brightness, improved efficiency, and better text clarity. The Penta (five-layer) tandem OLED stack also solves one of the biggest issues I’ve had with previous QD-OLED monitors, where brightness dimming from the automatic brightness limiter (ABL) would result in inconsistent brightness levels.
Frankly, coming from a 45-inch LG 45GS95QE QD-OLED ultrawide display that utilizes an 800R curve, I wasn’t expecting to be blown away with greater immersion — but the AW3426DW delivers so much that I don’t think I can do without a tandem OLED display going forward.
It also helps that Dolby Vision HDR support is included, which uses dynamic metadata to help shift brightness levels and tone mapping for each scene, and it’s best used on games or movies that specifically support it.
For example, Battlefield 6‘s visual quality is elevated to a new level, specifically in sequences with chaotic explosions and fire particles that spread across the screen. You can see how good Dolby Vision is, when bright highlights are incredibly detailed, and since tandem OLED minimizes the need for ABL, there are no noticeable brightness dimming issues.
In games that don’t support Dolby Vision, you can switch this off from the on-screen display (OSD) and enjoy HDR using the HDR Peak 1300 Bright or Display True Black 500 modes, although the former might have slightly more noticeable ABL. Other than a few errors that forced me to restart my PC after switching HDR modes and losing display signal, HDR functionality is great on the AW3426DW.
Without a doubt, this is one of the best gaming monitors money can buy, and certainly one of the best ultrawide monitors in 2026.
Alienware AW3426DW: Price & Availability
- How much does it cost? $799.99 / ÂŁ709 / around AU$1,150
- When is it available? Available now
- Where can you get it? Available in the US and UK
For everything that the AW3426DW ultrawide has to offer, effectively making it one of the best ultrawide OLED monitors money can buy right now, the $799.99 / ÂŁ709 price is more than reasonable. It’s around the same price as its predecessor, the AW3425DW, but is much better, mostly thanks to its tandem OLED tech, but also thanks to its new anti-reflective coating.
Having used a far more expensive LG 45-inch ultrawide, which still sells at just above $1,000 / ÂŁ1,000 (original retail price was $1,699.99 / ÂŁ1,699.99), the AW3426DW is a steal in my book.
The LG display might have a virtual reality-like 800R curvature, but it’s heavily limited in comparison due to its older WOLED panel, and utilizes the same 3440×1440 display resolution as the new Alienware 34-inch monitor does at 45 inches, which means pixel density is worse on the 45GS95QE.
If you’re not ready to make the jump to the flagship Alienware AW3926QW 5K2K ultrawide launching later this year, especially due to the leap in GPU power requirements (it’ll be more demanding than gaming at 4K), then the AW3426DW is the best monitor to opt for.
Alienware AW3426DW: Specs
|
AW3425DW (Previous Model) |
AW3426DW (Review Unit) |
|
|
Screen size: |
34-inch |
34-inch |
|
Aspect Ratio: |
21:9 |
21:9 |
|
Resolution: |
3440×1440 |
3440×1440 |
|
Response Time: |
0.03ms GtG |
0.03ms GtG (Extreme Mode) |
|
Panel Type: |
QD-OLED / Q-stripe, 4-stack |
QD-OLED Penta Tandem / RGB Stripe, 5-stack |
|
Brightness: |
250 nits (Typical), 1,000 nits (Peak) |
300 nits (Typical), 1,300 nits (Peak) |
|
Contrast Ratio: |
1,500,000:1 |
1,500,000:1 |
|
Refresh Rate: |
240Hz |
280Hz |
|
HDR: |
VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 |
VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500 & Dolby Vision |
|
Screen Coating: |
Standard anti-reflective |
New anti-reflective coating |
|
Connectivity: |
HDMI 2.1 2x (VRR support), DisplayPort 1.4, USB Type-B upstream, USB Type-A downstream, USB Type C downstream (Power Charge up to 15 W) |
HDMI 2.1 2x (VRR support), DisplayPort 1.4, USB Type-B upstream, USB Type-A downstream, USB Type C downstream (Power Charge up to 15 W), Built-in USB Hub |
Alienware AW3426DW: Design
Dell has kept the design for the Alienware AW3426DW simple, and it’s almost identical to the previous AW3426DW model. The new monitor features the same sturdy stand and base, and I love the shiny and sleek finish it has.
In terms of connectivity, it’s effectively the same again with two HDMI 2.1 ports that support variable refresh rate (VRR), along with a single DisplayPort 1.4. Fortunately, you can charge your devices while using the display, thanks to the USB-C 5Gbps downstream port, with a charging output of 15 W.
I’d appreciate it if this display had a slightly deeper curvature (perhaps 1500R) over its 1800R curve; however, that’s likely my own bias coming from near-constant use of an 800R curved monitor, which is overkill to say the least.
Most Alienware monitors keep OSD navigation easy via a simple button, and that’s also the case here. However, one personal gripe of mine is the lack of a remote control.
Some of LG’s UltraGear ultrawide displays come with a remote control, which eliminates the need to physically reach over to the monitor button to change display settings. Fortunately, though, the Alienware Command Center application on Windows acts as an alternative option to access and control some of the OSD options.
The biggest highlight of the AW3426DW’s design is its new anti-reflective coating. There’s almost little to no glare when using this display in a bright environment, even with sunshine beaming in from open curtains.
Yes, a lot of this is thanks to the 5th-gen tandem OLED panel and the display’s high brightness levels, but the anti-reflective coating is just as important in this case, with a 30% glare reduction — and at night, brightness truly blossoms better than I’ve ever seen before.
Alienware AW3426DW: Features
Image 1 of 2
The AW3426DW has a wide range of features available via its OSD, notably multiple HDR modes: DisplayHDR True Black 500, HDR Peak 1300, HDR Peak 1300 Bright, and Dolby Vision. The latter is what I used for most movies, specifically those that are made for Dolby Vision, especially since it dynamically shifts brightness levels and tone mapping based on each scene — but more on HDR later.
I’m not a massive fan of Picture-in-Picture or Picture-by-Picture (PIP or PBP) modes on monitors, specifically with multiple inputs. However, there are several options available in terms of positioning and sizing, which are more than welcome on any ultrawide display, where productivity is one of the main appeals.
For competitive players, the eSports mode should come in handy, as it transforms the display into a 25-inch monitor, with the option to position the active area at the top, center, or bottom of the screen. It’s a reasonable option to include in a monitor with a 280Hz refresh rate, and one that has a 0.03ms GtG response time, and helps simulate a 25-inch monitor gaming experience.
VRR works fine on both DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.1 inputs, ensuring frame rates are high, matching the 280Hz refresh rate, and reducing screen tearing. Nvidia’s G-Sync is also enabled to improve smoothness and latency, so screen tearing isn’t a concern on this display whatsoever.
Alienware AW3426DW: Performance
I tested this monitor playing several games, such as Destiny 2, Crimson Desert, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Resident Evil Requiem, and Battlefield 6, and I was left amazed at how impressive the AW3426DW performs. With Dolby Vision enabled in supported games (i.e., Battlefield 6), visuals are absolutely breathtaking, with highly detailed bright and dark areas on screen amid blood-soaked action.
With Dolby Vision enabled, there are effectively no ABL issues, or at the very least, if there are, it isn’t very noticeable. Of course, it’s not just Dolby Vision’s inclusion alone doing the heavy lifting in this respect, but also the fact that this is a 5th-gen tandem OLED display, directly increasing brightness capabilities.
Not every game or movie has Dolby Vision support, and that’s exactly why the other HDR modes are vital — and I’m happy to report that HDR Peak 1300 Bright is fantastic. It doesn’t come without its faults, and in particular, gamers should be ready to deal with some level of ABL.
However, again, because of the tandem OLED layers, I could play games like Destiny 2 or Dragon’s Dogma 2 and enjoy very bright experiences without losing detail in bright and dark areas on screen. It’s also a huge benefit that the AW3426DW is seemingly well calibrated out of the box in terms of color profile and HDR calibration, as I hardly had to configure any settings in that regard.
Essentially, Dolby Vision should only really be used for movies and games where it’s supported, and HDR modes such as HDR Peak 1300 and DisplayHDR True Black 500 for most games that don’t support Dolby Vision.
There aren’t many games that can reach the 280 frames per second mark (at least when playing on higher graphics settings), but if you have a powerful enough rig, it’s a joy to experience a game that feels so smooth when in motion.
It’s also pleasing to see that text clarity issues have been solved, which stems directly from the RGB stripe subpixel layout, and that makes this a great choice for any PC user looking for a QD-OLED display that caters to both work and play.
Should I buy the Alienware AW3426DW?
|
Attributes |
Notes |
Rating |
|---|---|---|
|
Value |
The Alienware AW342DW is among, the best 34-inch ultrawide QD-OLED displays you can buy, and its price should be seen as a steal, despite being expensive. |
4 / 5 |
|
Design |
This monitor’s design is simple yet attractive, and has just about enough ports to satisfy those after greater productivity. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Features |
With several HDR, PIB/PBP, input options, and an eSports mode, this monitor makes it fairly feature-rich. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Performance |
Dolby Vision and HDR Peak 1300 Bright help elevate the AW3426DW’s immersion to new heights over predecessors, and its ultimately thanks to the 5th-gen tandem OLED panel. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Average rating |
It’s not a massive display like the flagship Alienware 5K2K, but in the UWQHD class, it stands above many competitors. |
4.37 / 5 |
Buy the Alienware AW3426DW if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also Consider
MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED
While significantly bigger than AW3426DW QD-OLED, the MSI MPG 491CQP arguably provides more immersion via its 32:9 49-inch wide screen. It’s not a tandem OLED; however, it’s currently around a very similar price to Alienware’s new display and still provides great quality in HDR performance.
Read our full MSI MPG 491CQP QD-OLED review
How I tested the Alienware AW3426DW
- Tested for a week
- Played several modern games and watched multiple movies
- Tested mostly using Dolby Vision and HDR Peak 1300 Bright modes
I used the Alienware AW3426DW for a week, mostly for gaming and watching movies. The games I tested include: Destiny 2, Resident Evil Requiem, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Dead As Disco, Battlefield 6, and Crimson Desert. Some of the movies include Avengers: Infinity War and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2.
I also spent the same amount of time using the AW3426DW for work duties and found that it eliminates one of the biggest pain points on OLED monitors, which is text fringing. I had no issues with reading text or simply navigating on web browsers, and also found that both HDR and SDR are visually fine to use outside of gaming (or non-HDR activities).
The monitor was also placed in a brightly lit room for most of the review period, with direct sunlight positioned directly on it, and found that there was little to no glare, thanks to the anti-reflective display.
Read the full article here
