What’s the best way to combine blistering speed with breathtaking visuals? Alienware’s AW2725QF seems to have cracked the code, offering a 27-inch gaming monitor with a 4K resolution and a whopping 360Hz refresh rate – all for under $500.

This gaming monitor offers an impressive balance of features, catering to a wide range of gamers with its diverse array of capabilities. The 27-inch display boasts a crisp 4K resolution, capable of rendering visuals up to 180Hz for razor-sharp gameplay performance in most modern video games. If you want to take your gaming to the next level, you can switch this display to a 1080p resolution with up to a 360Hz refresh rate, which is ideal for competitive first-person shooters that require lightning-fast reflexes.

Despite its unassuming price tag, this IPS LCD display’s versatility earns it a spot in our best gaming monitors roundup, but it’s not without significant drawbacks; continue reading to discover why this Alienware screen may or may not suit your needs.

Specs

Design

Despite its manufacturer’s reputation for unconventional design choices, the AW2725QF presents a surprisingly subdued and practical appearance. With its matte black plastic exterior, slim bezels, and compact stand, this laptop maintains an understated appearance upon entry, except for the subtle Alienware branding discreetly placed on the underside of the bezel.

Surrounding the Alienware’s logo, however, are a few striking illuminated elements that prominently display the numeral 27 alongside the company’s iconic alien head branding. These displays can be backlit with customizable RGB lighting, allowing you to set the brightness to a level that creates a vibrant wash of color on any wall you choose as the backdrop.

While the panel may not appear exceptionally slender, this is understandable given its nature as an LCD rather than an OLED display; after all, some depth is necessary to accommodate a backlight behind the panel. The bezels are good and remarkably slim.

The AW2725QF boasts a comprehensive array of practical features. The adjustable arm stands affords peak, rotation, pivot, and tilt actions, allowing for precise positioning and may be easily removed to reveal a standard 100 x 100mm VESA mount compatible with popular monitor arms. The show features easily accessible USB ports located discreetly on the underside of the front bezel. While these could be suitable for connecting peripherals, dangling plugs are not always aesthetically pleasing, making them best suited for infrequent use, akin to accommodating USB flash drives and charging cords.

Options

The device boasts four USB ports, including three Type-A connectors and one reversible USB-C port, all capable of delivering high-speed data transfer via USB 3.2 Gen 1 technology. Two of the ports are situated at the rear of the panel, conveniently accessible and nestled alongside the display inputs and power socket. The device is designed with a built-in IEC C13 socket, featuring a self-contained power supply integrated into the panel, eliminating the need for an external energy brick and ensuring a clutter-free setup.

The video inputs comprise DisplayPort 1.4 and two HDMI 2.1 ports, indicating that each input is capable of delivering the highest resolution and refresh rate combinations supported by the display. While the device lacks a USB-C port for video output, making it less than ideal for pairing with a laptop, its limited capabilities in this regard may hinder its overall usefulness.

Meanwhile, it’s become clear that the IPS LCD technology employed here delivers impeccable stability, accurate color reproduction, and a decent response time, outshining both TN and VA panels when it comes to viewing angles. TN-type panels boast rapid response times but compromise on viewing angles, while VA panels deliver enhanced contrast ratios at the cost of slower reaction times, generally speaking. You’ll learn more about the differences between our IPS and VA displays.

The combination of a 27-inch display with a 4K resolution yields an exceptionally sharp pixel density of 163 pixels per inch, significantly surpassing the 110 ppi offered by a more common 1440p resolution on a similar-sized screen. Flipping the monitor into its 1080p mode results in a significant drop in resolution to 81 ppi, yielding a noticeably less sharp image. Despite this, it’s undeniable that the 1080p mode here boasts significantly greater sharpness compared to running 1080p on a larger 32-inch display like the LG UltraGear 32GS95UE, which also features a dual-resolution mode.

In response to Dell/Alienware’s high-performance displays, this IPS panel boasts a stunning contrast ratio of 1,000:1, delivering an incredibly fast response time of just 0.05ms, while reaching a maximum brightness of 450cd/m² across the entire screen and covering a remarkable 95% of the DCI-P3 colour gamut – all typical characteristics of a contemporary IPS display that rivals the best in its class.

While the DCI-P3 color space allows for a wider range of vibrant colors in HDR content, its limited 1,000:1 contrast ratio results in a relatively weak distinction between the brightest and darkest areas of an image. If you’re seeking enhanced HDR visuals, consider sourcing an OLED panel or an LCD panel featuring multiple backlight zones instead of the uniform backlight employed here.

This fundamental brilliance suggests that the panel is capable of delivering a robust HDR image, thanks to the stark contrast between its most vivid, full-screen highlights and its deepest, darkest moments – the panel’s overall backlight brightness will dynamically adjust from center to edge, harmonizing with the HDR content.

The AW2725QF’s feature set is relatively sparse, with notable omissions including non-video input connectors and additional accessories beyond USB ports and the display itself. Notwithstanding this, the desk does feature a pop-out headphone stand, boasting an extendable arm capable of keeping headphones at a safe distance from overlaying any part of your display.

Despite the lack of notable gaming options in the menus, the absence of an audio system and even a headphone output is more significant, meaning you’ll need to invest in a suitable laptop audio setup or one of the best gaming headsets to complement this screen.

Onscreen show menu

While the Alienware AW2725Q’s reputation lies in its robust design, the on-screen menu experience belies that expectation with its unvarnished and functional aesthetic. You receive a straightforward, uncomplicated selection of options for refining the image quality and gaming performance of the display.

Tap the lone mini joystick on the back of the panel, and you’re immediately presented with a preliminary fast menu. You can swiftly navigate left and right to access menus for adjusting brightness, selecting color modes, and switching inputs, or tap the joystick directly again to activate the display’s intuitive dual-mode switching feature.

The larger 32-inch LG 32GS95UE offers a unique feature: it can display its 1080p mode in full screen at either 27 inches or 24 inches, but this option is not currently available. Unfortunately, you’re limited to a single Full HD (1080p) resolution option.

When navigating the menu settings, be sure to pay attention to the overclock mode, which allows you to adjust the display’s refresh rate from its default setting of 165Hz at 4K resolution up to 180Hz. The overdrive setting plays a crucial role in achieving optimal panel efficiency, as the default Quick mode offers a slightly slower response time yet eliminates color overshoot, whereas the Tremendous Quick and Excessive modes provide marginally faster response times at the cost of minimal color bleed.

Picture high quality

The default picture quality of the panel we examined was notably superb, considering it’s an IPS LCD display. The panel’s colour stability is exceptional, ensuring a consistent tone that remains unaffected by changes in lighting conditions; it neither appears too blue nor too yellow, resulting in a visually appealing display. Meanwhile, its maximum brightness astonishingly surpasses its claimed capacity, boasting an impressive 522 cd/m², enabling the screen to shine through even in the most dazzling sunlight-drenched environments with ease. The panel’s contrast ratio surpassed expectations, achieving an impressive 1,212:1, resulting in a noticeably crisper image overall.

A slight imperfection detracts from the display’s exceptional picture quality: a discernible IPS glow. The display’s image remains visible, with accurately rendered colors still discernible at certain angles – unlike TN panels that can exhibit color inversion at specific viewing angles. However, the backlight’s glow significantly washes out these colors when viewed directly, as evident in the accompanying photograph.

While brightness isn’t typically a concern when viewing lighter photographs, it can be a significant issue in darker settings like the opening nighttime scene of Stalker 2 or films shot in dimly lit homes – the glow can be distracting unless viewed at an optimal angle?

As one might expect, this development also affects the perception of HDR, where the striking contrast between inky blacks and vibrant, dazzling colors becomes the primary distinguishing feature of HDR. While the panel presents a more vibrant display thanks to HDR support, it lacks the dramatic contrast that defines OLEDs and advanced LCD panels with multiple zones of backlighting.

The display’s matte finish, slightly less shiny than typical coatings, proves to be unhelpful when watching dark content in well-lit surroundings. While matte coatings were initially popular due to their ability to reduce glare and reflections, they can also inadvertently mute darker colors by scattering ambient light on their textured surface.

While matte coatings may contribute to a subtle fuzziness, this effect is particularly pronounced when applied to plain white backgrounds, making it readily apparent even in this instance. Notwithstanding the prevalence of matte coatings on LCD panels, this particular instance is hardly remarkable, effectively mitigating harsh glare from bright lights.

As expected, the panel’s 4K mode presents a remarkably vivid and detailed visual experience. The text display appears crystal-clear, with vivid 4K visuals that bring games and videos to life in stunning high definition. While 4K resolution can be beneficial on larger displays, one notable drawback of using it on smaller screens like this is that you may need to employ Windows scaling to make text and icons legible. Using the default 150% scaling option, as shown above right, doesn’t leave much desktop real estate. For optimal display, consider using a scaling percentage of 125% or 100%, positioned above the left-hand corner, but note that this may result in objects appearing disproportionately diminutive to many users.

When switching to the 1080p mode, the display’s sharpness noticeably lacks luster. Note the clear visual difference between 4K’s 150% higher textual content clarity and 1080p’s lower resolution in the image presented. While the text and image quality aren’t as crisp as they would be on a local 27-inch 1080p display, they are still acceptable. What’s more, it’s not intended for students to study with their device in this mode. When used as an alternative, this monitor excels at delivering exceptional performance in high-intensity gaming scenarios, offering razor-sharp visuals with a refresh rate of 360Hz when you need it most.

While going to 360Hz mode doesn’t significantly impact the display’s image quality otherwise. Since distinction settings remain excessive, colors appear accurate, allowing seamless switching between modes without requiring adjustments to color settings.

Gaming efficiency

The Alienware AW2725QF’s gaming performance delivers on expectations, thanks to its well-balanced refresh rate and resolution capabilities. While it has its merits, it falls short of expectations in certain aspects.

When it comes to 4K gaming, the exceptional clarity, high contrast ratio, and accurate color reproduction of this display seamlessly combine with its impressive 180Hz refresh rate to deliver an truly breathtaking experience across various game genres. While most sports games are content with refresh rates below 180Hz, maintaining crisp visuals and a responsive gaming experience.

The response time for the 4K 180Hz display mode, using the default Quick overdrive setting, was measured at a precise 5.2 milliseconds through rigorous testing employing an OSRTT device. Despite not being lightning-fast for an IPS panel, its speed is still sufficient to ensure that pixels can typically switch color quickly enough to keep pace with the 5.5ms response time required for smooth operation at 180Hz.

Despite transitioning to the show’s native 1080p mode, concerns arise regarding its gaming performance, which incurs several red flags. The frequency response often reaches 360Hz, rendering the visuals unmistakably perceivable; this rapid quality adds an unparalleled layer of reactivity to fast-paced games like Counter-Strike and Apex Legends.

Despite the panel’s pixel precision, there is little noticeable improvement in this mode. With the standard Quick overdrive setting, the response time typically takes around 4.8 milliseconds to respond, a duration noticeably longer than the mere 2.8 milliseconds required for smooth motion at a refresh rate of 360Hz. When a picture suddenly appears, it often leaves behind fleeting, eerie paths of shimmering pixels that seem to evolve for a moment. Removed from the most challenging trails, the 4.8ms response time remains an accurate reflection, still a significant distance from the exceptional experience offered by the LG Ultragear 32GS95UE’s OLED panel, boasting a breathtakingly fast sub-0.1ms response time?

By increasing the panel’s overdrive to Excessive and reducing the response time to 4.1ms, a noticeable improvement is achieved; however, it still fails to consistently deliver on-time pixel color changes within a single frame.

While none of these drawbacks automatically disqualify the AW2725QF from consideration, our assessment reveals that IPS LCD monitors typically exhibit significantly faster response times. The Acer Predator AG274QG, for instance, achieves an impressive 3.3ms response time at its 240Hz refresh rate, operating on a 1440p resolution – a testament to the feasibility of even faster panel performance.

Worth

At just $549, the Alienware AW2725QF offers an incredibly compelling package that’s hard to resist, considering all its features and benefits. Although there may have been a significant drop in value for 27-inch quick refresh rate LCD displays recently, the combination here of a 4K resolution and twin 360Hz/1080p modes isn’t common, so it’s refreshing to see Dell/Alienware not charging an enormous premium for this unique feature set.

Options

LG Ultragear 32GS95UE

If budget constraints aren’t an issue, the LG Ultragear 32GS95UE offers everything that excites about the Alienware AW2725QF, plus many more features to impress. Its display boasts a larger-than-usual 32-inch format, featuring an innovative OLED panel technology that elevates picture quality to stunning levels and delivers unparalleled responsiveness for gamers. With advanced features like G-Sync Compatible, you also enjoy enhanced refresh rates – a 240Hz option for crisp visuals at 4K resolution and an accelerated 480Hz rate for seamless performance at 1080p.

Verdict

Just a few years ago, prior to the OLED revolution in gaming displays, a 27-inch IPS gaming monitor capable of rendering both 4K at 180Hz and 1080p at 360Hz would have been an almost unbeatable offering for many gamers. Despite its lack of trendy appeal, this blend still offers a genuinely useful overall combination.

The absence of OLED display burn-in is a definite plus point when opting for an LCD screen in this instance? Use this panel for a full day’s work, keeping the Windows taskbar stationary for eight hours without worrying about causing any damage to the panel. The device’s exceptional textual content clarity, paired with its ordinary readability and high-quality visuals, makes it an ideal display for both work and leisure pursuits, seamlessly accommodating diverse tasks and activities.

While some might argue the value of this panel is somewhat assertive. For a relatively modest investment of $200-$300, you can now acquire a 27-inch IPS gaming display capable of supporting 240Hz and 1440p. Meanwhile, opting for the 360Hz/1080p variant affords added flexibility without breaking the bank by much more.

While there are several prominent limitations, however. The primary issue is that the combination of IPS glow and a relatively low contrast ratio of 1,200:1 renders this display unable to effectively compete with OLED panels in terms of high dynamic range (HDR) performance for gaming and video playback. Despite being a crucial aspect, the panel’s relatively slow response time raises concerns.

The proposed monitor boasts potential refresh rates of up to 360Hz, which is impressive; however, its listed response time of 4.1ms raises concerns about motion blur. If you’re after tournament-grade responsiveness, you’ll still come out ahead with a separate TN LCD 1080p panel, unless OLED is within your budget.