MKAU Gaming has been fortunate enough to get hands-on experience with the latest gaming monitor from Alienware. I am delighted to introduce you to the AW2725Q 27-inch 4k QD-OLED Gaming Monitor. This past week has left me feeling incredibly spoilt while renewing my passion for all of my favourite games.

Alienware has been at the forefront of the PC industry for 30 years, delivering out-of-this-world technology that pushes the industry forward. I couldn’t think of a better way to celebrate 30 years than to release a new product that will continue to move the industry forward. Before I explain why the AW2725Q is set to achieve this, let’s first look at what is inside the box. 

Packaged neatly inside the dual-layer box, you will be greeted with the regular documentation that covers safety, environmental, and regulatory information. Rather than laying hands on the customary quick-start and setup guide, you will come across a QR card. Scanning this code will take you to the Dell support page, where you’ll find the manuals and documentation. Also included within the top layer of the box is a nice little Alienware logo sticker, power cable, HDMI cable, display port cable, USB type B to USB type A cable and a microfibre cleaning cloth. 

Eagerly awaiting what the box’s second layer would greet me with, I removed the base plate, adjustable stand, and the top-layer eggshell separating the two layers. After removing the cardboard, I quickly realised that I could kill two birds with one stone and put the monitor together while removing it from the package. Piecing the monitor together is the easiest and fastest I’ve ever experienced. Screw the base plate onto the adjustable stand, and then with a slide and a clip into place, you’re ready to reveal your prize. 

A big part of me was expecting to glimpse a very bold design that has been quite typical of Alienware products in the past. It is almost a shame that not many people will be able to enjoy the sleek, ovular-bubble and RGB Alienware logo on the back of the monitor along with the all-new Alienware 30 glyph iconography.

For those of you who have the space to walk around behind the desk, you’ll never grow tired of seeing this, which is gorgeous. Initially, I thought the monitor’s base and rear were black until I passed by some light which revealed a stunning dark blue hue to the finish. 

Setting up the display for use the first time is fast and simple. With a few tweaks via the on-screen menu and a couple of Windows driver updates, you’re ready to dive in. At about this time, you will start to see the brilliant AW2725Q features springing to life. Immediately, I noticed a visual clarity unlike any other OLED display. This incredible leap in clarity has been achieved by having the world’s highest pixel density on a QD-OLED monitor. The whopping 166 pixels per inch is made possible thanks to the ultra-precise QD-OLED inkjet printing manufacturing process. 

When you combine the giant leap in clarity with the Infinite contrast ratio, Dolby Vision and VESA DisplayHDR True Black 400 features, every scene will burst with new life, greater visual depth, and an incredible range of dark to light colours. While taking a moment to reminisce, looking at some photos I took at a Living End concert, I noticed that a lot of the coloured lighting that appeared washed out on my LG Ultragear was all but gone. While I am not a creator of digital artwork, these features will help make your job much easier, especially when you’re working in Creator Mode, which is designed for colour-sensitive work and provides a low blue light solution that reduces eye strain.

Gaming on my PC saw fresh tears of joy as I swung into a new run of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2. Whilst my humble rig was more than capable of running the game in 4k at a buttery smooth 60fps, I didn’t feel as if I was getting the most out of the impressive 240HZ refresh rate and lightning-fast 0.03ms GtG response time. Marvel’s New York has never looked and felt more alive. Previously, I had issues with some terrible ghosting and screen tears, which have now almost disappeared entirely. 

Playing the same title with my PS5 Pro connected delivered even more joy and satisfaction. Not only was I being blown away again by the improvements made to the game’s ray-traced reflections, but I was finally able to get the most out of the console. Achieving a glorious 4k 120HZ in games like Fortnite and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Using features like VRR for the first time helped me find a new passion in games that I would otherwise snub because of choppy visuals. For those who are on Xbox Series consoles, Alienware has got you covered. Connecting your console via the HDMI 2.1 ports will reap the same benefits.

Speaking of Alienware having your back covered, let’s talk about the dreaded OLED burn-in. This issue is exactly why I chose to switch back to an LCD panel after having suffered burn-in and an ultimate monitor failure just outside of warranty with my previous monitor. With a combination of graphene layers between the panel, fans and 360-degree ventilation, every effort has been made to keep the monitor running nice and cool. This monitor will not only run nice and cool, but the QD-OLED panel is less likely to suffer from this issue thanks to the pixel shift, refresh, and panel refresh features.

After one of my lengthy gaming sessions, I noticed that the monitor triggered a pixel refresh, which certainly went a long way to easing my concerns about suffering burn-in. Putting my mind completely to rest is the fact that Alienware is also backing this monitor with a 3-year warranty that covers burn-in should the awful happen. Seeing a company stand behind their product and its consumers brings me great joy.

The Alienware 27″ 4k QD-OLED Gaming Monitor is a force to be reckoned with. Whether gaming on consoles or creating digital masterpieces on PC, this monitor will surely tick all the boxes. It delivers outstanding visual clarity with more pixels than in a panel and ultra-smooth motion. The AW2725Q remains competitive and extremely accessible, a massive win for console gamers. Arriving on Australian shores in early March, this is one monitor I can’t wait to snag for myself.

Written by: Gary Nielsen