Alienware AW2725D QD-OLED QHD 280 Hz gaming monitor review: Rich color, high performance and excellent value

It’s a 280 Hz panel with QHD resolution, Adaptive-Sync, HDR10, wide gamut color, and a very attractive price.

Alienware AW2725D
Editor's Choice
(Image credit: © 3DTested)

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Our HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.

The second reason to buy an OLED gaming monitor after smoothness is HDR quality. With infinite contrast and perfect black levels, no display technology can do HDR like OLED. The AW2725D offers six HDR picture modes that provide extra flexibility to the user.

HDR Brightness and Contrast

The LG drives its panel a bit harder to top out at 763 nits, but the AW2725D is the brightest of the rest at 460 nits. Variable brightness is in play, and I know this because I had to measure a 25% window to get that figure. A full white screen hits around 265 nits. This result tracks with its VESA DisplayHDR 400 rating.

Grayscale, EOTF and Color

I measured all six modes and found HDR Peak 1000 to track the best for grayscale, EOTF and color. Grayscale runs slightly green above the tone-map transition of 65%. The EOTF is a tad dark until 40% where it meets the reference line. This is solid performance.

In the HDR color test, the AW2725D takes full advantage of its large gamut to deliver high saturation and a vivid picture. All six colors show solid hue tracking, so there are no issues visible in content. Some bright neutral tones are a tad green, but that doesn’t have a significant impact. In the BT.2020 test, the AW2725D tops out at 90% red, 80% green and 95% blue. It covers more of that gamut than many QD-OLEDs.

Test Takeaway: The AW2725D stands out among QD-OLEDs with tremendous color coverage and solid accuracy. Though I noted a little green in neutral tones, it did not impact the image significantly. Thanks to vivid color and deep contrast, the AW2725D is a superb display for HDR content.

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Christian Eberle
Contributing Editor