I’ve been getting acquainted with Alienware’s new 27-inch 4K QD-OLED gaming monitor for just a few days, but it didn’t take long for me to realize it’s a fantastic bargain. Not too long ago, I took a closer look at Sony’s $1,099 InZone M10S 1440p gaming monitor, which makes Alienware’s option a more compelling choice. It’s priced at $899.99, and although it offers half the refresh rate at 240 Hz compared to Sony’s 480 Hz, it compensates with a higher resolution screen and a reassuring three-year warranty against burn-in.
The AW2725Q shows you can snag a high-quality 4K OLED monitor for under a grand, prompting a rethink for those considering spending a similar amount on a 1440p monitor. Alienware is leading the charge amongst several new models announced at CES 2025 with similar specs, including offerings expected from Samsung, Asus, MSI, and others. Alienware deserves applause for hitting the shelves first, offering gamers an early taste of what’s to come.
This monitor ticks all the boxes for what I seek in a gaming display, and then some. While I’ve mostly used 1440p monitors, the AW2725Q makes a convincing argument to upgrade to 4K. The reasonable price tag helps, and the image quality does too. You don’t need me to tell you how stunning 4K can look, yet it particularly shines on this monitor, thanks to an anti-reflective coating that allows the contrast and sharpness to pierce through, despite its glossy rather than matte finish. Its variable refresh rate (VRR) feature enhances gameplay by minimizing screen tearing and providing fluid visuals. To really showcase its capabilities, pair it with a powerful graphics card like Nvidia’s RTX 40- or 50-series GPUs that can handle 4K gaming. A neat feature of the AW2725Q is the picture-in-picture (PiP) support, allowing you to view two inputs simultaneously with various ways to arrange the screen space.
Alienware emphasizes the monitor’s high pixel density as a major highlight, and I concur. It certainly outshines previous OLEDs I’ve tested, although its importance might vary from person to person. When I tested Corsair’s 45-inch bendable OLED monitor, the Xeneon Flex, back in late 2022, it had just 83 PPI, making text pixelation hard to ignore, especially with such a large screen. It wasn’t an issue for gaming unless the text was tiny. The AW2725Q boasts 166 PPI, a significant improvement that ensures a crisp display regardless of what you’re doing. I’m eager to see this enhanced PPI applied to even larger screens in the future.
This gaming monitor can support up to 240 frames per second at 4K resolution through its DisplayPort 1.4 (via Display Stream Compression, or DSC) or its two HDMI 2.1 ports. It’s compatible with Nvidia G-Sync, supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, and offers Dolby Vision HDR. As a 16:9 aspect ratio screen, it’s also well-suited for console gaming, accommodating the PS5 and Xbox Series X, even if they max out at 4K / 120 Hz.
While other manufacturers are gearing up to launch 4K OLED monitors with similar specs soon, matching the strengths of the AW2725Q, Alienware’s head-start is noteworthy. You can expect outstanding viewing angles where the picture quality remains consistent from any angle, perfect blacks, and space-saving stands. All things considered, this monitor from Alienware might be just what some gamers are looking for, especially at this price point. If its design doesn’t quite catch your eye, just hang tight; more exciting options are on the horizon.
