Dell Alienware AW2724DM 27" Black 2023

The Dell Alienware AW2724DM is a 27-inch QHD gaming monitor with a smooth 180Hz refresh rate, excellent color accuracy, and a sturdy adjustable stand. It's a strong pick for competitive PC gamers, especially when found on sale. Just don't expect real HDR performance or built-in speakers.

The 180Hz refresh rate paired with a 1ms response time is the headline act here, and it delivers. Fast-paced shooters feel buttery smooth, and the FreeSync Premium Pro plus G-SYNC compatibility means you're covered whether you're running an AMD or NVIDIA GPU. No tearing, no stutter, just clean frames. Our performance metrics put this panel in the 82nd percentile, which is well above average for the category.

Color accuracy is where this monitor genuinely surprises. The 95% DCI-P3 coverage and 10-bit color depth mean games look vibrant without being cartoonishly oversaturated. The 600 nits of peak brightness gives HDR content a fighting chance, though we'll get to the HDR caveats in a bit. For SDR gaming and everyday desktop use, the picture quality is excellent. The IPS panel keeps viewing angles wide, so you're not getting that TN-panel color shift when you lean back in your chair. One thing to note: dark colors out of the box can look a little crushed, so you'll want to spend a few minutes tweaking the OSD settings.

Stacked against the competition, the AW2724DM holds its own in some areas and falls behind in others. The Samsung Odyssey G60SD and ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQDMG are both QD-OLED panels, which means they'll absolutely destroy this Alienware in contrast and HDR performance. But they also cost significantly more, and the AW2724DM's color accuracy in SDR is genuinely competitive. The MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 is another OLED option that makes the HDR limitations here more obvious, but again, you're paying a premium for that.

The LG UltraGear 32GX850A-B is a larger 32-inch panel, so it's a different class entirely. If you want more screen real estate, that's the move. The Gigabyte M Series OLED MO27U2 SA is a 4K OLED, which is a completely different value proposition. What the AW2724DM offers that none of those OLEDs do is a lower price point and zero burn-in anxiety. For pure competitive gaming at 1440p, the 180Hz refresh rate here is plenty, and you're not paying for OLED contrast you might not need. The trade-off is real though: if you watch a lot of HDR content or play cinematic single-player games, the OLED options are just better at that.

Pricing on this monitor is all over the place depending on where you shop. In the US, we're seeing listings from USD 230 to USD 375 across two vendors, which is a USD 145 spread. That's a huge gap, and it means the AW2724DM goes from "absolute steal" to "hmm, let me think about it" depending on which store you hit. Newegg has the best deal at the lower end of that range, so if you're in the US, that's where we'd point you. In Europe, the spread is even wider, EUR 551 to EUR 715 across four listings in Germany, Spain, France, and Italy. That's a EUR 164 difference, and honestly, at the top of that range you're getting into territory where OLED competitors start looking tempting. The value story here is simple: this monitor is a fantastic buy when it's discounted, and a harder sell at full price. If you can snag it near the bottom of those price ranges, you're getting a lot of monitor for the money.

The Dell Alienware AW2724DM is a 27-inch QHD gaming monitor that sits in that sweet spot between budget 1080p panels and the wallet-destroying 4K OLEDs. It's built around a 2560 x 1440 IPS display running at 180Hz, and it's aimed squarely at people who want smooth, competitive gameplay without selling a kidney. The spec sheet reads like a greatest hits of mid-range gaming features: FreeSync Premium Pro, G-SYNC compatibility, VESA AdaptiveSync certification, and a 1ms response time.

What jumps out immediately is the color performance. This thing hits 95% DCI-P3 coverage and 600 nits of brightness with DisplayHDR 600 certification. That's not just good for gaming, it's genuinely strong for content consumption and light creative work too. Our database puts its color accuracy in the 98th percentile for this category, which is basically top of the charts. The ergonomics are also a standout, with height adjust, tilt, swivel, and pivot all included.

At 6,759 grams, this is not a light monitor. But that weight translates to a sturdy, stable stand that doesn't wobble when you're mid-flick in Valorant. The InfinityEdge bezels keep things looking clean, and the overall build quality feels like Alienware actually cared about this one. It's not the cheapest 1440p 180Hz panel out there, but it's also not pretending to be a budget throwaway.

Skip this monitor if you're a console gamer, since the lack of HDMI 2.1 caps your refresh rate and the HDR won't impress on PS5 or Xbox. Also skip it if you watch a lot of HDR movies or play cinematic single-player games where deep blacks matter, an OLED like the Samsung Odyssey G60SD or ASUS ROG Strix XG27AQDMG will serve you far better. If you need built-in speakers for a minimalist desk setup, this isn't your monitor either. And if you're paying full retail price near the top of the range, hold off for a sale or look at the MSI MPG 271QR QD-OLED X50 instead.

Should you buy the Dell Alienware AW2724DM? If you're a competitive gamer who wants high refresh rates, accurate colors, and a rock-solid stand without paying OLED prices, yes. This monitor nails the fundamentals. The 180Hz refresh rate is smooth, the QHD resolution is sharp at 27 inches, and the color performance is genuinely impressive for an IPS panel in this price bracket. The ergonomics are also a cut above what you typically get at this price point.

But you need to go in with clear eyes about the limitations. The HDR is not good, despite what the DisplayHDR 600 badge suggests. There are no built-in speakers, which is annoying if you're setting up a clean desk without external audio. And the lack of HDMI 2.1 means console gamers won't get the full 180Hz experience over HDMI. If you're primarily a console player or you care deeply about HDR, look elsewhere. For PC gamers who want a fast, color-accurate 1440p panel and can find this on sale, it's an easy recommendation.