Dell Alienware AW2523HF 24.5" Black 2023

The Alienware AW2523HF is a 360Hz esports monitor with a 0.5ms response time, built for competitive gaming. Performance is top-tier, but the 1080p display and weak HDR hold it back for general use. Worth it if you're a serious competitive player, skip it if you want a great all-around screen.

This thing is fast. 360Hz at 0.5ms is near the top of our database, landing in the 95th percentile for performance. FreeSync Premium keeps tearing at bay, and the low resolution means even mid-range GPUs can push high frame rates. The display itself is a weak spot though, sitting in the 39th percentile. It's an IPS panel with 99% sRGB, so colors are fine, but HDR is more of a checkbox than a feature. Don't expect deep blacks or eye-searing brightness.

Against the competition, the AW2523HF is a specialist. The ASUS ROG Strix XG27UCDMG and MSI MAG 271QPX QD-OLED E2 are 1440p OLED panels with better color and contrast, but they cost more and don't hit 360Hz. The LG UltraGear 27GX790A-B and Samsung Odyssey G60SD offer similar speed with better picture quality. If you only care about frame rate and response time, the Alienware holds its own. If you want a monitor that's also great for movies or single-player games, those OLED options are more compelling.

Pricing is all over the place. In the US, you can grab this for around $345 to $359, which is reasonable for a 360Hz panel. But in Europe, the spread is wild, from EUR 683 to EUR 982 depending on the vendor. That's a massive gap for the same monitor. If you're in the EU, shop around hard before pulling the trigger. The best EUR deal we see is at the lower end of that range, but even then, you're paying a premium over US pricing.

The Alienware AW2523HF is a 24.5-inch esports monitor built for one thing: speed. It runs a 360Hz refresh rate with a 0.5ms response time, which puts it in the top tier for competitive gaming. The IPS panel keeps colors decent while the revamped OSD and joystick make tweaking settings less of a headache.

But here's the catch. The spec sheet in front of us says 2560 x 1440, yet the description and retailer listings clearly state 1920 x 1080. We're going with 1080p, because that's what Dell actually sells. At 24.5 inches, that's fine for esports, but don't expect a sharp productivity canvas.

Skip this if you care about picture quality. The 1080p resolution and mediocre display score mean text looks soft and colors are just okay. If you play single-player games, watch movies, or do any photo or video work, grab a 1440p OLED like the MSI MAG 271QPX instead. You'll lose some refresh rate but gain a much better image.

This is a purpose-built esports monitor. If you play competitive shooters, MOBAs, or anything where every millisecond counts, the AW2523HF delivers. The 360Hz refresh rate and fast response time are the whole story. Just know that you're trading resolution and picture quality for speed. For everyone else, there are better all-rounders out there.