The first ever QD-OLED display has gone on sale, with Dell’s Alienware 34 Curved QD-OLED Gaming Monitor now shipping in the USA, priced at $1,299.
QD-OLED is a new kind of display technology developed by Samsung Display that promises to deliver more realistic colours and higher brightness. LG Display’s White OLED displays use blue and yellow OLEDs to generate white light pixels that are passed through color filters to produce red, green, and blue sub-pixels. QD-OLED, however, emits blue light through quantum dots to convert some of that colour into red and green without any need for the filter.
Samsung Display claims this approach creates more light energy efficiency; since you’re not losing any light to the color filters, QD-OLED TVs should offer brightness gains compared to existing OLED displays.
This promise has meant that QD-OLED has been highly anticipated, and so the launch of Dell’s Alienware monitor is a big moment.
It’s important to note the monitor is designed for PC gaming. It was first announced at the Consumer Electronics Show in January, at the same time as Sony announced the world’s first QD-OLED TV. The reception of both products was very positive, and the vast majority of those who set eyes on them said they were extremely impressed.
The Alienware AW3223DW, as it’s officially known, offers 3440x1440 resolution with up to 1,000 nits peak brightness, 10-bit colours, a 175Hz refresh rate and a super-fast 0.1 millisecond response time. It also boasts true blacks, enabling it to deliver extremely high contrast.
It’s a true gaming monitor, with support for Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate and HDR formats. What’s more, there’s a three-year warranty that covers burn-in.
“The Alienware 34 Curved QD-OLED Gaming Monitor is engineered to avoid burn-in caused by items appearing onscreen for long periods of time,” Dell promised in its pitch. “Additionally, you'll receive a 3-year service coverage, further protecting you from OLED burn-in and ensuring peace-of-mind quality assurance.”
Early reviews suggest the QD-OLED display tech will live up to its promise. Tom’s Guide said in its first look at the display that “photos and reviews” just can’t do the monitor justice and that it simply has to be seen in person for its quality to be appreciated.
“Yes, it's pricy and takes up a lot of desk space, but if you're as passionate about gaming as I am, you're going to want this spectacular monitor in your home,” Tom’s Guide wrote. “I can't stress enough how incredible games look on the Alienware 34.”
Dell said the Alienware AW3223DW is on sale now in the U.S. direct from Dell.com, with availability in the U.K. and other regions coming soon.
HDTVTest reviewer Vincent Teoh has already unboxed the Alienware 34 Curved QD-OLED Gaming Monitor and given us a quick overview as he prepares for his full review, also coming soon:
