The new Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED gaming monitor ($1,099) is an updated version of the Alienware 34 Curved QD-OLED released in early 2022. The original monitor was one of my favorite products to review because of its immersive gaming experience. Aside from the higher price and lack of HDMI 2.1 support, I had few complaints.

This new model is almost identical to the one released in April, but is cheaper, lighter, and supports HDMI 2.1. These changes make an already great monitor even better. It's not worth upgrading if you already own the older version, but if you're looking for the best gaming monitor and the best curved monitor, you need the new Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED.

The Alienware AW3423DWF gaming monitor is currently available on Dell's website (opens in new tab) for $1,099/£1,099/AU$1,898. This updated model is $200 cheaper than the AW3423DW and is still available on the manufacturer's website.

Given that this model is cheaper, lighter, and supports 120Hz on the console, it is a natural choice over the previous model.

The Alienware AW3423DWF is an all-out gaming monitor: a sleek 1800R curved display that wraps nicely around your view. Aside from the "34" on the back and Alienware's signature Alien logo, the chassis is all black. This gives the monitor a slightly more menacing appearance than its predecessor. The Legend 2 AlienFX lighting on the back adds some flair, even if that lighting is not visible when using the monitor.

At 16.36/20.69 (height when compressed/extended) x 32.10 x 12.04 inches and 21 pounds including the stand, the AW3423DWF is obviously large and heavy. The stand's V-shaped legs also take up a lot of space on the desk. Nevertheless, this monitor is lighter and thinner than the previous model (without stand). Even at only a pound lighter, it should be easier to mount the new Alienware monitor on the wall using the VESA mount on the back.

As before, the screen can be moved up and down along the axis of the stand in a span of 4.3 inches. It can also be tilted backward -5 degrees and forward up to 21 degrees. The screen rotates 20 degrees to the left or right. Screen tilt and swivel are smooth, and there is no difficulty in getting the desired view angle.

The AW3423DWF has a wealth of connectivity options. These include an HDMI 2.1 port, two DisplayPorts, four USB-A ports (two downstream, two upstream), a headphone jack, and a line-out port. Below the monitor is an on-screen display (OSD) joystick to enter menus for display configuration.

Ports are similar to the previous model, but there are two notable differences: there are two DisplayPorts instead of one; thanks to the HDMI 2.1 port, PS5 and Xbox Series X players can experience games like Destiny 2 at 120Hz. Of course, there are by no means many titles that run at 120Hz on modern consoles, but for the few games that do have HDMI 2.1 ports, it is a good thing.

The 3,440 x 1,440 curved quantum dot OLED display with a 165 Hz refresh rate and 21:9 aspect ratio is still as impressive as the previous model. I am still in awe of how incredibly beautiful everything on this monitor looks.

As before, this monitor features six preset image modes optimized for different game genres.

In standard mode, the AW3423DWF covered 180% of the sRGB gamut, 127% of the wider DCI-P3 gamut (the closer to 100% the better), and had a Delta-E value of 0.24 (the closer to 0 the better). These values are slightly lower than the previous model's 183% and 129%, respectively, but the Delta-E results remain the same.

In contrast, the default picture mode of the Predator XB323QK achieved 138% of the sRGB gamut and 97.7% of the DCI-P3 gamut with a Delta-E value of 0.29. The default picture mode of the Gigabyte Aorus FI32U achieved 127 covered. 9% of the sRGB color gamut and 90.6% of the wider DCI-P3 color gamut; the Gigabyte M32U achieves 124.6% of the narrower sRGB and 88.3% of DCI-P3.

Brightness levels depend on the image mode and whether HDR is enabled. In standard mode, the Alienware AW3423DWF averaged 236 nits of brightness; HDR 400 averaged 366 nits of brightness at 40%, and HDR 1000 averaged 359 nits at the same percentage. The other modes are within the 360 range, although their averages are slightly higher or lower than the norm.

While a crisp, vivid image is important, the game needs to run as smoothly and responsively as possible. Thankfully, the AW3423DWF's performance is as impressive as its bold design.

The monitor's 165Hz refresh rate, Nvidia G-Sync Ultimate, and 0.1ms response time make such impressive performance possible. However, if your PC cannot run games at high frame rates, you may not get the best results. I connected the AW3423DWF to a Dell XPS 8950, a moderately powerful Dell, and the refresh rate and frame rate were always in sync.

Cyberpunk 2077 looked and moved great. The curves of the monitor made me feel like I was actually walking down the dingy, neon-lit streets of Cyberpunk 2077's Night City. The ray-traced reflections from the glass-clad skyscrapers were breathtaking. The monitors captured every detail, even as we raced through the elevated highway at dangerous speeds.

Doom Eternal is a fast-paced first-person shooter, perfect for monitors like the AW3423DWF. There was a lot going on on screen, and the monitor never failed to show every beautiful and bloody detail. The curves of the monitor allowed me to see more of the environment, which made it easier to survive encounters that would have been difficult on a standard monitor.

Viewing YouTube videos and other streaming content is hit or miss because of the monitor's 21:9 aspect ratio; if you are watching something shot at 16:9, you will see empty space (black bars) on the sides. However, when viewing content shot at 21:9, you will experience the same immersive experience as when playing a game running at the same aspect ratio. note that neither the PS5 nor the Xbox Series X have games that are displayed at 21:9, so you will always see empty space on the sides of the screen

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The interface of the AW3423DWF is clean and relatively easy to navigate. It features a black and gray background and blue and white text. The OSD joystick used to sort the menus is quite responsive. The menu in question includes options for six game modes, brightness/contrast adjustment, AlienFX Lighting settings, etc.

If you don't want to spend time fiddling with the options, there are several presets. But if you want to adjust the settings to your own preferences, you can do that too. I appreciate the various shortcut keys for the preset modes, such as brightness/contrast, input source, dark stabilizer, volume, etc.

The Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED addresses several issues I had with the original model; the low price is solid, as is the inclusion of HDMI 2.1 support. Even if it is only a minor upgrade overall, objectively speaking, these improvements make it a stronger product.

That said, it's hard to recommend this monitor to someone who has already purchased the original version; the HDMI 2.1 support is great, but not worth the upgrade - especially if you primarily play PC games. Especially if you primarily play PC games; if you own the AW3423DW, you won't lose much.

However, given the AW3423DWF's price of $1,099, it is now an easy device to recommend to beginners. However, if this price is still too high, the $799 Gigabyte M32U gaming monitor or the $999 Gigabyte Aorus FI32U are solid alternatives. If you want to save a few hundred dollars, the $899 Sony Inzone M9 is another strong choice.