I Reviewed a 34-Inch 240Hz QD-OLED Gaming Monitor: Stellar Performance and Design at an Unexpectedly Low Price

Why? Why do I always find myself diving deep into gadgets? Alienware this time. I swear, they should have my picture in a frame on some wall for being such a loyal fan. Anyway, I was rummaging through my mind’s tech section and couldn’t help but get excited about this 34-inch curved OLED thingy they’ve whipped up. Alienware seems to consistently hit the sweet spot—how do they do it?

Now, usually, a monitor like this mops up your bank account faster than a kid with a candy shop key. But when I saw the Alienware 34″ QD-OLED AW3425DW being surprisingly affordable, I almost fell off my chair! Seriously, it costs less than the last one. Perhaps it’s the absence of some frills, but hey, I’m here for the pure gaming joy, not the sparkly bits.

By the way, there’s a version of this thing sitting prettily on Dell’s site for about $800. I mean, it doesn’t come with built-in speakers, fewer ports, and just two RGB lights. But who needs extra lights when your game’s got more glow than the Bat-signal under a night sky? No, really.

Okay, so there’s this thoughtful detail—everything needed to set it up is right there in the box. Alienware’s being considerate, bless ’em. Plus, assembling the stand feels like a breeze, just clicking and snapping everything into place. And it’s blue. Not the usual dull shades of gray and black. Gosh, a blue monitor! Who knew I craved that?

From the get-go, I loved rotating and adjusting the monitor every which way. The base seemed sturdy like it could withstand a minor apocalypse. This marvelous gadget, with its sharpness and color vibrance, had me wrapped around its finger—or maybe its joystick? Can monitors wrap things around their joysticks? Metaphorically, I guess.

Oh, and HDR! Ditch your seven-dollar cinema ticket because this screen turns your room into the set of some sci-fi flick. I didn’t expect it to pop colors like that; it’s just… engaging, right? Though it claims a vast color production, my tests had it shy of the bragged numbers. But who cares? It mesmerizes nonetheless.

For numbers people: the brightness in HDR reaches neon-near-blinding. And let’s talk blacks—solid, deep, abyss-like blacks because OLED magic is afoot here.

Navigating settings with its dandy little joystick is a trip. Funny how something that tiny can stop you in your tracks. But Alienware’s software—Command Center or whatever—felt clumsy and a bit temperamental; it needs a little TLC.

Tradeoffs? Yeah, a few. Fewer ports and no headphone jack might irk those with more peripherals than outfits. But you get a top-tier monitor for a steal, so it’s all balanced out in the end.

To wrap up—or untangle my meandering thoughts—if you’re after something with the kind of stellar visuals that teleport your gaming sessions into another realm, this is it. Just wave goodbye to any unnecessary price tags. If anything, skip it if USB-C matters more to you than saving cash.

So, there it is. Man, reviewing stuff makes you think intensely about curves and colors in unnatural ways. That said, Alienware, you’ve done it again, and I’m stuck in your web.