Dell Alienware AW2726DM Monitor Review: Stunning, Sharp OLED Visuals for a Steal

by

For those who demand the best possible picture quality, OLED technology is quickly becoming the standard. However, the high cost of good OLED monitors has prevented many people from enjoying it. Dell aims to change that with its new Alienware AW2726DM monitor, which offers impressive performance for just $350.

The most important thing about the new AW2726DM monitor is its price. While its features aren’t groundbreaking, they’re typical for a monitor that usually costs around $500. Combine that with Alienware’s reliable construction, stylish look, and 3-year warranty against burn-in, and this monitor could be an excellent first OLED for many people.

I’ve been using the AW2726DM for about a week, and it’s quickly become my go-to gaming monitor. It’s incredibly fast, with a clear and colorful picture. While it doesn’t quite match my 4K OLED TV, it’s a very close second – especially considering how affordable it is. The more I use it, the more I like it!

Dell’s New OLED Alienware Monitor Is Well Worth the Cost of Admission

Alienware offers a variety of OLED monitors, and to get straight to the point, here’s a rundown of the key features of the new AW2726DM.

  • 26.5-inch OLED screen (gloss finish)
  • HDR-compatible
  • 2560×1440 resolution
  • 240hz refresh rate
  • 0.03ms latency
  • AMD FreeSync compatible
  • 2 HDMI ports (max 120hz refresh rate)
  • 1 DisplayPort 1.4 port (for full 240hz refresh rate)

This 1440p OLED monitor offers excellent value at $350, boasting HDR and a fast 240Hz refresh rate. Its three input ports add to its flexibility, letting you easily switch between a PC and gaming console. While the HDMI ports limit you to 120 FPS, that’s perfectly fine for current-generation consoles, as most games don’t run faster than that anyway.

The AW2726DM includes a surprisingly high-quality stand. It’s adjustable in height, can swivel, and even rotate a full 360 degrees – a big improvement over the basic stands that come with most affordable monitors. Combined with the monitor’s slim design, it looks sleek and fits well on any desk. However, I eventually swapped the included stand for my own adjustable arm; while the AW2726DM’s stand is good, there are even better options out there, particularly if you use multiple monitors.

The AW2726DM is VESA mount compatible.

The AW2726DM Performs Like a Dream

I think most of us casual gamers first experienced OLED through handhelds like the Steam Deck OLED and Switch OLED – those screens look amazing. But honestly, nothing prepares you for a real OLED gaming monitor like the AW2726DM. You really have to see it – and almost feel it – to understand how good it is. Even just using my computer normally, the combination of the OLED panel, HDR, and 1440p resolution was instantly impressive. Of course, I had to really test it out, so here are the games I played:

  • Cyberpunk 2077 (Ultra settings, RTX Medium, 98 average FPS)
  • Deadlock (High settings, 80 average FPS)
  • Resident Evil 4 Remake (Max settings, RTX Max, 70 average FPS)
  • Forza Horizon 6 (High settings, RTX off, 101 average FPS)
  • Max Payne 3 (Max settings, 125 average FPS)
  • Sea of Stars (Max settings, 240+ FPS)

I tested the monitor with a variety of games, from older, simpler pixel art titles to brand new, high-end AAA releases. In every case, the gameplay looked great – smooth, clear, and vibrant, with deep blacks that enhanced all the different visual styles. While this particular model doesn’t support NVIDIA G-Sync, I didn’t notice any screen tearing even when I turned V-Sync off. Overall, the gaming experience was consistently smooth and surprisingly good. I expected some performance issues with such a sharp and colorful picture, but it delivered consistently.

The AW2726DM monitor is excellent overall, but its brightness is a notable drawback. While OLED screens generally aren’t as bright as LED screens, this model only reaches around 200 nits at its peak – significantly less than other high-end OLED gaming monitors and TVs. This isn’t a huge problem in a dark room, but it can make darker scenes difficult to see if you’re playing in a brighter environment. The glossy screen finish adds to this issue, as it’s more reflective than a matte screen, creating more glare and showing smudges easily. Having a cleaning cloth nearby is a good idea.

Ideally, I’d prefer a monitor with even thinner bezels. The bezels on this model are about 1.2cm wide, which is noticeably larger than those on my older monitor. It’s a small complaint, but the sleek design of the monitor makes the slightly wider bezels stand out a bit. The screen size, 26.5 inches diagonally, might also feel a little small to some users.

Despite any minor drawbacks, it’s hard to really complain about this monitor. The AW2726DM will be a huge upgrade for anyone switching from an older LED screen or a 1080p display, and at this price, it’s a fantastic value – likely aimed at those users. Honestly, for a monitor of this quality, $350 is an incredible deal. Especially with current economic challenges and high PC component costs, the AW2726DM is a welcome surprise – it’s rare to find gaming hardware that offers so much for so little.

You can buy the Dell Alienware AW2726DM directly from Dell’s website for $349.99. TopMob received a review unit from Dell.

Read More

2026-05-29 11:35