With its AW2726DM, Alienware presents a 27-inch QD-OLED gaming monitor, delivering QHD resolution and a 240 Hz refresh rate. It leans on the responsiveness of its panel, its deep blacks and its broad color coverage to attract gamers. But its limited HDR brightness and its coating that is particularly prone to reflections temper the overall picture.
With its AW2726DM, Alienware intends to make QD-OLED technology more accessible without compromising the performance expected from a gaming monitor. Its 27-inch QHD panel at 240 Hz targets gamers who want excellent responsiveness and high contrast without stepping up to 4K.
7 / 10
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PC Components
- Excellent 240 Hz responsiveness
- Deep blacks and OLED contrast
- Excellent DCI-P3 coverage
- In-game smoothness
- Reasonable price for a QD-OLED
- Limited SDR brightness
- Un HDR peu convaincant
- Very bright panel
- Limited connectivity
Priced at €429 on the manufacturer’s site, it faces aggressive rivals such as the AOC Q27G4ZD, which touts a higher refresh rate of 280 Hz. We tested it for two weeks; our verdict is mixed.
Performance and image quality
Our measurements on the Alienware AW2726DM
We evaluated the latency of the Alienware AW2726DM in QHD (2560 × 1440) at 60 and 240 Hz. According to our protocol, the latency related to the display itself drops from 15.4 ms at 60 Hz to just 2.5 ms at 240 Hz, confirming the benefit of taking full advantage of the monitor’s maximum refresh rate.
The AW2726DM input lag
| Input lag | Value at 1440p / 60 Hz | Value at 1440p / 240 Hz |
| Average* | 33.4 ms | 8.2 ms |
| Minimum | 18.6 ms | 4.8 ms |
| Maximum | 49.6 ms | 11.5 ms |
| Display only | 15.4 ms | 2.5 ms |
*Averages calculated over 200 measurements.
The click-to-photon measurements, which take into account the entire latency chain of the tested system, also show clear progression. The average goes from 33.4 ms at 60 Hz to 8.2 ms at 240 Hz, while the minimum and maximum values move from 18.6 and 49.6 ms to 4.8 and 11.5 ms. The results are also less dispersed at 240 Hz, although this improved consistency cannot be attributed solely to the monitor.
Beyond this reduction in latency, the measurements are also noticeably tighter at 240 Hz, indicating more consistent behavior.
| GTG Measurement | Value at 1440p / 60 Hz | Value at 1440p / 240 Hz |
| Average response time | 0.1 ms | 0.1 ms |
| Maximum response time | 0.6 ms | 0.5 ms |
| Average overshoot | 0.4 % | 0.2 % |
| Maximum overshoot | 3.4 % | 1.5 % |
| Transitions < 1 ms | 100 % | 100 % |
Regarding response time, our LDAT measurements highlight the key strengths of QD-OLED technology. At 60 Hz and 240 Hz, the average GtG response time remains at 0.1 ms, with a maximum of 0.6 ms at 60 Hz and 0.5 ms at 240 Hz.
As for the overshoot, the results are equally convincing. The average sits at only 0.4% at 60 Hz, with a maximum of 3.4%. At 240 Hz, it drops to 0.2%, while the maximum overshoot remains at 1.5%. These exceptionally low values indicate excellent control of transitions, with no significant overshoot likely to cause reverse ghosting. The panel thus combines very high speed with unusually clean switching, without resorting to the overdrive compromises typical of LCD displays.
All measured transitions stay below 1 ms, at both 60 and 240 Hz. A result that confirms the excellent responsiveness of this QD-OLED panel.
Click here to see our SDR measurements
With this Alienware AW2726DM, Dell leans toward a 27-inch QD-OLED panel, with a 16:9 aspect ratio, a very classic format. This panel can reach 240 Hz, offering smoothness, but also deep blacks.
In SDR, with the default screen settings, the color accuracy of the Alienware AW2726DM is lacking right out of the box. We measured an average Delta E 2000 of 4.24, with a maximum of 7.01. These deviations are accompanied by sometimes excessive saturation, particularly on SDR content.
In our measurements, however, we noted the absence of a dedicated sRGB mode. The absence of a dedicated sRGB mode is a real limitation here: without proper color management, the panel’s wide gamut leads to overly saturated colors for content designed for the sRGB space. While this rendering can be pleasing in games, it lacks fidelity for users seeking precise colors.
The grayscale scale yields more convincing results. The average Delta E drops to 2.3, while the color temperature sits at 6,367 K. The image thus appears slightly warmer than the reference of 6,500 K. The average gamma is measured at 2.168, a value very close to the 2.2 target. The SDR balance is therefore mixed. The AW2726DM benefits from the intrinsic strengths of its QD-OLED panel, notably its deep blacks and near-infinite contrast, but its colorimetry lacks accuracy. On the brightness side, we measured around 210 cd/m² in SDR.
HDR measurements follow-up
In HDR, the Alienware AW2726DM delivers more convincing color accuracy, with notably generous color space coverage. Above all, the QD-OLED panel maintains a major advantage with its self-emissive pixels, able to produce perfect blacks and manage contrasts at the pixel level, without the halo effects seen with MiniLED backlighting.
Colorimetry-wise, we measured an average Delta E 2000 of 2.07, with a maximum of 3.99. The result is clearly better than in SDR. Some nuances still show visible differences compared to the reference, but the reproduction remains generally precise and coherent in HDR content.
The maximum brightness reaches around 341 cd/m² on measurement windows spanning 1 to 10% of the screen area. It then gradually decreases as the lighted area grows, reaching about 250 cd/m² at 25%, and 200 cd/m² at 50%.
On a fully white image, we measured 168.8 cd/m². Modest values for a HDR-capable panel, which limit the intensity of highlights and the screen’s ability to render the most spectacular light effects.
HDR color coverage remains strong. The AW2726DM covers 99.46% of DCI-P3 and 80.78% of BT.2020, nearly fully covering the P3 gamut with a notably wide palette that yields rich, saturated colors in compatible content. BT.2020 coverage is also very satisfactory, underscoring the potential of QD-OLED for color reproduction.
The HDR balance remains nuanced overall. Color precision is satisfactory and color-spaces coverage is generous. Above all, the self-emissive OLED pixels offer a major advantage: perfect blacks and per-pixel contrast without the halo effects typical of MiniLED backlights.
HDR measurements follow-up
In HDR, the AW2726DM shows more convincing color accuracy, with notably generous space coverage. Above all, the panel’s self-emissive pixels enable perfect blacks and per-pixel contrast, without halo effects associated with MiniLED backlights.
Côté colorimétrie, we measured an average Delta E 2000 of 2.07, with a maximum of 3.99. The result is considerably better than in SDR. Some shades still show visible differences from their reference, but the rendering remains overall precise and coherent in HDR content.
The maximum brightness reaches about 341 cd/m² across measurement windows spanning 1 to 10% of the screen area. It then gradually decreases as the illuminated area increases, reaching about 250 cd/m² at 25%, and 200 cd/m² at 50%.
On a completely white image, we recorded 168.8 cd/m². Modest values for a HDR-capable panel, which limit the intensity of bright highlights and the screen’s ability to deliver the most spectacular lighting effects.
The EOTF curve tracking also lacks regularity. The measured luminance sits slightly above the reference in the shadows, then falls below the target in the mid-tones and highlights.
The HDR balance remains mixed. Color accuracy is satisfactory and space coverage is generous. Above all, the panel’s OLED black levels and near-infinite contrast offer a major advantage, but the HDR brightness does not reach the same heights as higher-end HDR displays, limiting some peak-light effects.
HDR results, however, remain mixed. The color accuracy is acceptable and the coverage of color spaces is generous. The panel’s self-emissive pixels continue to offer blacks and per-pixel contrast without halo issues, but the brightness limitations temper the HDR impact.
The rest of our HDR measurements
In HDR, the AW2726DM shows a more convincing color accuracy and generous coverage of color spaces, but the brightness limitations temper the perceived impact of HDR, particularly in bright scenes.
The monitor also supports adaptive sync, with VESA AdaptiveSync and AMD FreeSync Premium. The goal is to minimize tearing when the refresh rate varies according to PC performance.
Like any OLED monitor, the AW2726DM requires precautions against image retention risk from prolonged static content. Dell includes a pixel refresh feature that triggers automatically when the monitor goes into sleep or after four hours of cumulative use. The operation lasts about six to eight minutes and can also be launched manually from the OSD. The manufacturer accompanies these protections with a three-year warranty covering OLED retention, a reassuring point for users exploring this technology.
Daily experience
Audio
Alienware omits built-in speakers with the AW2726DM. This is quite common in the gaming monitor field and means you’ll need a speaker setup or a headset for audio playback.
However, the screen does offer a 3.5 mm audio jack for connecting an external audio device.
Interface and features
The OSD gathers the main game adjustments, several image profiles and a few extra tools, such as a frame rate counter or a screen-alignment feature for multi-monitor configurations. The menu also allows you to adjust contrast, brightness and HDR settings.
The second part is much simpler and includes only brightness and contrast settings.
In addition, where most screens mount to their stands, this Alienware uses four mounting screws. Again, not a major flaw, but for a device at this price point, a bit more practicality would have been welcome. It can, however, be mounted on a VESA 100 x 100 mm stand.
The side bezels are fairly slim, but you’ll notice the stand has no cable passthrough. If that’s not a major defect, a simple hole in the stand would have been appreciated.
