Why new OLED gaming monitors still can’t beat the best from last year

 This year, OLED gaming monitors are all the rage. I've reviewed almost all of the greatest ones, and even though more are coming, I have a solid sense of what 2023 will bring for this expanding industry.

CONTENTS

• It’s not a TV, it’s a monitor
• A great value
• A smorgasbord of goodies

And yet, I have yet to discover a display that outperforms the Alienware 34 QD-OLED from the previous year. I won't pretend that it's faultless; in the past, I've lamented the burn-in prompts' persistent nature. But as I'll explain, it's the gold standard, and its advantages transcend beyond what you can see on a spec sheet.

It’s not a TV, it’s a monitor

This contrast needs to be made very obvious right immediately. Unlike a TV, the Alienware 34 QD-OLED is a monitor. I know it seems obvious, but the line is fuzzier than you might think. For instance, one of the best displays money can buy is the Asus ROG PG42UQ. However, it still functions as a TV in essence, although one that costs more than LG's C2 while utilizing the same panel and lacking LG's image processing.

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You have even larger possibilities, such as LG's UltraGear 48 OLED, and it is absurd to refer to that as a monitor. Recently, 27-inch OLED gaming monitors have become increasingly popular, like the Asus ROG PG27AQDM, which offers OLED in a design that is familiar to most PC gamers. But it's not just about size. The Alienware 34 QD-OLED's 21:9 aspect ratio makes it a monitor by default.

The PC was designed with the ultrawide form factor. The bulk of films and TV series are standard 16:9, however,

 you can locate some content through streaming services that can fit the aspect ratio. When seated at a desk, it's simple to discover 21:9 movie files; I'll let you figure out how; but more importantly, you can play games and become a multitasking wizard with a bigger screen.

Since the Massdrop Vast (back when enthusiast audio and keyboard brand Drop wasn't yet Drop), I've been a lover of ultrawide monitors. It's a form factor that is specifically designed for PC gamers, serving double duty as a highly immersive gaming experience and providing additional screen real estate whenever you have work to accomplish. It's wonderful and perfect.

Now, don't go ahead of me. I am aware that the LG UltraGear OLED 45 and Corsair OLED Flex are both stand-alone ultrawide displays. However, there are a few issues with this. To begin with, they are both enormous and more suitable for gaming than for performing any kind of job. They cost around twice as much as the Alienware 34 QD-OLED, and they are also pricey.

And above all else, the price is what convinces me to get the Alienware 34 QD-OLED.

A great value

If you're not familiar, only Samsung Display and LG Display now produce OLED gaming displays. Although they are technically independent businesses from LG and Samsung, we don't need to go into that right now. It's crucial that the OLED gaming monitor you purchase today has a panel made by either LG or Samsung.

The same QD-OLED panel is therefore used in displays like the MSI MEG 342C, Samsung Odyssey G8 QD-OLED, and Acer Predator X34 V. They all use the Samsung QMB340CD01-C03 QD-OLED panel, which is identical to the Alienware 34 QD-OLED.

The only difference between all of the possibilities is the price. In a comedy of errors, Samsung chose to price its take at $1,500, which is $500 higher than the current retail price of the Alienware 34 QD-OLED. The Acer Predator X34 V will be on sale for $1,300 in November even though it hasn't even been released yet. The MSI MEG 342C is the only display that comes close, and it's been out of stock ever since it was introduced.

Dell doesn't only undercut its rivals. With over a year of market exclusivity, Dell has introduced G-Sync and FreeSync versions of the Alienware 34 QD-OLED and cycled it through many sales. It's usually available for $1,000, and even if I've never seen it sell for more than $1,100, so you won't find it for that amount.

Naturally, the larger monitors I stated above cost more money as well. However, how the Alienware 34 QD-OLED stacks up against the LG UltraGear OLED 27 and the Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDM is what really sells the device.

Both are $1,000 27-inch 1440p OLED panels. They have a tiny advantage over the Alienware because their 240Hz refresh rate is higher than its 165Hz, but there has never been a period when an ultrawide panel with comparable specifications was priced similarly to a conventional 16:9 display. The difference in refresh rate isn't as significant as it seems; in reality, it only adds up to about 2 milliseconds.

A smorgasbord of goodies

Let's wrap this up with a few minor specifics. Initially, USB ports. The majority of monitors only have two, as do all the LG displays I've mentioned and the Asus ROG Swift PG27AQDM. For some odd reason, the Samsung OLED G8 has just one USB-C port.

Undoubtedly, more ports are helpful, but where they are located is more important. If you wish to connect identical static peripherals, there are two behind the monitor (near the HDMI and DisplayPort ports), but there are also two beneath the monitor's front that you may switch out as needed. It doesn't seem like a big deal, but I've learned to universally disregard things because it annoys me to continually reach behind my monitor and struggle to find the USB connections.

And second, the shiny appearance. There is still some utility in having a glossy finish, despite the excessive hype surrounding matte finishes on OLED panels. Reflections aren't as awful if you use the right diffusion, and colors stand out more. The LG UltraGear OLED 27 and the Asus ROG PG27AQDM choose a matte surface, which doesn't appear as striking as the Alienware 34 QD-OLED's glossy finish.

It's simple to dismiss any individual component of the Alienware 34 QD-OLED if you pick it out on its own. Even more than a year after it debuted, the features and pricing are what make it such a desirable display. Throughout 2023, I'm sure we'll see some more fascinating monitors, but for now, the Alienware 34 from 2018.

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