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Alienware makes gaming laptops and desktops, sure, but the line I enjoy looking at most is its QD-OLED gaming monitors. They’re immensely popular after being the first to market in 2022; they’re generally well-rated, and they’re usually competitively priced.
One of the most popular Alienware gaming monitors is the AW3425DW, and it has now received a significant update for 2026. Dell let me get my hands on the new AW3426DW ultrawide monitor early so I could get a true feel of what it’s like, and I’m here to share my thoughts on whether or not it’s worth a buy.
Cale Hunt
I’m a lifelong PC gamer who has tested countless gaming monitors here at Windows Central. I’m offering an unbiased look at the Alienware AW3426DW to help you decide if it’s the right monitor for your needs.
Dell had no input, nor saw the contents of this review, prior to publication.
How much does the Alienware AW3426DW cost?
The AW3426DW launched at $799.99 — which is the same price at which the last-gen AW3425DW made its debut — and it’s also launching at £709 in the United Kingdom.
It’s worth noting that the older model is currently sitting at $649.99 after a $150 discount, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see that price drop stick around now that the new model is here.
Here’s a closer look at the specs that make up the Alienware AW3426DW.
| Row 0 – Cell 0 |
Alienware AW3426DW |
|
Size |
34.18 inches |
|
Panel |
Samsung QD-OLED Penta Tandem (RGB stripe, 5-stack) |
|
Resolution |
3440×1440 |
|
Refresh rate |
280Hz |
|
Response time |
0.03ms |
|
Peak brightness |
1,300 nits |
|
Typical brightness |
300 nits |
|
HDR |
HDR10, VESA DisplayHDR True Black 500, Dolby Vision |
|
VRR |
AMD FreeSync Premium Pro, NVIDIA G-Sync compatible |
|
Warranty |
3 years (burn-in covered) |
A generational upgrade for Alienware’s iconic ultrawide
Compared to the older AW3425DW model we reviewed favorably last year, there are several standout improvements in the new AW3426DW.
The main change arrives for the Quantum Dot-Organic Light Emitting Diode (QD-OLED) panel. It’s using Samsung’s new fifth-gen Penta Tandem tech that was revealed earlier this year, which the company says has twice as long a lifespan as well as 1.3 times better brightness. Text should be easier to read, and there are improvements to dark colors in bright ambient light. More on that below.
Alongside the higher brightness, the monitor now has an anti-reflective coating to better combat glare. And, finally, the refresh rate has been raised from 240Hz to 280Hz.
What I like about the Alienware AW3426DW
From a purely design standpoint, the Alienware AW3426DW hasn’t changed much compared to the AW3425DW. Its case has a pleasant Interstellar Indigo color scheme, with minimal interruptions on the back panel.
An Alienware head logo is off to the left of the stand, and there’s the secondary AI logo on the other side. These logos are surrounded by venting, altogether offering a clean look.
For a bit of extra jazz, the Alienware head has customizable lighting. The same applies to the monitor’s power button on the bottom edge of the casing.
The front of the monitor features Alienware branding, and that’s basically it. Bezels are nice and slim, and the rounded stand seems like a perfect pairing.
On that note, the stand is plenty sturdy. It doesn’t offer much rotation (this is an ultrawide, after all), but there’s enough tilt and swivel to keep me happy. If I were keeping the screen, it’d go onto my MSI dual-arm VESA mount thanks to 100x100mm compatibility.
All OSD settings are controlled with a single joystick. There are a ton of menu options to play around with should you want to tweak the picture, and the monitor includes quite a few presets for different tasks and gaming styles. You can also change shortcuts for easier control.
Image 1 of 4
The older AW3425DW’s OSD menu, or “Command Center,” had issues with freezing and closing randomly, but I’ve not seen those issues in the newer AW3426DW model.
How is the Alienware AW3426DW’s color and brightness?
Thanks to the new fifth-gen QD-OLED panel, Alienware’s flagship line of ultrawide gaming monitors has never looked better.
One of the biggest complaints about the older model was that black colors often appeared purple when in a bright room. That’s been significantly improved here, and it seems that no matter how much light is falling on the screen, dark colors remain dark.
This latest model includes a new anti-reflective finish that Dell says reduces glare by up to 30%. I can’t test for that precisely, but I can say that the only time I had issues with glare was in a sun-drenched room with direct light hitting the screen. If you’re in an office or a gaming room, you should have no issues.
It also helps that brightness has gone up from a 250-nit cap to 300 nits. Whereas the AW3425DW tested for roughly 252 nits of brightness, I saw the AW3426DW hit 330 nits in SDR, and it goes up to about 1,300 nits with HDR enabled. This additional brightness pushes its HDR certification up to VESA DisplayHDR 500.
You can see for yourself the brightness, color, contrast, and white point ratings in the above chart that I pulled from my SpyderX Pro colorimeter.
Color reproduction has actually improved slightly compared to the previous generation. Whereas we previously tested for 97% P3 and 94% AdobeRGB coverage, the new model hits 99% and 95%, respectively. It otherwise remains at 100% sRGB.
Is Alienware’s AW3426DW good for gaming?
Thanks to a curved panel, an ultrawide 21:9 aspect ratio, a 3440×1440 resolution, a 280Hz refresh rate, and a 0.02ms response time, the Alienware AW3426DW is an outstanding gaming monitor.
The resolution hits the sweet spot for most gamers, and once you go ultrawide, you’ll find it’s very hard to go back to a 16:9 aspect ratio. The 280Hz refresh rate has plenty of ceiling for high-end performance hardware, and it’s fast enough that you shouldn’t mind using it for competitive titles.
Because it’s an ultrawide with room for (at least) three separate windows, it’s also great for productivity. Text is easier to read with this generation of QD-OLED panel, and you might be surprised at how crisp everything looks if you’re coming from an older model.
What I dislike about the Alienware AW3426DW
There’s not much to dislike about this monitor from a display quality standpoint. But there are some drawbacks you should know about before buying.
The port selection is notably a bit lacking. There’s no 3.5mm audio jack (and no built-in speakers), and for data, there’s just USB-C (15W) and USB-A, feeding off an upstream USB-B port.
Alienware’s AW3426DW is easy to love, whether you’re gaming or working.
Video inputs include dual HDMI 2.1 with Fixed Rate Link (FRL) for uncompressed 4K@120Hz gaming, but the single DisplayPort is 1.4 standard with Display Stream Compression (DSC). Some newer monitors are shipping with DP 2.1 with less compression, and I’d say it only really matters for enthusiasts.
Should you buy the Alienware AW3426DW?
You should buy this if …
✅ You’re looking for a competitively priced ultrawide gaming monitor featuring fifth-gen QD-OLED tech.
✅ You have a gaming PC that can handle a 3440×1440 resolution and that can make use of a 280Hz refresh rate.
You should not buy this if …
❌ You’re a competitive gamer who mostly plays at a 16:9 aspect ratio.
❌ You just want a QD-OLED ultrawide and don’t care about the generation (go with the AW3425DW from last year that’s now usually cheaper).
I loved my time with the Alienware AW3426DW, and it’s something I’ll recommend to anyone who’s searching out a new QD-OLED ultrawide for gaming.
The 280Hz refresh rate is perfect for most people, the fifth-gen panel is better than ever, and the overall design is sleek and balanced.
Although some might complain that the port selection isn’t generous enough or that the RGB lighting is lacking, others might not mind those drawbacks nearly as much.
And considering how many perks the monitor has, it’s easy to see why this line of monitors from Alienware is so popular. I have to return the review sample, but the AW3426DW is at the top of my list for when it comes time to upgrade.
Alienware
AW3426DW
Alienware’s AW3426DW makes several important upgrades over its predecessor, including a new Penta Tandem QD-OLED panel that ups brightness, improves color, and makes text easier to read. It’s an outstanding option for work and for play, just as long as you can live with the (minor) downsides.
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