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Dell Alienware AW2521HF Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v1.2
Reviewed May 20, 2020 at 07:58 am
Latest change: Writing modified Jan 26, 2023 at 10:18 am
Dell Alienware AW2521HF Picture
7.1
Mixed Usage
7.7
Office
8.0
Gaming
6.7
Media Consumption
7.2
Media Creation
2.9
HDR
This monitor was replaced by the Dell Alienware AW2523HF

The Dell Alienware AW2521HF is an overall good monitor with impressive gaming performance. It has identical features as its bigger sibling, the Dell Alienware AW2720HF, just in a more compact 25 inch screen size. It has a 1080p resolution, but due to its smaller screen, it results in higher pixel density and a sharper looking picture. Its IPS panel has wide viewing angles and great reflection handling, and it can get bright enough to combat glare in bright rooms. However, dark room performance is a bit disappointing, as it has a mediocre contrast ratio and there's visible backlight bleed. It has exceptional motion handling thanks to its fast response time and 240Hz refresh rate, and it also has a low input lag as well as FreeSync support. The smaller screen size might not be the best for productivity tasks, but its great performance should keep most gamers happy nonetheless.

Our Verdict

7.1 Mixed Usage

The Alienware AW2521HF is a good monitor for most uses. The 1080p resolution is decent for its 25 inch screen, but the smaller screen size also makes it less ideal for multitaskers, as there's less room to have multiple windows open at the same time. Response time and input lag are outstanding, and color accuracy is good, although its coverage of the Adobe RGB color space may not be wide enough for content creators. It's suitable for use in an average to brightly-lit room, but dark room performance is disappointing, as there's visible backlight bleed and the low contrast ratio makes blacks look gray.

Pros
  • Exceptional response time.
  • Excellent build quality.
  • Wide viewing angles.
Cons
  • Sub-par black uniformity.
  • No HDR support.
7.7 Office

The Alienware AW2521HF is a good office monitor. It's well-suited for average to brightly-lit environments, as it has a great peak brightness and great reflection handling, and its IPS panel provides excellent viewing angles, so you can share your work easily with coworkers. The stand allows for a good number of adjustments, however, the resolution and size of the monitor make it more difficult to multitask. On the upside, it has a flicker-free backlight, which helps to reduce eye strain during those long work days.

8.0 Gaming

The Alienware AW2521HF is an impressive gaming monitor. It has exceptional motion handling and low input lag, whether you play at its maximum 240Hz refresh rate or 60Hz. It has wide viewing angles, which is great for co-op gaming, and it performs well in bright rooms, as it can fight glare easily and it has great reflection handling. However, dark room gaming is less ideal due to some visible backlight bleed and a mediocre contrast ratio.

6.7 Media Consumption

The Alienware AW2521HF is a decent monitor for media consumption. The 25 inch screen and 1080p resolution are decent, however, it's not as good for watching in the dark due to its low contrast ratio and sub-par black uniformity. It does perform well in bright rooms, though, and it has wide viewing angles, allowing you to share content with others. Ergonomics are good, so you can adjust it to your optimal viewing position, and its fast response time and 240Hz refresh rate result in exceptionally smooth motion handling. That said, the lack of HDR support is rather disappointing.

7.2 Media Creation

The Alienware AW2521HF is a decent monitor for media creation. The main downside is the smaller screen and the 1080p resolution, and although its coverage of the Adobe RGB color space is good, it may be a bit too low for some. It has great viewing angles, so the image remains accurate from the side, and the stand allows for a good amount of adjustments, including rotation to portrait mode. Gray uniformity is excellent, but there's some backlight bleed and the contrast ratio is low, which is expected of most IPS monitors.

  • 7.1 Mixed Usage
  • 7.7 Office
  • 8.0 Gaming
  • 6.7 Media Consumption
  • 7.2 Media Creation
  • 2.9 HDR
  1. Updated Jan 26, 2023: Added that the Sony INZONE M3 supports VRR and HDR from the PS5, which this monitor doesn't.
  2. Updated Nov 24, 2022: Added a table in the Variants section to show differences with similar models, including the Dell Alienware AW2521HFL, which is very similar but with a different body color.
  3. Updated Nov 02, 2022: Added in the Variants section that this monitor was replaced by the Dell Alienware AW2523HF.
  4. Updated Sep 08, 2022: We updated the text in the response time boxes to match the latest results from our Test Bench 1.2 retests.
  5. Updated Jun 22, 2022: Updated to Test Bench 1.2, resulting in changes to the results and scores with the Response Time and Input Lag. Added tests for Console Compatibility and macOS compatibility and made minor changes to other tests, which you can see in our Changelog.
  6. Updated May 20, 2020: Review published.
  7. Updated May 14, 2020: Early access published.
  8. Updated May 06, 2020: Our testers have started testing this product.
  9. Updated Apr 14, 2020: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  10. Updated Mar 16, 2020: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the Dell Alienware AW2521HF, which is essentially a smaller variant of the Dell Alienware AW2720HF, as it has identical features and similar performance, except for its smaller screen size and black finish on the back. The Dell Alienware AW2521HFL is another extremely similar monitor, but the body color is different. This monitor was replaced by the Dell Alienware AW2523HF, which has a higher 360Hz refresh rate.

Model Size Native Resolution Max Refresh rate VRR Body Color
AW2521H 25" 1080p 360Hz G-SYNC  Black
AW2521HF 25" 1080p 240Hz FreeSync  Black
AW2521HFL 25" 1080p 240Hz FreeSync  White
AW2523HF 25" 1080p 360Hz FreeSync  Black
AW2720HF 27" 1080p 240Hz  FreeSync White

If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their Alienware AW2521HF doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we'll update the review. Note that some tests, such as the gray uniformity, may vary between individual units.

Our unit of the Alienware AW2521HF was manufactured in January 2020, and you can see the label here.

Compared To Other Monitors

The Dell Alienware AW2521HF is an overall good monitor that has very impressive gaming performance. Compared to its bigger brother, the Dell Alienware AW2720HF, this monitor has a slightly higher contrast ratio, much better black uniformity, and it's more color accurate out of the box. You can also see our recommendations for the best gaming monitors, the best ultrawide gaming monitors, and the best 240Hz monitors.

ViewSonic XG2431

The Dell Alienware AW2521HF and the ViewSonic XG2431 are both impressive gaming monitors. They each have a 240Hz refresh rate with native FreeSync support. The Dell has slightly better motion handling, and the Dell is slightly better for bright rooms because it gets a bit brighter and has better reflection handling. However, the ViewSonic has a backlight strobing feature that the Dell doesn't have. Also, unlike the Dell, the ViewSonic supports HDR, though it doesn't add much.

Dell Alienware AW2523HF

The Dell Alienware AW2523HF is the replacement for the Dell Alienware AW2521HF and improves on it in a few ways. Firstly, the AW2523HF has a higher 360Hz refresh rate and better motion handling with 120Hz and 60Hz signals. The AW2523HF is also better for console gaming because it has a Console Mode that downscales 4k images, which the AW2521HF doesn't have. Lastly, the AW2523HF supports HDR, which the AW2521HF doesn't, but because of its low peak brightness and low contrast, it doesn't deliver a satisfying HDR experience.

BenQ ZOWIE XL2546K

The Dell Alienware AW2521HF and the BenQ ZOWIE XL2546K are both 25 inch, 1080p, 240Hz gaming monitors but with different panel types. The Dell uses an IPS panel, while the BenQ has a TN panel. Motion handling is about the same, but the Dell has slightly better response times. It also has wider viewing angles, and it gets brighter to combat glare. The BenQ has a Black Frame Insertion feature, but it isn't usable simultaneously with VRR, and the flickering might bother some people.

Dell Alienware AW2521H

The Dell Alienware AW2521H is better than the Dell Alienware AW2521HF. The AW2521H has a 360Hz refresh rate, it supports HDR, has significantly better gradient handling,  and lower input lag. However, the AW2521HF has much better reflection handling and a wider horizontal viewing angle.

ASUS TUF Gaming VG259QM

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG259QM is better than the Dell Alienware AW2521HF. The ASUS has a higher refresh rate to provide a smoother gaming experience, a Black Frame Insertion feature, and supports HDR. On the other hand, the Dell has a better build quality, wider viewing angles, and more USB ports for charging.

AOC 24G2

The AOC 24G2 and the Dell Alienware AW2521HF are both 1080p gaming monitors, although the Dell has a slightly bigger 25" screen versus the AOC's 24". The Dell delivers a better gaming experience because it has a much higher refresh rate of 240Hz and faster response times. It also has wider viewing angles for sharing content, a USB hub with four USB 3.0 inputs, and it gets brighter to fight glare.

ASUS ROG Swift 360Hz PG259QN

The ASUS ROG Swift 360Hz PG259QN is a bit better than the Dell Alienware AW2521HF. The ASUS has a higher refresh rate, better color accuracy out of the box, and better gradient handling. The Dell Alienware has wider viewing angles, and although its response time is slightly slower, there's significantly less overshoot.

LG 27GN750-B

The LG 27GN750-B and the Dell Alienware AW25212HF are similar monitors overall, but the Dell is slightly better for gaming. The Dell has a better response time both at its max refresh rate and at 60Hz, it handles reflections better, and its ergonomics are better. The LG is bigger and it supports HDR10, although content in that mode doesn't look much different from SDR. 

ASUS TUF Gaming VG258QM

The ASUS TUF Gaming VG258QM and the Dell Alienware AW2521HF perform quite similarly overall, but they use different panel types. While they're both great gaming monitors, the Dell has a bit of an edge. Its IPS panel provides wider viewing angles, so the image stays accurate from the side. It also has faster response times at both its max refresh rate and 60Hz, while the ASUS performs significantly worse at 60Hz than it does at its max refresh rate. One downside is that the Dell doesn't support HDR, but the ASUS doesn't deliver a great HDR experience anyway, so it shouldn't be the deciding factor. 

Dell Alienware AW2720HF

When comparing the Dell Alienware AW2521HF with its bigger sibling, the Dell Alienware AW2720HF, these two monitors are nearly identical except for screen size and a different color on the back of the monitor. In terms of performance, the AW2521HF is a bit better, as it has a slightly higher contrast ratio, it gets brighter, and it has much better black uniformity, although the latter may be due to panel variance. Out-of-the-box color accuracy, viewing angles, and response time at 60Hz are also better on the AW2521HF; however, the AW2720HF exhibits less color bleed and its bigger screen is better for productivity tasks.

Dell Alienware AW2721D

The Dell Alienware AW2721D is better overall than the Dell Alienware AW2521HF, although they have different sizes and resolutions. The AW2721D is slightly bigger at 27 inches with a 1440p resolution, while the AW2521HF is a 25 inch 1080p monitor. The AW2521HF has a slightly better response time with less overshoot and much better reflection handling, but the AW2721D supports HDR, gets brighter, and has a wider color gamut.

ViewSonic Elite XG270

The Dell Alienware AW2521HF and the ViewSonic Elite XG270 have a lot in common, as both monitors feature a 1080p IPS panel with a 240Hz refresh rate. The main difference is that the ViewSonic supports HDR, has a black frame insertion feature that can help improve motion clarity, and it has a bigger 27 inch screen. However, the Dell has a better build quality, a significantly better black uniformity, and its response time is faster, resulting in less motion blur.

Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 1.0)

The Dell Alienware AW2521HF and the Gigabyte M27Q (rev. 1.0) are both great gaming monitors, but they're also very different. The Dell has a smaller 25-inch screen and a 1080p resolution, while the Gigabyte has a 27-inch screen with a 1440p resolution. The Dell has a higher refresh rate and better response time, but the difference might not be noticeable to casual gamers. The Gigabyte has more features, like HDR support, USB-C input, a Picture-in-Picture mode, and a built-in KVM switch.

Sony INZONE M3

The Sony INZONE M3 and the Dell Alienware AW2521HF are both great 240Hz gaming monitors. They're similar for gaming, and while they each support 1080p games from the PS5, the Sony does support HDR and VRR from the console, making it a bit more compatible with the PS5. The Sony model also supports HDR from any source, which the Dell monitor doesn't, but it doesn't add much because it has limited HDR performance.

Samsung T55

The Dell Alienware AW2521HF is much better than the Samsung T55, mainly due to its 240Hz refresh rate. It has an exceptional response time, both at its max refresh rate and at 60Hz. The Dell also has wider viewing angles, a lower input lag, better ergonomics, and it gets brighter. On the other hand, the Samsung has a better contrast ratio because of its VA panel and it also displays a wider color gamut.

HP OMEN X 25f

Overall, the Dell Alienware AW2521HF is a much better monitor than the HP OMEN X 25f. Although they both have the same screen size and resolution, the Dell's IPS panel provides much better viewing angles and color accuracy than the TN panel on the HP. The Dell also has better gray uniformity and ergonomics, but the HP has a faster response time, resulting in less blur trail in fast-moving scenes.

Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx

Despite having different outer design, the Dell Alienware AW2521HF and the Acer Nitro XV273 Xbmiiprzx are very much alike in terms of performance. Both feature a 240Hz refresh rate on an IPS panel, and they also perform similarly when it comes to contrast ratio, peak brightness, and response time. The main difference is that the Acer supports HDR, has a far more color-accurate sRGB mode, and it has a black frame insertion feature to reduce motion blur. On the other hand, the Dell has a better build quality and it has better reflection handling.

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Video

Test Results

perceptual testing image
Design
Design
Style
Curved
No
Curve Radius
Not Curved

The Dell Alienware AW2521HF has a modern, gamer-centric design that's nearly identical to that of the Alienware AW2720HF, except that the back is black and it has a smaller screen. There are RGB lighting zones on the back of the monitor and the stand, and the bezels are thin on three sides, with the bottom being slightly thicker.

8.5
Design
Build Quality

The Alienware AW2521HF has an excellent build quality. Even though it's entirely made of plastic, it feels sturdy, there are no obvious gaps in its construction, and wobble is minimal.

8.9
Design
Ergonomics
Height Adjustment
4.9" (12.5 cm)
Tilt Range
-20° to 5°
Rotate Portrait/Landscape
Yes, Both Ways
Swivel Range
-20° to 20°
Wall Mount
VESA 100x100

Very good ergonomics, the stand allows for good height adjustment and it can rotate to portrait mode in either direction. However, the swivel range is fairly narrow. The back of the monitor looks clean and modern. There are RGB lighting zones on the back and on the stand, which can be controlled using the AlienFX software. There's a small cutout near the bottom of the stand that serves as cable management.

Design
Stand
Base Width
18.2" (46.3 cm)
Base Depth
10.1" (25.7 cm)
Thickness (With Display)
8.9" (22.5 cm)
Weight (With Display)
15.0 lbs (6.8 kg)

The plastic stand supports the monitor well and there's very little wobble. The V-shaped stand is deep, but the feet are fairly thin, leaving a bit of usable desk space in between.

Design
Display
Size
25"
Housing Width
21.9" (55.7 cm)
Housing Height
13.0" (32.9 cm)
Thickness (Without Stand)
3.0" (7.7 cm)
Weight (Without Stand)
7.9 lbs (3.6 kg)
Borders Size (Bezels)
0.3" (0.7 cm)
Design
Controls

The monitor's controls are located on the back-right side of the monitor. It includes four buttons and a joystick to navigate the monitor's on-screen menu.

Design
In The Box
Power Supply
Internal

  • Power cable
  • DisplayPort cable
  • HDMI cable
  • USB to USB-B upstream cable
  • User guide

Picture Quality
6.3
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
1,198 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
N/A

As expected, the Alienware AW2521HF's IPS panel has a mediocre contrast ratio, resulting in blacks that look like gray.

0
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
No
Backlight
Edge

The Alienware AW2521HF doesn't have a local dimming feature. The video above is provided for reference only.

8.2
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene
406 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
409 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
410 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
410 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
411 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
411 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
408 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
410 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
410 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
410 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
411 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000
Minimum Brightness
32 cd/m²

The Alienware AW2521HF has an impressive SDR peak brightness. Visibility shouldn't be an issue in most well-lit rooms and the brightness is remarkably consistent when displaying different content.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
VESA DisplayHDR Certification
No Certification
Real Scene
N/A
Peak 2% Window
N/A
Peak 10% Window
N/A
Peak 25% Window
N/A
Peak 50% Window
N/A
Peak 100% Window
N/A
Sustained 2% Window
N/A
Sustained 10% Window
N/A
Sustained 25% Window
N/A
Sustained 50% Window
N/A
Sustained 100% Window
N/A
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
N/A

This monitor doesn't support HDR.

8.4
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
45°
Color Washout From Right
45°
Color Shift From Left
58°
Color Shift From Right
57°
Brightness Loss From Left
46°
Brightness Loss From Right
46°
Black Level Raise From Left
70°
Black Level Raise From Right
70°
Gamma Shift From Left
58°
Gamma Shift From Right
57°

The Alienware AW2521HF has great horizontal viewing angles, making it a good choice for co-op gaming or for sharing content.

7.0
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
31°
Color Washout From Above
31°
Color Shift From Below
39°
Color Shift From Above
42°
Brightness Loss From Below
35°
Brightness Loss From Above
35°
Black Level Raise From Below
70°
Black Level Raise From Above
70°
Gamma Shift From Below
32°
Gamma Shift From Above
32°

Decent vertical viewing angles. At normal viewing distances, the image should look accurate, but the top and bottom of the screen can look a bit washed out if you sit extremely close to the screen.

7.8
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
3.370%
50% DSE
0.149%

Excellent gray uniformity. The sides are darker, but thankfully, there's very little dirty screen effect and uniformity is a lot better in dark scenes.

5.7
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
2.227%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A

The Alienware AW2521HF has sub-par black uniformity. There's backlight bleed at the top and bottom edges of the screen, although this is significantly better than the Alienware AW2720HF and could also be due to panel variance.

7.6
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Pre-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Game 1
sRGB Gamut Area xy
112.2%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
1.90
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,826 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.09
Color dE (Avg.)
3.22
Contrast Setting
75
RGB Settings
100-100-100
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Brightness Setting
75
Measured Brightness
256 cd/m²
Brightness Locked
No

Prior to calibration, the Alienware AW2521HF has good color accuracy. There are minor inaccuracies with several colors as well as with shades of gray, and the color temperature is warm, giving the image a slightly reddish tint. Gamma doesn't follow the target curve all that well, as most scenes appear brighter than they should.

9.7
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Post-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Game 1
sRGB Gamut Area xy
98.7%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.54
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,489 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.18
Color dE (Avg.)
0.45
Contrast Setting
75
RGB Settings
100-98-98
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Brightness Setting
22
Measured Brightness
101 cd/m²
ICC Profile
Download

Color accuracy is outstanding after calibration. White balance, colors, and color temperature are almost perfect. Gamma follows the target curve for the most part, but dark scenes can appear a bit brighter than they should.

8.9
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB Coverage xy
97.7%
sRGB Picture Mode
Game 1
Adobe RGB Coverage xy
75.2%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Game 1

The Alienware AW2521HF's color gamut is excellent. It has near full coverage of the commonly used sRGB color space, and coverage of the Adobe RGB color space is good, although it may not be enough for content creators.

9.4
Picture Quality
SDR Color Volume
sRGB In ICtCp
96.7%
sRGB Picture Mode
Game 1
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
80.4%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Game 1

Excellent color volume. It can't display dark colors well due to its low native contrast ratio, very similar to the Dell Alienware AW2720HF.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
N/A
DCI-P3 Coverage xy
N/A
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
Rec. 2020 Coverage xy
N/A
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR

This monitor doesn't support HDR.

0
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
DCI-P3 In ICtCp
N/A
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
Rec. 2020 In ICtCp
N/A
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR

This monitor doesn't support HDR.

8.3
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Matte
Total Reflections
4.9%
Indirect Reflections
4.6%
Calculated Direct Reflections
0.3%

The Alienware AW2521HF has impressive reflection handling. It should be fine for most well-lit rooms; however, direct light shining on the screen can be a bit distracting.

7.0
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
IPS
Subpixel Layout
RGB

Decent text clarity. Text looks sharper with ClearType enabled (top photo), especially for diagonal lines like the ones on the 'R' and 'N.' The pixels look blurry due to the monitor's matte anti-reflective coating.

8.0
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
8 Bit

Great gradient performance. Banding is most visible when displaying shades of gray and there's also some banding in dark greens and dark reds.

Motion
9.0
Motion
Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP @ 10-bit
N/A
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI @ 10-Bit
N/A
Motion
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
FreeSync
Yes
G-SYNC
Compatible (NVIDIA Certified)
VRR Maximum
240 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors
DisplayPort, HDMI
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes

The AW2521HF has native FreeSync support and is certified as G-SYNC compatible. FreeSync works over DisplayPort or HDMI, but G-SYNC only works through a DisplayPort connection. If you prefer something with a higher 360Hz refresh rate, then check out the Dell Alienware AW2521H.

We had some issues with FreeSync during testing, as the screen would black out at random when testing the VRR range using a demo as well as when testing in-game. However, the issue seems to have resolved itself the following day.

9.5
Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Extreme
Rise / Fall Time
2.9 ms
Total Response Time
5.1 ms
Overshoot Error
0.3%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
3.3 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
9.4 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
2.7%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
FreeSync On
FastChartTablePhoto
Super FastChartTablePhoto
ExtremeChartTablePhoto
FreeSync Off
FastChartTablePhoto
Super FastChartTablePhoto
ExtremeChartTablePhoto

The Alienware AW2521HF has an exceptionally fast response time at the maximum refresh rate. The panel behaves differently with FreeSync on and off. With it enabled, the 'Extreme' overdrive setting delivers the best results overall, as it has the fastest rise/fall time, and there's no distracting overshoot. With these settings, fast-paced action is incredibly clear, with almost no blur around fast-moving objects. With FreeSync disabled, the 'Fast' mode delivers the best results. Higher settings have a slightly faster rise/fall time, but there's significantly more overshoot, resulting in a distracting trail of inverse ghosting behind fast-moving objects.

8.8
Motion
Response Time @ 120Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Rise / Fall Time
4.6 ms
Total Response Time
7.6 ms
Overshoot Error
0.0%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
5.9 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
9.2 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
0.0%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
FreeSync On
FastChartTablePhoto
Super FastChartTablePhoto
ExtremeChartTablePhoto
FreeSync Off
FastChartTablePhoto
Super FastChartTablePhoto
ExtremeChartTablePhoto

The Alienware AW2521HF has an excellent response time when gaming at 120Hz. There's a slight difference in performance with FreeSync on and off, but at 120Hz, the 'Fast' overdrive mode delivers the best results regardless of the FreeSync setting.

7.8
Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Rise / Fall Time
4.6 ms
Total Response Time
13.4 ms
Overshoot Error
2.3%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
5.8 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
22.0 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
9.5%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
FreeSync On
FastChartTablePhoto
Super FastChartTablePhoto
ExtremeChartTablePhoto
FreeSync Off
FastChartTablePhoto
Super FastChartTablePhoto
ExtremeChartTablePhoto

The response time is very good when playing at 60Hz, much better than the Alienware AW2720HF, and great for console gaming. Like at 120Hz, the best overdrive setting is still 'Fast', regardless of the FreeSync setting. Higher settings have significantly more overshoot, so they're not recommended.

Motion
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
No BFI
Maximum Frequency
N/A
Minimum Frequency
N/A
Longest Pulse Width Brightness
N/A
Shortest Pulse Width Brightness
N/A
Pulse Width Control
No BFI
Pulse Phase Control
No BFI
Pulse Amplitude Control
No BFI
VRR At The Same Time
No BFI

This monitor doesn't have a backlight strobing feature, also known as BFI. If you want a monitor that has BFI, check out the BenQ ZOWIE XL2546K.

10
Motion
Image Flicker
Flicker-Free
Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz

The Alienware AW2521HF has a flicker-free backlight, which can help reduce eye strain.

Inputs
9.1
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution @ Max Hz
2.7 ms
Native Resolution @ 120Hz
4.9 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
9.7 ms
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
N/A

The Alienware AW2521HF's input lag is outstanding. It's slightly higher when playing at 60Hz, but it shouldn't be noticeable for most people.

6.7
Inputs
Resolution And Size
Native Resolution
1920 x 1080
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Megapixels
2.1 MP
Pixel Density
91 PPI
Measured Screen Diagonal
24.5"
Screen Area
255 in²

Like the Dell Alienware AW2720HF, this monitor has a 1080p resolution. However, since it's on a smaller screen, it has a higher pixel density, making images and text look sharper and with less jagged lines. The downside is that the smaller screen is less ideal for productivity tasks. If you're looking for a bigger monitor with a 240Hz refresh rate, check out the LG 27GN750-B.

3.0
Inputs
PS5 Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
No
1440p @ 120Hz
No
1440p @ 60Hz
No
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
HDR
No
VRR
No

This monitor has limited compatibility with the PS5 because it only supports 1080p signals and VRR doesn't work on it. If you want a 1080p monitor that supports VRR and HDR from the PS5, consider the Sony INZONE M3.

4.2
Inputs
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
No
1440p @ 120Hz
No
1440p @ 60Hz
No
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
HDR
No
VRR
Yes
Inputs
Inputs Photos
Inputs
Video And Audio Ports
DisplayPort
1 (DP 1.2)
Mini DisplayPort
No
HDMI
2 (HDMI 2.0)
HDMI 2.1 Rated Speed
No HDMI 2.1
DVI
No
VGA
No
Daisy Chaining
No
3.5mm Audio Out
1
HDR10
No
3.5mm Audio In
No
3.5mm Microphone In
No

The monitor has a total of four USB 3.0 ports, including one that's powered, allowing you to charge your mobile devices even when the monitor is off.

Inputs
USB
USB-A Ports
4
USB-A Rated Speed
5Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
USB-B Upstream Port
Yes
USB-C Ports
0
USB-C Upstream
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Rated Speed
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Power Delivery
No USB-C Ports
USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode
No USB-C Ports
Thunderbolt
No
Inputs
macOS Compatibility

The Dell Alienware AW2521H works well with recent MacBook Pros. The variable refresh rate feature works well both in-game and on the desktop. Windows go back to their original position when you wake your computer from sleep, but not when you close the lid.

Features
Features
Additional Features
Speakers
No
RGB Illumination
Controllable
Multiple Input Display
No
KVM Switch
No

The AW2521HF comes with a few extra features, including:

  • LED Bias Lighting: RGB lighting on the back of the monitor and on the stand. These lighting zones can be customized using the AlienFX software.
  • Display Alignment: Helps with alignment when setting up multiple monitors.
  • Timer: Displays a timer on screen.
  • FPS counter: Displays an overlay showing current frame rate.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)