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Dell Alienware AW2723DF Monitor Review

Tested using Methodology v1.2
Reviewed Nov 23, 2022 at 10:14 am
Latest change: Writing modified Sep 19, 2023 at 10:58 am
Dell Alienware AW2723DF Picture
7.9
Mixed Usage
7.8
Office
8.6
Gaming
7.4
Media Consumption
8.1
Media Creation
6.6
HDR

The Dell Alienware AW2723DF is a 27-inch, 1440p gaming monitor. Part of Dell's Alienware gaming lineup, it replaces the Dell Alienware AW2721D but with a few differences. It now has an overclockable refresh rate that can go up to 280Hz, but instead of having native G-SYNC support like on the AW2721D, it has native FreeSync variable refresh rate (VRR) support with G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing. It has a few extra features to improve your gaming experience, like the ability to add a virtual crosshair that your system won't detect, giving you a competitive advantage. It also has a Console Mode that downscales a 4k image if you want to use it for console gaming.

Our Verdict

7.9 Mixed Usage

The Dell AW2723DF is a very good overall monitor. It's excellent for gaming thanks to its quick response time, ensuring smooth motion and VRR support to reduce screen tearing. It's also good for office and media creation as it has impressive ergonomics and great peak brightness if you want to use it in an office with a few lights around. However, its reflection handling is mediocre, so glare is a bit distracting in bright rooms. It's just okay for watching content in SDR or HDR in dark rooms because it has a low native contrast that makes blacks look gray in the dark, and its local dimming feature is terrible.

Pros
  • 27-inch, 1440p screen.
  • Impressive ergonomics.
  • Bright enough to fight glare from moderately-lit sources.
  • Excellent response time at any frame rate.
  • Excellent accuracy before calibration.
Cons
  • Mediocre reflection handling.
  • Low native contrast ratio.
7.8 Office

The Dell AW2723DF is good for the office. It has a big 27-inch screen with a 1440p resolution, resulting in good text clarity. Although it struggles to reduce reflections from strong light sources, it still gets bright enough to fight glare if you have a few lights around in your work environment. It also has wide viewing angles and impressive ergonomics, making it ideal to share your screen with someone else.

Pros
  • 27-inch, 1440p screen.
  • Impressive ergonomics.
  • Bright enough to fight glare from moderately-lit sources.
Cons
  • Mediocre reflection handling.
8.6 Gaming

The Dell AW2723DF is excellent for gaming. It has a fast 240Hz native refresh rate that you can overclock to 280Hz, and it has both FreeSync VRR and G-SYNC compatibility to reduce screen tearing. Motion looks excellent as it has a fast response time across its entire refresh rate range and has low input lag for a responsive feel. Sadly, it's bad for dark room gaming because it has a low native contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray in the dark.

Pros
  • Overclockable 280Hz refresh rate.
  • Native FreeSync support and G-SYNC compatibility.
  • Excellent response time at any frame rate.
  • Low input lag.
Cons
  • Low native contrast ratio.
7.4 Media Consumption

The Dell AW2723DF is decent for media consumption. The 27-inch, 1440p screen is big enough for an immersive viewing experience, but you can't stream the latest content in 4k. It's good if you need to share your screen with someone else as it has wide viewing angles and impressive ergonomics that make it easily adjustable. While it performs well in bright rooms, blacks look gray if you want to use it in a dark room.

Pros
  • 27-inch, 1440p screen.
  • Impressive ergonomics.
  • Bright enough to fight glare from moderately-lit sources.
  • Excellent accuracy before calibration.
Cons
  • Mediocre reflection handling.
  • Low native contrast ratio.
8.1 Media Creation

The Dell AW2723DF is great for content creators. It has good image clarity thanks to its 1440p resolution and good pixel density, and its 27-inch screen is big enough to open two windows next to each other. It also has impressive ergonomics if you need to share your screen with a client. It displays a wide range of colors, and the accuracy before calibration is excellent, so you don't have to worry about paying extra to have it calibrated.

Pros
  • 27-inch, 1440p screen.
  • Impressive ergonomics.
  • Bright enough to fight glare from moderately-lit sources.
  • Excellent accuracy before calibration.
Cons
  • Mediocre reflection handling.
6.6 HDR

The Dell AW2723DF is reasonable for HDR. It has decent HDR peak brightness that makes most highlights pop, but not very small ones, and it displays a wide range of colors in HDR. Sadly though, it has a low native contrast ratio that makes blacks look gray, and while it has a local dimming feature, it performs terribly and causes blooming around bright objects.

Pros
  • Displays wide range of colors.
  • Decent HDR peak brightness.
Cons
  • Low native contrast ratio.
  • Terrible edge-lit local dimming feature.
  • Small highlights are dim.
  • 7.9 Mixed Usage
  • 7.8 Office
  • 8.6 Gaming
  • 7.4 Media Consumption
  • 8.1 Media Creation
  • 6.6 HDR
  1. Updated Sep 19, 2023: Clarified any differences between this monitor and the Dell Alienware AW2724DM, which has a lower refresh rate.
  2. Updated Sep 13, 2023: Added that the HP OMEN 27qs is another monitor that has a faster Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate.
  3. Updated Mar 17, 2023: Added that the ASUS ROG Swift 360Hz PG27AQN is an alternative with native G-SYNC support in Variable Refresh Rate.
  4. Updated Jan 09, 2023: We retested the accuracy before calibration using the sRGB emulation mode. The color accuracy is much better with this mode, and colors are no longer oversaturated.
  5. Updated Nov 23, 2022: Review published.
  6. Updated Nov 18, 2022: Early access published.
  7. Updated Nov 08, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
  8. Updated Nov 04, 2022: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
  9. Updated Oct 05, 2022: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.

Differences Between Sizes And Variants

We tested the 27-inch Dell Alienware AW2723DF, which is the only size available for this monitor. It's part of Dell's Alienware gaming lineup, and it replaces the Dell Alienware AW2721D, but there are a few differences between them, which you can see below. This monitor is also a higher-end version than the Dell Alienware AW2724DM, which has a 180Hz refresh rate.

Model Code Size Resolution Max Refresh Rate Native VRR
AW2720HF 27" 1080p 240Hz FreeSync
AW2721D 27" 1440p 240Hz G-SYNC
AW2723DF 27" 1440p 280Hz FreeSync

Our unit was manufactured in July 2022 and you can see the label here.

Compared To Other Monitors

The Dell Alienware AW2723DF is an excellent 1440p gaming monitor thanks to its overclockable 280Hz refresh rate and excellent motion handling across its entire refresh rate range. It's a nice upgrade from the Dell Alienware AW2721D, and if you want a 1440p, 240Hz monitor, you can't go wrong with it. It has better motion handling than similarly-priced models like the Gigabyte M27Q X. However, if you want something with native G-SYNC support, the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM is still a great alternative, and the Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T is a good option if you care about dark room performance.

Also see our recommendations for the best 1440p gaming monitors, the best 240Hz gaming monitors, and the best 27-inch gaming monitors.

Dell Alienware AW2724DM

The Dell Alienware AW2723DF is a higher-end monitor than the Dell Alienware AW2724DM. The main difference is that the AW2723DF has a much higher 280Hz refresh rate compared to 180Hz on the AW2724DM. The AW2723DF also has some extra features like two more USB ports and an audio output, which the AW2724DM doesn't have. Besides that, the AW2723DF is slightly better for browsing the web or general office work as it has better text clarity.

Gigabyte M27Q X

The Gigabyte M27Q X and the Dell Alienware AW2723DF are both excellent gaming monitors. While they each have a 1440p resolution and 240Hz native refresh rate, the Dell has an overclock feature up to 280Hz. Although the Gigabyte has a quicker response time at its max refresh rate, the Dell is better with lower frame rate signals, which is good if you can't consistently hit its max refresh rate. The Gigabyte also has a few extra features that make it slightly more versatile for other uses, like a USB-C input and a KVM switch, and it also has much better reflection handling.

LG 27GR95QE-B

The LG 27GR95QE-B and the Dell Alienware AW2723DF are both 1440p gaming monitors with a native 240Hz refresh, although you can overclock the Dell to 280Hz. Their differences come down to their different panels, as the LG has a higher contrast, better black uniformity, and improved motion handling thanks to its OLED panel. However, the Dell gets brighter if you want to use it in a well-lit room, and it doesn't have the risk of burn-in if you want it for other uses like work.

Dell Alienware AW2721D

The Dell Alienware AW2723DF is the replacement for the Dell Alienware AW2721D, and there are a few differences. The main difference is that the AW2723DF has native FreeSync support and G-SYNC compatibility instead of the native G-SYNC support on the AW2721D. This doesn't make much of a difference unless you have an NVIDIA graphics card, in which case, the AW2721D can take full advantage of it. Other than that, the AW2723DF has an overclockable 280Hz refresh rate and better motion handling, especially at lower refresh rates.

Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T

The Samsung Odyssey G7 C32G75T and the Dell Alienware AW2723DF are both excellent 1440p, 240Hz gaming monitors. There are a few differences between them, though, mainly with the picture quality. The Samsung is better for dark room gaming because it has a higher native contrast for deeper blacks, while the Dell is better for co-op gaming as it has wider viewing angles. The Samsung also has better reflection handling if you want to use it in a bright room. In terms of gaming, the Dell has an overclockable 280Hz refresh rate, and while motion handling looks the same between each, the Samsung has an optional backlight strobing feature to reduce persistence blur.

HP OMEN 27qs

The Dell Alienware AW2723DF and the HP OMEN 27qs are both great 1440p, 240Hz gaming monitors with many similarities, but there are a few differences. One main difference is that the Dell has an overclock feature to 280Hz, which the HP doesn't have. Also, the Dell is a bit more versatile for console gaming as it downscales 4k signals, which the HP can't do. However, the HP has a slightly faster response time at high refresh rates, which is great for competitive gaming. The HP is also the better choice if you need something for a bright room, as it gets a bit brighter and has much better reflection handling.

ASUS ROG Swift 360Hz PG27AQN

The Dell Alienware AW2723DF and the ASUS ROG Swift 360Hz PG27AQN are both excellent gaming monitors, but they have a few differences. The ASUS has a higher 360Hz refresh rate, which is great if you like gaming at a high frame rate. They also have different types of VRR support as the ASUS has native G-SYNC support, while the Dell has native FreeSync support instead. The motion handling is excellent on each, but the ASUS is even better with high-frame-rate signals. If you want a monitor for console gaming, the Dell can downscale 4k @ 60Hz signals from the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, which the ASUS can't do.

MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD

The Dell Alienware AW2723DF is slightly better for gaming than the MSI Optix MAG274QRF-QD. The main difference is that the Dell has a much higher 280Hz max refresh rate compared to 165Hz on the MSI, allowing you to play games at a higher frame rate. The Dell also has lower input lag and better motion handling with lower frame rate signals. On the other hand, the MSI is better if you game in a bright room because it has much better reflection handling.

ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM

The Dell Alienware AW2723DF and the ASUS ROG Swift PG279QM are both 1440p, 240Hz gaming monitors with a few differences. The Dell has an overclockable refresh rate of up to 280Hz, which the ASUS doesn't have, and it has also lower input lag. The main difference between the two is that the ASUS has native G-SYNC support, which lets you take full advantage of your NVIDIA graphics card, as you can also use its Reflex Latency Analyzer feature to measure the input lag of your entire setup.

+ Show more

Test Results

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

The Dell AW2723DF has a gamer-oriented design with typical Alienware branding throughout. It has a white body in the back with two RGB lighting zones, and there are black accents in front.

8.5
Design
Build Quality

The build quality is excellent. The stand supports the screen very well, as there's minimal wobble, and it stays in place when you adjust it. The plastic materials feel good as they're sturdy and don't flex much.

8.4
Design
Ergonomics
Height Adjustment
4.3" (11.0 cm)
Tilt Range
-20° to 5°
Rotate Portrait/Landscape
Yes, Both Ways
Swivel Range
-20° to 20°
Wall Mount
VESA 100x100

The ergonomics are impressive. You can adjust it in all common ways, which makes it easy to place in an ideal position. The back of the monitor features two RGB lighting zones. You can pass the cables through the stand for cable management, and it has a panel cover too.

Design
Stand
Base Width
15.9" (40.5 cm)
Base Depth
10.4" (26.5 cm)
Thickness (With Display)
7.6" (19.4 cm)
Weight (With Display)
19.6 lbs (8.9 kg)

The V-shaped stand takes up a lot of space, but at least it holds the display well, and there's minimal wobble.

Design
Display
Size
27"
Housing Width
24.1" (61.1 cm)
Housing Height
14.1" (35.8 cm)
Thickness (Without Stand)
2.8" (7.1 cm)
Weight (Without Stand)
12.6 lbs (5.7 kg)
Borders Size (Bezels)
0.2" (0.4 cm)

The housing width and height measurements include the headphone rack that sticks out slightly (0.161", 4.1 mm) and also the joystick that sticks out a bit at the bottom (0.149", 3.8 mm). The headphone rack measures 3.69" (9.36 cm) when you pull it out completely.

Design
Controls

There's a joystick underneath the center branding to control the on-screen display, and there's a power button on the right side.

Design
In The Box
Power Supply
Internal

  • Power cable
  • HDMI cable
  • DisplayPort cable
  • DisplayPort to Mini-DisplayPort cable
  • USB-A to USB-B upstream cable
  • User guides

Picture Quality
6.1
Picture Quality
Contrast
Native Contrast
1,020 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
1,354 : 1

The Dell AW2723DF has a mediocre contrast ratio. It means that blacks look gray next to bright highlights, and it isn't ideal for dark room viewing. Although it has a local dimming feature, it doesn't do much to improve the contrast.

1.5
Picture Quality
Local Dimming
Local Dimming
Yes
Backlight
Edge

This monitor has an edge-lit local dimming feature that performs terribly. Blacks look gray, and when there are bright highlights, an entire zone lights up, resulting in distracting blooming. It isn't so much of an issue with smaller highlights because small objects don't light up zones, and the local dimming remains ineffective. The algorithm is slow to turn the zones on and off, and it's distracting when they do.

It only has 16 dimming zones, which is half of what the Dell Alienware AW2721D has, so it performs worse, and it doesn't do much to improve the picture quality in dark scenes. The local dimming is also only on in the DisplayHDR 600, and you can't disable it. Other HDR modes don't use local dimming, but they aren't as bright.

8.0
Picture Quality
SDR Brightness
Real Scene
347 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
340 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
379 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
381 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
383 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
384 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
340 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
379 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
380 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
382 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
384 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000
Minimum Brightness
29 cd/m²

The SDR peak brightness is great. It gets bright enough to fight glare, and while smaller highlights are dimmer than the rest, the difference isn't noticeable. It doesn't get as bright as the Dell Alienware AW2721D mainly because you can't enable the local dimming feature in SDR, which you can with the AW2721D.

These results are from after calibration in the 'Custom Color' Picture Mode with the Brightness at its max.

7.4
Picture Quality
HDR Brightness
VESA DisplayHDR Certification
DisplayHDR 600
Real Scene
497 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
365 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
672 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
695 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
708 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
712 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
365 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
671 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
694 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
706 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
710 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.040

The HDR peak brightness is decent. For the most part, it gets bright enough for highlights to stand out. However, small highlights are dimmer because all the dimming zones remain off with small highlights. The EOTF also follows the target well, except some shadows and midtones are a bit too bright. Luckily, there's a slow roll-off at the peak brightness, meaning it preserves details in bright scenes. These results are in the DisplayHDR 600 mode, which automatically locks the brightness and enables local dimming. There are other HDR modes you can use that don't use local dimming, but that means that highlights aren't as bright.

7.5
Picture Quality
Horizontal Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Left
37°
Color Washout From Right
38°
Color Shift From Left
43°
Color Shift From Right
46°
Brightness Loss From Left
41°
Brightness Loss From Right
43°
Black Level Raise From Left
70°
Black Level Raise From Right
70°
Gamma Shift From Left
36°
Gamma Shift From Right
39°

The Dell AW2723DF has a good horizontal viewing angle. The image remains consistent when viewing off-angle, but there's still some color washout and brightness loss at wide angles.

7.9
Picture Quality
Vertical Viewing Angle
Color Washout From Below
37°
Color Washout From Above
39°
Color Shift From Below
40°
Color Shift From Above
45°
Brightness Loss From Below
41°
Brightness Loss From Above
43°
Black Level Raise From Below
70°
Black Level Raise From Above
70°
Gamma Shift From Below
63°
Gamma Shift From Above
48°

The vertical viewing angle is very good. Once again, the image remains consistent if you're looking down at it, but it isn't perfect.

8.2
Picture Quality
Gray Uniformity
50% Std. Dev.
2.284%
50% DSE
0.143%

The gray uniformity is great. The edges are a bit darker than the rest and there's a bit of dirty screen effect in the center, but it's minor and not distracting while you're browsing the web or playing games.

4.3
Picture Quality
Black Uniformity
Native Std. Dev.
3.319%
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
2.175%

The black uniformity is poor. There's noticeable backlight bleed throughout and the image looks bad in dark rooms. The center cross doesn't activate any of the dimming zones, so you can see the same uniformity pictures with a rectangle instead:

8.9
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Pre-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Creator (sRGB)
sRGB Gamut Area xy
103.1%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
2.36
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,949 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.16
Color dE (Avg.)
1.44
Contrast Setting
75
RGB Settings
Locked
Gamma Setting
2.2
Brightness Setting
100
Measured Brightness
435 cd/m²
Brightness Locked
No

The accuracy before calibration is excellent. The built-in 'sRGB' emulation mode does a great job limiting colors to the sRGB color space, so they don't appear oversaturated, and there are no noticeable issues with any color. The white balance is great, but bright shades of gray are a bit off. Gamma follows the sRGB target curve well, ensuring everything is displayed at the correct brightness levels.

9.7
Picture Quality
Color Accuracy (Post-Calibration)
Picture Mode
Custom Color
sRGB Gamut Area xy
100.2%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.74
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,575 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.18
Color dE (Avg.)
0.45
Contrast Setting
73
RGB Settings
96-92-91
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Brightness Setting
35
Measured Brightness
99 cd/m²
ICC Profile
Download

The accuracy after calibration to the 6500K white point is fantastic. You won't notice any inaccuracies in the image.

9.6
Picture Quality
SDR Color Gamut
sRGB Coverage xy
99.6%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom Color
Adobe RGB Coverage xy
89.5%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom Color

The Dell AW2723DF has an incredible SDR color gamut. It has full coverage of the commonly-used sRGB color space used in most web content, and it also has great coverage of the Adobe RGB color space used in some photo editing.

9.0
Picture Quality
SDR Color Volume
sRGB In ICtCp
91.0%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom Color
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
87.0%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom Color

The SDR color volume is fantastic. It displays bright colors well, but due to its low contrast, it doesn't display dark colors well.

8.5
Picture Quality
HDR Color Gamut
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
DCI-P3 Coverage xy
93.9%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
DisplayHDR 600
Rec. 2020 Coverage xy
68.0%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
DisplayHDR 600

The HDR color gamut is excellent. It has amazing coverage of the commonly-used DCI-P3 color space, and its tone mapping is also good, meaning you don't lose details with saturated colors. However, it isn't as future-proof because it has limited coverage of the Rec. 2020 color space, which more content will start to use, and the tone mapping is bad, resulting in a loss of details with colors outside of its gamut coverage.

7.8
Picture Quality
HDR Color Volume
DCI-P3 In ICtCp
79.4%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
DisplayHDR 600
Rec. 2020 In ICtCp
63.5%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
DisplayHDR 600

The HDR color volume is good. While it displays most colors well, it's limited by its incomplete color gamut and low contrast.

6.2
Picture Quality
Reflections
Screen Finish
Semi-Gloss
Total Reflections
7.6%
Indirect Reflections
3.6%
Calculated Direct Reflections
3.9%

The Dell AW2723DF has mediocre reflection handling. It struggles to reduce glare when there are bright light sources, and even if it has great SDR peak brightness, it's best to avoid placing it opposite a bright window.

7.5
Picture Quality
Text Clarity
Pixel Type
IPS
Subpixel Layout
RGB

The text clarity is good. Enabling Windows ClearType (top photo) also helps make the diagonal lines easier to read. These pictures are with Windows 10, and you can see what it looks like with Windows 11:

9.4
Picture Quality
Gradient
Color Depth
10 Bit

The gradient handling is fantastic. You won't have issues with banding when sending a 10-bit signal, and the monitor can accept a 10-bit signal up to its max refresh rate, but only over DisplayPort.

Motion
9.1
Motion
Refresh Rate
Native Refresh Rate
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
280 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP
280 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP @ 10-bit
280 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI @ 10-Bit
60 Hz

The Dell AW2723DF has an overclockable 280Hz refresh rate which you can reach even with a 10-bit signal over a DisplayPort connection as long as your graphics card supports Display Stream Compression (DSC). However, due to bandwidth limitations, the max refresh rate is limited over HDMI.

Motion
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
FreeSync
Yes
G-SYNC
Compatible (Tested)
VRR Maximum
280 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors
DisplayPort, HDMI
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes

The native FreeSync VRR support works over its entire refresh rate range with DisplayPort and HDMI connections. It's also G-SYNC compatible, but that only works over DisplayPort. Unfortunately, it doesn't support HDMI Forum VRR like the Dell Alienware AW2721D because it doesn't have the G-SYNC module. If you do want something with native G-SYNC support, the ASUS ROG Swift 360Hz PG27AQN is a native G-SYNC monitor with a 1440p resolution and 360Hz refresh rate.

8.8
Motion
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Extreme
Rise / Fall Time
4.0 ms
Total Response Time
7.6 ms
Overshoot Error
0.0%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
7.0 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
12.6 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
0.0%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
FastChartTablePhoto
Super FastChartTablePhoto
ExtremeChartTablePhoto

The Dell AW2723DF has an excellent response time at its max refresh rate of 280Hz. There's hardly any visible motion blur, and none of the Response Time settings have any overshoot, while 'Extreme' has the fastest response time. That said, if you want something with an even faster response time, then check out the HP OMEN 27qs.

This motion handling is excellent with VRR enabled, but it performs differently when you disable VRR. There's overshoot with the 'Super Fast' and 'Extreme' Response Time settings, so it's recommended to use the 'Fast' overdrive setting if you disable VRR. You can see the results with VRR disabled below.

Overdrive Setting - VRR DisabledResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
FastChartTablePhoto
Super FastChartTablePhoto
ExtremeChartTablePhoto

8.5
Motion
Response Time @ 120Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Rise / Fall Time
4.7 ms
Total Response Time
8.4 ms
Overshoot Error
0.6%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
7.0 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
13.2 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
3.0%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
FastChartTablePhoto
Super FastChartTablePhoto
ExtremeChartTablePhoto

The response time at 120Hz is excellent. Unlike at its max refresh rate, the recommended Response Time setting is actually 'Fast' because it has the quickest response time and the least amount of overshoot, but all three modes are very similar. This means that you might need to change the setting if the frame rate of your game drops or if you switch from PC to console gaming. If you want a set-and-forget mode, leave it on 'Fast' because it still performs very well at its max refresh rate.

Like at the max refresh rate, there's more overshoot with VRR disabled, but it isn't as big of a difference. Still, it's best to use the 'Fast' Response Time if you disable VRR. You can see the results below.

Overdrive Setting - VRR DisabledResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
FastChartTablePhoto
Super FastChartTablePhoto
ExtremeChartTablePhoto

8.5
Motion
Response Time @ 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Rise / Fall Time
4.6 ms
Total Response Time
8.3 ms
Overshoot Error
0.7%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
6.8 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
12.9 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
3.1%

Overdrive SettingResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
FastChartTablePhoto
Super FastChartTablePhoto
ExtremeChartTablePhoto

The response time is also excellent at 60Hz. Like at 120Hz, 'Fast' is the best overdrive setting because it has the quickest response time and the least amount of overshoot. While it performs slightly differently with VRR disabled, there isn't a visual difference in the motion handling.

Overdrive Setting - VRR DisabledResponse Time ChartResponse Time TablesMotion Blur Photo
FastChartTablePhoto
Super FastChartTablePhoto
ExtremeChartTablePhoto

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

The Dell AW2723DF doesn't have a backlight strobing feature to reduce persistence blur.

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

This monitor is completely flicker-free, which helps reduce eye strain.

Inputs
9.2
Inputs
Input Lag
Native Resolution @ Max Hz
2.3 ms
Native Resolution @ 120Hz
4.6 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
8.6 ms
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
N/A

The Dell AW2723DF has low input lag for a responsive feel while gaming.

8.0
Inputs
Resolution And Size
Native Resolution
2560 x 1440
Aspect Ratio
16:9
Megapixels
3.7 MP
Pixel Density
109 PPI
Measured Screen Diagonal
26.9"
Screen Area
310 in²
7.0
Inputs
PS5 Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
HDR
Yes
VRR
No

This monitor works well with the PS5. Due to its HDMI 2.0 bandwidth, you can't use it to play 4k @ 120Hz games, but it can still downscale a 4k image when you enable Console Mode.

9.2
Inputs
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
4k @ 120Hz
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
HDR
Yes
VRR
Yes

There aren't any issues using this monitor with the Xbox Series X. Like with the PS5, you need to enable Console Mode for 4k signals and to enable HDR because the Xbox only supports HDR in 4k, and you'll be limited to a 60Hz refresh rate.

Inputs
Inputs Photos

There are two extra USB ports and the audio port underneath the left side, as you can see here.

Inputs
Video And Audio Ports
DisplayPort
1 (DP 1.4)
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
2
HDR10
Yes
3.5mm Audio In
No
3.5mm Microphone In
No
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

You need to connect the USB-B cable to your computer for the USB ports to work.

Inputs
macOS Compatibility

The Dell AW2723DF works well with recent M1 MacBooks, and there aren't any obvious issues with its HDR or VRR support. Windows return to their original position when waking up from sleep or closing the lid.

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

The Dell Alienware AW2723DF comes with a few extra features, including:

  • AlienVision: Provides a virtual crosshair and 'Night', 'Clear', and 'Chroma' vision modes that adjust the picture to see opponents better. Your system won't detect this, giving you a competitive advantage.
  • Console Mode: Optimizes the monitor for use with the PS5 and Xbox Series X as it downscales a 4k image. This results in a sharper image than a native 1440p signal.
  • Dark Stabilizer: Adjusts the gamma in dark scenes so that you see opponents better.
  • Display Alignment: Displays a virtual grid so that it's easier to line it up with a second monitor.
  • Frame Rate Counter: Displays an overlay showing the current frame rate.
  • Timer: Displays a virtual timer on the screen.

You can download the AlienFX software to control the RGB lighting, and there are a few options for it directly through the on-screen display. However, there are some issues with the RGB lighting, as it would turn on when we turned the monitor on and off again, even if we had it disabled before. We had to go back into the OSD to turn it off again.

Features
On-Screen Display (OSD)