The Dell Alienware AW3418DW is very good curved ultrawide IPS LCD monitor with a 3440x1440 resolution. It has very wide viewing angles so the sides of the screen remain accurate when viewed from up-close. The Alienware has a fast response time and very low input lag that will please most hardcore gamers and it also supports NVDIA's G-SYNC implementation of variable refresh rate so it can deliver smooth motion without tearing. Unfortunately, it can't produce deep, uniform blacks and it is not well suited for a dark room.
Our Verdict
The Dell Alienware AW3418DW is a good monitor for mixed usage. Its large size and good resolution make it good for gaming use as well as office use, as it allows for multitasking. It has a low input lag that makes it very responsive. If you place it in an average lit room, you will enjoy the picture quality.
- Image remains accurate when viewed at an angle
- Good gaming features like G-SYNC
- Large, high resolution screen
- Mediocre brightness
- Poor dark scene performance
The Dell Alienware AW3418DW is a good monitor for office use. The good size and excellent resolution allow you to do more with your screen area and the viewing angles make it easy to share your work with a colleague. The monitor's ergonomics make it easy to position it as you prefer.
The Dell Alienware AW3418DW is a very good gaming monitor. It has a low input lag that makes it very responsive to your actions and supports NVIDIA's G-SYNC. Its large screen and high resolution can display every little detail of your favorite game. You can easily position it to your likings, and its thin bezels will not bother you if you expand your screen area by placing a second monitor next to it.
The Dell AW3418DW is a decent monitor for multimedia. It has a large size and a high resolution that allow you to watch movies and videos in high resolution. It has a high refresh rate so fast action has little blur and it is easy to position to your preference. Unfortunately, its poor black uniformity and low contrast ratio do not make it suitable for a dark room.
This is a good monitor for media creation. The large screen size and the excellent resolution allow for multitasking. It has a low input lag and responds fast to your actions and handles reflections well when placed it in a room with many light sources. Working together with a colleague will not be an issue.
This monitor does not support HDR. If you are looking for a monitor with HDR support, check out the Samsung CHG70.
Changelog
- Updated Dec 16, 2022: Simplified the name to Dell Alienware AW3418DW and made changes throughout the review to reflect this change.
- Updated Jan 13, 2022: Checked the FreeSync compatibility.
- Updated Jun 23, 2020: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
- Updated Jan 07, 2019: The gradient score has been updated, as it was scored incorrectly at the time of the review.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
We tested the Dell Alienware AW3418DW, which is a UWQHD 3440x1440 IPS gaming monitor. There are 3 other variants of the Alienware lineup with different sizes and characteristics - a selection of which are listed in the table below.
If someone comes across a different type of panel or if their monitor doesn't correspond to our review, let us know and we will update the review. Note that some tests such as the gray uniformity may vary between individual units.
| Model | Size | Panel Type | Resolution | VRR Support |
| AW2518H | 25" | TN | FHD 1920x1080 | G-SYNC |
| AW2518HF | 25" | TN | FHD 1920x1080 | FreeSync |
| AW3418HW | 34" | IPS | WFHD 2560x1080 | G-SYNC |
| AW3418DW | 34" | IPS | UWQHD 3440x1440 | G-SYNC |
The monitor we bought was manufactured in June 2018.
Popular Monitor Comparisons
The Dell Alienware AW3418DW is a good monitor for most usages and especially for gaming (see our recommendations for the best gaming monitors, the best ultrawide gaming monitors, the best 1440p gaming monitors, and the best curved gaming monitors).
The Dell Alienware AW3418DW is better than the Dell U3417W. The Alienware has a much lower input lag, less trail blur, and a faster refresh rate which help it deliver a great gaming experience.
The Dell Alienware AW3418DW is somewhat better than the LG 34UC79G-B. The Dell has a better resolution so you can see more detail on your screen and better reflection handling so you won't be bothered if your room has many lights. Its ergonomics make it also easier to position as you prefer. The LG has an optional black frame insertion feature that can clear blur and make the image crisper.
The Dell Alienware AW3418DW is marginally better than the ASUS ROG PG348Q. The Alienware has a little faster refresh rate and produces a little less blur in fast-moving content. Also, the Alienware has lower input lag and responds slightly quicker to your actions giving you a small edge in gaming. Other than those minor differences, the two monitors are very similar.
Unless you're looking for a more immersive gaming experience, the ASUS ROG Swift PG279Q is better than the Dell Alienware AW3418DW. The ASUS has a lower resolution screen, but a higher refresh rate, better ergonomics, and an optional black frame insertion feature. The AW3418DW, on the other hand, delivers a more immersive gaming experience, thanks to the 34" curve, 21:9 screen.
We buy and test more than 30 monitors each year, all of which we purchase ourselves, without cherry-picked units or samples. We put a lot into each unbiased, straight-to-the-point review, and there's a whole process from purchasing to publishing, involving multiple teams and people. We do more than just use the monitor for a week; we use specialized, custom tools to measure various aspects and deliver objective, data-driven results. We also consider multiple factors before making any recommendations, including the monitor's cost, its performance compared to the competition, and whether it's easy to find.
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