Products
Dell Alienware AW2521HF
Dell Alienware AW2721D
Tested using Methodology v1.2
Updated Jul 02, 2024 11:22 PM
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Tested using Methodology v1.2
Updated Aug 11, 2025 03:50 PM
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Max Refresh Rate
240 Hz
Size
25"
Pixel Type
IPS
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
HDR10
No
Native Resolution
1920 x 1080
Max Refresh Rate
240 Hz
Size
27"
Pixel Type
IPS
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
HDR10
Yes
Native Resolution
2560 x 1440
Our Verdict
Dell Alienware AW2521HF
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.
Variants
- Alienware AW2521HF (25")
- Alienware AW2721D (27")
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25"
Alienware AW2521HF
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27"
Alienware AW2721D
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25"
Alienware AW2521HF
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27"
Alienware AW2721D
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25"
Alienware AW2521HF
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27"
Alienware AW2721D
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Alienware AW2521HF
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Alienware AW2721D
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage
Mixed Usage
Threshold
Mixed Usage
7.1
7.9
Resolution And Size
6.7
8.0
Reflections
8.3
6.3
Full Comparison
Design
Style
Design Picture
Curved
No
No
Curve Radius
Not Curved
Not Curved
Accelerated Longevity Test
Uniformity Pictures
Longevity Graph
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
Build Quality Picture
Ergonomics
8.9
9.0
Ergonomics Picture
Back Picture
Height Adjustment
4.9" (12.5 cm)
5.1" (13.0 cm)
Tilt Range
-20° to 5°
-21° to 5°
Rotate Portrait/Landscape
Yes, Both Ways
Yes, Both Ways
Swivel Range
-20° to 20°
-20° to 20°
Wall Mount
VESA 100x100
VESA 100x100
Stand
Stand Picture
Thickness Picture
Base Width
18.2" (46.3 cm)
18.3" (46.5 cm)
Base Depth
10.1" (25.7 cm)
10.0" (25.4 cm)
Thickness (With Display)
8.9" (22.5 cm)
9.1" (23.0 cm)
Weight (With Display)
15.0 lbs (6.8 kg)
24.5 lbs (11.1 kg)
Display
Display Picture
Size
25"
27"
Housing Width
21.9" (55.7 cm)
23.9" (60.8 cm)
Housing Height
13.0" (32.9 cm)
14.0" (35.5 cm)
Thickness (Without Stand)
3.0" (7.7 cm)
3.3" (8.3 cm)
Weight (Without Stand)
7.9 lbs (3.6 kg)
14.1 lbs (6.4 kg)
Borders Size (Bezels)
0.3" (0.7 cm)
0.2" (0.5 cm)
Controls
Controls Picture
In The Box
In The Box Picture
Power Supply
Internal
Internal
Picture Quality
Contrast
6.3
6.1
Checkerboard Picture
Native Contrast
1,198 : 1
1,088 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
N/A
1,026 : 1
Local Dimming
0.0
3.0
Local Dimming Video
Local Dimming
No
Yes
Backlight
Edge
Edge
SDR Brightness
8.2
8.6
Real Scene
406 cd/m²
545 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
409 cd/m²
544 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
410 cd/m²
586 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
410 cd/m²
586 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
411 cd/m²
480 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
411 cd/m²
479 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
408 cd/m²
536 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
410 cd/m²
572 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
410 cd/m²
576 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
410 cd/m²
465 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
411 cd/m²
474 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000
0.014
Minimum Brightness
32 cd/m²
38 cd/m²
HDR Brightness
0.0
7.6
EOTF
VESA DisplayHDR Certification
No Certification
DisplayHDR 600
Real Scene
N/A
562 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
N/A
698 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
N/A
788 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
N/A
621 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
N/A
481 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
N/A
481 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
N/A
480 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
N/A
495 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
N/A
515 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
N/A
467 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
N/A
470 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
N/A
0.006
Horizontal Viewing Angle
8.4
7.8
Horizontal Viewing Angle Video
Horizontal Chroma Graph
Color Washout From Left
45°
39°
Color Washout From Right
45°
39°
Horizontal Hue Graph
Color Shift From Left
58°
54°
Color Shift From Right
57°
55°
Horizontal Lightness Graph
Brightness Loss From Left
46°
44°
Brightness Loss From Right
46°
44°
Black Level Raise From Left
70°
70°
Black Level Raise From Right
70°
70°
Gamma Shift From Left
58°
40°
Gamma Shift From Right
57°
41°
Vertical Viewing Angle
7.0
8.4
Vertical Viewing Angle Video
Vertical Chroma Graph
Color Washout From Below
31°
39°
Color Washout From Above
31°
38°
Vertical Hue Graph
Color Shift From Below
39°
52°
Color Shift From Above
42°
52°
Vertical Lightness Graph
Brightness Loss From Below
35°
42°
Brightness Loss From Above
35°
41°
Black Level Raise From Below
70°
70°
Black Level Raise From Above
70°
70°
Gamma Shift From Below
32°
68°
Gamma Shift From Above
32°
70°
Gray Uniformity
7.8
8.3
50% Uniformity Picture
50% Std. Dev.
3.370%
2.762%
50% DSE
0.149%
0.132%
Black Uniformity
5.7
4.3
Native Black Uniformity Picture
Native Std. Dev.
2.227%
2.769%
Black Uniformity Picture With Local Dimming
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A
5.472%
Color Accuracy (Pre-Calibration)
7.6
6.1
Pre Calibration Picture
Pre Gamma Curve Picture
Pre Color Picture
Picture Mode
Game 1
Warm
sRGB Gamut Area xy
112.2%
136.9%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
1.90
2.66
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,826 K
6,384 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.09
2.16
Color dE (Avg.)
3.22
3.42
Contrast Setting
75
75
RGB Settings
100-100-100
100-100-100
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Brightness Setting
75
50
Measured Brightness
256 cd/m²
206 cd/m²
Brightness Locked
No
No
Color Accuracy (Post-Calibration)
9.7
9.8
Post Calibration Picture
Post Gamma Curve Picture
Post Color Picture
Picture Mode
Game 1
Custom Color
sRGB Gamut Area xy
98.7%
100.1%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.54
0.43
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,489 K
6,520 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.18
2.18
Color dE (Avg.)
0.45
0.23
Contrast Setting
75
75
RGB Settings
100-98-98
100-88-80
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Brightness Setting
22
21
Measured Brightness
101 cd/m²
100 cd/m²
SDR Color Gamut
8.9
9.5
sRGB Color Gamut Picture
sRGB Coverage xy
97.7%
99.8%
sRGB Picture Mode
Game 1
Custom Color
Adobe RGB Color Gamut Picture
Adobe RGB Coverage xy
75.2%
85.6%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Game 1
Custom Color
SDR Color Volume
9.4
9.6
sRGB Color Volume ITP Picture
sRGB In ICtCp
96.7%
98.1%
sRGB Picture Mode
Game 1
Custom Color
Adobe RGB Color Volume ITP Picture
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
80.4%
88.1%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Game 1
Custom Color
HDR Color Gamut
0.0
9.2
Wide Color Gamut
N/A
Yes
DCI-P3 Color Gamut Picture
DCI-P3 Coverage xy
N/A
97.7%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
Gamer 1
Rec. 2020 Color Gamut Picture
Rec. 2020 Coverage xy
N/A
71.9%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR
Gamer 1
HDR Color Volume
0.0
8.7
DCI-P3 Color Volume ITP Picture
DCI-P3 In ICtCp
N/A
88.9%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
Gamer 1
Rec. 2020 Color Volume ITP Picture
Rec. 2020 In ICtCp
N/A
70.5%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR
Gamer 1
Reflections
8.3
6.3
Average Room
Average Room Off Picture
Bright Room Off Picture
Screen Finish
Matte
Matte
Total Reflections
4.9%
7.8%
Indirect Reflections
4.6%
4.2%
Calculated Direct Reflections
0.3%
3.5%
Text Clarity
7.0
7.5
ClearType On
ClearType Off
Pixel Type
IPS
IPS
Pixels
Subpixel Layout
RGB
RGB
Gradient
8.0
9.6
Gradient Picture
Color Depth
8 Bit
10 Bit
Motion
Refresh Rate
9.0
9.0
Native Refresh Rate
240 Hz
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
240 Hz
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP
240 Hz
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI
240 Hz
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP @ 10-bit
N/A
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI @ 10-Bit
N/A
60 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
FreeSync
Yes
Compatible (Tested)
G-SYNC
Compatible (NVIDIA Certified)
Yes (Native)
VRR Maximum
240 Hz
240 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors
DisplayPort, HDMI
DisplayPort, HDMI
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Yes
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
9.5
8.8
Motion Blur Picture
Response Time Table
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Extreme
Fast
Rise / Fall Time
2.9 ms
2.6 ms
Total Response Time
5.1 ms
7.1 ms
Overshoot Error
0.3%
8.9%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
3.3 ms
3.3 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
9.4 ms
10.8 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
2.7%
27.8%
Response Time @ 120Hz
8.8
7.8
Motion Blur Picture
Response Time Table
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Fast
Rise / Fall Time
4.6 ms
3.2 ms
Total Response Time
7.6 ms
12.0 ms
Overshoot Error
0.0%
12.9%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
5.9 ms
4.1 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
9.2 ms
16.5 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
0.0%
31.0%
Response Time @ 60Hz
7.8
7.4
Motion Blur Picture
Response Time Table
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Fast
Rise / Fall Time
4.6 ms
4.3 ms
Total Response Time
13.4 ms
16.1 ms
Overshoot Error
2.3%
5.4%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
5.8 ms
6.1 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
22.0 ms
21.8 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
9.5%
14.0%
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
Backlight Strobing Picture
Backlight Strobing Frequency Picture
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
No BFI
No BFI
Maximum Frequency
N/A
N/A
Minimum Frequency
N/A
N/A
Longest Pulse Width Brightness
N/A
N/A
Shortest Pulse Width Brightness
N/A
N/A
Pulse Width Control
No BFI
No BFI
Pulse Phase Control
No BFI
No BFI
Pulse Amplitude Control
No BFI
No BFI
VRR At The Same Time
No BFI
No BFI
Image Flicker
10
10
Backlight Picture
Flicker-Free
Yes
Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz
0 Hz
Inputs
Input Lag
9.1
9.0
Native Resolution @ Max Hz
2.7 ms
3.0 ms
Native Resolution @ 120Hz
4.9 ms
4.8 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
9.7 ms
12.4 ms
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
N/A
N/A
Resolution And Size
6.7
8.0
Native Resolution
1920 x 1080
2560 x 1440
Aspect Ratio
16:9
16:9
Megapixels
2.1 MP
3.7 MP
Pixel Density
91 PPI
109 PPI
Measured Screen Diagonal
24.5"
27.0"
Screen Area
255 in²
310 in²
PS5 Compatibility
3.0
7.0
PS5 Compatibility Photo
4k @ 120Hz
No
No
4k @ 60Hz
No
No
1440p @ 120Hz
No
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
No
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
Yes
HDR
No
Yes
VRR
No
Yes
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
4.2
5.8
XSX Compatibility Photo
4k @ 120Hz
No
No
4k @ 60Hz
No
No
1440p @ 120Hz
No
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
No
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
Yes
HDR
No
No
VRR
Yes
Yes
Inputs Photos
Inputs 1
Inputs 2
Video And Audio Ports
DisplayPort
1 (DP 1.2)
1 (DP 1.4)
Mini DisplayPort
No
No
HDMI
2 (HDMI 2.0)
2 (HDMI 2.0)
HDMI 2.1 Rated Speed
No HDMI 2.1
No HDMI 2.1
DVI
No
No
VGA
No
No
Daisy Chaining
No
No
3.5mm Audio Out
1
2
HDR10
No
Yes
3.5mm Audio In
No
No
3.5mm Microphone In
No
No
USB
USB-A Ports
4
4
USB-A Rated Speed
5Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
5Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
USB-B Upstream Port
Yes
Yes
USB-C Ports
0
0
USB-C Upstream
No USB-C Ports
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Rated Speed
No USB-C Ports
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Power Delivery
No USB-C Ports
No USB-C Ports
USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode
No USB-C Ports
No USB-C Ports
Thunderbolt
No
No
macOS Compatibility
macOS Screenshot
Features
Additional Features
Speakers
No
No
RGB Illumination
Controllable
Controllable
Multiple Input Display
No
No
KVM Switch
No
No
On-Screen Display (OSD)
OSD Picture
Check Price
25"
Alienware AW2521HF
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
27"
Alienware AW2721D
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
25"
Alienware AW2521HF
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
27"
Alienware AW2721D
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
25"
Alienware AW2521HF
SEARCH
B&H
27"
Alienware AW2721D
SEARCH
B&H
25"
Alienware AW2521HF
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27"
Alienware AW2721D
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Dell Alienware AW2521HF
Dell Alienware AW2721D
Comments
Dell Alienware AW2521HF vs Dell Alienware AW2721D: Main Discussion
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