Products
Dell Alienware AW3821DW
Dell Alienware AW3423DWF
Tested using Methodology v1.2
Updated Jun 13, 2025 07:53 PM
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Tested using Methodology v2.0.1
Updated Nov 17, 2025 08:10 PM
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Max Refresh Rate
144 Hz
Size
38"
Pixel Type
IPS
Native Resolution
3840 x 1600
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
HDR10
Yes
Max Refresh Rate
165 Hz
Size
34"
Pixel Type
QD-OLED
Native Resolution
3440 x 1440
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
HDR10
Yes
Our Verdict
Dell Alienware AW3821DW
Dell Alienware AW3423DWF
The Dell Alienware AW3423DWF is a different type of ultrawide gaming monitor compared to the Dell Alienware AW3821DW. It uses a QD-OLED panel that results in much better picture quality, particularly for dark room gaming, as it displays deeper blacks without any blooming. It also has better motion handling thanks to its near-instantaneous response time. While they each support VRR, the AW3423DWF is better for use with AMD graphics cards because it has native FreeSync support, and the AW3821DW has native G-SYNC support for use with NVIDIA graphics cards.
Variants
- AW3821DW (38")
- Alienware AW3423DWF (34")
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38"
AW3821DW
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34"
Alienware AW3423DWF
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38"
AW3821DW
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34"
Alienware AW3423DWF
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38"
AW3821DW
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34"
Alienware AW3423DWF
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38"
AW3821DW
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Alienware AW3423DWF
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage
Mixed Usage
Threshold
Mixed Usage
7.7
Full Comparison
Design
Style
Design Picture
Curved
Yes
Yes
Curve Radius
2300R
1800R
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
Build Quality Picture
Ergonomics
7.5
7.2
Ergonomics Picture
Back Picture
Height Adjustment
5.1" (13.0 cm)
4.0" (10.2 cm)
Min Height To Top Of Panel
16.0" (40.6 cm)
Tilt Range
-21° to 5°
-21° to 5°
Rotate Portrait/Landscape
No
No
Swivel Range
-20° to 20°
-20° to 20°
Wall Mount
VESA 100x100
VESA 100x100
Stand
Stand Picture
Thickness Picture
Base Width
23.6" (60.0 cm)
16.9" (43.0 cm)
Base Depth
11.8" (30.0 cm)
12.2" (30.9 cm)
Thickness (With Display)
11.2" (28.5 cm)
11.0" (28.0 cm)
Weight (With Display)
25.4 lbs (11.5 kg)
19.7 lbs (8.9 kg)
Display
Display Picture
Size
38"
34"
Housing Width
35.2" (89.5 cm)
32.1" (81.5 cm)
Housing Height
15.6" (39.5 cm)
14.3" (36.2 cm)
Thickness (Without Stand)
5.1" (13.0 cm)
4.4" (11.1 cm)
Weight (Without Stand)
17.6 lbs (8.0 kg)
13.1 lbs (6.0 kg)
Borders Size (Bezels)
0.4" (1.1 cm)
0.3" (0.8 cm)
Controls
Controls Picture
In The Box
In The Box Picture
Power Supply
Internal
Internal
Picture Quality
Contrast
5.8
10
Checkerboard Picture
Native Contrast
883 : 1
Inf : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
870 : 1
Inf : 1
Local Dimming
2.5
10
Local Dimming Video
Local Dimming
Yes
No
Backlight
Edge
No Backlight
SDR Brightness
8.4
6.7
Real Scene
479 cd/m²
237 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
483 cd/m²
241 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
492 cd/m²
240 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
494 cd/m²
241 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
495 cd/m²
242 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
495 cd/m²
242 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
483 cd/m²
239 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
492 cd/m²
238 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
493 cd/m²
240 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
495 cd/m²
240 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
495 cd/m²
240 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.001
0.001
Minimum Brightness
35 cd/m²
17 cd/m²
HDR Brightness
7.3
6.7
EOTF
VESA DisplayHDR Certification
DisplayHDR 600
DisplayHDR TRUE BLACK 400
Real Scene
496 cd/m²
409 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
591 cd/m²
1,003 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
660 cd/m²
459 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
663 cd/m²
361 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
549 cd/m²
302 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
481 cd/m²
253 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
476 cd/m²
996 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
528 cd/m²
456 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
536 cd/m²
359 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
535 cd/m²
301 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
468 cd/m²
251 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.010
0.079
Horizontal Viewing Angle
7.0
10
Horizontal Viewing Angle Video
Horizontal Chroma Graph
Color Washout From Left
41°
70°
Color Washout From Right
41°
70°
Horizontal Hue Graph
Color Shift From Left
54°
70°
Color Shift From Right
55°
70°
Horizontal Lightness Graph
Brightness Loss From Left
46°
70°
Brightness Loss From Right
47°
70°
Black Level Raise From Left
25°
70°
Black Level Raise From Right
22°
70°
Gamma Shift From Left
36°
70°
Gamma Shift From Right
32°
70°
Vertical Viewing Angle
7.0
9.9
Vertical Viewing Angle Video
Vertical Chroma Graph
Color Washout From Below
34°
70°
Color Washout From Above
30°
70°
Vertical Hue Graph
Color Shift From Below
40°
70°
Color Shift From Above
32°
70°
Vertical Lightness Graph
Brightness Loss From Below
37°
70°
Brightness Loss From Above
32°
70°
Black Level Raise From Below
70°
61°
Black Level Raise From Above
70°
61°
Gamma Shift From Below
39°
70°
Gamma Shift From Above
32°
70°
Gray Uniformity
8.2
9.0
50% Uniformity Picture
50% Std. Dev.
2.402%
1.573%
50% DSE
0.137%
0.087%
Black Uniformity
6.3
10
Native Black Uniformity Picture
Native Std. Dev.
1.105%
0.149%
Black Uniformity Picture With Local Dimming
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
5.372%
N/A
Color Accuracy (Pre-Calibration)
6.0
9.5
Pre Calibration Picture
Pre Gamma Curve Picture
Pre Color Picture
Picture Mode
Standard
Creator (sRGB)
sRGB Gamut Area xy
133.0%
97.7%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
3.91
0.69
Color Temperature (Avg.)
7,374 K
6,476 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.24
2.21
Color dE (Avg.)
3.52
0.87
Contrast Setting
75
75
RGB Settings
100-100-100
Default
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
2.2
Brightness Setting
50
100
Measured Brightness
222 cd/m²
245 cd/m²
Brightness Locked
No
No
Color Accuracy (Post-Calibration)
9.8
9.3
Post Calibration Picture
Post Gamma Curve Picture
Post Color Picture
Picture Mode
Custom Color
Custom Color
sRGB Gamut Area xy
99.9%
101.4%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.57
1.44
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,453 K
6,468 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.17
2.20
Color dE (Avg.)
0.31
1.31
Contrast Setting
75
75
RGB Settings
100-91-84
97-98-100
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Brightness Setting
18
41
Measured Brightness
99 cd/m²
99 cd/m²
SDR Color Gamut
9.5
9.6
sRGB Color Gamut Picture
sRGB Coverage xy
99.7%
99.1%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom Color
Custom Color
Adobe RGB Color Gamut Picture
Adobe RGB Coverage xy
86.6%
94.1%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom Color
Custom Color
HDR Color Gamut
8.8
9.6
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
Yes
DCI-P3 Color Gamut Picture
DCI-P3 Coverage xy
95.6%
99.5%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
Gamer 1
HDR Peak 1000 (Console Mode)
Rec. 2020 Color Gamut Picture
Rec. 2020 Coverage xy
70.4%
79.5%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
Gamer 1
HDR Peak 1000 (Console Mode)
HDR Color Volume
8.7
8.9
DCI-P3 Color Volume ITP Picture
1,000 cd/m² DCI-P3 Coverage ICtCp
87.9%
86.4%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
Gamer 1
HDR Peak 1000 (Console Mode)
Rec. 2020 Color Volume ITP Picture
10,000 cd/m² Rec. 2020 Coverage ICtCp
73.7%
47.2%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
Gamer 1
HDR Peak 1000 (Console Mode)
Text Clarity
7.5
7.0
ClearType On
ClearType Off
Pixel Type
IPS
QD-OLED
Pixels
Subpixel Layout
RGB
Triangular RGB
Reflections
6.5
9.3
Average Room
Average Room Off Picture
Bright Room Off Picture
Screen Finish
Matte
Glossy
Total Reflections
6.8%
1.6%
Indirect Reflections
3.2%
1.1%
Calculated Direct Reflections
3.6%
0.5%
Gradient
9.8
9.8
Gradient Picture
Color Depth
10 Bit
10 Bit
SDR Color Volume
9.7
sRGB Color Volume ITP Picture
sRGB In ICtCp
98.2%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom Color
Adobe RGB Color Volume ITP Picture
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
91.1%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom Color
Motion
Refresh Rate
8.3
7.5
Native Refresh Rate
144 Hz
165 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
144 Hz
165 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP
144 Hz
165 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI
85 Hz
100 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP @ 10-bit
120 Hz
100 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI @ 10-Bit
60 Hz
60 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Yes
FreeSync
Compatible (Tested)
Yes
G-SYNC
Yes (Native)
Compatible (Tested)
VRR Maximum
144 Hz
165 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors
DisplayPort, HDMI
DisplayPort, HDMI
VRR Motion Performance
9.9
Pursuit Photo VRR
OD Mode CAD Comparison
Recommended VRR OD Setting
No OD Mode
Variable Overdrive Advertised
No
Avg. CAD
12
Best CAD
12
Worst CAD
13
Refresh Rate Compliance
9.8
Fast GTG Sequence
VRR Compliance
Compliance @ Max Hz
96%
Compliance @ 120 FPS
97%
Compliance @ 60 FPS
98%
Response Time @ 60Hz
7.5
Motion Blur Picture
Response Time Table
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
No OD Mode
Rise / Fall Time
3.9 ms
0.2 ms
Total Response Time
16 ms
1.6 ms
Overshoot Error
4.8%
0 RGB
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
5.6 ms
0.4 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
22.7 ms
14.3 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
13.0%
4 RGB
CAD @ Max Refresh Rate
9.9
Pursuit Photo At Max Refresh
CAD Heatmap At Max Refresh
OD Transition Max Refresh Rate
OD no
0 to 31
Recommended Overdrive Setting
No OD Mode
Avg. CAD
12
Best 10% CAD
6
Worst 10% CAD
18
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
First Response Time
2.8 ms
0.2 ms
Total Response Time
10.8 ms
0.8 ms
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
No OD Mode
Motion Blur Picture
RGB Overshoot
13.7%
0 RGB
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
31.4%
5 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
3.4 ms
0.4 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
14.5 ms
5.9 ms
Heatmap First Response
Heatmap Total Response
Heatmap RGB Overshoot
Response Time Table
CAD @ 120Hz
9.9
Pursuit Photo 120Hz
CAD Heatmap 120Hz
OD Transition 120Hz
OD no
0 to 31
Recommended Overdrive Setting
No OD Mode
Avg. CAD
12
Best 10% CAD
6
Worst 10% CAD
26
Response Time @ 120Hz
Worst 10% First Response Time
3.7 ms
0.4 ms
RGB Overshoot
13.0%
1 RGB
Total Response Time
11.8 ms
1.0 ms
First Response Time
2.9 ms
0.2 ms
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
No OD Mode
Worst 10% Total Response Time
16.1 ms
8.2 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
30.0%
5 RGB
120Hz First Response Heatmap
120Hz Total Response Heatmap
120Hz Heatmap RGB Overshoot
Motion Blur Picture
Response Time Table
CAD @ 60Hz
9.9
Pursuit Photo 60Hz
CAD Heatmap 60Hz
OD Transition 60Hz
OD no
0 to 31
Recommended Overdrive Setting
No OD Mode
Avg. CAD
13
Best 10% CAD
5
Worst 10% CAD
37
Response Time @ 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
No OD Mode
First Response Time
3.9 ms
0.2 ms
Total Response Time
16 ms
1.6 ms
RGB Overshoot
4.8%
0 RGB
Worst 10% Total Response Time
22.7 ms
14.3 ms
Worst 10% First Response Time
5.6 ms
0.4 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
13.0%
4 RGB
60Hz First Response Heatmap
60Hz Total Response Heatmap
60Hz RGB Overshoot Heatmap
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
VRR Flicker
5.7
VRR Flicker Video
VRR Flicker Graph
Dark Gray Flicker
5.7 RGB
Middle Gray Flicker
0.6 RGB
Light Gray Flicker
0.4 RGB
Image Flicker
10
10
Backlight Picture
Flicker-Free
Yes
No
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz
0 Hz
Inputs
Input Lag
8.9
8.9
Native Resolution @ Max Hz
4.1 ms
3.5 ms
Native Resolution @ 120Hz
4.7 ms
6.0 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
12.0 ms
14.6 ms
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
N/A
N/A
Resolution
8.6
7.7
Native Resolution
3840 x 1600
3440 x 1440
Aspect Ratio
21:9
21:9
Megapixels
6.1 MP
5.0 MP
Pixel Density
111 PPI
110 PPI
Measured Screen Diagonal
37.5"
Screen Area
498 in²
PS5 Compatibility
7.0
7.1
PS5 Compatibility Photo
PS5 Compatibility Table
4k @ 120Hz
No
No
4k @ 60Hz
No
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
Yes
HDR
Yes
VRR
Yes
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
5.8
7.1
XSX Compatibility Photo
XSX Compatibility Table
4k @ 120Hz
No
No
4k @ 60Hz
No
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
Yes
HDR
No
VRR
Yes
Inputs Photos
Inputs 1
Inputs 2
Video And Audio Ports
DisplayPort
1 (DP 1.4)
2 (DP 1.4)
DisplayPort Transmission Bandwidth
No DisplayPort 2.1
Mini DisplayPort
No
No
HDMI
2 (HDMI 2.0)
1 (HDMI 2.0)
HDMI 2.1 Bandwidth
No HDMI 2.1
No HDMI 2.1
DVI
No
No
VGA
No
No
Daisy Chaining
No
No
3.5mm Audio Out
2
2
HDR10
Yes
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
HDR10
Yes
Yes
Speakers
No
No
RGB Illumination
Controllable
Controllable
Multiple Input Display
No
PIP + PBP
KVM Switch
No
No
On-Screen Display (OSD)
OSD Picture
Check Price
38"
AW3821DW
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
34"
Alienware AW3423DWF
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
38"
AW3821DW
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
34"
Alienware AW3423DWF
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
38"
AW3821DW
SEARCH
B&H
34"
Alienware AW3423DWF
SEARCH
B&H
38"
AW3821DW
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
34"
Alienware AW3423DWF
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
Dell Alienware AW3821DW
Dell Alienware AW3423DWF
Comments
Dell Alienware AW3821DW vs Dell Alienware AW3423DWF: Main Discussion
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