Products
MSI MEG 342C QD-OLED
Dell Alienware AW3423DWF
Tested using Methodology v2.0.1
Updated Jun 13, 2025 09:02 PM
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Amazon.com
Tested using Methodology v2.0.1
Updated Nov 17, 2025 08:10 PM
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Amazon.com
Max Refresh Rate
175 Hz
Size
34"
Pixel Type
QD-OLED
Native Resolution
3440 x 1440
Max Refresh Rate
165 Hz
Size
34"
Pixel Type
QD-OLED
Native Resolution
3440 x 1440
Our Verdict
MSI MEG 342C QD-OLED
Dell Alienware AW3423DWF
The Dell Alienware AW3423DWF and the MSI MEG 342C QD-OLED both use the same QD-OLED panel and have many similarities, but some differences exist, too. The Dell has better PQ EOTF tracking, so the image looks more accurate on the Dell. However, the MSI has a few advantages in other areas, like its HDMI 2.1 bandwidth, which lets it take full advantage of gaming consoles, and its extra productivity features like a KVM switch and Picture-in-Picture and Picture-by-Picture modes.
Variants
- MEG 342C QD-OLED (34")
- Alienware AW3423DWF (34")
Check Price
34"
MEG 342C QD-OLED
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34"
Alienware AW3423DWF
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34"
MEG 342C QD-OLED
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34"
Alienware AW3423DWF
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Walmart.com
34"
MEG 342C QD-OLED
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34"
Alienware AW3423DWF
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34"
MEG 342C QD-OLED
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34"
Alienware AW3423DWF
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Main Differences for
PC Gaming
PC Gaming
Threshold
PC Gaming
9.0
8.9
Full Comparison
Design
Style
Design Picture
Curved
Yes
Yes
Curve Radius
1800R
1800R
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
Build Quality Picture
Ergonomics
6.6
7.2
Ergonomics Picture
Back Picture
Height Adjustment
3.9" (10.0 cm)
4.0" (10.2 cm)
Min Height To Top Of Panel
16.4" (41.7 cm)
16.0" (40.6 cm)
Tilt Range
-20° to 5°
-21° to 5°
Rotate Portrait/Landscape
No
No
Swivel Range
No swivel
-20° to 20°
Wall Mount
VESA 100x100
VESA 100x100
Stand
Stand Picture
Thickness Picture
Base Width
21.8" (55.4 cm)
16.9" (43.0 cm)
Base Depth
11.9" (30.1 cm)
12.2" (30.9 cm)
Thickness (With Display)
11.2" (28.5 cm)
11.0" (28.0 cm)
Weight (With Display)
20.0 lbs (9.1 kg)
19.7 lbs (8.9 kg)
Display
Display Picture
Size
34"
34"
Housing Width
32.3" (82.0 cm)
32.1" (81.5 cm)
Housing Height
14.7" (37.4 cm)
14.3" (36.2 cm)
Thickness (Without Stand)
5.5" (14.0 cm)
4.4" (11.1 cm)
Weight (Without Stand)
13.9 lbs (6.3 kg)
13.1 lbs (6.0 kg)
Borders Size (Bezels)
0.3" (0.9 cm)
0.3" (0.8 cm)
Controls
Controls Picture
In The Box
In The Box Picture
Power Supply
Internal
Internal
Picture Quality
Contrast
10
10
Checkerboard Picture
Native Contrast
Inf : 1
Inf : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
Inf : 1
Inf : 1
Local Dimming
10
10
Local Dimming Video
Local Dimming
No
No
Backlight
No Backlight
No Backlight
SDR Brightness
6.5
6.7
Real Scene
218 cd/m²
237 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
239 cd/m²
241 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
236 cd/m²
240 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
237 cd/m²
241 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
238 cd/m²
242 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
238 cd/m²
242 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
237 cd/m²
239 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
235 cd/m²
238 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
236 cd/m²
240 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
237 cd/m²
240 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
236 cd/m²
240 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.001
0.001
Minimum Brightness
26 cd/m²
17 cd/m²
HDR Brightness
6.5
6.7
EOTF
VESA DisplayHDR Certification
DisplayHDR TRUE BLACK 400
DisplayHDR TRUE BLACK 400
Real Scene
343 cd/m²
409 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
966 cd/m²
1,003 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
446 cd/m²
459 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
354 cd/m²
361 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
297 cd/m²
302 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
248 cd/m²
253 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
960 cd/m²
996 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
443 cd/m²
456 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
352 cd/m²
359 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
296 cd/m²
301 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
247 cd/m²
251 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.078
0.079
Horizontal Viewing Angle
10
10
Horizontal Viewing Angle Video
Horizontal Chroma Graph
Color Washout From Left
70°
70°
Color Washout From Right
70°
70°
Horizontal Hue Graph
Color Shift From Left
70°
70°
Color Shift From Right
70°
70°
Horizontal Lightness Graph
Brightness Loss From Left
70°
70°
Brightness Loss From Right
70°
70°
Black Level Raise From Left
70°
70°
Black Level Raise From Right
70°
70°
Gamma Shift From Left
70°
70°
Gamma Shift From Right
70°
70°
Vertical Viewing Angle
9.9
9.9
Vertical Viewing Angle Video
Vertical Chroma Graph
Color Washout From Below
70°
70°
Color Washout From Above
70°
70°
Vertical Hue Graph
Color Shift From Below
70°
70°
Color Shift From Above
70°
70°
Vertical Lightness Graph
Brightness Loss From Below
70°
70°
Brightness Loss From Above
70°
70°
Black Level Raise From Below
61°
61°
Black Level Raise From Above
61°
61°
Gamma Shift From Below
70°
70°
Gamma Shift From Above
70°
70°
Gray Uniformity
8.8
9.0
50% Uniformity Picture
50% Std. Dev.
1.348%
1.573%
50% DSE
0.120%
0.087%
Black Uniformity
10
10
Native Black Uniformity Picture
Native Std. Dev.
0.202%
0.149%
Black Uniformity Picture With Local Dimming
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A
N/A
Color Accuracy (Pre-Calibration)
8.4
9.5
Pre Calibration Picture
Pre Gamma Curve Picture
Pre Color Picture
Picture Mode
sRGB
Creator (sRGB)
sRGB Gamut Area xy
109.7%
97.7%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.99
0.69
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,545 K
6,476 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.28
2.21
Color dE (Avg.)
1.50
0.87
Contrast Setting
N/A
75
RGB Settings
Default
Default
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
2.2
Brightness Setting
70
100
Measured Brightness
194 cd/m²
245 cd/m²
Brightness Locked
No
No
Color Accuracy (Post-Calibration)
9.4
9.3
Post Calibration Picture
Post Gamma Curve Picture
Post Color Picture
Picture Mode
User
Custom Color
sRGB Gamut Area xy
101.8%
101.4%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.56
1.44
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,494 K
6,468 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.19
2.20
Color dE (Avg.)
1.46
1.31
Contrast Setting
70
75
RGB Settings
97-98-100
97-98-100
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Brightness Setting
30
41
Measured Brightness
103 cd/m²
99 cd/m²
SDR Color Gamut
9.7
9.6
sRGB Color Gamut Picture
sRGB Coverage xy
98.9%
99.1%
sRGB Picture Mode
User
Custom Color
Adobe RGB Color Gamut Picture
Adobe RGB Coverage xy
95.0%
94.1%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
User
Custom Color
HDR Color Gamut
9.6
9.6
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
Yes
DCI-P3 Color Gamut Picture
DCI-P3 Coverage xy
99.5%
99.5%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
HDR Peak 1000
HDR Peak 1000 (Console Mode)
Rec. 2020 Color Gamut Picture
Rec. 2020 Coverage xy
80.7%
79.5%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
HDR Peak 1000
HDR Peak 1000 (Console Mode)
HDR Color Volume
8.9
8.9
DCI-P3 Color Volume ITP Picture
1,000 cd/m² DCI-P3 Coverage ICtCp
97.2%
86.4%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
HDR Peak 1000
HDR Peak 1000 (Console Mode)
Rec. 2020 Color Volume ITP Picture
10,000 cd/m² Rec. 2020 Coverage ICtCp
47.7%
47.2%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
HDR Peak 1000
HDR Peak 1000 (Console Mode)
Text Clarity
7.0
7.0
ClearType On
ClearType Off
Pixel Type
QD-OLED
QD-OLED
Pixels
Subpixel Layout
Triangular RGB
Triangular RGB
Reflections
9.3
9.3
Average Room
Average Room Off Picture
Bright Room Off Picture
Screen Finish
Glossy
Glossy
Total Reflections
1.4%
1.6%
Indirect Reflections
0.9%
1.1%
Calculated Direct Reflections
0.6%
0.5%
Gradient
9.7
9.8
Gradient Picture
Color Depth
10 Bit
10 Bit
Motion
Refresh Rate
7.6
7.5
Native Refresh Rate
175 Hz
165 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
175 Hz
165 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP
175 Hz
165 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI
175 Hz
100 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP @ 10-bit
144 Hz
100 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI @ 10-Bit
175 Hz
60 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Yes
FreeSync
Yes
Yes
G-SYNC
Compatible (Tested)
Compatible (Tested)
VRR Maximum
175 Hz
165 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors
DisplayPort, HDMI
DisplayPort, HDMI
VRR Motion Performance
9.8
9.9
Pursuit Photo VRR
OD Mode CAD Comparison
Recommended VRR OD Setting
No OD Mode
No OD Mode
Variable Overdrive Advertised
No
No
Avg. CAD
16
12
Best CAD
15
12
Worst CAD
18
13
Refresh Rate Compliance
9.6
9.8
Fast GTG Sequence
VRR Compliance
Compliance @ Max Hz
92%
96%
Compliance @ 120 FPS
93%
97%
Compliance @ 60 FPS
94%
98%
CAD @ Max Refresh Rate
9.9
9.9
Pursuit Photo At Max Refresh
CAD Heatmap At Max Refresh
OD Transition Max Refresh Rate
OD noodmode
0 to 31
OD no
0 to 31
Recommended Overdrive Setting
No OD Mode
No OD Mode
Avg. CAD
14
12
Best 10% CAD
6
6
Worst 10% CAD
23
18
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
First Response Time
0.3 ms
0.2 ms
Total Response Time
0.8 ms
0.8 ms
Recommended Overdrive Setting
No OD Mode
No OD Mode
RGB Overshoot
1 RGB
0 RGB
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
6 RGB
5 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
1.0 ms
0.4 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
5.7 ms
5.9 ms
Heatmap First Response
Heatmap Total Response
Heatmap RGB Overshoot
CAD @ 120Hz
9.9
9.9
Pursuit Photo 120Hz
CAD Heatmap 120Hz
OD Transition 120Hz
OD noodmode
0 to 31
OD no
0 to 31
Recommended Overdrive Setting
No OD Mode
No OD Mode
Avg. CAD
14
12
Best 10% CAD
6
6
Worst 10% CAD
26
26
Response Time @ 120Hz
Worst 10% First Response Time
1.0 ms
0.4 ms
RGB Overshoot
1 RGB
1 RGB
Total Response Time
1.1 ms
1.0 ms
First Response Time
0.3 ms
0.2 ms
Recommended Overdrive Setting
No OD Mode
No OD Mode
Worst 10% Total Response Time
8.4 ms
8.2 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
6 RGB
5 RGB
120Hz First Response Heatmap
120Hz Total Response Heatmap
120Hz Heatmap RGB Overshoot
CAD @ 60Hz
9.9
9.9
Pursuit Photo 60Hz
CAD Heatmap 60Hz
OD Transition 60Hz
OD noodmode
0 to 31
OD no
0 to 31
Recommended Overdrive Setting
No OD Mode
No OD Mode
Avg. CAD
16
13
Best 10% CAD
6
5
Worst 10% CAD
43
37
Response Time @ 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
No OD Mode
No OD Mode
First Response Time
0.4 ms
0.2 ms
Total Response Time
2.0 ms
1.6 ms
RGB Overshoot
1 RGB
0 RGB
Worst 10% Total Response Time
16.9 ms
14.3 ms
Worst 10% First Response Time
1.2 ms
0.4 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
6 RGB
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
5.6
5.7
VRR Flicker Video
VRR Flicker Graph
Dark Gray Flicker
6.5 RGB
5.7 RGB
Middle Gray Flicker
0.4 RGB
0.6 RGB
Light Gray Flicker
0.2 RGB
0.4 RGB
Image Flicker
10
10
Backlight Picture
Flicker-Free
No
No
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz
0 Hz
Inputs
Input Lag
8.9
8.9
Native Resolution @ Max Hz
3.4 ms
3.5 ms
Native Resolution @ 120Hz
5.9 ms
6.0 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
14.3 ms
14.6 ms
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
N/A
N/A
Resolution
7.7
7.7
Native Resolution
3440 x 1440
3440 x 1440
Aspect Ratio
21:9
21:9
Megapixels
5.0 MP
5.0 MP
Pixel Density
109 PPI
110 PPI
PS5 Compatibility
9.3
7.1
PS5 Compatibility Photo
PS5 Compatibility Table
4k @ 120Hz
Yes
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
Yes
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
9.3
7.1
XSX Compatibility Photo
XSX Compatibility Table
4k @ 120Hz
Yes
No
4k @ 60Hz
Yes
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
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
No DisplayPort 2.1
Mini DisplayPort
No
No
HDMI
2 (HDMI 2.1)
1 (HDMI 2.0)
HDMI 2.1 Bandwidth
48Gbps (FRL 12x4)
No HDMI 2.1
DVI
No
No
VGA
No
No
Daisy Chaining
No
No
3.5mm Audio Out
2
2
3.5mm Audio In
No
No
3.5mm Microphone In
1
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
1
0
USB-C Upstream
Yes
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Rated Speed
5Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Power Delivery
65W
No USB-C Ports
USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode
Yes
No USB-C Ports
Thunderbolt
No
No
macOS Compatibility
macOS Screenshot
Features
Additional Features
HDR10
Yes
Yes
Speakers
No
No
RGB Illumination
Presets
Controllable
Multiple Input Display
PIP + PBP
PIP + PBP
KVM Switch
Yes
No
On-Screen Display (OSD)
OSD Picture
Check Price
34"
MEG 342C QD-OLED
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
34"
Alienware AW3423DWF
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
34"
MEG 342C QD-OLED
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
34"
Alienware AW3423DWF
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
34"
MEG 342C QD-OLED
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
34"
Alienware AW3423DWF
SEARCH
B&H
34"
MEG 342C QD-OLED
SEARCH
B&H
34"
Alienware AW3423DWF
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
MSI MEG 342C QD-OLED
Dell Alienware AW3423DWF
Comments
MSI MEG 342C QD-OLED vs Dell Alienware AW3423DWF: Main Discussion
What do you think of these products? Let us know below.
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Overall, it works well with recent Mac’s. But if you want more information, you can find it in the relevant section of each review!
In the macOS Compatibility section, it doesn’t look like the Mac is recognizing the variable refresh rate capability of the Alienware, as compared to the MSI screenshot on the left. Does the Alienware actually support VRR with a Mac?