Windows Central Verdict
Alienware offers the ultimate choice for a 27" 1440p IPS panel.
It reaches eye-watering brightness levels, but I doubt anyone will likely crank it to the max.
Low-light suffers somewhat with backlight bleed, but it’s at least uniform with no prominent hot spots.
It looks monstrous on my desk, but I’m happy to sacrifice the space for this beauty.
Arguably your last port of call before graduating to an OLED alternative.
Up to 280Hz with overclocked DisplayPort.
Support for various adaptive sync methods.
Sturdy build still allows effortless vertical adjustments.
Backlight leaks in low-light controls.
Cable tidy prevents quick screen rotations.
Dell provided a sample for this review but did not see the article’s contents before publishing.
Alienware AW2723DF: First impressions and setup
Setting up the AW2723DF couldn’t be easier.
A cute pop-out headphone holder on the left is maybe my second favorite.
Rotating the panel should be equally simple, but it gets finicky, even at the highest point.
Still, it can be done with enough patience and careful attention to trailing cables.
It can be done, but it’s not designed for regular rotation, so beware.
Don’t switch to it in the middle of the night just because you’re curious.
WithHDR disabled, I ran tests with a colorimeter to see how the standard, out-of-the-box experience performs.
Pushing the brightness to its minimum exposes the weakest aspect of the AW2723DF: its backlight.
Nevertheless, the monitor is a relatively good fit for the more affordable, disc-less Xbox.
If possible, I’d happily recommend pushing your budget up and spring for the AW2723DF.
Alienware AW2723DF: Should you buy?
A quick-release button is all you need to separate the (off-screen) mount from the desk stand.
You should buy this if …
You shouldn’t buy this if … A gorgeous frame surrounds this 27" 1440p IPS monitor supporting up to 240Hz refresh rates and HDR.
Clicking into place, there’s barely a hint of exposed metal around Alienware’s premium-grade shell.
Vertical adjustment is powered by a simple yet sturdy mechanism built into the stand.
USB ports lurk under the front panel, with more hidden at the back.
A matching plastic panel hides all your cables, sliding into place with little effort.
There’s no urgent need to adjust the hardware, but remember to enable proper refresh rates in Windows.
Default settings produced 100% of sRGB, 88% of AdobeRGB, and 95% of P3.
HBO’s The Last of Us is in no danger of losing its details in the dark, exposed in middling grays by the backlight.
Gigabyte’s M27Q X is more affordable, but not a perfect 1:1 comparison.
