I Replaced My Dual-monitor Setup With This Ultrawide Oled - And I Don't Think I'll Switch Back

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Alienware 34 240Hz QD-OLED Gaming Monitor retails for $800.
• It is simply a large, 34-inch curved gaming show pinch awesome ocular output and an immersive design.
• Be alert that this show does not travel pinch soul speakers.

For nan longest time, I considered curved monitors to beryllium thing much than a gimmick for illustration 3D TVs (remember those?). But complete nan years and done individual experience, I've learned that these panels present a level of inferior that traditional, flat-screen displays can't offer.

Also: I recovered a mini PC that performs for illustration a velocity demon (and comes successful bold colors)

I precocious added nan Alienware 34-inch Curved Gaming Monitor to my at-home activity setup a mates of weeks ago. In that time, I've started to earnestly see making it a imperishable fixture of my agency abstraction because it has greatly improved my workflow and wowed maine pinch its ocular output.

Before I talk astir my experience, fto maine first spell complete nan specs because Alienware's exemplary boasts immoderate awesome numbers. It is simply a 34-inch QD-OLED gaming show moving astatine Wide Quad HD solution (3,440 x 1,440 pixels) and a refresh complaint of 240Hz. 

In plain English, this intends nan output is phenomenal. The screen's curvature of 1800R (radius) delivers a profoundly immersive experience. I've tried to emulate nan aforesaid level of immersion pinch my 2 monitors, but they don't clasp a candle to a due curved display.

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My favourite facet of nan Alienware 34 show is nan level of inferior it brings to galore usage cases. For testing, I played a batch of "Monster Hunter Wilds," and nan show (with nan thief of a third-party mod) wholly transformed my gaming experience. 

Also: One of nan astir battery-efficient laptops I've tested this twelvemonth is besides 1 of nan astir affordable

I was capable to spot wide swathes of nan integer world and in-game wildlife tear astatine each other's throats astatine a distance. It made nan crippled consciousness live successful a measurement that my 27-inch show could ne'er replicate. It moreover helped maine spot my opponent's attempts astatine flanking maine successful "Marvel Rivals." This lead to maine getting nan jump connected them earlier they sewage nan jump connected me. So successful a way, this curved show tin springiness you an separator successful gaming.

Working connected nan monitor

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Video games weren't nan only testing ground. I made nan surface my caller main show for work, wherever it importantly improved my productivity. 

Alienware's show takes awesome advantage of Windows 11's Snap feature. The tool, if you don't remember, lets you link aggregate windows together, snapping them successful place, hence nan name. I wanted to bask this characteristic connected my 27-inch monitor, but connected there, nan layout is excessively restrictive -- claustrophobic moreover -- for maine to enjoy.

That restrictiveness isn't a problem connected this 34-inch screen. The panel's ample size offers ample abstraction for respective windows. Nothing feels claustrophobic aliases difficult to see; it's for illustration having a brace of 17-inch monitors side-by-side. Combined pinch my different 27-inch screen, I fundamentally had a triple show setup pinch conscionable 2 displays.

Let's talk setup process

There were a fewer important features and aspects that I person neglected to mention up to this point. Setting it up was incredibly easy. It comes mostly pre-assembled. All you really person to do is descent nan opinionated guidelines onto nan limb and past descent that into nan backmost of nan show successful 1 soft motion.

Also: I urge this Windows laptop to creatives and professionals - moreover if it's meant for gamers

The surface tin beryllium raised, lowered, tilted, and slanted connected its hinge, but it cannot beryllium turned 90 degrees connected its side. Don't interest astir not being capable to entree nan ports underneath because nan surface tin really tilt backmost beautiful acold -- up to 21 degrees.

On nan bottommost is simply a fastener that lets you set nan output for nan Alienware monitor. You take from 1 of 9 preset colour modes (or make your own), alteration nan input source, or, my individual favorite, activate Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode. Through PiP, you tin link different machine and person it look on-screen alongside nan main signal. 

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There are besides different layouts available. You could person nan 2nd machine provender return up 75% of nan show area aliases shove it disconnected into nan corner. If I could item 1 downside, it's nan truth that nan Alienware Curved Gaming Monitor does not travel pinch soul speakers. You'll person to trust connected either a brace of wireless headphones aliases a set of speakers. I urge nan Sony WH-1000XM5.

ZDNET's buying advice

I person to admit that this was 1 of nan toughest reviews to complete -- because I had to springiness nan show back. I fell successful emotion pinch this curved Alienware monitor, and I earnestly didn't want to fto it go.

The Alienware 34 240Hz QD-OLED Gaming Monitor presently retails for $800. I was honestly expecting nan value tag to beryllium importantly higher, arsenic its ocular capacity feels for illustration it belongs connected an complete $1,000 display. I've seen akin panels spell for a batch higher. 

I highly urge this Alienware show if you want a dual show setup without a 2nd beingness surface aliases if you want to beryllium afloat immersed successful nan games you play. For an alternative, I propose the Samsung Odyssey G9. It's a monolithic 49 inches diagonally pinch a akin ocular output. The type that comes pinch conscionable a DP cablegram is connected waste for $750.