Alienware AW3225QF – Buy Now from Amazon
We’ve had the two latest Alienware OLED monitors in our office since February and have used and enjoyed them for all purposes since then. Each one is fantastic for gaming, and we dare say that most will not ever go back to an IPS or VA alternative after using OLED. It’s vibrant, lightning-fast, and capable of true HDR performance, although it comes at a price.
One of the recurring worries for computer displays like this is the issue of burn-in. Manufacturers have taken leaps in improving this aspect, but unfortunately, the possibility of it is still there. Sure, manufacturers like Alienware offer warranties for this kind of issue, but having zero faults and hassles is very desirable if you are spending this much on a monitor.
We set out to test and see if the Alienware AW3225QF and Alienware AW2725DF are susceptible to these issues. We didn’t do any extreme levels of testing that will actually add burn-in, like leaving a still image on 24/7. We instead used the monitor normally but with extended hours as opposed to a regular gamer who often plays in the evenings.
How We Tested the Alienware OLED Monitors
We rigorously used the Alienware OLED monitors through the three months, but we didn’t do anything abnormal to the units. Instead, we used them for games, office work, and movies just like any normal gamer or PC user. However, we extended that usage beyond normal hours or durations, using the monitors for as much as 16 hours per day.
Sixteen hours is a little excessive, but we know there are some hardcore users out there who could easily use monitors that much. Gaming for that long is quite taxing, and we also noticed the two OLEDs can get a bit warm if running at full blast for that long. We recommend taking a break from time to time, not because of the monitor’s health but your overall well-being.
We ran several fast-paced games like Warzone 2, Helldivers 2, Rainbow 6 Siege, and Valorant, but we also used non-framerate-intensive titles like League of Legends, Valheim, and Elden Ring. We also tried to be diverse in media consumption, watching streaming apps like Netflix and creating or downloading media in both full-screen and windowed modes.
All of the recent articles and projects we worked on for Monitornerds were also created on these two monitors. Doing all that helped a lot in extending the duration of daily tests since none of us can game for 16 hours at a given time. There were some intense weekend sessions, but our bodies failed us when we tried to play that long multiple times.
We also used both laptop and desktop systems to use these monitors and optimized each game’s settings to reach the highest possible framerate they could provide. It was a challenge for the AW3225QF because it’s a 4K 240Hz model, but that was doable on lighter titles like Valorant.
However, we did not treat these monitors poorly just to prove that they would eventually break or have panel issues. We allowed the Alienware OLED Panel Maintenance feature to run its course every time it kicked in. It starts when the panel has been used for a few hours and loses its signal like when you shut the PC down or if it goes to sleep.
It takes around 7 minutes to complete, so it’s not a big deal if you take breaks between gaming sessions or turn in for the night. We don’t turn the monitors off completely to ensure that this feature runs, and we’re proud to say that both monitors still have green panel health indicators.
What We Experienced So Far
Alienware AW2725DF – Buy Now from Amazon
Everything went well in every type of use we described above during the past 3 months. We didn’t get any flickering or imaging issues apart from the usual graphics bugs from the games. Titles ran smoothly most of the time, and G-Sync worked perfectly despite the massive frame drops we suffered from the more demanding games we used.
Fringing was also not an issue in our experience when we used the monitors to write our articles and edit images or videos. Letters and numbers looked crisp and smooth, even if we didn’t use any sharpening tools from Windows. The display is always at least two feet away from our faces, but that also meant that a bit of scaling had to be used for typing jobs for browsing.
The only issue we noticed during the testing period was the warmth these monitors emitted during extended use. There are times when the panels felt like they radiated a bit of heat, but you’d have to place your face closer to it to notice. The Alienware AW3225QF and AW2725DF’s chassis also felt warmer than most regular monitors.
However, they did not get OLED hot like some LG OLED TVs we’ve seen in recent years. This simply means that Alienware’s cooling design for the monitors is working quite well in controlling the higher heat output of OLED panels. We don’t have data to prove that this will not damage the screens, but it’s safe to assume that it’s not enough to do so.
We know that by heart simply because of what we’ve seen on retailer shelves for OLED demo units. Many of them run all day slinging demo videos and movies to show off their capabilities, and that makes them worryingly warmer than most TVs. However, its very rare that one of them gets damaged by all these, so home users shouldn’t worry as much as about the extra warmth.
Was There any Burn-In after 3 Months on the Alienware OLED Monitors?
We let the monitor’s maintenance cycle run like it’s supposed to, as mentioned above, and we think that it does wonders for the OLED’s health. This ran in between the several hundred hours of work and play through those three months, but there were times when we had to cancel it. However, the overall panel health for the two units is still green at the time of this writing.
We also tested the monitors only to show a single color or grayscale shade to find any minuscule signs of burn-in. There were none when the screens were displaying our desktops or games and movies, so we had to dig deeper. We’re relieved and pleased to report that there were no burn-in issues on the two monitors after all that trouble.
It seems that the newer technologies and features present with OLED displays are indeed functional, as opposed to being just fluff or marketing gimmicks. It’s proof that now is the time to buy an OLED gaming monitor, as opposed to when they first came out. They were risky investments back then because of burn-in, but that is quickly becoming a thing of the past.
Thoughts on Alienware OLED Monitors
The Alienware AW3225QF and Alienware AW2725DF are both solid choices for those who were skeptical about OLED displays. The two models are fantastic at preventing the issues that held OLED technology back in the mainstream market. They are equipped with the proper features to help preserve them, so it should be safe to invest in them as an “end game” monitor, provided that you take care of them as well.
About the Author: 
Paolo has been a gaming veteran since the golden days of Doom and Warcraft and has been building gaming systems for family, friends, and colleagues since junior high. High-performance monitors are one of his fixations; he believes that every citizen has the right to enjoy one. He has gone through several pieces of hardware in pursuit of every bit of performance gain, much to the dismay of his wallet. He now works with Monitornerds to scrutinize the latest gear and create reviews that accentuate the seldom-explained aspects of a PC monitor.
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