Alienware AW3423DWF QD-OLED Gaming Monitor Review: Contrast and Color for Days

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

The Alienware AW3423DWF is a 34-inch 21:9 QD-OLED gaming monitor with 3440×1440 resolution, 1800R curvature, HDR 1000, extended color, Adaptive-Sync, 165 Hz and infinite contrast.

Editor’s Choice

(Image: © Dell)

Tom’s Hardware Verdict

The Alienware AW3423DWF’s QD-OLED panel delivers a stunning picture that’s on another level from even the very best LCD panels. With super smooth motion and very low input lag, it’s hard to imagine a better gaming monitor.

TODAY’S BEST DEALS

Pros

• +

  Stunning SDR and HDR images

• +

  Deep contrast and color saturation

• +

  Large color gamut

• +

  Super smooth motion processing

• +

  No need for calibration

• +

  Premium styling and build quality

Why you can trust Tom’s Hardware
Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Today’s best Alienware AW3423DWF deals

$1,099.99

$899.99

View

No price information

Check Amazon

When they first arrived on the scene, OLED panels were something of a unicorn. The technology was proven, but low manufacturing yields kept them from entering the consumer mainstream. OLED panels are still a premium product today, but prices have come down to a more approachable level. OLED phones are commonplace, but desktop monitors are not. You can buy a 48-inch screen like Aorus’ FO48U, but is that truly a desktop display?

Alienware has fulfilled a need with its AW3423DFW 34-inch ultra-wide curved OLED monitor. In addition to a 1800R curvature, it sports 3440×1440 (WQHD) resolution, 165 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR with 1,000 nits peak and a wide color gamut. At this writing, it’s selling for around $1,100 but you might be able to get it for less with an Alienware coupon.

Alienware AW3423DWF Specs

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Panel Type / Backlight	Quantum Dot
	Organic Light-Emitting Diode (QD-OLED)
Screen Size / Aspect Ratio	34 inches / 21:9
	Curve radius: 1800mm
Max Resolution & Refresh Rate	3440×1440 @ 165 Hz
	FreeSync: 48-165 Hz
	G-Sync Compatible
Native Color Depth & Gamut	10-bit / DCI-P3
	HDR10, DisplayHDR 400
Response Time (GTG)	0. 5ms
Brightness (mfr)	250 nits SDR
	1,000 nits HDR
Contrast (mfr)	1,000,000:1
Speakers	None
Video Inputs	2x DisplayPort 1.4
	1x HDMI 2.0
Audio	3.5mm headphone output
USB 3.2	1x up, 4x down
Power Consumption	40.7w, brightness @ 200 nits
Panel Dimensions	32.1 x 16.4-20.7 x 14.3 inches
WxHxD w/base	(815 x 417-527 x 240mm)
Panel Thickness	5 inches (127mm)
Bezel Width	Top/sides: 0. 4 inch (9mm)
	Bottom: 0.7 inch (17mm)
Weight	20.5 pounds (9.3kg)
Warranty	3 years

• Alienware AW3423DWF (OLED) at Dell for $899.99

The AW3423DFW introduces a new OLED variant to the mix, QD-OLED, where the QD stands for Quantum Dot. You’ve likely heard of that tech associated with LCD panels. Quantum Dots are dots made from a light-emitting substance printed on a layer of film. It can be placed over the backlight of an LCD or sandwiched in front of an OLED array. When the dots are excited by light energy, they emit their own colors. This widens the display’s color gamut and increases its total light output. The result is a good thing for OLED, because it has lagged behind LCD in the peak output metric for years.

The AW3423DFW has a bit more color than the average OLED panel. Where most cover between 90 and 95% of DCI-P3, the Alienware AW3423DFW fills over 107%. It also delivers plenty of brightness. In HDR mode, it can hit 1,000 nits when rendering small highlights. It’s far brighter than the 55-inch AW5520QF I reviewed in 2019. More light means greater dynamic range. OLED panels already deliver the blackest blacks of any display technology. A higher peak number just means an even better picture.

The AW3423DWF’s gaming performance received equal attention. The max refresh rate is 165 Hz, and both AMD FreeSync and Nvidia G-Sync are supported. It also sports a claimed 0.1 ms response time. My measurements showed the same performance as other 165 Hz screens, but during practical observation, I noted that it looked smoother than an LCD panel running at the same speed. It’s visually comparable to a 240 Hz display, which means it’s making more of the same frame rate.

Of course, the curvature and the 21:9 aspect ratio also enhance the gaming experience. An 1800R radius strikes a good balance between immersion, of which there is plenty, and image distortion, of which there is none. The AW3423DWF is as well suited for work as it is for entertainment. Some gamers will appreciate the AlienVision feature that highlights the center of the screen for sniping. In addition, photographers will appreciate its color accuracy, which is factory certified. During my tests, I found no need for calibration. And there is a Creator mode, which lets the user choose between DCI-P3 and sRGB color gamuts.

Assembly and Accessories

Alienware, like its parent company Dell, ships its monitors in sustainable packaging where most of it is recyclable. Rather than crumbly foam, the contents are protected by molded cardboard pulp with bits of flexible foam placed in just a few important spots. The stand and base bolt together, then the panel snaps to it. Two DisplayPort cables are included, one DP-to-DP and one DP-to-USB-C. You also get USB and an IEC power cord for the internal power supply. A large cover snaps onto the back of the panel to hide the inputs. Cables can be routed through the stand and out the back of the base.

Product 360

Image 1 of 4

(Image credit: Dell)(Image credit: Dell)(Image credit: Dell)(Image credit: Dell)

From the front, the AW3423DWF is all screen with a very thin bezel that’s flush-mounted. Alienware is printed at the bottom, and you can see the power button/LED at the lower right. The color and effect can be controlled in the OSD, along with two logos on the back. You can choose any color of the rainbow or cycle through the full spectrum. Or turn everything off for a stealth look.

The stand is very deep and rock solid. You’ll need nearly 15 inches of desktop space to accommodate the base. Ergonomics include -5/21 degrees tilt, 20 degrees swivel and a 110mm height adjustment. You can’t rotate the panel to portrait mode, but 5 degrees of slant is built-in, ostensibly to accommodate desktops that aren’t level.

You can see a component bulge in the back surrounded by a grill that effectively vents the small amount of heat generated by the AW3423DWF. The Alien head and size designator, 34 in this case, are lit up to let your opponents know what display you’re using to defeat them. Under the input panel cover, you’ll find two DisplayPort 1.4 inputs and a single HDMI 2.0. Those decrying the lack of 2.1 will note that 2.0 accommodates gaming consoles that support the 16:9 aspect ratio at 120 Hz, which means only 2560×1440 pixels. Console users will see black bars on either side of the image while playing, and you’ll need to use DisplayPort for the full 3440×1440 at 165 Hz. Peripherals are supported by five USB 3.2 ports, one upstream and four down. Two of them are underneath the front bezel, which is a nice convenience. The headphone jack is also found there near the OSD joystick.

OSD Features

The AW3423DWF’s menu system will be familiar to any Dell or Alienware user. It’s controlled solely by the joystick mounted at the bottom center of the panel.

Image 1 of 9

(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)(Image credit: Tom’s Hardware)

Pressing the joystick once brings up a quick menu at the bottom and a status bar at the top of the screen. The panel health meter shows green, yellow or red based on how long it’s been since the panel or pixel refresh functions were last used. The quick menu gives access to picture mode AlienVision options, inputs, dark stabilizer and brightness/contrast.

There are 12 total SDR presets, of which Standard is the default. It’s very accurate and doesn’t need further adjustment if you’re OK with the full color gamut. For sRGB, engage the Creator mode, where you can choose a gamut and change the gamma. The Game modes add RGB sliders and game presets to the mix. Or scroll to the end for Custom Color where you can adjust RGB gain and bias controls plus hue and saturation sliders for all six colors.

Turning on Console mode lets one adjust hue & saturation plus gamma. In HDR mode, those options are grayed out, and you can toggle Source Tone Map, which uses the source signal’s metadata to set the tone-map transition point. This serves to enhance highlight detail.

AlienVision is a gaming aid that highlights the center of the screen. Or you can display the largest crosshair ever if you need help aiming. It’s a green cross that’s nearly four inches square.

AlienFX Lighting refers to the power LED, Alien head and number logo on the back of the panel. You can light them individually in any color or intensity. Choosing Spectrum cycles through all colors in a mesmerizing display.

In HDR mode, you can pick from six modes. For the best accuracy and greatest dynamic range, choose True Black. If you want the brightest possible highlights, go for HDR Peak 1000. The other presets are less impactful. My preference was True Black, as it shows off OLED’s capabilities to the fullest. And it’s plenty bright enough even in my sunlit office.

The joystick directions can be customized to provide quick access to the AlienVision options. You can also specify the functions of the quick menu.

To maintain a healthy panel, the AW3423DWF includes both pixel and panel refresh options. Both can run when the monitor is on standby. Once you’ve set these options, they’ll run only when you’re not using the display. I’ve used a similar routine with my two-year-old LG television, and I can attest to its effectiveness. There is no burn-in whatsoever.

Alienware AW3423DWF Calibration Settings

In the AW3423DWF’s Standard mode, calibration is unnecessary. Grayscale tracks perfectly to the 6500K color temp with gamma near 2.2 and no visible color errors when referenced to the DCI-P3 gamut. I found tiny improvements when I tweaked the RGB sliders in Custom Color mode, but this was more to satisfy my tests than anything else. If you want or need the sRGB gamut, it is available in the Creator mode, which also includes gamma presets. My recommended settings for SDR content are below.

In HDR mode, both HDR 1000 and True Black modes render with excellent color accuracy. They only differ in their luminance tracking. For the best possible HDR image, choose True Black. Overall brightness is the same, but the smallest highlights are slightly dimmer. Visually, I prefer True Black because its shadow detail and black levels are much better. I’ll talk more about these two HDR modes on page five.

Swipe to scroll horizontally

Picture Mode	Custom Color
Brightness 200 nits	83
Brightness 120 nits	47
Brightness 100 nits	38
Brightness 80 nits	29
Brightness 50 nits	15 (min. 18 nits)
Contrast	75
Color Temp User	Gain – Red 97, Green 99, Blue 99
	Bias – Red 50, Green 50, Blue 50

Gaming and Hands-on

As a computer monitor, the AW3423DWF has few, if any, equals. The picture quality is simply on another level from any LCD panel I’ve experienced. It’s truly addictive, and once you’ve seen it, you won’t want to go back. Depth and dimension are so realistic, it is, to use the old cliché, like looking out a window. And that feeling includes high-res renderings too. Even when looking at monsters and fantasy environments, the texture is so convincing you’ll find yourself reaching out to touch things like stone or metal.

I saw a perfect example when playing Doom Eternal. Looking down at a stack of shotgun shells, I was struck by the metal end caps, which had just a bit of corrosion. Then I looked up at the gun barrel and marveled at how its shiny surface reflected the environment around me. Parts of it were like a mirror, and I saw every detail.

That detail stayed sharp when moving as well. Though I’ve had many positive experiences playing on 240 and 360 Hz monitors, the AW3423DWF’s 165 Hz is nearly equal in its motion processing. Fast side-to-side camera pans stayed in focus no matter how quickly I moved the mouse. This made it far easier to maintain my aim and to keep my viewpoint locked on where it needed to be. I saw frame rates between 150 and 165 from a GeForce RTX 3090-equipped PC. Even the best LCD with perfect overdrive can’t duplicate this look.

The curvature certainly contributed to the fun I had. You can get a lot of immersion from a large flat panel like the Aorus FO48U, but a curved ultra-wide, especially one with the contrast and color saturation of the AW3423DWF, conforms better to one’s peripheral vision. The curve keeps the entire image in focus with almost no head-turning required.

You’ll want to seek out HDR games whenever possible because that is what this monitor does best. Its SDR image looks great for older titles like Tomb Raider, but once HDR is turned on, you won’t want to turn it off. There was no performance hit or penalty for playing in HDR versus SDR. Adaptive-Sync always worked perfectly, and control lag was perceptually non-existent.

As a workday tool, the AW3423DWF serves well. The curve doesn’t distract when editing documents, and there is no image distortion. Spreadsheets are easier to deal with as you don’t have to scroll side to side as much. Word processing benefits from the easy ability to place two documents next to each other in full-page view. Photoshop can be set up to keep the graphic centered with tool palettes on either side. Or use the PBP function to view two sources at once.

The AW3423DFW is an absolute pleasure to use for work or play. It excelled at everything I did and is a completely addictive gaming display.

MORE: Best Gaming Monitors

MORE: How We Test PC Monitors

MORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor: A 2022 Guide

MORE: How to Choose the Best HDR Monitor

Alienware AW3423DWF: Price Comparison

$1,099.99

$899.99

View

No price information

Check Amazon

powered by

• 1

Current page:
Features and Specifications

Next Page Response, Input Lag, Viewing Angles and Uniformity

Christian Eberle is a Contributing Editor for Tom’s Hardware US. He’s a veteran reviewer of A/V equipment, specializing in monitors.

Dell doubles down on IPS Black, but where’s the OLED?

Dell has two new high-end UltraSharp monitors, both of which boast IPS Black, a display technology that’s supposed to offer higher contrast and deeper blacks. The two monitors in question are the UltraSharp 32 6K monitor (U3224KB) and UltraSharp 38 Curved USB-C Hub Monitor (U3824DW).

The 6K model is the most premium one Dell has ever sold, launching at a dizzying $3,200 price point. Beyond the 6K resolution, it also comes with a 4KHDR webcam (located in the top bezel), 140 watt-power delivery through the Thunderbolt 4 port, and DisplayHDR 600 certification.

The ultrawide 38-incher is impressive too. It comes with a WQHD+ resolution and a built-in KVM switch. But seriously: where’s the OLED or mini-LED options? Companies like Samsung, LG, Asus, and more are adopting these more advanced display technologies, especially in the world of gaming monitors. We’ve seen all sorts of different mini-LED and OLED gaming monitors come out this year, ranging from standard 27-inch options up to massive, desk-dominating wonders like the Asus ROG PG42UQ. It’s not hard to imagine why these companies have turned to gaming monitors first. Gaming is one of the best use cases for HDR, especially since most PC gamers have yet to experience a proper HDR panel.

To be fair, Dell is making one of the popular models itself — the Alienware 34 QD-OLED. But that’s what makes the lack of Dell OLED monitors more glaring. Lenovo introduced mini-LED ThinkVision monitors this year, and Asus has had its ProArt OLED monitor since last year. But Dell has been quiet on this front. We know the tech is out there, but the company seems more interested in doubling down on IPS Black — at least with its non-gaming monitors.

IPS Black first debuted in 2022 on a number of Dell monitors, including the U2723QE, U3223QE, and U3223QE. But it’s not a Dell-exclusive technology — it’s actually from the panel maker LG. And since then, HP has used IPS Black too, with its HP Z32K G3. And for what it is, IPS Black does offer a meaningful improvement over standard IPS displays. They have great color accuracy, and in with the unit we tested, hit an impressive 2,050:1 contrast ratio.

But it was only certified for DisplayHDR 400, which is pitiful HDR performance compared to OLED or mini-LED panels that are much brighter and have higher-contrast. The UltraSharp 32 6K does improve brightness, with a claimed peak of 600 nits, but these are still a bit behind the competition in terms of HDR.

The resolution, of course, is the spec Dell is selling the 6K monitor on — not so much the HDR performance. And with IPS Black, it’s bound to be a great option for color graders, video editors, and designers.

But without the added dimming zones of mini-LED or per-pixel backlighting of OLED, these monitors will just never be able to compete in HDR performance — especially compared to the televisions out there. We’re already seeing some non-gaming laptops embrace mini-LED to great effect, most notably on the MacBook Pro.

The UltraSharp 32 6K will be available to purchase today on Dell.com for $3,200, while the UltraSharp 38 Curved USB-C Hub Monitor won’t be available until June 22 and will cost $1,530.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Dubious Dell monitor ads turn into legal troubles

• I love my OLED gaming monitor, but I feel like it’s gaslighting me

• Samsung Odyssey OLED 49 vs. Odyssey Neo G9 (2023)

• Acer has a massive 45-inch OLED Predator gaming monitor for CES 2023

• Dell’s new 6K UltraSharp refuses to sacrifice pixel density for size

Samsung QD-display: a detailed analysis • Stereo.ru

After the presentation of a new type of organic light-emitting diode display with quantum dots from Samsung Display, a lot of materials appeared on the Web with conflicting data and conclusions, which not only did not clarify the principle of its operation, but also added confusion to the understanding of what TVs Samsung Electronics will produce.

For example, some sources say that the maximum brightness of the QD-OLED will be 1,000 nits, while others give a figure of 1,500 nits. Some say that a little later Samsung will start producing TVs based on them, others say based on WOLED from LG Display. In order to at least partially dispel this fog, we decided to talk in detail about this type of display and the prospects for its use in the near future.

To the naked eye

Let’s start with the confusion about the new screens made by the Samsung Display division itself. Previously, the company called its development of displays based on organic quantum dot light emitting diodes QD-OLED. Now her name is none other than QD-display, as opposed to “ordinary” OLED TVs, with which they allegedly have little in common.

That is, Samsung did exactly the same thing as it did with the designation of LCD TVs with LED backlighting, when they were given the name LED TVs, in order to distinguish them from the background of the “ordinary” LCD models of that time with fluorescent lamps. The company’s motives are clear: it wants to get away from the association with OLED TVs, which are prone to burn-in, which she herself constantly talked about, favorably highlighting her QLED TVs.

However, whatever you call it, a QD display is essentially an OLED display, but with a slightly different design. Moreover, in terms of structure, it is more similar to WOLED matrices from LG than to AMOLED from Samsung, which are used in smartphones.

Diagram provided by Samsung Display itself may be misleading – this is intentional to emphasize differences in displays.

If we simplify it, the similarity is visible to the naked eye.

As already mentioned, the main radiating element in the QD-display are blue organic light emitting diodes deposited on the substrate by offset printing – simultaneously over the entire area of ​​the sheet (mother matrix).

On top of this layer is a structure with cells, two-thirds of which are filled with quantum dots – they are applied by inkjet printing to increase feed accuracy and reduce the consumption of such a valuable material.

The result is a display with three subpixels per pixel instead of four subpixels like WOLED. In this case, the blue component of light is formed directly by organic LEDs, while the green and red components are formed by quantum dots.

The official materials emphasize that the QD-display, unlike LG’s WOLED matrices, does not use light filters, due to which the efficiency increases, that is, in fact, the brightness. However, this is not so – filters are certainly present.

They are needed to filter out blue light in red and green subpixels, because quantum dots cannot absorb it completely and use it for their own glow – they glow, so to speak, in parallel.

In addition, on top of the layer with quantum dots, there is another light filter covering the entire screen area, which prevents the penetration of light from the environment to the quantum dots so that they are not excited from it and start glowing randomly if the user, say, turns on in the room chandelier.

This filter also reduces the efficiency of the panel, but there is no mention of it in Samsung Display’s presentation. On the other hand, the operation of QD-display and WOLED is schematically shown when displaying white light, where only white (transparent) subpixels glow in WOLED, which, of course, is not true – when white color is displayed in WOLED, all four subpixels glow.

In addition, the creators of the presentation included a polarizing layer in the WOLED structure scheme, which, according to their idea, is also not needed and only reduces efficiency, because the QD-display does not have it.

The layer of polarizers in WOLED panels was indeed present, but a long time ago – when OLED TVs could display 3D video using glasses with passive filters. Today, polarizers are not installed in OLED panels due to the death of 3D video, and OLED panels do not need polarizers to display ordinary 2D video.

“Pureer Colors”

At the Las Vegas launch, QD-display was compared to an unnamed 2021 OLED TV, which, despite all the tricks, was guessed as an LG G-series model, as well as to some kind of LCD model with FALD backlight. At the same time, they all worked in Vivid mode, which, although considered the brightest in terms of colors, is rather formed by the marketers of each manufacturer according to their personal preferences, and not based on charts.

That is, we have yet to find out the real advantage in color reproduction, but until this happens, it makes sense to pay attention to the graphs from the presentation and draw some conclusions, given the design features and properties of materials used in “organic” displays.

For example, it is stated that the use of quantum dots and the absence of white subpixels and color filters, which are found in WOLED matrices, makes it possible to obtain purer colors and, as a result, improved color rendering in a QD-display. To confirm this, two spectrum graphs are given: with elongated and almost equal peaks for QD-display and more gentle waves for WOLED.

They look relatively believable. For example, this is how my colleague from IXBT.com measured the spectrum of the LG OLED48C1 OLED TV.

The QD-display spectrum, given the nature of quantum dots, should also look exactly as shown in the graph – these dots just give similar level peaks in a very narrow frequency range.

In this case, it should be taken into account that all graphs are obtained by approximation, that is, in reality, the spectrum does not look like a smooth parabola, but a set of narrow columns, because quantum dots emit light of a strictly defined wavelength.

In terms of measurement, this does give “purer colors”, and higher levels result in a higher overall brightness level. However, such a spectrum does not guarantee the visual richness of color shades on the screen, simply because there are simply no intermediate colors in the spectrum.

Moreover, Samsung Display claims that their new creation, unlike other displays, meets the Rec.2020 standard. To achieve it, you need radiation at those wavelengths that are even further from the center of the color gamut than DCI-P3 and even more so Rec. 709, but this further exacerbates the situation with intermediate shades.

To get an idea of ​​what this looks like in practice, just look at the image from inexpensive LED projectors, which use few diodes (usually only three), and the entire palette is calculated from a “spectrum” of actually three wavelengths.

In this regard, it should be noted that modern LCD TVs with quantum dots do not have such a problem in principle. The glow of these dots adds color tints to the already existing spectrum of white LEDs, which use a yellow phosphor (phosphor) in their design, and it has a rather smooth, rather than a linear characteristic with many shades in between.

Despite the fact that the above spectrum shaping method and the use of quantum dots can also significantly increase the peak brightness of displays (remember how it has grown in modern LCD TVs), at the presentation during CES 2022, Samsung Display did not confirm the declared value with measurements at 1,500 nits.

Various patterns were measured, but the show’s organizers settled on testing the brightness at 10% backlight, where a value of 1,000 nits was obtained for the QD-display and 800 nits for the WOLED. At the same time, it was stated that in an area of ​​​​3% of the screen area, the difference in brightness will be even greater.

However, corrosive journalists noted that with a larger area of ​​screen illumination (including the ANSI test), the compared displays had actual parity in brightness.

Perspectives

What are the practical applications of QD-display in the near future? Apparently, Samsung is not going to travel around exhibitions for several years with prototype TVs based on new panels, as LG did when it launched WOLED production.

Approximately from May this year, the company intends to start mass production of 55- and 65-inch QDD panels for TVs and 34-inch panels for monitors. We have already written about Sony’s intentions to release flagship TVs based on QD-display. Also, the choice in favor of QD-display at CES 2022 was announced by Dell Alienware.

However, until recently, Samsung Electronics has not released any concrete information about plans to use QD-display in their TVs. Just last week, information leaked to the Web that the company nevertheless showed a prototype of its TV on the new panel at the exhibition, hinting on the sidelines that it plans to mass-produce QD TVs towards the end of the year.

True, at the same time, Samsung has already officially announced that this year they intend to release a line of TVs on WOLED panels from LG Display, thus confirming the rumors six months ago about the conclusion of an agreement between the two competing companies.

It is not clear how such similar models will be positioned in Samsung. However, the wait is not long – closer to the IFA exhibition, everything should become very clear.

Best OLED TV 2022

The latest OLED TV innovations of 2022 are three series of TVs. These are Sony A95K, LG G2 and Samsung S95B. Among them, Sony A95K and Samsung S95B have QD-OLED technology, which appeared in 2022 for the first time. As for the LG G2 with an OLED evo panel, we first encountered this combination in 2021.

However, the LG G1 OLED evo was not equipped with a heatsink, which should add a noticeable amount of brightness. In this regard, we can assume that we have 3 OLED TVs with updated technology. In this article, we will try to compare the Samsung S95B, LG G2 and Sony A95K in a few different ways. After that, everyone will decide for themselves which 2022 OLED TV to buy for their needs.

Best OLED TV of 2022

The LG G1 and Sony A90J were two of the best OLED TVs available in 2021. No wonder these TV makers didn’t stop there. In 2022, Samsung joined them with the new S9 series.5B with QD-OLED technology. What is the difference between these three models, and what should I pay attention to?

Design The

G2 benefits from new elegant sophistication and LG’s signature Gallery wall design. The frame around the screen is reduced to 6 mm. The former beveled sides are now smoother. All this makes the G2 even more elegant and futuristic than its predecessor.

LG has also switched to a new composite fiber material to connect the screen to the soundbar. The weight is reduced by 6 kg compared to the OLED65G1. This makes the latter design even more suitable for wall mounting. As in 2021, the G2 does not include a stand. The TV is wall-mounted.

The Sony A95K has an extremely thin screen with black bezels, giving the TV a sophisticated, understated elegance. The A95K can be hung on the wall, although it’s not as designed for it as the G2. Samsung S95B’s frameless design, dubbed “4 Bezel-less”, can also be hung on the wall like the A95K.

Picture quality

The main innovation in the G2 series is that a heatsink has been added to the configuration of last year’s Evo G1 series, giving increased brightness. This will allow the G2 to run even brighter without increasing its susceptibility to screen burn-in. Heat is the main hazard for OLED TV burn-in.

Absorbing this heat increases brightness. As a result, the G2 should deliver some of the most impressive and accurate high dynamic range (HDR) images we’ve ever seen in an OLED TV. The Sony A95K and Samsung S95B use a completely new OLED technology based on the Quantum Dot color system.

Previously, quantum dots were only used in LCD TVs, including Samsung’s famous QLED TVs. Thus, we have a confrontation between a conventional WOLED TV and TVs with a QD-OLED system. QD-OLED uses a blue OLED that shines its light onto the red and green layers of quantum dots.

Removing the white pixel element from the mix allows QD-OLED to potentially deliver richer, purer and brighter colors. In theory, QD-OLED TVs should have a wider color gamut. However, in order to see this difference, films must also be shot with an expanded color gamut.

Sony also claims that the A95K provides better viewing angles, despite the fact that conventional OLED displays have never had a problem in this regard. As for the Samsung S95B series, unlike its two competitors, this series does not have a heatsink to increase the peak brightness.

We will not describe the processors that these three models are equipped with. Let’s just say that LG focuses more on trying to recreate the image as it was originally. Sony is more interested in making images look closer to how our eyes see the real world.

Another intriguing feature is the Sony A95K’s Bravia camera. There is no such camera on either the LG G2 or the Samsung S95B. This magnetic mount camera can control your viewing position based on how close you are to the screen and adjust the image brightness accordingly for a better viewing experience.

Game Mode

In this regard, the G2 has another big functional advantage over the A95K. All four of its HDMI 2.1 inputs support the full range of advanced gaming features. It’s 4K/120Hz, variable refresh rate, and low-latency automatic mode switching.

Sony A95K has only two of the four HDMI ports that support these functions. As for the S95B, it also has four HDMI 2.1 ports. However, the S95B series only supports frequencies up to 120Hz. Another advantage of the LG G2 in gaming mode is the availability of HDR Gaming.

Sony and Samsung do not have this standard. On the other hand, there are not so many games that support HDR Gaming yet. As for the rest of the HDR standards, LG and Sony have Dolby Vision, while Samsung is content with HDR10+ only. LG G2 TVs have a feature that automatically reduces peak brightness slightly when in Game Mode.

This is to prevent screen burn-in when using the TV for a long time in game mode. Sony A95K and Samsung S95B do not have this feature. It is possible that TVs with QD-OLED technology do not suffer from burn-in at all. However, their panels also have organic LEDs.

On the other hand, LG provides a 5-year warranty on all of its latest OLED TVs to replace the panel free of charge if the panel burns in the meantime. This of course does not mean that the work on replacing this panel will be free. However, Sony A95K and Samsung S95B do not provide such a guarantee either.

Read also: QD-OLED vs WOLED comparison

Sound quality

The A95K series TVs look like they have more audio options than the G2 and S95b. First, Sony continues to work with Acoustic Surface technology, which has been exclusive to Sony’s OLED displays for several years. Drives located behind the OLED panel cause the TV screen to play sound.

As a result, the sound is transmitted with effect. This is not the effect of the rear-mounted speakers you find on most modern TVs. The Acoustic Surface typically provides a very open, smooth mid-range and can also make sounds track the position of “noisy” objects on the screen as they move across the screen.

As you might expect, the A95K gets two 20W drives that have been optimized for the new QD-OLED panel. They work together with two 10W subwoofers to boost the bass. The G2 OLED uses a more standard audio system, with speakers built into the TV’s sleek body.

The built-in speaker system in the Samsung S95B has 2.2.2 sound. It consists of six speakers of 10 watts each. Each of the TVs in question supports Dolby Atmos audio and also has a system for mixing stereo audio tracks to make them sound more 3D and Atmos-like.

Note, however, that only the A95K can play DTS formats. This TV also has IMAX Enhanced technology. Flagship OLED models from LG and Samsung lack these features.

Price and screen sizes

LG G2 will be available from spring 2022 in 55″, 65″, 77″, 83″ and 97″ screen sizes. That is, the 97-inch G2 OLED TV is a novelty that opens up new possibilities for OLED offerings. Sony A95K lineup, as well as Samsung S95B is limited to 55″ and 65″ sizes only.

Since Sony and Samsung do not have other models, we will give approximate prices for 55 and 65 diagonals, which are known at the time of writing. LG OLED55G2 is expected to cost $2300 and LG OLED65G2 $3000. The starting price of the Samsung QN55S95B is $2200, while the Samsung QN65S95B will sell for $3000. As for the prices of Sony models, the price of the Sony XR-555X95K is $3000, and the Sony XR-65X95K is $4000.

Which OLED TV to buy in 2022

To answer this question, the first question to ask is, how will you use it? If you need a TV mainly for gaming, then you will not find a better option than the LG G2 today. If you need a TV with a diagonal other than 55 and 65 inches, then you should not consider QD-OLED TVs that do not have other diagonals in their assortment.

On the other hand, the LG G2 doesn’t have the same peak brightness as QD-OLED TVs. In other words, at high brightness levels, it cannot display vibrant colors perfectly. Instead, it boosts the white level. In addition, the LG G2 is less calibrated from the factory than the A9.5K and S95B.

Among the three competitors, the A95K has enhanced audio performance and is likely to have the highest peak brightness. But if you look at the prices, this is the most expensive TV of the three considered in this article.