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The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 11, 2024·
If you're looking for an immersive gaming and media experience with deep blacks and vibrant colors, the Asus PG49WCD with its larger, ultra-wide screen and superior HDR capabilities stands out, though it comes at a premium price and may not be as suitable for productivity due to its size. On the other hand, the Dell Alienware AW2721D offers a more traditional size with high refresh rates, making it a solid choice for competitive gaming and general productivity, and it's available at a lower cost. Neither monitor is ideal if you're primarily interested in print photo editing or HDR video editing. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Asus PG49WCD (QD-OLED)
- Best in class for casual gaming
- Best in class for media consumption
- Best in class contrast
- Best in class color volume
- Best in class response time
Advantages of the Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS)
- Very good for competitive gaming
- Very good refresh rate
- Good text clarity
- Good image clarity
Key differences
Casual Gaming
9.8
6.5
5120 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
Inf:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1088:1
413 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
474 nits
468 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
788 nits
98.5 %
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
71.9 %
Glossy
COATING
Semi-Gloss
The Asus PG49WCD (QD-OLED) is best in class for casual gaming, while the Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) is only fair.
Competitive Gaming
5.4
8.0
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
0.0 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
7.1 ms
48 - 144 Hz
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
20 - 240 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
No
413 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
474 nits
The Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) is very good for competitive gaming, while the Asus PG49WCD (QD-OLED) is poor.
Productivity
5.7
6.5
5120 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
108 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
109 PPI
Yes
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Glossy
COATING
Semi-Gloss
The Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) is only fair for productivity, while the Asus PG49WCD (QD-OLED) is poor.
Media Consumption
9.6
6.2
5120 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
Inf:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
1088:1
413 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
474 nits
468 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
788 nits
Glossy
COATING
Semi-Gloss
The Asus PG49WCD (QD-OLED) is best in class for media consumption, while the Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) is only fair.
Cost
$1,026
$902
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
$1,600
The Asus PG49WCD (QD-OLED) has a price of $1,026 and the Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) costs $902.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
Yes
No
The Asus PG49WCD (QD-OLED) is suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption while the Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) is not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
Print Photo Editing
Yes
No
The Asus PG49WCD (QD-OLED) is suitable for print photo editing while the Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) is not suitable for print photo editing.
Key similarities
Digital Photo Editing
Yes
Yes
Both the Asus PG49WCD (QD-OLED) and Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) are suitable for digital photo editing.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
No
Both the Asus PG49WCD (QD-OLED) and Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) are not suitable for HDR video editing and color grading.
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We’re constantly working to improve.
How the Asus PG49WCD (QD-OLED) and the Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Asus PG49WCD (QD-OLED) | Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$1,026 | $902 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 49" | 27" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 5120 x 1440 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Screen Type | |||
Screen Type | OLED | LED | |
Screen Sub-type | |||
Screen Sub-type | QD-OLED | IPS | |
Local Dimming Zones | |||
Local Dimming Zones | N/A | 32 | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | Inf:1 | 1088:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 413 nits | 474 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | 468 nits | 788 nits | |
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | |||
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | Yes | No | |
sRGB Color Gamut | |||
sRGB Color Gamut | 99.9 % | 136.9 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 0.03 ms | 7.1 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | 48 - 144 Hz | 20 - 240 Hz | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | No | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 6.6/10 | 8/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 10/10 | 7.9/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 108 PPI | 109 PPI | |
Coating | |||
Coating | Glossy | Semi-Gloss | |
Text Clarity Score | |||
Text Clarity Score | 6.6/10 | 7/10 | |
Image Clarity Score | |||
Image Clarity Score | 7/10 | 7/10 | |
PORTS & CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
HDMI 1.4 Ports | |||
HDMI 1.4 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
HDMI 2.0 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.0 Ports | 0 | 2 | |
HDMI 2.1 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.1 Ports | 1 | 0 | |
Micro HDMI Ports | |||
Micro HDMI Ports | 0 | 0 | |
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | |||
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS)
See more
Dig into reviews and images
PC Mag
Chris Stobing | July 2021
"If cost isn't an issue and you want a gaming monitor that will give your content all-new life for years to come, the Alienware 27 Gaming Monitor defines the upper echelon of what gaming monitors do best today. This display does everything the HP Omen X 27 tried to do, but does it a whole lot better for just a slight bump in price. If you're choosing between the two, the Alienware is the clear winner, and that story repeats itself again and again no matter which 1440p contender we put the Alienware 27 up against."
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About the monitor team
Joe Golden, Ph.D
CEO and Monitors Editor
Joe is an entrepreneur and lifelong electronics enthusiast with a Ph.D in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Jason Lew
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Jason is a staff expert and software engineer that has been making laptop recommendations for 7 years and moderates one of the largest laptop subreddits.
Chandradeep Chowdhury
Staff Expert & Software Engineer
Chandradeep is a staff expert and software engineer and expert in televisions and monitors. He’s been making monitor recommendations for ten years.
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