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Company ProductName Specs
What we think
The PerfectRec monitor team Learn more
Updated April 23, 2024·
The Dell Alienware AW2721D offers a strong balance for competitive gaming with its high refresh rate and low response time but is less capable in rendering HDR gaming and media. Meanwhile, the ViewSonic XG272 with OLED technology provides superior contrast, perfect for HDR content and digital photo editing, but may experience some ghosting in fast-paced games due to its panel type. If your primary focus is competitive gaming, the Dell is a solid option; for those prioritizing color accuracy for media consumption and editing, the ViewSonic would be the better choice. Both are 27-inch with the same 1440p resolution, ensuring crisp and detailed images. 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 Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS)
- Good text clarity
Advantages of the ViewSonic XG272 2K OLED (W-OLED)
- Best in class for casual gaming
- Best in class for competitive gaming
- Very good for media consumption
- Best in class contrast
- Best in class response time
Key differences
Casual Gaming
6.5
9.8
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
1088:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
Inf:1
474 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
450 nits
788 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
Unknown
71.9 %
DCI-P3 COLOR GAMUT
98.5 %
Semi-Gloss
COATING
Matte
The ViewSonic XG272 2K OLED (W-OLED) is best in class for casual gaming, while the Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) is only fair.
Competitive Gaming
8.0
9.6
240Hz
REFRESH RATE
240Hz
7.1 ms
TOTAL RESPONSE TIME
0.0 ms
20 - 240 Hz
VARIABLE REFRESH RATE
40 - 240 Hz
No
STROBING / BFI
No
474 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
450 nits
The ViewSonic XG272 2K OLED (W-OLED) is best in class for competitive gaming, while the Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) is very good.
Productivity
6.5
5.8
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
109 PPI
PIXELS PER INCH
110 PPI
Yes
ADJUSTABLE STAND
Yes
Semi-Gloss
COATING
Matte
The Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) is only fair for productivity, while the ViewSonic XG272 2K OLED (W-OLED) is poor.
Media Consumption
6.2
8.0
2560 x 1440
RESOLUTION
2560 x 1440
1088:1
NATIVE CONTRAST
Inf:1
474 nits
SDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
450 nits
788 nits
HDR PEAK BRIGHTNESS
Unknown
Semi-Gloss
COATING
Matte
The ViewSonic XG272 2K OLED (W-OLED) is very good for media consumption, while the Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) is only fair.
Cost
$902
$800
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) has a price of $902 and the ViewSonic XG272 2K OLED (W-OLED) costs $800.
HDR Gaming and Media Consumption
No
Yes
The Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) is not suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption while the ViewSonic XG272 2K OLED (W-OLED) is suitable for HDR gaming and media consumption.
Print Photo Editing
No
Yes
The Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) is not suitable for print photo editing while the ViewSonic XG272 2K OLED (W-OLED) is suitable for print photo editing.
Key similarities
Digital Photo Editing
Yes
Yes
Both the Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) and ViewSonic XG272 2K OLED (W-OLED) are suitable for digital photo editing.
HDR Video Editing and Color Grading
No
No
Both the Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) and ViewSonic XG272 2K OLED (W-OLED) are not suitable for HDR video editing and color grading.
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How the Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) and the ViewSonic XG272 2K OLED (W-OLED) compare to other monitors
Spec Comparison
 |  | |
| Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS) | ViewSonic XG272 2K OLED (W-OLED) |
GENERAL | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | |||
$902 | $800 | ||
Screen Size | |||
Screen Size | 27" | 27" | |
Resolution | |||
Resolution | 2560 x 1440 | 2560 x 1440 | |
Screen Type | |||
Screen Type | LED | OLED | |
Screen Sub-type | |||
Screen Sub-type | IPS | W-OLED | |
Local Dimming Zones | |||
Local Dimming Zones | 32 | N/A | |
COLOR, CONTRAST & BRIGHTNESS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Native Contrast | |||
Native Contrast | 1088:1 | Inf:1 | |
SDR Peak Brightness | |||
SDR Peak Brightness | 474 nits | 450 nits | |
HDR Peak Brightness | |||
HDR Peak Brightness | 788 nits | Unknown | |
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | |||
Suitable for HDR Gaming and Media Consumption | No | Yes | |
sRGB Color Gamut | |||
sRGB Color Gamut | 136.9 % | 100 % | |
MOTION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Total Response Time | |||
Total Response Time | 7.1 ms | 0.02 ms | |
Variable Refresh Rate | |||
Variable Refresh Rate | 20 - 240 Hz | 40 - 240 Hz | |
Strobing / BFI | |||
Strobing / BFI | No | No | |
Persistence Blur Score | |||
Persistence Blur Score | 8/10 | 8/10 | |
Ghosting Score | |||
Ghosting Score | 7.9/10 | 10/10 | |
TEXT & IMAGE CLARITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Pixels Per Inch | |||
Pixels Per Inch | 109 PPI | 110 PPI | |
Coating | |||
Coating | Semi-Gloss | Matte | |
Text Clarity Score | |||
Text Clarity Score | 7/10 | 6.6/10 | |
Image Clarity Score | |||
Image Clarity Score | 7/10 | 7.1/10 | |
PORTS & CONNECTIVITY | |||
|---|---|---|---|
HDMI 1.4 Ports | |||
HDMI 1.4 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
HDMI 2.0 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.0 Ports | 2 | 0 | |
HDMI 2.1 Ports | |||
HDMI 2.1 Ports | 0 | 2 | |
Micro HDMI Ports | |||
Micro HDMI Ports | 0 | 0 | |
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | |||
DisplayPort 1.2 Ports | 0 | 0 | |
Shopping
Dell Alienware AW2721D (IPS)
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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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