I ordered one. Will see if I can get used to the curve. Otherwise back it goes. Otherwise wanted the Dell because of the explicit burn-in warranty.
Haven't been paying tons of attention to CES but I haven't seen much in the way of new Mini-LED monitors (Acer's 57" 8K monstrosity aside). I know that 420Hz Super-Ultra-Mega-Wide OLED panels are the big sexy right now, but some of us care about the other formats.
I have a question - have any smaller 2x4K monitors released compared to the Odyssey Neo G9? I'm looking to sidegrade some of my PC's - especially the gaming/fun ones - from 3x G70A's (usually used P/L/L) to keeping the one G70A(P - or even not keeping it) and then one Neo G9 that is more like two 27"'s stuck together with a gentle curve, not 32". 120hz required, but any faster merely a plus.
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Well I received the Alienware AW3225QF QD-OLED 4K 32" monitor yesterday, used it for a bit, including a few hours of work today, and I decided to box it back up and ship it back for a refund. Two reasons:
Otherwise yeah, OLED looks great in games, the motion clarity is excellent, all the usual stuff people say about the benefits of OLED.
I might need to wait for the 4K 32" WOLED panels coming out in Q4 that will use a RGWB pixel structure. Or just pass on OLED altogether and stick to IPS as my primary use case is productivity work, and then maybe an hour of gaming a day on average.
But back she goes!
- For anything other than gaming I hate the curve
- I'm using it side by side with a 4K 32" IPS monitor in a dual-screen setup for work, and the text clarity on the Alienware is noticeably less sharp. In isolation it's not bad, but going back and forth I notice it and it somehow puts more strain on my eyes to look at the OLED screen than on the IPS screen. Not something I could live with given that I'd use it like 8-10hrs a day for productivity.
Otherwise yeah, OLED looks great in games, the motion clarity is excellent, all the usual stuff people say about the benefits of OLED.
I might need to wait for the 4K 32" WOLED panels coming out in Q4 that will use a RGWB pixel structure. Or just pass on OLED altogether and stick to IPS as my primary use case is productivity work, and then maybe an hour of gaming a day on average.
But back she goes!
Interesting - thanks!
I passed on the Dell due to the curve. Looks like rtings bought one on the 11th, so hopefully their review will drop soon. I'm most curious about text clarity.
Fortunately, my potential MSI/HP/Asus will be replacing a 32" 4k VA panel, as my secondary WFH monitor.. so just needs to be better than the VA in text clarity, as the OLED will crush it everywhere else.
I passed on the Dell due to the curve. Looks like rtings bought one on the 11th, so hopefully their review will drop soon. I'm most curious about text clarity.
Fortunately, my potential MSI/HP/Asus will be replacing a 32" 4k VA panel, as my secondary WFH monitor.. so just needs to be better than the VA in text clarity, as the OLED will crush it everywhere else.
It's a good thing I've more or less decided to upgrade GPU and don't have disposable income for a new monitor right now. 
Those OLEDs look incredibly tempting - I have a 65" OLED in the living room and it's really hard to go back to LCD black levels after that. But I think in a year and a bit, we'll start getting some good monitors using OLED for desktop use, and hopefully also with a slight price drop. Burn-in hasn't been the slightest issue with the TV, but I've also tried to make sure it doesn't have static images for too long - I don't want to baby my computer monitor quite as much.
Something like a 32" 16:9 or a 34-38" 21:9 would be great. And I wouldn't mind slightly higher DPI than my 3440x1440 34" screen - it's on the low side.
Those OLEDs look incredibly tempting - I have a 65" OLED in the living room and it's really hard to go back to LCD black levels after that. But I think in a year and a bit, we'll start getting some good monitors using OLED for desktop use, and hopefully also with a slight price drop. Burn-in hasn't been the slightest issue with the TV, but I've also tried to make sure it doesn't have static images for too long - I don't want to baby my computer monitor quite as much.Something like a 32" 16:9 or a 34-38" 21:9 would be great. And I wouldn't mind slightly higher DPI than my 3440x1440 34" screen - it's on the low side.
Not sure the OLED will be better than the VA in text clarity, assuming the VA uses a regular RGB subpixel layout. QD-OLED uses a triangular layout that causes some fringing on text. Given the relatively high PPI of 4K 32", it doesn't look too bad, but it's still noticeable and I just found it harder to focus my eyes on that OLED panel somehow than on my IPS screen.
I found the opposite FWIW, although I'm also fond of dark mode, which seems to work better on OLED. YMMV.
Asus and MSI have updated their warranties for some OLED monitors to cover at least a couple of years of burn in protection:
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25213103/asusoledmonitor.jpg)
www.theverge.com
Asus and MSI OLED monitor warranties now cover burn-in
Up to three years on some models, in line with Alienware and Corsair.
Yeah, have fun claiming warranty through Asus or MSI though.Asus and MSI have updated their warranties for some OLED monitors to cover at least a couple of years of burn in protection:
Asus and MSI OLED monitor warranties now cover burn-in
Up to three years on some models, in line with Alienware and Corsair.
All those Taiwanese motherboard manufacturers (sorry, I'll always think of them that way) have terrible customer support. Just for the hassle alone it's probably worth it to just buy it through Best Buy and get the 4yr Geek Squad protection that also covers burn-in.
MUB review of the new 32" 4K OLED. It's very impressive:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qywLwR7KT9M
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qywLwR7KT9M
I'm interested in the curved variant of the above, the Dell AQ3225QF, anyone have any experience with it? I want to replace my 4-year old LG CX 48" OLED TV, which I use as a monitor, that is suffering OLED rot around the edges and corners and is just a bit too big with pretty bad text quality.
That PG32UCDM is on my wishlist... I'm curious to know if the PG39WCDM will be a good general replacement for my Alienware too... Not too sure how I'd get two such monitors up and running together though. But I have ideas
^^
Same here, I've been waiting for a "unicorn" monitor like this for ages.
I'd be using it mainly for work using design programs*, but I'll gladly use it to game. I don't need OLED, HDR, or 240hz for working in Illustrator & Photoshop, but...
*My only fear is possible OLED burn-in; but that 3 year warranty makes it more tempting.
Same here, I've been waiting for a "unicorn" monitor like this for ages.
I'd be using it mainly for work using design programs*, but I'll gladly use it to game. I don't need OLED, HDR, or 240hz for working in Illustrator & Photoshop, but...
*My only fear is possible OLED burn-in; but that 3 year warranty makes it more tempting.
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My plan, if I can make it work, is to use the new Asus purely for gaming, and keep my Alienware for everything else plus 'light gaming' duty or where I'd prefer an ultrawide for gaming (which I really like, it must be said). But then the PG39WCDM looks like the natural replacement for the Alienware. Outside my budget for now, but still... this does seem like a good time finally to be upgrading. Until this year it hasn't been very obvious how that would work.
[Edit] - I'm envisioning both being on swing arms, with one 'out of the way' behind the other when not in use. I don't have enough desk space to have both side by side.
[Edit] - I'm envisioning both being on swing arms, with one 'out of the way' behind the other when not in use. I don't have enough desk space to have both side by side.
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My 5 year old Alienware 1440 UW is starting to have worse flickering at times - initially looking at a 49" G9 to replace it, but holy model proliferation, Batman... They have the entire alphabet and number range to make new model names out of, so why do they insist on calling more than half a dozen different monitors by the same G9 name? Makes reviews and comparisons a real pain.
The 49" QLED 240? The OLED QHD? The QHD 120? The QHD 240? The various 34" versions of the same?
To paraphrase Demolition Man: Now all monitors are the G9...
The 49" QLED 240? The OLED QHD? The QHD 120? The QHD 240? The various 34" versions of the same?
To paraphrase Demolition Man: Now all monitors are the G9...
I'd go to Rtings or TFTCentral or PCMonitors.info or some other solid review site with proper testing methdology and start from there....? At least you should be able to find a model or two you like/hope you like, and get specific model names to compare and start shopping for.
So one question that I haven't found a clear answer to yet is why use the non-standard pixel layouts on OLED panels? They cause some issues, like on LG panels with odd color fringing or poor text quality. It's fine for phones where the pixel density is high, but on a larger screen it causes these artifacts. I'm sure, ultimately, it comes to cost, but is there more to it?
IIRC part of it is to compensate for different lifetimes/efficiencies of the different sub-pixel colors. Constant work is being done to address this... but I think the bits in this somewhat older article still hold true.
AVSForum has some really long threads on this but I'm not particularly familiar with them (and haven't taken the time to go through more than a post or two in them).
Finally, this does claim at least the PenTile layout is cheaper:
en.wikipedia.org
OLED Monitors | PC Monitors
PC Monitors looks at the technology behind OLED monitors. How do OLEDs work and what are the advantages and disadvantages of OLED displays?
pcmonitors.info
AVSForum has some really long threads on this but I'm not particularly familiar with them (and haven't taken the time to go through more than a post or two in them).
Finally, this does claim at least the PenTile layout is cheaper:
PenTile matrix family - Wikipedia
I'm pretty sure that the LG RWGB layout is to improve brightness, a weak point for OLEDs.
The 2x2 Samsung layout, OTOH, is weird, and I don't understand its purpose.
I think LG made a 31.5" RGB OLED for their top-of-the-line professional monitors line, but it looks like it has been discontinued (32EP950). It was only 60Hz, but it shows it is possible to do. But OTOH, it was on the market only for a short time so maybe there are issues still with RGB pixel arrangement?
MUB reviews the MSI version of the new 32" 4K OLED. TLDW. Cheaper than the ASUS, missing 120 Hz BFI mode ASUS includes. IMO, the lower price outweighs BFI mode.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1cPgQ9F4IY
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1cPgQ9F4IY
The LG appears to have been released in Jan. 2021, so maybe its successor is en route.
People have varying opinions on this, but 4k at 32" also seems like low pixel density to me. 6K would be nice.
IMO, it's density is already too high to work without scaling in Windows, and legacy applications can have problems with Windows scaling.
I'm hoping the sub-$1000 32" 4k, indicates significant price reductions coming for the 27" 1440p monitors which work better at 100% scaling.
Received the AW3225QF today, opened it up and it's all scratched up all around the outside of the screen with some scratches on the front. Fingerprints on a brand new monitor also, screen and bezel (not my fingerprints). Didn't even bother plugging it in, back in the box and back to Dell. These are not caused by the bubble/foam they use, these are from the factory, I'm pretty sure of it. Unacceptable for a premium product. I wouldn't accept such a condition for a $300 monitor even.
Actually, looking at it closer the fine scratches around the edges are probably from packaging materials as the monitor rests on about 1.5 inch of foam that supports it around the edges, so repeated rubbing during transport is probably causing that. The scratches throughout the rest of the screen are from factory, as nothing touches that part of the display.
Actually, looking at it closer the fine scratches around the edges are probably from packaging materials as the monitor rests on about 1.5 inch of foam that supports it around the edges, so repeated rubbing during transport is probably causing that. The scratches throughout the rest of the screen are from factory, as nothing touches that part of the display.
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Probably a return. Dells usually come in a soft foamy plastic bag and with a hard plastic screen protector on the front, never ever had a scratched one.
Would have done the same nope no thanks.
Would have done the same nope no thanks.
That's the thing, it's not a return. Reddit is full of threads about people's monitors arriving all scratched up. Dell either cheaped out or couldn't put a proper peel-off screen protector and the results are tons of damaged screens. Many reviewers have noted the same thing. The other weird thing with this screen is that it's full of tiny little dots, like lots of specs of dust, that show up in direct light all over the screen, they don't appear to be scratches or anything like that.
Ok, please don't be insulted by this, but little bubbles like that are frequently on the protective wrap you say isn't there. Are you certain you don't need to peel film off the top of the screen?
I did check thoroughly to make sure, there is no protective film on the screen. Many have complained about this being the very reason for damage.
Well, scratches, sure. But those little bubbles absolutely should not be there if the manufacturing process is working properly. Normally you only get those with the shipping film added. I can't see any way they could be added by shipping otherwise. They'd have to be inherent to the screens, meaning they were defective right off the assembly line.
Dell is normally really good with monitors, they're one of the best vendors I know, so maybe I should mark that knowledge outdated. Maybe they're trying to save money and skimp on stuff now that they've gone private.
Definitely a manufacturing issue. Seems sloppy all around, with fingerprints on the panel and bezel, scratches, and all that. I'll give them one more chance, but I've read some have gone through 4 monitors with all of them having the same issue. I'm very picky, so I suspect this will end up with a refund.
Wow, that seriously sucks for screen tech as nice as that should be. You could also consider an LG C3. Being primarily a TV, you'll have to spend awhile learning how to bend it to your desires as a monitor, but once it's dialed in, it should be excellent. Expect that process to take awhile, you might take a week to get it where you really like it. Reddit's r/oled_gaming subreddit used to have a settings catchall for the LGs to help. I found it only somewhat useful, because it was very confusing, and kept talking about options that weren't there. It was still worth reading, but expect to be puzzled.
LG makes a $1K OLED monitor, not a TV, but it's only 27", and I think 1440p.
edit: fixed punctuation.
LG makes a $1K OLED monitor, not a TV, but it's only 27", and I think 1440p.
edit: fixed punctuation.
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I'm coming from a 2020 LG OLED CX 48". It's been a great monitor/TV but text quality leaves a lot to be desired and because of the non-standard pixel arrangement, there is weird fringing on some colours. Plus, it started to develop a lot of dead pixels around the edges, just like my other 55" OLED TV, these seem to be increasing at a steady rate. So I want to try something other than an LG OLED to see if the dead pixel issue is less prominent, and a smaller display is easier to use with crisper text I hope, not so much head movement.
Yeah, with a bad experience like that, I can definitely understand your preference.
Hope you can work it out with the Dell. Shame they're treating such nice screens so poorly.
Wow you're not kidding, seems like a huge number of posters on r/OLED_Gaming have microscratches on their screen. They cheaped out on transport protection foil? Jesus that's a super dumb mistake.
Yup, that seems very.....foolish and odd. Foolish because this kinda thing gets around. Odd because anytime I have got something from Dell the packaging has been great. Different item but I got my folks an Alienware desktop in the summer and that packaging was incredible.