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- Table of Contents
- Top
- Main Differences
- Design
- Picture Quality
- Motion
- Inputs
- Features
- Comments
Dell Alienware AW2521HF vs Dell Alienware AW2523HF
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Dell Alienware AW2521HF
Dell Alienware AW2523HF
Tested using Methodology v1.2
Updated Feb 07, 2024 02:19 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comTested using Methodology v2.0.1
Updated Mar 10, 2025 02:20 PM
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Amazon.com
Max Refresh Rate240 Hz
Size25"
Pixel TypeIPS
Native Resolution1920 x 1080
Variable Refresh RateYes
HDR10No
Max Refresh Rate360 Hz
Size25"
Pixel TypeIPS
Native Resolution1920 x 1080
Variable Refresh RateYes
HDR10Yes
Variants
- Alienware AW2521HF (25")
- AW2523HF (25")
Our Verdict
Dell Alienware AW2521HF
Dell Alienware AW2523HF
The Dell Alienware AW2523HF is the replacement for the Dell Alienware AW2521HF and improves on it in a few ways. Firstly, the AW2523HF has a higher 360Hz refresh rate and better motion handling with 120Hz and 60Hz signals. The AW2523HF is also better for console gaming because it has a Console Mode that downscales 4k images, which the AW2521HF doesn't have. Lastly, the AW2523HF supports HDR, which the AW2521HF doesn't, but because of its low peak brightness and low contrast, it doesn't deliver a satisfying HDR experience.
Check Price
25"
Alienware AW2521HF
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com25"
AW2523HF
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com25"
Alienware AW2521HF
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com25"
AW2523HF
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com25"
AW2523HF
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com25"
AW2523HF
SEARCH
B&HMain Differences forMixed Usage
Mixed Usage
Threshold
Mixed Usage
7.1
Full Comparison
Design
Style
Design Picture
Curved
No
No
Curve Radius
Not Curved
Not Curved
Accelerated Longevity Test
Uniformity Pictures
Longevity Graph
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
Build Quality Picture
Ergonomics
8.9
8.8
Ergonomics Picture
Back Picture
Height Adjustment
4.9" (12.5 cm)
4.3" (10.8 cm)
Min Height To Top Of Panel
15.2" (38.5 cm)
Tilt Range
-20° to 5°
-20° to 5°
Rotate Portrait/Landscape
Yes, Both Ways
Yes, Both Ways
Swivel Range
-20° to 20°
-20° to 20°
Wall Mount
VESA 100x100
VESA 100x100
Stand
Stand Picture
Thickness Picture
Base Width
18.2" (46.3 cm)
9.3" (23.5 cm)
Base Depth
10.1" (25.7 cm)
8.8" (22.3 cm)
Thickness (With Display)
8.9" (22.5 cm)
7.4" (18.9 cm)
Weight (With Display)
15.0 lbs (6.8 kg)
11.7 lbs (5.3 kg)
Display
Display Picture
Size
25"
25"
Housing Width
21.9" (55.7 cm)
22.0" (56.0 cm)
Housing Height
13.0" (32.9 cm)
12.9" (32.7 cm)
Thickness (Without Stand)
3.0" (7.7 cm)
2.6" (6.7 cm)
Weight (Without Stand)
7.9 lbs (3.6 kg)
7.4 lbs (3.3 kg)
Borders Size (Bezels)
0.3" (0.7 cm)
0.2" (0.6 cm)
Controls
Controls Picture
In The Box
In The Box Picture
Power Supply
Internal
Internal
Picture Quality
Contrast
6.3
6.2
Checkerboard Picture
Native Contrast
1,198 : 1
1,112 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
N/A
N/A
Local Dimming
0.0
0.0
Local Dimming Video
Local Dimming
No
No
Backlight
Edge
Edge
SDR Brightness
8.2
8.2
Real Scene
406 cd/m²
401 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
409 cd/m²
378 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
410 cd/m²
382 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
410 cd/m²
383 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
411 cd/m²
384 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
411 cd/m²
384 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
408 cd/m²
378 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
410 cd/m²
382 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
410 cd/m²
383 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
410 cd/m²
383 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
411 cd/m²
384 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.000
0.001
Minimum Brightness
32 cd/m²
38 cd/m²
HDR Brightness
0.0
7.0
EOTF
VESA DisplayHDR Certification
No Certification
No Certification
Real Scene
N/A
442 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
N/A
448 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
N/A
449 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
N/A
450 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
N/A
449 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
N/A
450 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
N/A
447 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
N/A
448 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
N/A
449 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
N/A
449 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
N/A
449 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
N/A
0.000
Horizontal Viewing Angle
8.4
8.1
Horizontal Viewing Angle Video
Horizontal Chroma Graph
Color Washout From Left
45°
37°
Color Washout From Right
45°
34°
Horizontal Hue Graph
Color Shift From Left
58°
59°
Color Shift From Right
57°
56°
Horizontal Lightness Graph
Brightness Loss From Left
46°
40°
Brightness Loss From Right
46°
38°
Black Level Raise From Left
70°
70°
Black Level Raise From Right
70°
70°
Gamma Shift From Left
58°
59°
Gamma Shift From Right
57°
55°
Vertical Viewing Angle
7.0
6.6
Vertical Viewing Angle Video
Vertical Chroma Graph
Color Washout From Below
31°
28°
Color Washout From Above
31°
29°
Vertical Hue Graph
Color Shift From Below
39°
37°
Color Shift From Above
42°
39°
Vertical Lightness Graph
Brightness Loss From Below
35°
33°
Brightness Loss From Above
35°
33°
Black Level Raise From Below
70°
44°
Black Level Raise From Above
70°
70°
Gamma Shift From Below
32°
28°
Gamma Shift From Above
32°
29°
Gray Uniformity
7.8
8.2
50% Uniformity Picture
50% Std. Dev.
3.370%
3.332%
50% DSE
0.149%
0.124%
Black Uniformity
5.7
5.0
Native Black Uniformity Picture
Native Std. Dev.
2.227%
2.653%
Black Uniformity Picture With Local Dimming
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
N/A
N/A
Color Accuracy (Pre-Calibration)
7.6
7.6
Pre Calibration Picture
Pre Gamma Curve Picture
Pre Color Picture
Picture Mode
Game 1
Custom Color
sRGB Gamut Area xy
112.2%
110.4%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
1.90
2.46
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,826 K
7,059 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.09
2.17
Color dE (Avg.)
3.22
2.85
Contrast Setting
75
75
RGB Settings
100-100-100
100-100-100
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Brightness Setting
75
75
Measured Brightness
256 cd/m²
147 cd/m²
Brightness Locked
No
No
Color Accuracy (Post-Calibration)
9.7
9.8
Post Calibration Picture
Post Gamma Curve Picture
Post Color Picture
Picture Mode
Game 1
Custom Color
sRGB Gamut Area xy
98.7%
99.3%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.54
0.46
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,489 K
6,468 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.18
2.17
Color dE (Avg.)
0.45
0.37
Contrast Setting
75
75
RGB Settings
100-98-98
100-98-95
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Brightness Setting
22
46
Measured Brightness
101 cd/m²
100 cd/m²
SDR Color Gamut
8.9
9.1
sRGB Color Gamut Picture
sRGB Coverage xy
97.7%
98.9%
sRGB Picture Mode
Game 1
Custom Color
Adobe RGB Color Gamut Picture
Adobe RGB Coverage xy
75.2%
77.4%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Game 1
Custom Color
HDR Color Gamut
0.0
6.6
Wide Color Gamut
N/A
No
DCI-P3 Color Gamut Picture
DCI-P3 Coverage xy
N/A
79.7%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
Desktop
Rec. 2020 Color Gamut Picture
Rec. 2020 Coverage xy
N/A
57.3%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR
Desktop
HDR Color Volume
0.0
6.4
DCI-P3 Color Volume ITP Picture
1,000 cd/m² DCI-P3 Coverage ICtCp
N/A
51.5%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
No HDR
Desktop
Rec. 2020 Color Volume ITP Picture
10,000 cd/m² Rec. 2020 Coverage ICtCp
N/A
22.1%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
No HDR
Desktop
Text Clarity
7.0
7.0
ClearType On
ClearType Off
Pixel Type
IPS
IPS
Pixels
Subpixel Layout
RGB
RGB
Reflections
8.3
8.1
Average Room
Average Room Off Picture
Bright Room Off Picture
Screen Finish
Matte
Matte
Total Reflections
4.9%
4.8%
Indirect Reflections
4.6%
3.9%
Calculated Direct Reflections
0.3%
0.9%
Gradient
8.0
9.3
Gradient Picture
Color Depth
8 Bit
10 Bit
SDR Color Volume
9.4
sRGB Color Volume ITP Picture
sRGB In ICtCp
96.7%
sRGB Picture Mode
Game 1
Adobe RGB Color Volume ITP Picture
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
80.4%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Game 1
Motion
Refresh Rate
9.0
8.4
Native Refresh Rate
240 Hz
360 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
240 Hz
360 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP
240 Hz
360 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI
240 Hz
255 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP @ 10-bit
N/A
300 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI @ 10-Bit
N/A
165 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Yes
FreeSync
Yes
Yes
G-SYNC
Compatible (NVIDIA Certified)
Compatible (Tested)
VRR Maximum
240 Hz
360 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors
DisplayPort, HDMI
DisplayPort, HDMI
VRR Motion Performance
8.0
Pursuit Photo VRR
OD Mode CAD Comparison
Recommended VRR OD Setting
Super Fast
Variable Overdrive Advertised
No
Avg. CAD
164
Best CAD
157
Worst CAD
175
Refresh Rate Compliance
7.6
Fast GTG Sequence
VRR Compliance
Compliance @ Max Hz
18%
Compliance @ 120 FPS
60%
Compliance @ 60 FPS
79%
Response Time @ 60Hz
7.8
Motion Blur Picture
Response Time Table
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Fast
Rise / Fall Time
4.6 ms
6.5 ms
Total Response Time
13.4 ms
9.4 ms
Overshoot Error
2.3%
3 RGB
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
5.8 ms
8.7 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
22.0 ms
21.3 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
9.5%
17 RGB
CAD @ Max Refresh Rate
7.6
Pursuit Photo At Max Refresh
CAD Heatmap At Max Refresh
OD Transition Max Refresh Rate
OD extreme
0 to 31
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Extreme
Avg. CAD
168
Best 10% CAD
88
Worst 10% CAD
267
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
First Response Time
2.9 ms
7.8 ms
Total Response Time
5.1 ms
7.8 ms
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Extreme
Extreme
Motion Blur Picture
RGB Overshoot
0.3%
0 RGB
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
2.7%
0 RGB
Worst 10% First Response Time
3.3 ms
12.2 ms
Worst 10% Total Response Time
9.4 ms
12.2 ms
Heatmap First Response
Heatmap Total Response
Heatmap RGB Overshoot
Response Time Table
CAD @ 120Hz
7.7
Pursuit Photo 120Hz
CAD Heatmap 120Hz
OD Transition 120Hz
OD extreme
0 to 31
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Super Fast
Avg. CAD
158
Best 10% CAD
89
Worst 10% CAD
255
Response Time @ 120Hz
Worst 10% First Response Time
5.9 ms
8.0 ms
RGB Overshoot
0.0%
2 RGB
Total Response Time
7.6 ms
6.6 ms
First Response Time
4.6 ms
5.5 ms
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Super Fast
Worst 10% Total Response Time
9.2 ms
11.2 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
0.0%
9 RGB
120Hz First Response Heatmap
120Hz Total Response Heatmap
120Hz Heatmap RGB Overshoot
Motion Blur Picture
Response Time Table
CAD @ 60Hz
7.3
Pursuit Photo 60Hz
CAD Heatmap 60Hz
OD Transition 60Hz
OD extreme
0 to 31
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Avg. CAD
183
Best 10% CAD
95
Worst 10% CAD
320
Response Time @ 60Hz
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Fast
First Response Time
4.6 ms
6.5 ms
Total Response Time
13.4 ms
9.4 ms
RGB Overshoot
2.3%
3 RGB
Worst 10% Total Response Time
22.0 ms
21.3 ms
Worst 10% First Response Time
5.8 ms
8.7 ms
Worst 10% RGB Overshoot
9.5%
17 RGB
60Hz First Response Heatmap
60Hz Total Response Heatmap
60Hz RGB Overshoot Heatmap
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
Backlight Strobing Picture
Backlight Strobing Frequency Picture
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
No BFI
No BFI
Maximum Frequency
N/A
N/A
Minimum Frequency
N/A
N/A
Longest Pulse Width Brightness
N/A
N/A
Shortest Pulse Width Brightness
N/A
N/A
Pulse Width Control
No BFI
No BFI
Pulse Phase Control
No BFI
No BFI
Pulse Amplitude Control
No BFI
No BFI
VRR At The Same Time
No BFI
No BFI
VRR Flicker
9.0
VRR Flicker Video
VRR Flicker Graph
Dark Gray Flicker
0.7 RGB
Middle Gray Flicker
1.2 RGB
Light Gray Flicker
1.0 RGB
Image Flicker
10
10
Backlight Picture
Flicker-Free
Yes
Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz
0 Hz
Inputs
Input Lag
9.1
9.3
Native Resolution @ Max Hz
2.7 ms
1.8 ms
Native Resolution @ 120Hz
4.9 ms
5.1 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
9.7 ms
8.4 ms
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
N/A
N/A
Resolution
6.7
5.6
Native Resolution
1920 x 1080
1920 x 1080
Aspect Ratio
16:9
16:9
Megapixels
2.1 MP
2.1 MP
Pixel Density
91 PPI
90 PPI
Measured Screen Diagonal
24.5"
Screen Area
255 in²
PS5 Compatibility
3.0
3.3
PS5 Compatibility Photo
PS5 Compatibility Table
4k @ 120Hz
No
No
4k @ 60Hz
No
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
No
No
1440p @ 60Hz
No
No
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
Yes
HDR
No
VRR
No
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
4.2
4.6
XSX Compatibility Photo
XSX Compatibility Table
4k @ 120Hz
No
No
4k @ 60Hz
No
Yes
1440p @ 120Hz
No
No
1440p @ 60Hz
No
No
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
Yes
HDR
No
VRR
Yes
Inputs Photos
Inputs 1
Inputs 2
Video And Audio Ports
DisplayPort
1 (DP 1.2)
1 (DP 1.4)
DisplayPort Transmission Bandwidth
No DisplayPort 2.1
Mini DisplayPort
No
No
HDMI
2 (HDMI 2.0)
2 (HDMI 2.0)
HDMI 2.1 Bandwidth
No HDMI 2.1
No HDMI 2.1
DVI
No
No
VGA
No
No
Daisy Chaining
No
No
3.5mm Audio Out
1
2
HDR10
No
Yes
3.5mm Audio In
No
No
3.5mm Microphone In
No
No
USB
USB-A Ports
4
4
USB-A Rated Speed
5Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
5Gbps (USB 3.2 Gen 1)
USB-B Upstream Port
Yes
Yes
USB-C Ports
0
0
USB-C Upstream
No USB-C Ports
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Rated Speed
No USB-C Ports
No USB-C Ports
USB-C Power Delivery
No USB-C Ports
No USB-C Ports
USB-C DisplayPort Alt Mode
No USB-C Ports
No USB-C Ports
Thunderbolt
No
No
macOS Compatibility
macOS Screenshot
Features
Additional Features
Speakers
No
No
RGB Illumination
Controllable
No
Multiple Input Display
No
No
KVM Switch
No
No
On-Screen Display (OSD)
OSD Picture
Check Price
25"
Alienware AW2521HF
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com25"
AW2523HF
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com25"
Alienware AW2521HF
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com25"
AW2523HF
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com25"
AW2523HF
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com25"
AW2523HF
SEARCH
B&H
Dell Alienware AW2521HF
Dell Alienware AW2523HF
Comments
Dell Alienware AW2521HF vs Dell Alienware AW2523HF: Main Discussion
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Update: We’ve converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update builds on our previous ‘Suction’ test with a new ‘Airflow’ test that more accurately measures a vacuum’s ability to generate air movement. If you’d like to see an in-depth look at the reasoning and methodology behind this change, you can see our full changelog here..