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- Table of Contents
- Top
- Main Differences
- Design
- Picture Quality
- Motion
- Inputs
- Features
- Comments
Dell Alienware AW3821DW vs Dell Alienware AW2721D
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Dell Alienware AW3821DW
Dell Alienware AW2721D
Tested using Methodology v1.2
Updated Mar 06, 2024 09:26 PM
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Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.2
Updated May 24, 2024 06:22 PM
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Amazon.com
Max Refresh Rate144 Hz
Size38"
Pixel TypeIPS
Variable Refresh RateYes
HDR10Yes
Native Resolution3840 x 1600
Max Refresh Rate240 Hz
Size27"
Pixel TypeIPS
Variable Refresh RateYes
HDR10Yes
Native Resolution2560 x 1440
Variants
- AW3821DW (38")
- Alienware AW2721D (27")
Our Verdict
Dell Alienware AW3821DW
Dell Alienware AW2721D
The Dell Alienware AW2721D is a bit better for gaming than the Dell Alienware AW3821DW, mainly because the AW2721D has a higher 240Hz refresh rate. The AW2721D also has a quicker response time, even at 60Hz, which results in smoother motion, and it has better ergonomics as you can rotate it into portrait mode. However, the AW3821DW delivers a more immersive gaming experience thanks to its larger 38 inch screen, and it has a higher 3840x1600 resolution that delivers crisp images.
Main Differences forMixed Usage
Mixed Usage
Threshold
Mixed Usage
7.7
7.9
Resolution And Size
8.6
8.0
Ergonomics
7.5
9.0
Full Comparison
Design
Style
Design Picture
Curved
Yes
No
Curve Radius
2300R
Not Curved
Accelerated Longevity Test
Uniformity Pictures
Longevity Graph
Build Quality
8.5
8.5
Build Quality Picture
Ergonomics
7.5
9.0
Ergonomics Picture
Back Picture
Height Adjustment
5.1" (13.0 cm)
5.1" (13.0 cm)
Tilt Range
-21° to 5°
-21° to 5°
Rotate Portrait/Landscape
No
Yes, Both Ways
Swivel Range
-20° to 20°
-20° to 20°
Wall Mount
VESA 100x100
VESA 100x100
Stand
Stand Picture
Thickness Picture
Base Width
23.6" (60.0 cm)
18.3" (46.5 cm)
Base Depth
11.8" (30.0 cm)
10.0" (25.4 cm)
Thickness (With Display)
11.2" (28.5 cm)
9.1" (23.0 cm)
Weight (With Display)
25.4 lbs (11.5 kg)
24.5 lbs (11.1 kg)
Display
Display Picture
Size
38"
27"
Housing Width
35.2" (89.5 cm)
23.9" (60.8 cm)
Housing Height
15.6" (39.5 cm)
14.0" (35.5 cm)
Thickness (Without Stand)
5.1" (13.0 cm)
3.3" (8.3 cm)
Weight (Without Stand)
17.6 lbs (8.0 kg)
14.1 lbs (6.4 kg)
Borders Size (Bezels)
0.4" (1.1 cm)
0.2" (0.5 cm)
Controls
Controls Picture
In The Box
In The Box Picture
Power Supply
Internal
Internal
Picture Quality
Contrast
5.8
6.1
Checkerboard Picture
Native Contrast
883 : 1
1,088 : 1
Contrast With Local Dimming
870 : 1
1,026 : 1
Local Dimming
2.5
3.0
Local Dimming Video
Local Dimming
Yes
Yes
Backlight
Edge
Edge
SDR Brightness
8.4
8.6
Real Scene
479 cd/m²
545 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
483 cd/m²
544 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
492 cd/m²
586 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
494 cd/m²
586 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
495 cd/m²
480 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
495 cd/m²
479 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
483 cd/m²
536 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
492 cd/m²
572 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
493 cd/m²
576 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
495 cd/m²
465 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
495 cd/m²
474 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.001
0.014
Minimum Brightness
35 cd/m²
38 cd/m²
HDR Brightness
7.3
7.6
EOTF
VESA DisplayHDR Certification
DisplayHDR 600
DisplayHDR 600
Real Scene
496 cd/m²
562 cd/m²
Peak 2% Window
591 cd/m²
698 cd/m²
Peak 10% Window
660 cd/m²
788 cd/m²
Peak 25% Window
663 cd/m²
621 cd/m²
Peak 50% Window
549 cd/m²
481 cd/m²
Peak 100% Window
481 cd/m²
481 cd/m²
Sustained 2% Window
476 cd/m²
480 cd/m²
Sustained 10% Window
528 cd/m²
495 cd/m²
Sustained 25% Window
536 cd/m²
515 cd/m²
Sustained 50% Window
535 cd/m²
467 cd/m²
Sustained 100% Window
468 cd/m²
470 cd/m²
Automatic Brightness Limiting (ABL)
0.010
0.006
Horizontal Viewing Angle
7.0
7.8
Horizontal Viewing Angle Video
Horizontal Chroma Graph
Color Washout From Left
41°
39°
Color Washout From Right
41°
39°
Horizontal Hue Graph
Color Shift From Left
54°
54°
Color Shift From Right
55°
55°
Horizontal Lightness Graph
Brightness Loss From Left
46°
44°
Brightness Loss From Right
47°
44°
Black Level Raise From Left
25°
70°
Black Level Raise From Right
22°
70°
Gamma Shift From Left
36°
40°
Gamma Shift From Right
32°
41°
Vertical Viewing Angle
7.0
8.4
Vertical Viewing Angle Video
Vertical Chroma Graph
Color Washout From Below
34°
39°
Color Washout From Above
30°
38°
Vertical Hue Graph
Color Shift From Below
40°
52°
Color Shift From Above
32°
52°
Vertical Lightness Graph
Brightness Loss From Below
37°
42°
Brightness Loss From Above
32°
41°
Black Level Raise From Below
70°
70°
Black Level Raise From Above
70°
70°
Gamma Shift From Below
39°
68°
Gamma Shift From Above
32°
70°
Gray Uniformity
8.2
8.3
50% Uniformity Picture
50% Std. Dev.
2.402%
2.762%
50% DSE
0.137%
0.132%
Black Uniformity
6.3
4.3
Native Black Uniformity Picture
Native Std. Dev.
1.105%
2.769%
Black Uniformity Picture With Local Dimming
Std. Dev. w/ L.D.
5.372%
5.472%
Color Accuracy (Pre-Calibration)
6.0
6.1
Pre Calibration Picture
Pre Gamma Curve Picture
Pre Color Picture
Picture Mode
Standard
Warm
sRGB Gamut Area xy
133.0%
136.9%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
3.91
2.66
Color Temperature (Avg.)
7,374 K
6,384 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.24
2.16
Color dE (Avg.)
3.52
3.42
Contrast Setting
75
75
RGB Settings
100-100-100
100-100-100
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Brightness Setting
50
50
Measured Brightness
222 cd/m²
206 cd/m²
Brightness Locked
No
No
Color Accuracy (Post-Calibration)
9.8
9.8
Post Calibration Picture
Post Gamma Curve Picture
Post Color Picture
Picture Mode
Custom Color
Custom Color
sRGB Gamut Area xy
99.9%
100.1%
White Balance dE (Avg.)
0.57
0.43
Color Temperature (Avg.)
6,453 K
6,520 K
Gamma (Avg.)
2.17
2.18
Color dE (Avg.)
0.31
0.23
Contrast Setting
75
75
RGB Settings
100-91-84
100-88-80
Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
No Gamma Setting
Brightness Setting
18
21
Measured Brightness
99 cd/m²
100 cd/m²
SDR Color Gamut
9.5
9.5
sRGB Color Gamut Picture
sRGB Coverage xy
99.7%
99.8%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom Color
Custom Color
Adobe RGB Color Gamut Picture
Adobe RGB Coverage xy
86.6%
85.6%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom Color
Custom Color
SDR Color Volume
9.7
9.6
sRGB Color Volume ITP Picture
sRGB In ICtCp
98.2%
98.1%
sRGB Picture Mode
Custom Color
Custom Color
Adobe RGB Color Volume ITP Picture
Adobe RGB In ICtCp
91.1%
88.1%
Adobe RGB Picture Mode
Custom Color
Custom Color
HDR Color Gamut
8.8
9.2
Wide Color Gamut
Yes
Yes
DCI-P3 Color Gamut Picture
DCI-P3 Coverage xy
95.6%
97.7%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
Gamer 1
Gamer 1
Rec. 2020 Color Gamut Picture
Rec. 2020 Coverage xy
70.4%
71.9%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
Gamer 1
Gamer 1
HDR Color Volume
8.7
8.7
DCI-P3 Color Volume ITP Picture
DCI-P3 In ICtCp
87.9%
88.9%
DCI-P3 Picture Mode
Gamer 1
Gamer 1
Rec. 2020 Color Volume ITP Picture
Rec. 2020 In ICtCp
73.7%
70.5%
Rec. 2020 Picture Mode
Gamer 1
Gamer 1
Reflections
6.5
6.3
Average Room
Average Room Off Picture
Bright Room Off Picture
Screen Finish
Matte
Semi-Gloss
Total Reflections
6.8%
7.8%
Indirect Reflections
3.2%
4.2%
Calculated Direct Reflections
3.6%
3.5%
Text Clarity
7.5
7.5
ClearType On
ClearType Off
Pixel Type
IPS
IPS
Pixels
Subpixel Layout
RGB
RGB
Gradient
9.8
9.6
Gradient Picture
Color Depth
10 Bit
10 Bit
Motion
Refresh Rate
8.3
9.0
Native Refresh Rate
144 Hz
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate
144 Hz
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP
144 Hz
240 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI
85 Hz
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over DP @ 10-bit
120 Hz
144 Hz
Max Refresh Rate Over HDMI @ 10-Bit
60 Hz
60 Hz
Variable Refresh Rate (VRR)
FreeSync
Compatible (Tested)
Compatible (Tested)
G-SYNC
Yes (Native)
Yes (Native)
VRR Maximum
144 Hz
240 Hz
VRR Minimum
< 20 Hz
< 20 Hz
VRR Supported Connectors
DisplayPort, HDMI
DisplayPort, HDMI
Variable Refresh Rate
Yes
Yes
Response Time @ Max Refresh Rate
8.1
8.8
Motion Blur Picture
Response Time Table
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Fast
Rise / Fall Time
2.8 ms
2.6 ms
Total Response Time
10.8 ms
7.1 ms
Overshoot Error
13.7%
8.9%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
3.4 ms
3.3 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
14.5 ms
10.8 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
31.4%
27.8%
Response Time @ 120Hz
7.9
7.8
Motion Blur Picture
Response Time Table
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Fast
Rise / Fall Time
2.9 ms
3.2 ms
Total Response Time
11.8 ms
12.0 ms
Overshoot Error
13.0%
12.9%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
3.7 ms
4.1 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
16.1 ms
16.5 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
30.0%
31.0%
Response Time @ 60Hz
7.5
7.4
Motion Blur Picture
Response Time Table
Recommended Overdrive Setting
Fast
Fast
Rise / Fall Time
3.9 ms
4.3 ms
Total Response Time
16 ms
16.1 ms
Overshoot Error
4.8%
5.4%
Worst 3 Rise / Fall Time
5.6 ms
6.1 ms
Worst 3 Total Response Time
22.7 ms
21.8 ms
Worst 3 Overshoot Error
13.0%
14.0%
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
Image Flicker
10
10
Backlight Picture
Flicker-Free
Yes
Yes
PWM Dimming Frequency
0 Hz
0 Hz
Inputs
Input Lag
8.9
9.0
Native Resolution @ Max Hz
4.1 ms
3.0 ms
Native Resolution @ 120Hz
4.7 ms
4.8 ms
Native Resolution @ 60Hz
12.0 ms
12.4 ms
Backlight Strobing (BFI)
N/A
N/A
Resolution And Size
8.6
8.0
Native Resolution
3840 x 1600
2560 x 1440
Aspect Ratio
21:9
16:9
Megapixels
6.1 MP
3.7 MP
Pixel Density
111 PPI
109 PPI
Measured Screen Diagonal
37.5"
27.0"
Screen Area
498 in²
310 in²
PS5 Compatibility
7.0
7.0
PS5 Compatibility Photo
4k @ 120Hz
No
No
4k @ 60Hz
No
No
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
Yes
HDR
Yes
Yes
VRR
Yes
Yes
Xbox Series X|S Compatibility
5.8
5.8
XSX Compatibility Photo
4k @ 120Hz
No
No
4k @ 60Hz
No
No
1440p @ 120Hz
Yes
Yes
1440p @ 60Hz
Yes
Yes
1080p @ 120Hz
Yes
Yes
1080p @ 60Hz
Yes
Yes
HDR
No
No
VRR
Yes
Yes
Inputs Photos
Inputs 1
Inputs 2
Video And Audio Ports
DisplayPort
1 (DP 1.4)
1 (DP 1.4)
Mini DisplayPort
No
No
HDMI
2 (HDMI 2.0)
2 (HDMI 2.0)
HDMI 2.1 Rated Speed
No HDMI 2.1
No HDMI 2.1
DVI
No
No
VGA
No
No
Daisy Chaining
No
No
3.5mm Audio Out
2
2
HDR10
Yes
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
Controllable
Multiple Input Display
No
No
KVM Switch
No
No
On-Screen Display (OSD)
OSD Picture
Dell Alienware AW3821DW
Dell Alienware AW2721D
Comments
Dell Alienware AW3821DW vs Dell Alienware AW2721D: Main Discussion
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