Though OLEDs remain a premium gaming monitor category, there is no denying that they make up a large share of new model introductions. Looking over my reviews for the past two years, they represent just over half of the screens that have crossed my test bench. Prices are trickling down, and one company trying to make the best OLED gaming monitors more affordable is Alienware. Though it has plenty of high-end displays available, the newest models are aimed at more modest budgets.The latest example is one that would have been a flagship not too long ago. The AW3226Q is a 32-inch 4K flat OLED with Tandem Stripe RGB technology, 165 Hz, Adaptive-Sync, HDR400 True Black, Dolby Vision, and wide gamut color. Let’s take a look.Alienware AW3226Q SpecsPanel Type / BacklightTandem RGB Stripe Organic Light Emitting DiodeScreen Size / Aspect Ratio32 inches / 16:9Max Resolution and Refresh Rate3840x2160 @ 165 HzFreeSync and G-Sync CompatibleNative Color Depth and Gamut10-bit / DCI-P3HDR400 True Black, HDR10, Dolby VisionResponse Time (GTG)0.03msBrightness (mfr)250 nits full field1,000 nits HDR 3% windowContrastUnmeasurableSpeakersNoneVideo Inputs1x DisplayPort 1.42x HDMI 2.1Audio3.5mm headphone outputUSB 3.01x up, 2x down, 1x USB-C (15w)Power Consumption34w, brightness @ 200 nitsPanel Dimensions WxHxD w/base28.2 x 19.2-23.5 x 9.1 inches (716 x 488-597 x 232mm)Panel Thickness2.3 inches (57mm)Bezel WidthTop/sides: 0.31 inch (8mm)Bottom: 0.55 inch (14mm)Weight17.05 pounds (7.75kg)Warranty3 yearsTandem RGB Stripe is the newest OLED variant, and it can be found in the AW3226Q as well as several new screens from Asus. I propose to simply call it TRS-OLED in this review. It takes the approach of stacking emissive layers to provide more light with less power consumption. It also broadens the color gamut to over 100% coverage of DCI-P3. In Alienware’s case, it’s four emissive layers behind an RGB sub-pixel layer that acts as a polarizer. By putting the pixels next to each other, hence the Stripe, rather than the triangular arrangement of QD-OLEDs, you get a wide color gamut and high brightness with sharper detail and no chance of fringing.The AW3226Q produces 1,000 nits from a 3% window in HDR mode and around 275 nits full field as I measured it. The polarizing layer makes blacks more true by keeping ambient reflections from spoiling the image. Color volume came in at 101% of DCI-P3, which is more than a typical OLED, although a bit less than one equipped with Quantum Dots. And power consumption is low, with just 34 watts drawn at 200 nits brightness. HDR10 and Dolby Vision are supported, with a VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black certification that I verified in testing.Gamers benefit from the AW3226Q’s 165 Hz refresh rate that works with Adaptive-Sync to produce smooth motion processing. Like all speedy OLEDs, input lag is low and, in my tests, it managed to beat one 240 Hz screen that costs a good deal more. You also get AlienVision, which is a super cool aiming point and sniper mode editor that is unique to Alienware displays.The AW3226Q is attractively styled and well-appointed with USB ports, a bit of LED lighting, and a solid stand with full ergonomics. It includes a DisplayPort 1.4 input and two HDMI 2.1 ports with FRL (48Gbps) and eARC, making it easy to integrate the monitor with soundbars or AV systems that also support HDMI eARC. There are no internal speakers, but you do get a 3.5mm headphone jack. Also included are USB ports: two Type-A, one Type-B, and one Type-C.The AW3226Q is a decent value at its opening price of $699. That’s a significant discount over the $1,000 you’ll spend on an AW3225QF, which only has minor differences.Assembly and AccessoriesThe AW3226Q arrived in fully recyclable packaging consisting of a clamshell-style carton and molded pulp forms to protect the contents. The upright snaps onto the panel and the base attaches with a captive bolt. The resulting piece is solid and stable on the desktop. The power supply is internal, so you get a stout IEC cord plus cables for DisplayPort, HDMI, and USB-A/B.Product 360DellDellDellDellThe AW3226Q’s screen is touted as “almost frameless”, and indeed, it is. The top and side frames are just 8mm, while at the bottom, it’s 14mm and flush on all sides. There is no extra protruding trim. The bottom is not without utility, though, as it puts a headphone jack and two USB ports within easy reach. The remaining I/O is in the usual spot, up and under, where you’ll find a DisplayPort 1.4, two HDMI 2.1, and more USBs, one upstream and one downstream.The stand features Alienware’s latest design where the upright’s attachment point appears to float above the base. There are no sharp edges or square corners here. Everything is smoothly tapered, including the bulge in the back, which is generously vented around its perimeter. On one side is the Alienware head, which has the main LED feature. It can light up in a variety of colors and effects, all controlled from the OSD.The upright has an angled cable management hole, which is cool because then you can’t see through it from the front. It features 5/21 degrees tilt, 20 degrees swivel, a 90-degree portrait mode, and 4.3 inches of height range. Movements are smooth and firm with no wobble or play. If you’d rather use an aftermarket support, the stand comes off to expose a 100mm VESA mount with fasteners included.OSD FeaturesPressing the AW3226Q’s joystick opens a well-stocked OSD with nearly every option a gamer or enthusiast could want. Except for one that I’ll tell you about below.Tom's HardwareTom's HardwareTom's HardwareTom's HardwareTom's HardwareTom's HardwareTom's HardwareTom's HardwareTom's HardwareTom's HardwareThe first joystick press opens a quick menu with info at the top that shows resolution, refresh, current preset, HDR mode, panel health, and the dark stabilizer setting. At the bottom of the screen is a quick menu that can be programmed by the user. Fun fact: that thatch-roof house in the photo is down the street from where Jane Austen lived from 1809 to 1817 in Chawton, England.With another upclick, we get the full OSD, which has 11 sections starting with Game and the 12 picture modes. Standard is the default and its color is accurate, but you can get some improvement by using Custom Color and its two-point white balance sliders. Creator mode gives you access to the sRGB and DCI-P3 gamuts. The one thing missing, and this is true of every Dell and Alienware monitor I’ve ever reviewed, is a gamma control. Normally, this isn’t an issue, but in the AW3226Q’s case, the default gamma is too light with no practical way to correct. I’ll show you what I mean on page four.Game Enhance includes a set of timers and a frame rate counter. The aiming point editor is called AlienVision, and it gets its own screen with parameters for reticle shape, color, and position. You can also roll your own sniper mode with variable magnification and opacity. There are three memories to save your configurations. Esports modes include 25 and 27-inch images with reduced resolution, which is a benefit to frame rates, although you’re still capped at 165 Hz.AlienFX lighting refers to the Alienware head in the back and the power button LED, which you can see from the front. They can display in any color or effect or be turned off if you want total darkness.In the Display menu, you’ll find seven HDR modes plus a toggle for Dolby Vision. I found during testing that the HDR Peak 1000 Bright mode delivered the brightest and most impactful HDR.The AW3226Q includes full PIP/PBP functions for viewing two video sources at once. You can move the PIP window to any corner or decide how to split the PBP mode.In Personalize, you can program the quick menu seen in the first photo above and the four joystick directions. Many functions can be accessed this way, like presets, Alienvision, headphone volume, and more.Most of the AW3226Q’s panel maintenance is handled by an algorithm that tracks the panel’s usage and manipulates pixel brightness accordingly. You can also initiate a panel refresh routine manually if you prefer.Alienware AW3226Q Calibration SettingsCalibrating the AW3226Q was something of a compromise. In Standard mode, color and grayscale are without visible errors, but gamma is too light. And there is no gamma control in the custom color mode. You can adjust gamma in Creator mode and select sRGB if you like, but then you give up grayscale calibration. There’s also a gamma control in Console mode, but this only works over HDMI. I have long wished that Alienware and Dell would add gamma to the options in Custom Color mode. And when they do, I hope it’s a fine resolution slider like the Asus XG27AQNGV has, not the usual presets that are 0.2 apart. Anyway, my suggested settings are below.For HDR10 signals, you get seven specific picture modes. Desktop is the default, but for the highest brightness and impact, choose Peak 1000 Bright.Picture ModeCustom ColorBrightness 200 nits84Brightness 120 nits47Brightness 100 nits38Brightness 80 nits28Brightness 50 nits13 (min. 24 nits)Contrast75Color Temp UserGain – Red 99, Green 98, Blue 97Bias – Red 50, Green 50, Blue 50Gaming and Hands-onGameplay on the AW3226Q was satisfying and successful. But it didn’t quite have the shooting-fish-in-a-barrel feel of some of the 240 Hz monitors I’ve experienced. Motion was smooth and quick, but I had to concentrate a bit more on my aim to make sure I wasn’t wasting ammo. I’m in nit-pick mode here because I play on so many different monitors. After a short time, I adapted to the AW3226Q and was handily dispatching gory monsters and aliens in Doom Eternal.Frame rates stayed at 165fps thanks to a GeForce RTX 4090, and there was only a slight amount of motion blur. The picture didn’t smear like some slower screens, but there was just a little less definition in hard edges when I moved the mouse quickly. Again, it was something I noticed, then adapted to. I played with the AlienVision options a bit and found them very useful. And once I had created a couple of setups, I could switch them on and off quickly using the programmable menu and joystick options.The AW3226Q was a monitor I could easily live with long term. The image is gorgeous for starters. Tandem RGB Stripe OLEDs (TRS-OLEDs) are sharper than other variants, by enough that you can tell the difference in a side-by-side comparison. I spend a lot of time in Photoshop, and this monitor is easily on par with the best professional displays I’ve reviewed. It’s also colorful and accurate. I noted light gamma during testing, which only had a minor effect. It wasn’t that I found the picture lacking; it was that I didn’t have a practical option to darken the gamma to my liking.In a nutshell, Standard mode has no adjustments. Custom Color lets you tweak grayscale with a two-point control, but there are no gamma presets. Creator has color gamut options for sRGB and DCI-P3 and gamma presets, but no RGB sliders. So, whatever you choose, there’s a compromise.Physically, the AW3226Q is a presence in a good way. I love Alienware’s newest styling aesthetic, which has been around for a while now. The almost frameless screen delivers on its promise. When the picture is on, the bezel disappears. Taking away the bottom trim strip makes a big difference there. Though I missed internal speakers, I appreciated the inclusion of USB ports, especially the ones right under the bezel. They, along with the headphone jack, are within easy reach. And even though it is a value-oriented display, it has the same premium build quality and solid feel as Alienware’s flagship models.Takeaway: The AW3226Q has a gorgeous image with super crisp detail and deep texture. Its Tandem RGB Stripe technology eliminates any hint of fringing and gives the picture more dimension. The 165 Hz refresh rate produced a little blur, but I soon adapted to it. I reminded myself that the lower number comes with a $200 cost savings. My favorite use for the AW3226Q was as an everyday screen. It’s a premium tool for Photoshop or any graphics app you might wish to use. And it makes a great personal TV as well thanks to its support for Dolby Vision and HDMI eARC. Just hook up an external AV system or soundbar, and you’ve got a desktop home theater.MORE: Best Gaming MonitorsMORE: How We Test PC MonitorsMORE: How to Buy a PC MonitorTo compare the AW3226Q’s performance, I’ve rounded up five other 240 Hz screens since 165 Hz 4K is somewhat rare and not represented in my database. They are Asus’ PG27UCWM, PG32UCWM, PG32UCDM3, and XG32UQWMS and MSI’s MPG 322UR X24.Pixel Response and Input LagClick here to read up on our pixel response and input lag testing procedures.Tom's HardwareTom's HardwareThe difference between 0.16 and 0.24ms is invisible to the naked eye. Though the AW3226Q runs at 165 Hz versus the others’ 240 Hz, it draws the one-inch box just as fast. In practice, though, I noted a slight bit of motion blur. When analyzing the LDAT results, I saw a significant amount of overshoot that ranged from 10 to 20%. Though OLEDs don’t have adjustable overdrive like LCDs, there is still some anticipation happening here to try and mitigate blur. Bottom line: the AW3226Q is a tad less smooth than a 240 Hz screen.It only gives up a bit of input lag to the faster monitors and even beats the PG32UCDM3 by a hair. In practice, you won’t perceive any difference between the AW3226Q and the PG32UCWM because 5.6ms is still well below even the fastest human reaction time. This monitor is plenty quick.Test Takeaway: In the OLED category, a 240 Hz monitor will be smoother than a 165 Hz one, but the difference is very small. And there is no practical difference in input lag. The AW3226Q will appeal to all but the most skilled players. Worth considering is that those 75 extra Hertz will cost you around $200.Viewing Angles(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)Though OLED generally beats LCD technologies for off-axis image quality, the Tandem RGB Stripe variant has a visible color shift at 45 degrees horizontal. You can see a red tint in the photo above. There is no change to brightness or gamma, though. This is from the polarization of the sub-pixel layer, which is what gives the AW3226Q its extreme clarity. The top view has the same red shift plus reduced gamma.Screen UniformityTo learn how we measure screen uniformity, click here.(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)There are certainly no issues with screen uniformity here. The AW3226Q aced my test with just 3.32% variation from the center zone. That figure matches most premium OLEDs and is on par with a professional display. It doesn’t get much better than that.MORE: Best Gaming MonitorsMORE: How We Test PC MonitorsMORE: How to Buy a PC MonitorTo read about our monitor tests in-depth, please check out Display Testing Explained: How We Test PC Monitors. We cover brightness and contrast testing on page two.Uncalibrated – Maximum Backlight LevelTom's HardwareTom's HardwareTom's HardwareThe AW3226Q’s Tandem RGB Stripe tech delivers excellent brightness with low power consumption. In SDR mode, both a full white field and a 25% window measure 276 nits. There is no variable brightness option available for SDR content, but it is there for HDR; more on that on page five. Black levels can’t be measured, so contrast is theoretically infinite. I noted that the polarizing layer delivered a truer-looking black than typical OLED and QD-OLED panels. But this is a perception, not something that can be measured.After Calibration to 200 nitsTom's HardwareTom's HardwareTom's HardwareCalibration doesn’t change anything but the peak output level, which I set to 200 nits. Since there’s no variable brightness option, you only need to measure a full field to find your preferred peak light level. ANSI contrast also could not be measured.Test Takeaway: The AW3226Q has similar contrast and brightness to other premium OLEDs. There is no variable brightness option for SDR, so full fields and windows measure the same, around 276 nits. Blacks are unmeasurable but look more true thanks to the screen’s polarizing layer. If you want more drama for SDR content, a panel with variable brightness will deliver around 500 nits peak.MORE: Best Gaming MonitorsMORE: How We Test PC MonitorsMORE: How to Buy a PC MonitorYou can enjoy the AW3226Q without calibration in its Standard picture mode, but gamma will be a little light, as you’ll see below. Options include Custom Color and Creator if you want more control.Grayscale and Gamma TrackingOur grayscale and gamma tests use Calman calibration software from Portrait Displays. We describe our grayscale and gamma tests in detail here.Portrait Displays CalmanPortrait Displays CalmanPortrait Displays CalmanDefault grayscale tracking is solid, with only the 100% brightness step cracking the 3dE line. There are no visible errors here. But gamma is too light, with an average of 2.02, well below the reference of 2.2. Since tracking is linear, it doesn’t have a huge effect on image quality, but if it were darker, there would be a little more texture and dimension. My main complaint is that there is no practical option to change this.Using the Custom Color mode, I was able to improve grayscale tracking to a very impressive 0.55dE. Gamma got slightly darker but is still too light at 2.05.To select sRGB, use the Creator mode and its gamut options. It has adjustable gamma, which I did not use for this test, but no color temp adjustments. You can see that it’s mostly under the 3dE line except for 90 and 100%, which are too warm in tone.ComparisonsTom's HardwareTom's HardwareTom's HardwareTom's HardwareThe AW3226Q starts out at 1.75dE, no complaint there, and you can go on about your day without calibrating. But a few tweaks in Custom Color mode reduce the average error to 0.55dE, which is among the very best. In the gamma test, the AW3226Q had the tightest range of values with just 0.08 separating lowest from highest. But tracking is off the 2.2 reference by 6.81% (2.05 actual).Color Gamut AccuracyOur color gamut and volume testing use Portrait Displays’ Calman software. For details on our color gamut testing and volume calculations, click here.Portrait Displays CalmanPortrait Displays CalmanPortrait Displays CalmanThe AW3226Q’s default color chart shows a couple of things. You can see that it fully covers the DCI-P3 gamut with just a slight bit of bonus color in blue. Red is a tad undersaturated but not enough to have a negative effect. Hue points are also on target. This is excellent performance.Calibration barely moves the needle, but the average error is a tad lower, and red is a tad more saturated. I have no complaints here.The Creator mode’s sRGB option is spot-on, with all points inside or in contact with their target boxes. There are no visible errors here either.ComparisonsTom's HardwareTom's HardwareI have yet to test an OLED with anything but excellent color. The AW3226Q’s 1.84dE score is professional grade. Visually, you would not see an accuracy difference between any of the screens, but the top three will have slightly more saturated red and green hues. And you’d see that in the brightest content only. For sRGB use, the AW3226Q covers 97.16%, which is nearly ideal for color-critical work.Test Takeaway: The AW3226Q has excellent out-of-the-box accuracy in my grayscale and color tests. Only gamma is a tad light, though it maintains tight linearity, which partially mitigates the error. My only complaint is that there is no option to change this. The AW3226Q has a little less color volume than some of its competitors but still covers more than 101% of the DCI-P3 gamut.MORE: Best Gaming MonitorsMORE: How We Test PC MonitorsMORE: How to Buy a PC MonitorOur HDR benchmarking uses Portrait Displays’ Calman software. To learn about our HDR testing, see our breakdown of how we test PC monitors.The AW3226Q supports Dolby Vision and HDR10 signals with an automatic mode switch. HDR10 gets eight specific presets, of which Desktop is the default.HDR Brightness and ContrastTom's HardwareTom's HardwareTom's HardwareTo find the brightest HDR peaks, I tested the Peak 1000 Bright mode. A 25% window measured 402 nits, which is enough to confirm the AW3226Q’s VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black certification. Alienware claims 1,000 nits for a 3% window, and there is no reason to doubt this. Variable brightness is in play here. It’s only too bad that you can’t turn it on for SDR content.Grayscale, EOTF and ColorPortrait Displays CalmanPortrait Displays CalmanIn the HDR grayscale test, the AW3226Q tickles the underside of some blue errors at 80% brightness and above, but in actual content, there are no visible issues. I measured multiple HDR modes to find the most favorable EOTF and settled on Peak 1000 Bright as my favorite. It starts a tad dark, then pumps up the midtones a bit before making a smooth transition to tone mapping at 70%, which is a little past the specified 60%. This does not have a negative effect on image quality.In the color test, the AW3226Q fully covers DCI-P3 with a little bonus blue. Inner points are slightly oversaturated in the same manner as most of the other HDR displays I’ve tested. Hue points are all on or close to their targets. In the BT.2020 test, the AW3226Q runs out of color at 88% red, 75% green, and 93% blue. This is typical performance.Test Takeaway: After measuring all the AW3226Q’s HDR modes, I found that they were all similar, but Peak 1000 Bright had the most impact. It had the brightest peaks and the most vivid color. While some of the competition is a bit brighter, the difference is small. And if you want Dolby Vision, your choices are limited to Alienware and a few Asus screens. Overall, I’d call the AW3226Q’s HDR excellent.MORE: Best Gaming MonitorsMORE: How We Test PC MonitorsMORE: How to Buy a PC MonitorThere’s no question that OLEDs have become more affordable in the past year. Though they still cost more than their LCD counterparts, the gap between them narrows with each new model introduction. Alienware contributes to that happy trend with the AW3226Q. When you compare it to a flagship like the AW3225QF, it only gives up the curved screen, a little color volume, and 75 Hz for a $300 savings.(Image credit: Dell)I did note some motion blur at 165 Hz versus 240. But I also noted overshoot in testing, which mitigates that issue somewhat. Input lag is nearly as low as other 240 Hz screens and even lower than one expensive Asus I’ve tested. Gaming was a fun experience once I had adapted to the AW3226Q.The star feature is its excellent clarity. Tandem RGB Stripe (TRS-OLED) eliminates any trace of the fringing artifact and delivers the sharpest picture of any OLED technology. There’s plenty of color volume with over 101% measured coverage of DCI-P3 from my sample. And it’s bright too. HDR delivers on its VESA DisplayHDR 400 True Black promise, and there are honest 1,000-nit peaks that improve the image further. The polarizing layer that delivers that sharpness also improves the perception of black, which is very deep indeed.(Image credit: Tom's Hardware)My only complaint centered around a lack of choice in the gamma department. The AW3226Q is a bit light out of the box, which isn’t a huge deal, but I’d have liked the ability to adjust gamma in fine increments along with the grayscale calibration so I could get all the numbers on target for a true reference-quality image. In that metric, the AW3226Q comes up a tad short.In the end, though, it’s hard to argue with a 32-inch 4K OLED display that costs $699. That’s a deal that will attract many buyers. And they will be satisfied with their purchase of a premium gaming monitor. The Alienware AW3226Q is well worth checking out.MORE: Best Gaming MonitorsMORE: How We Test PC MonitorsMORE: How to Buy a PC Monitor